Actresses Who Left Hollywood for Health or Happiness

Stepping away from the spotlight isn’t always about fading careers. For many actresses, leaving Hollywood has been a deliberate choice tied to health, family, or a desire for a different kind of life. Some paused temporarily and later returned; others found new paths that suited their priorities better.

Below are notable women who chose distance from film and TV sets to focus on well-being, privacy, or personal projects. Each story shows how careers can evolve beyond the camera—and how stepping back can be its own form of success.

Cameron Diaz

Cameron Diaz stepped away from acting after finishing ‘Annie’ in 2014, later saying she wanted to reclaim her time for family and health. In the years that followed, she focused on wellness projects, including co-authoring health-minded books and co-founding the clean wine brand Avaline in 2020.

Although largely retired for nearly a decade, she eventually agreed to select projects on her own terms while keeping her wellness-first schedule. Her move illustrated how an A-list performer could restructure a career around personal priorities rather than constant production cycles.

Bridget Fonda

Bridget Fonda effectively left Hollywood in the early 2000s, shortly after a serious car crash in 2003. She married composer Danny Elfman that same year and devoted her time to family life, declining roles and public appearances.

Her last screen work was in the early 2000s, and she has maintained a private life since. Occasional public sightings have sparked interest, but she has consistently stayed off sets and away from industry events.

Eva Mendes

Eva Mendes stepped back from acting after ‘Lost River’ to focus on raising her children and building business ventures. She developed fashion and home lines and took on brand partnerships that allowed for more control over workload and travel.

She has spoken about prioritizing family logistics over on-set schedules. While not ruling out future work, she has tailored professional projects to fit a home-centered life rather than returning to continuous screen roles.

Phoebe Cates

After breakout roles in the 1980s and 1990s, Phoebe Cates largely left acting following ‘Princess Caraboo’, making only a brief cameo in ‘The Anniversary Party’. She opened Blue Tree, a boutique on New York’s Madison Avenue, in 2005 and has focused on running the store and community-oriented work.

Her shift to retail gave her predictable hours and a local footprint. That structure provided an alternative to long shoots and location work, and it kept her connected to the arts through curated goods and collaborations.

Shelley Duvall

Shelley Duvall stepped away from Hollywood in the early 2000s and settled in Texas, with very few public appearances for years. Her earlier career included producing and hosting the anthology series ‘Faerie Tale Theatre’, which reflected her interest in children’s storytelling and literary adaptation.

She reemerged with a small role in an independent horror film released in 2023, but her long hiatus underscored a choice to live outside the industry’s center. During her time away, she avoided the publicity circuit, focusing on day-to-day life far from Los Angeles.

Amanda Bynes

Amanda Bynes retired from acting in 2010 after a run of successful film comedies and television work like ‘The Amanda Show’. She later dealt with mental-health challenges and legal issues, entered treatment, and spent years under a conservatorship.

During her time away, she enrolled at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising and explored creative projects off camera. Brief online endeavors have appeared intermittently, but she has not returned to mainstream acting.

Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen transitioned out of acting in the mid-2000s after building a large direct-to-video and television portfolio that included ‘Full House’. They co-founded the luxury fashion label The Row in 2006 and expanded into the lifestyle brand Elizabeth and James.

The twins declined on-screen cameos tied to their earlier roles, preferring to focus on design, production, and retail operations. Their day-to-day work emphasizes craftsmanship, runway collections, and business leadership rather than film sets.

Christina Applegate

Christina Applegate revealed a multiple sclerosis diagnosis in 2021 while working on ‘Dead to Me’. She completed production with accommodations and later stated that on-camera acting may no longer be feasible for her health.

Since then, she has focused on advocacy and audio projects that accommodate symptoms and fatigue. She launched the podcast ‘MeSsy’ with Jamie-Lynn Sigler in 2024, creating a format that fits variable schedules and accessibility needs.

Selma Blair

Selma Blair disclosed an MS diagnosis in 2018 and paused much of her screen work to manage treatment and symptoms. She appeared on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ in 2022 but withdrew on medical advice to prevent injury.

Blair has become a prominent advocate for disability visibility. Her memoir ‘Mean Baby’ details health history and care, and she has collaborated with organizations to improve access and representation in entertainment and beyond.

Yasmine Bleeth

Yasmine Bleeth stepped away from acting in the early 2000s after high-profile roles including ‘Baywatch’. Following legal and personal struggles, she completed probation requirements and kept a low public profile.

Her credits since then have been minimal, with only rare appearances. She has largely avoided industry events, choosing a private life outside ongoing television or film production.

Meghan Markle

Meghan Markle left acting after ‘Suits’ when she became engaged to Prince Harry in 2017. She closed out existing commitments and shifted to duties tied to the British royal family before later stepping back from those roles as well.

Post-acting, she and Prince Harry founded Archewell, focusing on media, philanthropy, and production. Projects have included a wildlife documentary voiceover and development work, aligned with charitable and advocacy aims rather than a return to scripted television.

Grace Kelly

Grace Kelly retired from Hollywood at the height of her career to marry Prince Rainier III of Monaco in 1956. She ended studio contracts and moved to Monaco, where public responsibilities replaced film schedules.

Kelly supported arts education and helped launch cultural events in Monaco, including initiatives that supported local performers and international collaborations. Her departure remains one of the most cited examples of a major star leaving for a different life path.

Greta Garbo

Greta Garbo withdrew from acting after ‘Two-Faced Woman’ and declined subsequent offers to return. She settled into private life in New York, avoiding interviews and public functions.

Her retirement became part of her mystique, but day to day she maintained a quiet routine and friendships outside the press. Archival records show continued interest from studios, which she consistently turned down.

Share your thoughts in the comments: which stories resonated with you, and who else do you think belongs on this list?