Actresses Who Quit Hollywood To Pursue Other Interests

Hollywood fame is often seen as the ultimate goal for performers but many actresses have walked away from the spotlight to find fulfillment elsewhere. Some left the industry to focus on education or family while others pursued entirely different careers in fields like law and medicine. The pressures of public life and the desire for privacy often contribute to these decisions. This list highlights women who traded red carpets for new professional paths and personal endeavors.

Grace Kelly

Grace Kelly was one of the most iconic stars of the 1950s with roles in films like ‘Rear Window’ and ‘High Society’. She retired from acting at the age of 26 to marry Prince Rainier III of Monaco. Her transition from Hollywood royalty to actual royalty required her to assume numerous official duties and philanthropic responsibilities. She never returned to the screen despite offers from directors like Alfred Hitchcock. Kelly remained dedicated to her role as Princess of Monaco until her death.

Shirley Temple

Shirley Temple captivated audiences as a child star in movies such as ‘Curly Top’ and ‘The Little Princess’. She retired from the film industry at the age of 22 after struggling to transition into adult roles. Temple reinvented herself as a public servant and diplomat in her later years. She served as the United States Ambassador to Ghana and later to Czechoslovakia. Her career in politics became as defining as her early years in entertainment.

Greta Garbo

Greta Garbo was a cinematic legend known for her performances in ‘Camille’ and ‘Ninotchka’. She abruptly retired from acting in 1941 at the age of 35 after receiving negative reviews for ‘Two-Faced Woman’. Garbo spent the rest of her life in New York City where she avoided publicity and lived in seclusion. She became an art collector and invested wisely in real estate and stocks. Her refusal to return to the spotlight cemented her enigmatic legacy.

Mary-Kate Olsen

Mary-Kate Olsen began her career as an infant on the sitcom ‘Full House’ alongside her twin sister. She appeared in numerous films and direct-to-video specials before retiring from acting in the early 2010s. She shifted her focus entirely to the fashion industry and co-founded luxury brands like The Row and Elizabeth and James. Her work as a fashion designer has earned her multiple awards from the Council of Fashion Designers of America. She maintains a very private life away from the cameras.

Ashley Olsen

Ashley Olsen shared the role of Michelle Tanner on ‘Full House’ and built a massive media empire with her sister. She stopped acting permanently to pursue her passion for fashion design and business. Olsen is renowned for her work as a creative director for The Row where she emphasizes high-quality fabrics and tailoring. She has successfully transitioned from a child star to a respected figure in the global fashion industry. Like her sister she rarely gives interviews or appears at entertainment events.

Jennette McCurdy

Jennette McCurdy became a household name playing Sam Puckett on the Nickelodeon series ‘iCarly’. She announced her retirement from acting on a podcast and later detailed her negative experiences in the industry in her memoir. McCurdy has since pivoted to writing and directing while hosting a popular mental health podcast. Her book became a bestseller and highlighted the abuse she suffered as a child actor. She has expressed no interest in returning to performing on screen.

Mara Wilson

Mara Wilson charmed audiences as the title character in ‘Matilda’ and in ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’. She stepped away from major film roles as she entered adolescence and chose to focus on her education. Wilson became a writer and playwright who frequently discusses the challenges of child stardom. She has published a memoir and writes articles for various online publications. While she does occasional voice work she largely avoids on-camera acting.

Amanda Bynes

Amanda Bynes was a comedy breakout star on ‘The Amanda Show’ and in films like ‘She’s the Man’. She announced an indefinite hiatus from acting in 2010 to address personal matters and pursue other interests. Bynes eventually enrolled in the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in California to study fashion design. She graduated in 2019 and has expressed interest in starting her own clothing line or fragrance. Her focus remains on her education and personal well-being.

Phoebe Cates

Phoebe Cates was a popular actress in the 1980s known for ‘Fast Times at Ridgemont High’ and ‘Gremlins’. She retired from acting in the mid-1990s to focus on raising her children with husband Kevin Kline. Cates later opened a luxury boutique called Blue Tree in New York City. She actively manages the store and curates its selection of clothing and gifts. Her appearances in media have been extremely rare since her departure from Hollywood.

Bridget Fonda

Bridget Fonda appeared in critically acclaimed films like ‘Single White Female’ and ‘Jackie Brown’ during the 1990s. She left the industry in 2002 after appearing in a television movie and suffering a back injury from a car accident. Fonda married composer Danny Elfman and chose to focus entirely on family life. She has not appeared in a film or television show for over two decades. She was recently photographed leading a quiet life away from the entertainment circuit.

Taylor Momsen

Taylor Momsen played Jenny Humphrey on the teen drama ‘Gossip Girl’ and appeared in ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’. She left the series and acting altogether to commit fully to her music career. Momsen is the lead vocalist and songwriter for the rock band The Pretty Reckless. The band has achieved significant success with multiple chart-topping singles on rock radio. She has stated that music is her true passion and she has no plans to act again.

Kay Panabaker

Kay Panabaker worked steadily for Disney Channel and appeared in the remake of ‘Fame’. She retired from acting to pursue her lifelong passion for animals and biology. Panabaker attended UCLA and earned a degree in Zoology before working as a zookeeper. She now works at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Florida in a conservation role. Her career change allowed her to fulfill a dream she held since childhood.

Dolores Hart

Dolores Hart starred alongside Elvis Presley in ‘Loving You’ and achieved Hollywood success in the late 1950s. She shocked the industry by leaving her career at the age of 24 to enter a contemplative monastery. Hart became a Roman Catholic nun and eventually the Prioress of the Abbey of Regina Laudis in Connecticut. She remains a voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Her story was the subject of an Oscar-nominated documentary.

Heather Donahue

Heather Donahue is best known for her role in the found-footage phenomenon ‘The Blair Witch Project’. She left acting in 2008 to become a grower of medical marijuana in California. Donahue wrote a memoir titled ‘Growgirl’ about her experiences in the cannabis industry. She later developed a line of herbal wellness products. She has largely distanced herself from her acting past to focus on writing and entrepreneurship.

Ariana Richards

Ariana Richards is famously known for playing Lex Murphy in the blockbuster ‘Jurassic Park’. She stepped back from acting in the late 1990s to focus on her art education. Richards became a successful professional painter specializing in landscapes and figures. Her artwork is influenced by the Impressionist style and has been exhibited in various galleries. She still attends occasional fan conventions but considers painting her primary career.

Lisa Jakub

Lisa Jakub played the eldest daughter Lydia in the comedy hit ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’. She left the film industry in her early twenties after growing tired of the superficial nature of the business. Jakub became a writer and a yoga teacher who advocates for mental wellness. She has written books about her time in Hollywood and her journey with anxiety. She now runs workshops to help veterans and others cope with trauma.

Brittany Ashton Holmes

Brittany Ashton Holmes delivered a memorable performance as Darla in the 1994 film ‘The Little Rascals’. She retired from acting shortly after the film to live a normal childhood. Holmes eventually pursued a degree in political science and worked at a Starbucks during her studies. She has expressed no desire to return to the entertainment industry. Her life remains private and she currently resides in Los Angeles.

Carrie Henn

Carrie Henn played the role of Newt in the sci-fi action classic ‘Aliens’. She decided not to pursue an acting career after that single major role. Henn chose to go into education and became an elementary school teacher in California. She occasionally attends conventions to meet fans of the franchise. Her contribution to cinema remains iconic despite her filmography consisting of only one movie.

Jennifer Stone

Jennifer Stone played Harper Finkle on the Disney Channel series ‘Wizards of Waverly Place’. She took a step back from acting to study nursing after being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Stone now works as an emergency room nurse and was on the frontlines during the global health crisis. She continues to advocate for diabetes awareness while maintaining her medical career. She balances occasional acting projects with her full-time nursing duties.

Portia de Rossi

Portia de Rossi starred in popular shows like ‘Ally McBeal’ and ‘Arrested Development’. She announced her retirement from acting in 2018 to focus on her art business. She founded a company called General Public that uses 3D technology to print textured reproductions of paintings. De Rossi also engages in philanthropic work alongside her wife. She made a brief voice cameo for a revival but considers herself retired.

Ali MacGraw

Ali MacGraw became an international star with the romance film ‘Love Story’. She gradually moved away from acting to focus on animal rights activism and yoga. MacGraw released a popular yoga video in the 1990s that became a bestseller. She moved to Santa Fe to live a quieter life and engaged in community theatre and design work. Her focus shifted toward spiritual well-being and away from Hollywood glamour.

Kim Novak

Kim Novak was one of the biggest stars of the 1950s and starred in Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘Vertigo’. She walked away from Hollywood in the 1960s to preserve her mental health and artistic integrity. Novak moved to Oregon where she raised horses and dedicated herself to painting. She described her departure as a necessary escape from the studio system’s control. Novak continues to live privately as a visual artist.

Doris Day

Doris Day was a top box-office draw known for romantic comedies like ‘Pillow Talk’. She retired from films in 1968 and from television in 1973 to focus on animal welfare. Day founded the Doris Day Animal Foundation and became a leading advocate for animal rights. She spent the remainder of her life in Carmel-by-the-Sea managing her foundation and a pet-friendly hotel. Her post-Hollywood life was entirely dedicated to the protection of animals.

Brigitte Bardot

Brigitte Bardot was a global sex symbol and star of French cinema in the 1950s and 60s. She retired from the screen in 1973 at the height of her fame to devote her life to animal rights. Bardot established a foundation that has campaigned against seal hunting and animal cruelty. She became a vocal and controversial activist for various causes. She has sold off personal possessions to fund her foundation’s work.

Glenda Jackson

Glenda Jackson won two Academy Awards for Best Actress for ‘Women in Love’ and ‘A Touch of Class’. She retired from acting in 1992 to stand for election to the British Parliament. Jackson served as a Member of Parliament for over two decades and held a position as a junior transport minister. She returned to acting briefly later in life but her primary second career was politics. Her transition is considered one of the most successful from entertainment to government.

Maia Brewton

Maia Brewton appeared in 1980s hits like ‘Adventures in Babysitting’ and the sitcom ‘Parker Lewis Can’t Lose’. She left the acting world in the 1990s to pursue higher education at Yale University. Brewton became an attorney and has practiced law for many years. She focused on her legal career and raising her family. She has not returned to professional acting since her departure.

Carly Schroeder

Carly Schroeder is known for her role on ‘Lizzie McGuire’ and the film ‘Gracie’. She paused her acting career to enlist in the United States Army. Schroeder completed officer candidate school and aimed to help veterans fight human trafficking. She cited a desire to make a tangible difference in the world as her motivation. Her focus shifted from performance to military service and advocacy.

Andrea Elson

Andrea Elson is best recognized as Lynn Tanner from the 1980s sitcom ‘ALF’. She left the entertainment industry in the 1990s after the show ended and guest roles became sporadic. Elson became a yoga instructor and travels to conduct lifestyle workshops. She focuses on health and wellness while maintaining a private life. She rarely participates in industry events or reunions.

Danielle Spencer

Danielle Spencer played the character Dee Thomas on the sitcom ‘What’s Happening!!’. She stepped away from the spotlight to pursue an education in veterinary medicine. Spencer became a licensed veterinarian and has practiced for over two decades. She authored a book about her transition from child star to animal doctor. Her medical career allows her to help animals which she describes as her calling.

Ashlie Brillault

Ashlie Brillault played the antagonist Kate Sanders in the Disney Channel series ‘Lizzie McGuire’. She retired from acting immediately after the show and its movie concluded. Brillault earned a law degree from the University of Denver. She now works as a criminal defense attorney and focuses on her legal practice. She has maintained a low profile and lives a private life with her family.

Linda Fiorentino

Linda Fiorentino gave memorable performances in ‘The Last Seduction’ and ‘Men in Black’. She effectively retired from acting in the late 2000s and retreated from the public eye. Fiorentino developed an interest in photography and has worked on various personal artistic projects. She has occasionally been involved in real estate ventures. Her withdrawal from Hollywood remains one of the industry’s mysteries.

Shelley Duvall

Shelley Duvall starred in iconic films like ‘The Shining’ and ‘Popeye’ before retreating to Texas. She left Hollywood in 2002 to live a quiet life in her home state. Duvall faced mental health struggles that were later publicized on a talk show. She remained out of the industry for two decades before a very brief return in an indie horror film. She passed away recently after years of living away from the mainstream spotlight.

Deanna Durbin

Deanna Durbin was the highest-paid woman in the United States and a major musical star in the 1940s. She walked away from fame at age 27 because she disliked the Hollywood lifestyle and studio control. Durbin moved to a farmhouse in France with her husband and rejected all offers to return. She lived the rest of her life in complete obscurity and privacy. She never gave an on-camera interview after her retirement.

Norma Shearer

Norma Shearer was a dominant leading lady at MGM and starred in ‘The Women’. She retired in 1942 after marrying a ski instructor who was much younger than her. Shearer chose to focus on her personal life and did not want to age on camera. She spent her later years at a ski resort and remained out of the public eye. Her retirement was a clean break from her status as a screen queen.

Louise Brooks

Louise Brooks was a silent film icon known for her role in ‘Pandora’s Box’ and her signature bob haircut. She left the industry after conflicts with studio executives and a disdain for Hollywood politics. Brooks spent her later years as a salesclerk and eventually became a respected writer. She authored a memoir titled ‘Lulu in Hollywood’ which offered sharp critiques of the film business. Her writing career brought her a new kind of acclaim.

Betty Hutton

Betty Hutton was a dynamic performer who starred in the musical ‘Annie Get Your Gun’. She walked away from her career in the 1960s after experiencing personal struggles and disillusionment. Hutton eventually converted to Catholicism and worked as a cook and housekeeper in a rectory. She later earned a degree and became a drama teacher at a university. Her life after stardom was focused on faith and education.

Nancy Reagan

Nancy Reagan appeared in films such as ‘Hellcats of the Navy’ during the 1940s and 50s. She retired from acting to support the political ambitions of her husband Ronald Reagan. She served as the First Lady of California and later the First Lady of the United States. Her duties included heading the “Just Say No” drug awareness campaign. She remains one of the most influential political spouses in history.

Liesel Matthews

Liesel Matthews starred in the critically acclaimed 1995 film ‘A Little Princess’. She left acting to focus on her education and her family’s business interests. Matthews is a member of the wealthy Pritzker family and became a dedicated philanthropist. She founded organizations focused on microfinance and education in developing nations. She uses her resources to drive social change rather than pursuing fame.

Bridgette Wilson-Sampras

Bridgette Wilson-Sampras appeared in ‘Billy Madison’ and played Sonya Blade in ‘Mortal Kombat’. She married tennis legend Pete Sampras and decided to leave acting to raise their two sons. Wilson-Sampras stated that she could not bear to be away from her children for long shoots. She has focused entirely on homemaking and supporting her family. She has not taken a role since 2008.

Claudia Wells

Claudia Wells played Jennifer Parker in the original ‘Back to the Future’ film. She stopped acting to care for her mother who had been diagnosed with cancer. Wells opened a high-end menswear resale store called Armani Wells in Studio City. She has managed the business successfully for decades. While she makes rare convention appearances her primary focus is her retail entrepreneurship.

Karyn Parsons

Karyn Parsons is best known as Hilary Banks on ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’. She moved away from acting to launch the non-profit organization Sweet Blackberry. Her foundation produces animated films that teach children about unsung heroes in Black history. Parsons writes and produces these educational stories to fill gaps in school curriculums. Her work is dedicated to education and cultural preservation.

Leelee Sobieski

Leelee Sobieski was a rising star with roles in ‘Deep Impact’ and ‘Eyes Wide Shut’. She retired from acting in 2012 because she found the industry’s focus on physical appearance uncomfortable. Sobieski adopted her married name and transitioned into a professional career as a visual artist. She paints large-scale abstracts and has exhibited her work in New York and Paris. She prefers the solitude of the studio to film sets.

Eva Mendes

Eva Mendes starred in hits like ‘Hitch’ and ‘Training Day’ before stepping back from Hollywood. She decided to pause her acting career to focus on raising her two daughters with partner Ryan Gosling. Mendes also became a business owner with lines in fashion and skincare. She actively manages her lifestyle brand and cleaning product company. She has stated that her business ventures allow her more control over her schedule than acting.

Share your favorite performance by one of these actresses in the comments.