Ellen DeGeneres, Josh Hartnett, Brendan Fraser and More Stars Who Left Hollywood
Why Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, Eva Longoria, Lindsay Lohan and extra celebrities desired a transformation from the Hollywood scene.
Hollywood is a station, determined, nevertheless it completely's also a trade.
And it's a allege of thoughts, individual that endless stars who've made a residing in entertainment have determined to grab a spoil from—or chase away altogether.
With great overtime on their hands since her eponymous focus on camouflage Ellen ended, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi left California for the Cotswolds in 2024, where they've endured to flip proper property in the English nation-allege.
Where, Ellen urged an viewers in Gloucester, she stumbled on that existence used to be “real better.”
And that does appear like the theme amongst the celebrities who craved a transformation of scene, whether or no longer they quit their day jobs or no longer.
“It's so great simpler to navigate your existence here,” Jason Priestley urged E! Recordsdata in Could well presumably 2024 about shifting from L.A. to Nashville with wife Naomi Priestley and their two kids. “And it's a chilly, difficult location.”
Josh Hartnett, who's been elevating his four youngsters with wife Tamsin Egerton in England, called residing amongst neighbors who don't attain what he does “the spice of existence.”
“Must you're around folks that are persistently talking regarding the movie trade, your existence goes to be barely great one camouflage,” the Entice actor defined to Folks in July 2024. “And I've by no device wished that.”
But, as an instance, even when shifting on has enthusiastic staunch shifting, with containers and bubble wrap, that doesn't essentially point out the stars obtained't hop on a plane to head where the lights-digicam-action is.
“I've by no device been that a long way-off, nevertheless I did step out of the spotlight for a spell there to sort some things out in my existence and to grab stock of who I am, where I'm going, and what my aspirations are,” Brendan Fraser, who lives in celeb-friendly Bedford, N.Y., acknowledged on Sunday TODAY With Willie Geist in 2023, when he resurfaced from that spell with a Easiest Actor Oscar discover for The Whale. “I've learned that it's going to attain me ethical to work gorgeous in preference to labor laborious.”
And for the reason that trade can in point of fact be wherever, it's simpler than ever sooner than for stars to observe their hearts in selecting a home.
Derive out why extra stars left Hollywood, be it the staunch zip code, the mindset or every:
Ellen DeGeneres
The Ellen DeGeneres Existing host's eponymous focus on camouflage ended in 2022 after a 19-season trudge amid allegations of a poisonous work ambiance that introduced about an internal investigation, extra than one firings of executives and public ire.
Ellen returned to the spotlight for her closing standup special For Your Approval, which launched on Netflix in September 2024. All around the lead-up to that special, she revealed she would perhaps presumably be leaving Hollywood altogether.
“Here’s the closing time you’re going to think me,” she urged a crowd throughout her Ellen’s Final Stand…Up tour, per SFGate. “After my Netflix special, I’m done.”
Ellen and her wife Portia de Rossi have since moved to the Cotswolds, deciding to put effect in November 2024 after Donald Trump's reelection, the focus on camouflage host urged to Richard 1st baron beaverbrook in a July 2025 conversation at the Everyman theater in Cheltenham.
“It's completely lovely,” she gushed regarding the English nation-allege, per the BBC. “We're real no longer feeble to seeing this extra or much less beauty. The villages and the cities and the architecture—every thing you’re thinking that is charming and it's real a simpler device of existence.
“It's shining,” Ellen endured. “The total lot here is staunch better—the model animals are handled, americans are polite. I real esteem it here. We moved here in November, which used to be no longer the very most difficult time, nevertheless I saw snow for the foremost time in my existence. We cherish it here. Portia flew her horses here, and I’ve chickens, and we had sheep for approximately two weeks.”
Tyra Banks
One in every of the explanations the The US's Subsequent High Model host moved to Australia? To place on top of her ice cream trace.
“So I’ve this ice cream company, SMiZE and Dream,” Tyra defined on an April 2025 episode of This day with Jenna & Friends. “But we've been extra what we name B2B, esteem on an airplane and on cruises. I’ve been going to Australia so a lot on epic of we were making quite a pair of our ice cream there in a wide facility doing our recipes. And I real fell in esteem with it every time I went support and went support.”
No longer simplest used to be she satisfied there, nevertheless she also knew it used to be an ethical market for her trade.
“The three international locations that indulge in the most ice cream?” she endured. “The US, Recent Zealand and Australia.”
So, the supermodel moved to Australia with her son York (his dad is her ex Erik Asla) and boyfriend Louis Bélanger-Martin, noting, “Australia has been a dream come ethical for me and my family.”
Eva Longoria
Whereas it's been a minute for the reason that Determined Housewives huge title lived on Wisteria Lane, she's since stumbled on a brand new deal with IRL.
“I had my total adult existence here,” Eva urged Marie Claire in November 2024 about leaving Los Angeles. “But even sooner than [the pandemic], it used to be changing. The vibe used to be quite a pair of. And then Covid came about, and it pushed it over the sting. Whether or no longer it’s the homelessness or the taxes, no longer that I are looking to s–t on California—it real feels esteem this chapter in my existence is finished now.”
So for the past few years, the actress, her husband José Bastón and their son Santiago have split their time between Mexico and Spain.
“I’m privileged,” she endured. “I acquire to interrupt out and chase somewhere. Most American citizens aren’t so fortunate. They’re going to be caught on this dystopian country, and my fright and sadness is for them.”
Then one more time, Eva smartly-known her switch wasn't on epic of of President Trump's re-election.
“I didn't chase away on epic of of the political ambiance,” the Flamin' Sizzling director acknowledged on The Scrutinize: At the support of the Desk podcast in November 2024. “I left on epic of my work took me there since Land of Girls folk—taking pictures six months in Catalonia, then four months in Mexico for Looking out out for out Mexico, then support to Spain. Now I've been there for years. So I real don't esteem that it's politicized.”
Since shifting, Eva has endured to put busy, with fresh projects including her roles in Only Murders in the Building and Alexander and the Dreadful, Inferior, No Stunning, Very Substandard Road Inch.
Richard Gere
The actor has long gone from Chicago to Spain.
“My wife is Spanish, and she gave me about seven years here,” Richard acknowledged of Galicia native Alejandra Silva on a November 2024 episode of The Tonight Existing Starring Jimmy Fallon. “And so we're going to exhaust some years in Madrid.”
He also expressed his pleasure over what the switch would give the couple's younger sons Alexander and James.
“Our kids are bilingual,” Richard, who also has an adult son Homer with ex Carey Lowell, added, “so they're going to flourish there.”
Indeed, it looks your total family has.
“The truth is that you’re seeing us in our momentum,” The Agency: Central Intelligence huge title urged Elle España in January 2025. “We’re happier than ever.”
Christina Milian
From AM to PM, the singer is residing in Paris
“My husband is French, and we've been together for over seven or eight years,” Christina, who is married to singer Matt Pokora, acknowledged on a November 2024 episode of The Jennifer Hudson Existing. “And for the closing three or four years we were commuting from aspect to aspect every six months.”
Then one more time, they determined to officially direct au revoir to the U.S. so her youngsters—who consist of daughter Violet from her ancient marriage with The-Dream and sons Isaiah and Kenna from her union with Matt—would perhaps look in France.
“They're all going to school in Paris,” she endured. “I used to be esteem, 'What better than a chance than that?”
And existence for the family looks to be magnifique.
“My youngsters are satisfied there,” the Dexter: Normal Sin actress urged E! in December 2024. “They know French. We chase to the park. I’ve an brisk every day life that's in point of fact good throughout the day. Then at evening time, I attain my work on epic of I work hours forward. It's , wholesome steadiness for me.”
Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay is drained of rumors beginning about why she left Los Angeles.
So, she station the document straight whereas having a be taught about support at her aggravating work schedule and partying in the aughts.
“I in point of fact feel esteem some of [my work] got overshadowed by paparazzi and all that extra or much less stuff after I used to be younger, and that’s extra or much less annoying,” The Guardian Entice alum urged Bustle in March 2024. “I wish that fragment didn’t occur. I in point of fact feel esteem that extra or much less took on a lifetime of its dangle. So as that’s why I wished to go. I used to be esteem, 'Except there’s no account here, they’re no longer going to home real my work.'”
Lindsay moved in a single more country—first to London then to Dubai (also opening seashore clubs in Greece). Then one more time, there used to be one more motive she sought a existence a long way off from the spotlight.
“I used to be esteem, 'What if I by no device tumble in esteem? What if this by no device occurs?'” the Indicate Girls huge title added. “And it took me real taking time for me for all these doorways to commence and the ‘yeses’ to come—the things I wished to divulge 'certain' to.”
For certain, Lindsay did acquire esteem with Bader Shammas, the pair marrying in 2022 and welcoming son Luai the next 365 days.
They restful live in Dubai, nevertheless the Freaky Friday actress hasn't left the Hollywood industry fully, starring in motion pictures esteem Our Diminutive Secret, Irish Wish and Freakier Friday.
Josh Hartnett
For Josh, the decision to head away Hollywood came after some self-reflection.
“Hollywood is bigger than a location; it's esteem a allege of thoughts,” the Sunless Replicate actor urged Folks in July 2024. “Must you're around folks that are persistently talking regarding the movie trade, your existence goes to be barely great one camouflage. And I've by no device wished that.”
As a replacement, he wished extra.
“I've repeatedly wished to be around … americans assuredly doing quite a pair of quite a pair of things that would perhaps presumably bring my thoughts off of my work and force me to grow in quite a pair of instructions,” Josh added. “To me, that's the spice of existence.”
So, the Sunless Hawk Down alum, his wife Tamsin Egerton and their four youngsters moved to England's Hampshire nation-allege.
“Time passes mercurial,” he urged The Guardian in July 2024. “With four youngsters, you would possibly well well just have so great to attain. In a technique, much less is happening. But extra of the considerable stuff is happening.”
Mute, Josh has stayed so a lot busy and landed roles in Verity, Fight or Flight and Entice.
Jesse Eisenberg
Must you haven't checked your social network lately, then you definately couldn’t know that Jesse doesn't live in L.A.
“I’ve lived in Indiana for the closing decade on-and-off,” the A Staunch Pain huge title urged CBS Recordsdata Sunday Morning in February 2025. “That’s where I in point of fact feel the most satisfied. I’m no longer any individual who needs to encompass myself in an industry that real feels extra or much less unstable to me.”
And whereas he's an Oscar nominee, he lives a barely fashioned existence alongside with his wife Anna Strout and son Banner.
“I'm no longer on social media, and I'm no longer a individual that's on the cellular phone with industry americans your total time,” Jesse also shared. “So, my existence feels barely separate. My wife is a trainer. My kid doesn't in point of fact even be taught about motion pictures. So, I'm no longer esteem knee-deep on the earth of persistently attempting to assess my dangle station in an industry.”
Eliza Dushku Palandjian
After exhibiting in such projects as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and 2000's Elevate It On, Eliza revealed in September 2024 that she had change into licensed in psychedelic-assisted therapy and is furthering her experiences as a mental smartly being professional.
“I had how you would possibly well well presumably shift instructions and establish a course in my existence that everybody in favour of healing myself so that I would perhaps support heal others,” she urged Boston Journal. “I would perhaps presumably be remiss if I didn’t now portion the transformation and the peace and the fervour that I’ve. Here’s real completely so clearly my proper calling, my proper motive.”
Rosie O'Donnell
The Flintstones huge title revealed that she moved to Eire in January 2025 with her youngest child Clay and used to be in the capability of getting her Irish citizenship as her grandparents are from the European country. But whereas Rosie cited fresh political traits as her station off of leaving, she didn’t rule out an eventual return home.
“I chase away out my quite a pair of youngsters,” she acknowledged in a video on TikTok. “I chase away out my mates. I chase away out many things about existence there at home and I'm attempting to search out a home here in on this lovely country. And when it’s miles steady for all residents to have equal rights there in The US, that's after we are in a position to have in thoughts coming support.”
Evangeline Lilly
The Ant-Man and the Wasp huge title equipped she's taking an indefinite hiatus from acting after two decades in the industry.
“I am so stuffed with joy and contentment as we relate as I live out my vision,” Evangeline wrote on Instagram in June 2024. “I in point of fact feel so grateful for my blessings. Stepping a long way off from what looks esteem the glaring choice (wealth and status) can in point of fact feel frightening at instances, nevertheless coming into your dharma replaces the phobia with success.”
But she isn't essentially shutting the door, either, including, “I’d return to Hollywood in some unspecified time in the future, nevertheless, for now, here is where I belong.”
Ian Somerhalder
The Vampire Diaries alum hasn't sunk his teeth into a brand new role since Netflix's 2019 series V-Wars. As a replacement, he has dug quite of deeper into a fondness project, particularly his mission to combat climate change by improving the field's soil.
“I stepped a long way off from acting quite of over four years in the past to grab my youngsters, accomplish my companies and acquire these motion pictures launched,” Ian, who shares two youngsters with wife Nikki Reed, urged E! Recordsdata in November 2023 of launching the 2020 documentary Kiss the Ground and its observe up Total Ground, every detailing the need for regenerative farming.
When he looks years down the street, the actor endured, “I will be a rancher and constructing legacy brands, whether or no longer it's my bourbon or my smartly being and wellness company, and the regenerative agriculture and wholesome soil administration practices that I live by and our family lives by. That's where my existence used to be going. So when americans direct 'Why attain you care?' That's why I care. Attributable to that's who I am, that's what I'm going to alter into.”
Jennette McCurdy
On a February 2021 episode of her podcast Empty Inner, the iCarly alum urged guest Anna Faris that she determined to conclude acting a pair of years support and is now all in favour of alternatives in writing and directing, as smartly as to hosting the podcast.
“My skills with acting is, I'm so ashamed of the parts I've done in the past,” revealed Jennette, who detailed her skills in her 2022 memoir I'm Soft My Mother Died. “I resent my occupation in quite a pair of systems. I in point of fact feel so unfulfilled by the roles that I performed and felt esteem it used to be the most tacky, embarrassing. I did the exhibits that I used to be on from esteem 13 to 21, and by 15, I used to be already embarrassed. My mates at 15, they're no longer esteem, 'Oh, chilly, you're on this Nickelodeon camouflage.' It used to be embarrassing.”
Though she hasn't fully written off a second act. “I attain in point of fact feel esteem simplest through writing the book have I gotten to a location where I suspect there can be a technique of exploring acting that doesn't elevate that baggage that I carried with me for goodbye,” she urged E! Recordsdata in October 2022. “Perchance if I write one thing for myself. I suspect that'd in point of fact be perchance one in all the most easy systems I would perhaps extra or much less try exploring it one more time.”
Meghan Markle
This felt esteem one thing of a no-brainer. If we had a shot to marry Prince Harry, commit our existence to the philanthropic causes that matter most to us and invent acquire entry to to the Queen's impressive sequence of tiaras, bidding ta-ta to Tinseltown would in point of fact feel esteem an okay sacrifice.
Following the route Grace Kelly took from Hollywood to the Palace of Monaco, Meghan left in the support of her home in Toronto—and her breakout role on Suits—for a existence in The Agency. Though, now that she and Harry have shed their senior roles and live in Montecito, Calif., she's edging support into the trade on epic of of trade moves esteem their multi-365 days manufacturing deal with Netflix.
The Duchess of Sussex launched her 2022 docuseries Harry & Meghan as smartly as her 2025 every day life camouflage With Love, Meghan on the streaming carrier. She's also launched podcasts and her trace As Ever.
Cameron Diaz
Having made upwards of 40 motion pictures since her debut in 1994's The Conceal, the actress used to be long past due for a spoil when filming wrapped on 2014's Annie.
“I real determined that I wished quite a pair of things out of my existence,” she defined to wonderful friend Gwyneth Paltrow of her closing act of self-care. “I had long gone so laborious for goodbye, working, making motion pictures and it's such a grind. At the same time as you're making a movie—it's a actually most difficult excuse—they dangle you. You're there for 12 hours a day for months on discontinuance and also you haven’t any time for anything else else.”
And there used to be so a lot extra she'd desire to search out, from writing (she followed up her 2013 Recent York Times supreme-vendor The Physique Book with 2016's The Longevity Book) to beginning a family with husband Benji Madden. But whereas Cameron confessed to InStyle in 2019, “I don't chase away out performing. Apt now I'm having a be taught about at the panorama of wellness and all that,” apparently she will be able to be swayed into making at the least one encore.
“We real begged and satisfied on my knees, esteem, 'Lawful give the americans one extra one more time,'” Jamie Foxx urged E! Recordsdata of getting Cameron to signal on for the 2025 Netflix film Lend a hand in Motion. “We cherish her, we've been ready on her and here is staunch gonna be improbable.”
Terrence Howard
The actor insisted there'd be no encore after he finished his five-365 days trudge on Empire. When Additional requested Terrence about his future sooner than the musical drama series' sixth and closing season in 2019, he replied, “Oh, I'm done with acting. I'm done pretending.”
And even supposing he returned to station for a handful of projects, the Oscar nominee one more time equipped his plans to quit acting whereas promoting his Peacock series The Easiest Man: The Last Chapters in 2022. “I've gotten to the point where now I've given the supreme that I’ve as an actor,” he urged ET. “Now I'm taking half in looking at quite a pair of new skills come around, and I don't are looking to attain an impersonation of myself.”
No matter these comments, even supposing, Howard has since seemed in a pair of extra exhibits and flicks, including the TV series Fight Evening: The Million Greenback Heist and Netflix film Shirley, with extra than one projects lined up in some unspecified time in the future.
Jack Gleeson
As soon as his time as King Joffrey came to a surprising, purple-faced consequence in 2014, the then-21-365 days-faded urged EW he used to be getting out of the sport. “I've been acting since age 8,” the Game of Thrones huge title defined of his decision. “I real stopped taking half in it as great as I feeble to.”
No longer a baby huge title, quite of the magic had dilapidated off. “Now there's the chance of doing it for a residing, whereas up till now it used to be repeatedly one thing I did for game with my mates, or in the summer season for some stress-free,” Jack endured. “I enjoyed it. At the same time as you originate a residing from one thing, it changes your relationship with it. It's no longer esteem I despise it, it's real no longer what I are looking to attain.”
But after a six-365 days spoil, he used to be ready to resume his reign, becoming a member of the solid of BBC's series Out of Her Mind in 2020. Since then, Jack has also seemed in motion pictures esteem Rebecca's Boyfriend and In the Land of Saints and Sinners as smartly as TV exhibits esteem Safe Harbor and The Well-known 5.
Phoebe Cates
When Like a flash Times at Ridgemont Excessive's dream girl (Jennifer Aniston took on her fragment in September 2020's virtual desk be taught) wed fellow actor Kevin Kline in 1989, they “agreed to alternate so that we're by no device working at the identical time,” he urged Playboy of their concept to esteem son Owen and daughter Greta (a singer who now goes by the stage title Frankie Cosmos).
Then one more time, he endured, “every time it's been her slot to work, Phoebe has chosen to put with the kids.” Though she made a cameo in wonderful friend Jennifer Jason Leigh's 2001 indie The Anniversary Birthday celebration, Cates devotes most of her time to working her Recent York City boutique Blue Tree.
Rick Moranis
At the height of his Ghostbusters and Honey, I… status, the '80s huge title stepped a long way off from filmmaking no longer long after his wife handed a long way off from breast most cancers in 1991 to home elevating his youngsters Rachel and Mitchell.
Though Rick hasn't had a live-action movie role since 1997, even passing on a cameo in Paul Feig's 2016 Ghostbusters remake, he's remained a treasured cultural icon, as evidenced by the outrage over reports that he'd been assaulted whereas walking in Recent York City in 2020.
Fortunately there's ethical records for fans: He'll originate his triumphant return alongside Josh Gad in the upcoming Disney reboot Shriveled.
Leelee Sobieski
As soon as she wed clothier Adam Kimmel in 2010, the Never Been Kissed standout hinted that she used to be perchance kinda done with motion pictures. “Ninety percent of acting roles involve so great sexual stuff with quite a pair of americans, and I don't are looking to attain that,” she defined to Vogue. “It's such a particular fireside to play with, and our relationship is totally robust ample to deal with it, nevertheless whenever you occur to're going to bolt through fireside, there has to be one thing inconceivable on the quite a pair of aspect.”
Her decision used to be solidified after son Martin joined older sister Louisanna in 2014. “I don't attain movie stuff anymore. I am fully an outsider! I … am real a mom and an outsider,” she smartly-known to Us Weekly at a 2016 tournament, explaining that she helps Kimmel alongside with his trade and paints on the aspect. “I am real all in favour of my youngsters. I suspect that's mainly why I finished.”
Portia de Rossi
She'd done Ally McBeal. And Nip/Tuck. Then Arrested Construction and at closing Scandal when the Aussie realized that perchance she used to be ready to flip the dial.
“I used to be drawing come Forty five and I real extra or much less…used to be questioning is there one thing that I would perhaps sort out now that I've by no device done sooner than that is more seemingly to be in point of fact demanding and quite a pair of,” she defined on wife Ellen DeGeneres' eponymous focus on camouflage in 2018. “I extra or much less knew what acting would be taught about esteem for me for the next 10, two decades, so I made up my thoughts to quit and originate a trade.”
Her user-art company, Total Public, already a piece in development, she had real one piece to enact.
“I called Mitch Hurwitz, who's the creator of Arrested Construction and I acknowledged, 'If there is a season 5, I obtained't be doing it on epic of I quit acting. And he gave the influence in point of fact working out and he fully got it. We had a wide conversation, after which he wrote me into five episodes.”
Daniel Day-Lewis
To be entertaining, as soon as you've obtained three Academy Awards, what's left to enact? Presently after receiving his sixth Oscar nod for his closing film, 2017's Phantom Thread, the thespian had his acquire anguish a assertion informing fans that he “are no longer working as an actor. He is immensely grateful to all of his collaborators and audiences over the quite a pair of years. Here’s a non-public decision and neither he nor his representatives will originate any extra observation on this field.”
But real when Daniel thought he used to be out, his son pulled him support in. In October 2024, manufacturing company Focal point Facets equipped the Oscar winner would huge title in Anemone, the film he wrote alongside son Ronan Day-Lewis (who will even say).
Bridgit Mendler
The Stunning Splendid fortune Charlie alum took a step support from the spotlight in 2018 when she began pursuing a master's diploma from MIT, later earning a PhD from the institution. She also enrolled in Harvard Law College.
And as if that weren't ample, Bridgit launched her dangle startup Northwood Apartment, which objectives to carry out floor satellite tv for pc stations to support ship and receive records from allege, changing into CEO of the logo in February 2023.
Source credit : eonline.com
