George Clooney, a celebrated actor known for his work in American cinema, has shifted his priorities significantly in recent years, stepping away from major studio undertakings to spend more time with his family in France. In a candid discussion about his George Clooney career change, the star reflected on his motivations for altering his professional focus while raising his twins with Amal Clooney and embracing a quieter life abroad.
Family Life Takes Precedence for George Clooney
After welcoming twins Alexander and Ella with his wife Amal Clooney, George Clooney chose to recalibrate his career path, favoring smaller film projects that allow for a better work-life balance.
“I’m not going to be doing a whole lot of major studio kinds of films,”
Clooney told Variety, emphasizing his preference for working on films with creative significance over financial reward.
“The films that I’m going to be working on for the most part are going to be smaller. If I’m going to go off and do something and be away from my kids, there has to be a real creative reason for it.”
– George Clooney, Actor.
This place in his career has allowed Clooney to be selective, a luxury he acknowledges. He attributes this flexibility to his past success and ability to avoid the pitfalls of typecasting, noting,
“Most of my successes were middle-of-the-road hits,”
and adding,
“That’s lucky, because I was never typecast. I could do all kinds of things. I could do movies that were very serious, like Michael Clayton, and then do something wild like Burn After Reading.”
– George Clooney, Actor. As his career evolves, Clooney takes pride in being able to continue acting, even as his leading-man image matures:
“It meant that once I couldn’t kiss the girl anymore, I could still have a career.”
– George Clooney, Actor.
As they build a life on a farm in the French countryside, Clooney described the move as a pursuit of normalcy for his children. He recounted,
“We live on a farm in France,”
and shared memories of his youth:
“A good portion of my life growing up was on a farm, and as a kid, I hated the whole idea of it. But now, for them, it’s like—they’re not on their iPads, you know? They have dinner with grown-ups and have to take their dishes in.”
– George Clooney, Actor.
Clooney explained the rationale for settling far from Hollywood, saying,
“They have a much better life,”
and admitted concerns about upbringing in Los Angeles:
“I was worried about raising our kids in L.A., in the culture of Hollywood. I felt like they were never going to get a fair shake at life.”
– George Clooney, Actor.
Now residing in France with Amal and their children, he appreciates the buffer from celebrity culture, stating,
“France—they kind of don’t give a s–t about fame,”
and adding,
“I don’t want them to be walking around worried about paparazzi. I don’t want them being compared to somebody else’s famous kids.”
– George Clooney, Actor.
Other Celebrities Who Have Left Hollywood Behind
George Clooney isn’t alone in his decision to step away from Hollywood for a quieter life or new direction. Many notable figures in the entertainment industry have made similar decisions, moving for personal well-being, family, or new ventures.
Ellen DeGeneres Decides to Leave Entertainment
Ellen DeGeneres, former host of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, opted for a dramatic exit from Hollywood after her talk show ended its lengthy run amid workplace controversies. She confirmed her departure in her stand-up tour, telling her audience,
“This is the last time you’re going to see me,”
and,
“After my Netflix special, I’m done.”
– Ellen DeGeneres, Talk Show Host. Now living in England‘s Cotswolds with her wife Portia de Rossi, DeGeneres highlighted the shift in lifestyle:
“Everything here is just better—the way animals are treated, people are polite. I just love it here. We moved here in November, which was not the ideal time, but I saw snow for the first time in my life. We love it here. Portia flew her horses here, and I have chickens, and we had sheep for about two weeks.”
– Ellen DeGeneres, Talk Show Host.
Tyra Banks Relocates for Business and Lifestyle
Tyra Banks, renowned for America‘s Next Top Model, explained her move to Australia as being driven by her entrepreneurial interests:
“So I have this ice cream company, SMiZE and Dream,”
she explained on television. Her business required her presence in Australia, which soon became a treasured place for her:
“Australia has been a dream come true for me and my family.”
– Tyra Banks, Supermodel and Entrepreneur.
Eva Longoria Finds New Chapters Abroad
Eva Longoria, long associated with Los Angeles, chose to split her residence between Mexico and Spain. Reflecting on this change, she shared,
“I had my whole adult life here,”
and,
“But even before [the pandemic], it was changing. The vibe was different. And then Covid happened, and it pushed it over the edge. Whether it’s the homelessness or the taxes, not that I want to s–t on California—it just feels like this chapter in my life is done now.”
– Eva Longoria, Actress.
Longoria emphasized her move had less to do with politics and more with work and family:
“I didn’t leave because of the political environment,”
she stated on a podcast, explaining that filming commitments now keep her in Europe for extended periods.
Richard Gere Chooses Family Roots Over Hollywood
Richard Gere has transitioned from the U.S. to life in Spain alongside his wife, Alejandra Silva. He explained,
“My wife is Spanish, and she gave me about seven years here,”
and
“And so we’re going to spend some years in Madrid.”
– Richard Gere, Actor. Gere took pride in how the relocation benefits their bilingual children and noted the family’s happiness abroad:
“The truth is that you are seeing us in our momentum,”
– Richard Gere, Actor.
Christina Milian’s Family Life in Paris
Singer and actress Christina Milian relocated her family to Paris, sharing her husband’s French heritage as a motivation:
“My husband is French, and we’ve been together for over seven or eight years,”
and mentioning the transition after years of transatlantic commuting:
“And for the last three or four years we were commuting back and forth every six months.”
– Christina Milian, Singer/Actress. She found it ideal for her children’s education and lifestyle:
“They’re all going to school in Paris,”
and
“I was like, ‘What better than an opportunity than that?”
– Christina Milian, Singer/Actress.
Milian appreciates the healthy work-life balance: “My kids are happy there,” and
“I have an active lifestyle that’s really nice during the day. Then at night time, I do my work because I work hours ahead. It’s a nice, healthy balance for me.”
– Christina Milian, Singer/Actress.
Lindsay Lohan Finds Privacy and Personal Growth Overseas
Lindsay Lohan clarified her reasons for leaving Los Angeles, referencing the negative attention she received in her youth:
“I feel like some of [my work] got overshadowed by paparazzi and all that kind of stuff when I was younger, and that’s kind of annoying,”
and,
“I wish that part didn’t happen. I feel like that kind of took on a life of its own. So that’s why I wanted to disappear. I was like, ‘Unless there’s no story here, they’re not going to focus on just my work.’”
– Lindsay Lohan, Actress. After living in London and Dubai, Lohan now enjoys both an international lifestyle and occasional returns to the screen, having found love with Bader Shammas and welcomed their child, Luai.
She also reflected on personal milestones:
“I was like, ‘What if I never fall in love? What if this never happens?’”
and
“And it took me just taking time for me for all those doors to open and the ‘yeses’ to come—the things I wanted to say ‘yes’ to.”
– Lindsay Lohan, Actress.
Josh Hartnett Seeks Simplicity and Variety Away from the Spotlight
Josh Hartnett recounted the reason for his move away from Hollywood:
“Hollywood is more than a place; it’s like a state of mind,”
he told People. Explaining his desire for broader life experiences, he said,
“I’ve always wanted to be around … people generally doing lots of other things that would bring my mind off of my work and force me to grow in different directions,”
and,
“To me, that’s the spice of life.”
– Josh Hartnett, Actor. Now living in England’s Hampshire countryside with his wife Tamsin Egerton and four children, he finds the slower pace meaningful, saying,
“With four children, you have so much to do. In a way, less is happening. But more of the important stuff is happening.”
– Josh Hartnett, Actor.
Jesse Eisenberg Finds Stability in Indiana
The Social Network star Jesse Eisenberg revealed his preference for life in Indiana:
“I’ve lived in Indiana for the last decade on-and-off,”
and
“That’s where I feel the most comfortable. I’m not somebody who wants to surround myself in an industry that just feels kind of unstable to me.”
– Jesse Eisenberg, Actor. He added that his everyday life is distanced from the intense atmosphere of Hollywood:
“I’m not on social media, and I’m not a person who’s on the phone with industry people all the time,”
and emphasized,
“So, my life feels pretty separate. My wife is a teacher. My kid doesn’t really even watch movies. So, I’m not like knee-deep in the world of constantly trying to assess my own status in an industry.”
– Jesse Eisenberg, Actor.
Eliza Dushku Palandjian Transitions to Mental Health
After years in acting, Eliza Dushku Palandjian shifted her path toward healing and therapy. As she explained,
“I had the means to shift directions and choose a course in my life that focused on healing myself so that I could help heal others,”
and,
“I would be remiss if I didn’t now share the transformation and the peace and the passion that I have. This is just absolutely so clearly my real calling, my real purpose.”
– Eliza Dushku Palandjian, Mental Health Professional.
Rosie O’Donnell Moves to Ireland for Change
In the wake of American political developments, Rosie O’Donnell moved to Ireland with her youngest child, Clay. She expressed nostalgia and a conditional plan for returning to the United States:
“I miss my friends. I miss many things about life there at home and I’m trying to find a home here in in this beautiful country. And when it is safe for all citizens to have equal rights there in America, that’s when we will consider coming back.”
– Rosie O’Donnell, Actor and Comedian.
Evangeline Lilly Steps Away from Acting
Evangeline Lilly, recognizable from Ant-Man and the Wasp, shared her sense of satisfaction and fulfillment upon exiting the industry:
“I am so filled with joy and contentment today as I live out my vision,”
and,
“I feel so grateful for my blessings. Stepping away from what seems like the obvious choice (wealth and fame) can feel scary at times, but stepping into your dharma replaces the fear with fulfillment.”
– Evangeline Lilly, Actress. Still, she left open the prospect of a return:
“I might return to Hollywood one day, but, for now, this is where I belong.”
– Evangeline Lilly, Actress.
Ian Somerhalder Pursues Environmental Ventures
Ian Somerhalder, known for The Vampire Diaries, channeled his passion into environmental projects, explaining his decision:
“I stepped away from acting a little over four years ago to raise my kids, build my companies and get these films launched,”
– Ian Somerhalder, Actor/Entrepreneur. He envisions a future focused on land stewardship and business:
“I will be a rancher and building legacy brands, whether it’s my bourbon or my health and wellness company, and the regenerative agriculture and healthy soil management practices that I live by and our family lives by. That’s where my life was going. So when people say ‘Why do you care?’ That’s why I care. Because that’s who I am, that’s what I’m going to become.”
– Ian Somerhalder, Actor/Entrepreneur.
Jennette McCurdy Redefines Herself Beyond Acting
Jennette McCurdy became known for her roles on Nickelodeon but later expressed discomfort with her past:
“My experience with acting is, I’m so ashamed of the parts I’ve done in the past,”
and,
“I resent my career in a lot of ways. I feel so unfulfilled by the roles that I played and felt like it was the most cheesy, embarrassing. I did the shows that I was on from like 13 to 21, and by 15, I was already embarrassed.”
– Jennette McCurdy, Author/Podcast Host. She also sees potential for a return, but only on her own terms:
“I do feel like only through writing the book have I gotten to a place where I think there might be a way of exploring acting that doesn’t carry that baggage that I carried with me for so long,”
and,
“Maybe if I write something for myself. I think that’d really be maybe one of the only ways I could kind of try exploring it again.”
– Jennette McCurdy, Author/Podcast Host.
Meghan Markle Transitions to Royal and Entrepreneurial Life
Meghan Markle left her acting career, which included a key role on Suits, to join the British royal family in a transition reminiscent of Grace Kelly. Now residing in Montecito, California, with Prince Harry, she has shifted her focus to philanthropy and content production, evident in her documentary series and entrepreneurial endeavors.
Cameron Diaz Steps Back—and Then Returns for a Special Project
Cameron Diaz, who starred in dozens of films across decades, made a conscious decision to exit acting for new pursuits.
“I just decided that I wanted different things out of my life,”
she told Gwyneth Paltrow, and,
“I had gone so hard for so long, working, making films and it’s such a grind. When you’re making a movie—it’s a perfect excuse—they own you. You’re there for 12 hours a day for months on end and you have no time for anything else.”
– Cameron Diaz, Actress.
While Diaz focused on writing and family, Jamie Foxx described his efforts to coax her back to the screen:
“We just begged and pleased on my knees, like, ‘Just give the people one more again,’”
and
“We love her, we’ve been waiting on her and this is just gonna be fantastic.”
– Jamie Foxx, Actor.
Terrence Howard Announces his Retirement—Then Returns
Empire actor Terrence Howard was unambiguous about stepping away:
“Oh, I’m done with acting. I’m done pretending.”
– Terrence Howard, Actor. While he stepped back from the industry, Howard returned for several projects and explained his outlook:
“I’ve gotten to the point where now I’ve given the very best that I have as an actor,”
and,
“Now I’m enjoying watching other new talent come around, and I don’t want to do an impersonation of myself.”
– Terrence Howard, Actor.
Jack Gleeson’s Perspective on Child Stardom and Return to Acting
Jack Gleeson, memorable as King Joffrey in Game of Thrones, reflected on leaving acting after his iconic role:
“I’ve been acting since age 8,”
and
“I just stopped enjoying it as much as I used to.”
– Jack Gleeson, Actor. Describing his evolving perception, he said,
“Now there’s the prospect of doing it for a living, whereas up until now it was always something I did for recreation with my friends, or in the summer for some fun,”
and,
“I enjoyed it. When you make a living from something, it changes your relationship with it. It’s not like I hate it, it’s just not what I want to do.”
– Jack Gleeson, Actor.
Phoebe Cates Prioritizes Family Over Fame
Phoebe Cates and her husband Kevin Kline developed a plan to alternate work schedules for their family, with Kline noting,
“agreed to alternate so that we’re never working at the same time,”
and
“whenever it’s been her slot to work, Phoebe has chosen to stay with the children.”
– Kevin Kline, Actor. Cates now runs her own boutique in New York City, opting for a move away from acting.
Rick Moranis Steps Away for Family but Plans a Comeback
Rick Moranis, beloved for his roles in Ghostbusters and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, paused his on-screen career after personal loss to focus on raising his children. Though he’s been largely absent from live-action projects, news of a planned return in a Disney reboot has been welcomed by fans.
Leelee Sobieski Embraces Life Outside Hollywood
Leelee Sobieski explained her retreat from movies, stating,
“Ninety percent of acting roles involve so much sexual stuff with other people, and I don’t want to do that,”
and,
“I am just focused on my kids. I think that’s mainly why I stopped.”
– Leelee Sobieski, Actress. Sobieski has since concentrated on supporting her family and pursuing art.
Portia de Rossi Pursues Entrepreneurship
After a rich acting career, Portia de Rossi decided to seek new challenges, explaining,
“I was approaching 45 and I just kind of…was wondering is there something that I could tackle now that I’ve never done before that would be really challenging and different,”
and
“I kind of knew what acting would look like for me for the next 10, 20 years, so I decided to quit and start a business.”
– Portia de Rossi, Entrepreneur. Her company, General Public, became her new professional passion. She also experienced a supportive transition from her network, with show creator Mitch Hurwitz understanding her choice to step back.
Daniel Day-Lewis Announces Retirement—With a Possible Return
After three Academy Awards and a distinguished career, Daniel Day-Lewis’s representatives issued a joint statement:
“will no longer be working as an actor. He is immensely grateful to all of his collaborators and audiences over the many years. This is a private decision and neither he nor his representatives will make any further comment on this subject.”
– Daniel Day-Lewis’ Representatives. However, he is set to return for a new project with his son Ronan Day-Lewis.
Bridgit Mendler Forges a New Path in Academia and Technology
Bridgit Mendler, best known for roles on the Disney Channel, paused her entertainment career to pursue higher education, earning advanced degrees from MIT and Harvard Law School before launching her space technology startup, Northwood Space. She now serves as CEO, marking a dramatic career transformation away from Hollywood.
Lasting Impact of Career Changes in Hollywood
George Clooney’s career change marks a significant trend among prominent Hollywood figures who, at the height of their success, seek fulfillment, stability, and authenticity either far from the spotlight or through new pursuits. Their varied paths, whether on environmental causes, family focus, wellness, entrepreneurship, or activism, illustrate evolving notions of success and personal satisfaction. As more celebrities step away from traditional entertainment roles, these stories reflect larger conversations about priorities, identity, and the meaning of achievement beyond fame.
