Chris Hemsworth has openly expressed that relocating his family from Los Angeles to Byron Bay, Australia, was the best decision he ever made. The Avengers star, husband to Elsa Pataky, and father of their 13-year-old daughter India Rose along with 11-year-old twins Sasha and Tristan, shared insights into why the Chris Hemsworth family move brought them peace and privacy amid the pressures of Hollywood.
The Challenge of Raising a Family in Los Angeles
During a February 23 episode of the Smartless podcast, Chris explained that although his family was settled in Los Angeles when his boys were born, the environment wasn’t enjoyable for them.
“It was right around the time my boys were born and we kind of were set up in L.A. and not enjoying it, you know?”
he said, emphasizing how much his work required him to be elsewhere.
“Like, nothing was shooting there. We were filming kind of everywhere else.”
Privacy issues also played a major role in their decision to leave. Chris recalled the constant presence of paparazzi and other inconveniences tied to life in Los Angeles.
“And then we’d come home and [there’d be] paparazzi,”
he added,
“and all the sort of trappings of living in that space.”
Life in Byron Bay: A Tranquil Escape
More than a decade ago, Chris and Elsa decided to raise their children far from Hollywood’s relentless spotlight. Since moving to their large farm surrounded by nature, the actor describes their lifestyle as peaceful and rejuvenating.
“You know when you come back from work, you wanna go on a holiday?”
he said.
“Like, coming home for me, it feels like a holiday. We have a big farm and horses and motorbikes and surf.”
The rural Australian setting reminds Chris of his own upbringing. Growing up with brothers Luke and Liam Hemsworth outside of Melbourne, he enjoyed an outdoor childhood surrounded by bushland and rainforest.
“We lived about 20 minutes from the main sort of suburban areas in Melbourne up in the hills,”
he explained.
“And the nearest neighbor was a kilometer or two away.”
He fondly recalled,
“It was just all bushland and rainforest sort of set up around us,”
and that he and his brothers would spend time on adventures, “playing different characters.”
The Importance of Family and Privacy
Chris also touched on the importance of nurturing his 15-year marriage to Elsa Pataky. In a December 15 episode of the On Purpose podcast, he emphasized how prioritizing quality time together helps maintain their relationship.
“Just having time for the two of us and making space for each other,”
he shared. He also underscored the role of continuous learning and compassion between partners.
“It allows you to forgive each other,”
he stated,
“It allows you to be more compassionate with each other. It allows you to have greater understandings of both your shortcomings. I think that has kept us in check.”
Other Celebrities Who Have Left Hollywood
Besides Chris Hemsworth, many other high-profile stars have distanced themselves from Los Angeles and Hollywood’s intense environment, choosing to seek more privacy, fresh starts, or lifestyle changes abroad or in less hectic locations.
Ellen DeGeneres Finds Calm in the English Countryside
Ellen DeGeneres ended her eponymous talk show in 2022 following allegations of a toxic work culture. During her 2024 Netflix standup special For Your Approval and subsequent tour, she announced plans to leave Hollywood permanently.
“This is the last time you’re going to see me,”
Ellen said on her final standup tour.
“After my Netflix special, I’m done.”
Ellen and her wife, Portia de Rossi, have since relocated to the Cotswolds in England, where they have embraced a simpler, more peaceful way of life. She described the area as “absolutely beautiful,” and praised the local environment and community, saying,
“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.”
Tyra Banks Moves Down Under to Grow Her Business
Tyra Banks, former host of America’s Next Top Model, moved to Australia partly to support her ice cream brand, SMiZE and Dream. On a 2025 episode of Today with Jenna & Friends, she explained how the production of her ice cream in a large Australian facility helped her fall in love with the country.
“So I have this ice cream company, SMiZE and Dream,”
she said.
“But we’ve been more what we call B2B, like on an airplane and on cruises. I’ve been going to Australia a lot because we were making a lot of our ice cream there in a big facility doing our recipes. And I just fell in love with it every time I went back and went back.”
Tyra also recognized that Australia is one of the world’s top consumers of ice cream, alongside America and New Zealand. She now lives there with her son York, her boyfriend Louis Bélanger-Martin, and said,
“Australia has been a dream come true for me and my family.”
Eva Longoria’s Shift from Hollywood to a Global Lifestyle
Eva Longoria shared in a November 2024 Marie Claire interview that she left Los Angeles partly due to changes she observed before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I had my whole adult life here,”
she said.
“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, her husband José Bastón, and their son Santiago now divide their time between Mexico and Spain. She clarified her move was not politically motivated despite President Trump’s reelection.
“I didn’t leave because of the political environment,”
the Flamin’ Hot director explained on The View: Behind the Table podcast.
“I left because my work took me there since Land of Women—shooting six months in Catalonia, then four months in Mexico for Searching for Mexico, then back to Spain. Now I’ve been there for years. So I just don’t like that it’s politicized.”
She continues to work on projects such as Only Murders in the Building and Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip.
Richard Gere Embraces Life Between Spain and Family
Richard Gere relocated from Chicago to Spain to be with his Spanish wife Alejandra Silva and support their family life. On a November 2024 episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, he said,
“My wife is Spanish, and she gave me about seven years here. And so we’re going to spend some years in Madrid.”
Gere emphasized the benefits for their young sons, Alexander and James, who are bilingual. “Our kids are bilingual,” he shared.
“So they’re going to flourish there.”
In a January 2025 interview with Elle España, he added,
“The truth is that you are seeing us in our momentum. We are happier than ever.”
Christina Milian Chooses Paris for Family Stability and Education
Christina Milian moved her family to Paris, motivated by her husband Matt Pokora’s French heritage and the desire to have their children attend school in France.
“My husband is French, and we’ve been together for over seven or eight years,”
she revealed on The Jennifer Hudson Show in November 2024.
“And for the last three or four years we were commuting back and forth every six months.”
With their children Violet, Isaiah, and Kenna enrolled in Parisian schools, Christina expressed enthusiasm about this change.
“They’re all going to school in Paris,”
she said.
“I was like, ‘What better than an opportunity than that?’”
She described their daily lives as balanced and enjoyable, noting,
“My kids are happy there. They know French. We go to the park. 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.”
Lindsay Lohan’s Escape from Hollywood Scrutiny
Lindsay Lohan moved abroad due to frustration with paparazzi overshadowing her work during her younger years. In March 2024, she told Bustle,
“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.”
She further expressed her wish to avoid gossip and focus on her career:
“Unless there’s no story here, they’re not going to focus on just my work.”
Lindsay relocated first to London and then to Dubai, where she also opened beach clubs in Greece. She candidly shared her personal need for a break from the spotlight and how that hiatus helped open doors to opportunities and love.
“I was like, ‘What if I never fall in love? What if this never happens?’”
she reflected.
“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.”
Currently, Lindsay is married to Bader Shammas, with whom she has a son named Luai. They continue to live in Dubai, and she remains active in Hollywood with roles in films like Our Little Secret, Irish Wish, and Freakier Friday.
Josh Hartnett’s Escape from Hollywood’s Echo Chamber
Josh Hartnett moved away from Hollywood for a more varied and grounded life. Explaining his decision to People in July 2024, he said,
“Hollywood is more than a place; it’s like a state of mind. If you’re around people who are constantly talking about the movie business, your life is going to be pretty much one note. And I’ve never wanted that.”
Seeking a lifestyle that would push him to grow beyond acting, Josh chose to live with his wife Tamsin Egerton and their four children in the Hampshire countryside in England.
“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,”
he explained.
“To me, that’s the spice of life.”
Despite the quieter location, Josh remains involved in projects such as Verity, Fight or Flight, and Trap. Reflecting on life with four children, he said,
“Time passes quickly. With four children, you have so much to do. In a way, less is happening. But more of the important stuff is happening.”
Jesse Eisenberg Chooses Stability Outside the Industry
Jesse Eisenberg has spent much of the last decade away from Hollywood, opting instead to live in Indiana. Speaking to CBS News Sunday Morning in February 2025, he described Indiana as where he feels most comfortable, far from the instability he perceives in the entertainment industry.
“I’m not somebody who wants to surround myself in an industry that just feels kind of unstable to me.”
Eisenberg lives a relatively low-profile life with his wife Anna Strout and son Banner, explaining,
“I’m not on social media, and I’m not a person who’s on the phone with industry people all the time. 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.”
Eliza Dushku Palandjian’s Journey into Mental Health and Healing
After notable roles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Bring It On, Eliza Dushku Palandjian shifted her focus toward mental health. By September 2024, she had become certified in psychedelic-assisted therapy and was pursuing further education in this field.
She told Boston Magazine,
“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. 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.”
Rosie O’Donnell’s Move to Ireland Amid Political and Personal Reflection
Rosie O’Donnell relocated to Ireland in January 2025, bringing her youngest child Clay along and seeking Irish citizenship based on her ancestry. She cited political circumstances in the U.S. as a motivating factor but left open the possibility of returning when conditions improve.
In a TikTok video, Rosie expressed her mixed emotions, saying,
“I miss my other kids. I miss my friends. I miss many things about life there at home and I’m trying to find a home here 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.”
Evangeline Lilly Steps Back to Pursue Fulfillment Outside Fame
The Ant-Man and the Wasp star announced an indefinite break from acting after a 20-year career. Writing on Instagram in June 2024, she revealed a deep sense of joy and contentment following her decision to prioritize her own vision and purpose.
“I am so filled with joy and contentment today as I live out my vision,”
she wrote.
“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.”
While not ruling out a return to acting, she added,
“I might return to Hollywood one day, but, for now, this is where I belong.”
Ian Somerhalder Focuses on Environmental Legacy Over Acting
The Vampire Diaries alum turned his attention away from acting after the 2019 Netflix series V-Wars to focus on regenerative agriculture and climate change initiatives. Ian told E! News in November 2023 that his decision to step back was partly to raise his children and develop his businesses, including films like Kiss the Ground and Common Ground that highlight soil health.
Looking ahead, Ian said,
“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.”
Jennette McCurdy on Leaving Acting to Pursue Writing and Healing
Jennette McCurdy revealed she abandoned acting several years ago, now dedicating herself to writing, directing, and hosting her podcast. On a 2021 episode of Empty Inside, she expressed regret about past roles and how they failed to fulfill her.
“My experience with acting is, I’m so ashamed of the parts I’ve done in the past,”
she confessed.
She described feeling embarrassed by her earlier work and a lack of connection with her peers:
“I did the shows that I was on from like 13 to 21, and by 15, I was already embarrassed. My friends at 15, they’re not like, ‘Oh, cool, you’re on this Nickelodeon show.’ It was embarrassing.”
Despite this, Jennette is open to a future in acting if the opportunity allows her to shed past baggage.
“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. 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.”
Additional Notable Hollywood Departures and Career Changes
Several other stars have similarly shifted their focus or relocated to pursue different lifestyles, family priorities, or new professional directions:
Ellen DeGeneres’s decision to leave Hollywood marked a significant change after her long-running talk show ended amid controversies. Tyra Banks’s relocation combined business and family life. Eva Longoria embraced an international life influenced by her work and personal choices. Richard Gere’s move to Spain centered on family life and cultural enrichment.
Christina Milian, Lindsay Lohan, Josh Hartnett, Jesse Eisenberg, Eliza Dushku Palandjian, Rosie O’Donnell, Evangeline Lilly, Ian Somerhalder, and Jennette McCurdy have each followed unique paths away from Hollywood’s glare, focusing on well-being, family, business, or creative reinvention.
Some performers, such as Cameron Diaz and Terrence Howard, have announced retirements or breaks from acting, while others like Daniel Day-Lewis declared their career’s end after remarkable achievements but are sometimes drawn back for passion projects. Portia de Rossi opted to quit acting to start a business, and Leelee Sobieski stepped away primarily for family reasons. Rick Moranis paused his acting career to care for his children, planning a return in upcoming projects.
The Ongoing Appeal of Leaving Hollywood
The varied experiences of these celebrities illustrate a broader trend: the desire to escape Hollywood’s intense spotlight, seek privacy, focus on family, and pursue personal growth or new professional ambitions. As Chris Hemsworth’s family move exemplifies, finding balance away from the city of angels can lead to a more fulfilling, peaceful life.
For Chris and many others, relocating has been a pivotal life choice, allowing them to reconnect with their roots, enjoy quality time with loved ones, and manage their careers from a healthier, more autonomous vantage point. This trend is likely to continue as more stars prioritize mental health, family life, and creative freedom over the pressures of fame and the traditional entertainment industry model.
