- Cate Blanchett has said she’s “serious about giving up acting”
- She’d follow some big Hollywood A-listers who retired early
- Cameron Diaz and Daniel Day-Lewis both retired from acting
Cate Blanchett has hinted at quitting Hollywood to pursue a different lifestyle.
In an interview with the Radio Times, the Lord of The Rings actress said that she is “serious about giving up acting”.
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The Oscar-winner didn’t give a timeframe on when she plans to swap the red carpets for something new, but insisted she has “lots of things I want to do with my life”.
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She also opened up about her discomfort with fame, noting “When you go on a talk show, or even here now, and then you see soundbites of things you’ve said, pulled out and italicised, they sound really loud. I’m not that person.”
“I’ve spent a lifetime getting comfortable with the feeling of being uncomfortable,” she added.
If the 55-year-old Australian actress does step away from the spotlight, she’ll join a growing list of Hollywood stars who’ve chosen to retire early. Here’s a look at some of the A-listers who’ve done just that.
Mara Wilson
Mara Wilson, known for her roles in Matilda (1996) and Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), retired from acting after her appearance in the 2000 fantasy film Thomas and the Magic Railroad. The film was poorly received by critics and underperformed at the box office, marking the end of her acting career.
Wilson, who had been a prominent child star, declined an audition for the 2001 cult classic Donnie Darko, signaling her decision to step away from the industry.
Since her retirement, she has focused on writing, becoming an advocate for mental health and sharing her experiences in various personal projects, including her memoir Where Am I Now?
In 2018, Wilson joined Pierce Brosnan and other cast members for the 25th anniversary of Mrs. Doubtfire.
Cameron Diaz
Cameron Diaz was one of Hollywood’s biggest stars in the late 1990s and 2000s, known for her roles in box office hits like The Mask (1994), There’s Something About Mary (1998), Charlie’s Angels (2000 and 2003), Shrek (2001–2010, as the voice of Princess Fiona), and The Holiday (2006). Following her role as Miss Colleen Hannigan in the 2014 film adaptation of Annie, Diaz stepped away from acting, citing exhaustion from the demanding travel schedule as one of the key reasons.
Speaking at Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop Wellness Summit in 2017, she opened up about her decision, saying: “I just went, ‘I can’t really say who I am to myself.’ Which is a hard thing to face up to. I felt the need to make myself whole.”
After nearly a decade away from the spotlight, Diaz was persuaded by Jamie Foxx to return to acting in the action-comedy Back in Action. The film, which marked her official comeback, was released on Netflix in January 2025.
Rick Moranis
Rick Moranis is beloved by a generation, best known for his roles in iconic films like Ghostbusters (1984), Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989), and The Flintstones (1994).
However, his last live-action appearance was in 1997’s Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves, after which he quietly stepped away from Hollywood. Following the death of his wife from cancer in 1991, Moranis chose to focus on raising their children.
“I pulled out of making movies in about ’96 or ’97,” he told USA Today in 2005. “I’m a single parent, and I just found that it was too difficult to manage raising my kids and doing the traveling involved in making movies. So I took a little bit of a break. And the little bit of a break turned into a longer break, and then I found that I really didn’t miss it.”
In 2020, Moranis featured alongside Ryan Reynolds in a TV advert for Mint Mobile. Reynolds introduces him as an actor “we’ve all gone too long without.”
Daniel Day-Lewis
Three-time Oscar-winning actor Daniel Day-Lewis, widely regarded as one of his generation’s greatest actors, retired at the age of 60 in 2017. His statement read: “Daniel Day-Lewis 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.”
Known for taking long hiatuses between movie roles, Day-Lewis spent part of the late 1990s in semi-retirement as a shoemaker’s apprentice in Florence, stating, “It was a period of my life that I had a right to without any intervention.” He eventually returned to Hollywood to work with Martin Scorsese on Gangs of New York.
Despite his 2017 announcement, Day-Lewis is now set to star in Anemone, the debut feature by his son Ronan Day-Lewis, which they co-wrote. Whether this marks a full return from retirement or is just a one-off comeback remains to be seen.
Joe Pesci
After cementing his status as a Hollywood legend in films like Goodfellas (1990), Home Alone (1990), and Casino (1995), Pesci announced his retirement in 1999 to focus on his musical career and personal life. His last major film role before retiring was in Lethal Weapon 4 (1998).
That same year, he showcased his passion for jazz music with the release of his second album, Vincent LaGuardia Gambini Sings Just for You – his first in 30 years. The album was named after his character from the 1992 film My Cousin Vinny.
Pesci was involved in the 1960s music scene in New Jersey and played a key role in introducing a young Frankie Valli to the industry. He’s credited with helping The Four Seasons secure their first record deal.
He returned to acting in 2006 with a cameo in The Good Shepherd, which was directed by his friend Robert De Niro. However, his significant return came in 2019 when he starred as Russell Bufalino in Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman, alongside screen icons De Niro and Al Pacino.
