Top Actors and Actresses Who Retired Early and Surprised their Fans and Critics Alike

Although there are many who dream of making it big in Hollywood, there are not many people who are able to realize their dreams. While there are others who tried their best but thought this was not the profession for them and decided to choose a different path. They retired much earlier than they anticipated or for that matter their fans anticipated. Take a quick look at this of actors and actresses who chose a different path altogether.

Gwyneth Paltrow

The fact is Gwyneth Paltrow still figures on your social media feeds and that’s why it may have slipped your mind that Paltrow hasn’t been seen in a film for years now. But thanks to her entrepreneurial shenanigans (she is the founder of Goop) she is no longer an actress in the true sense of the word.

She also does not plan to return to the films anytime soon, but she may reconsider her decision only if her husband, Brad Falchuk decides to write the film.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen were childhood superstars but they have chosen to stay away from the industry since then. After completing their fashion design courses at NYU they began their journey as fashion designers and decided to bid adieu to their acting careers in 2012. Ashley had later said in an interview that it was time to start working on other things, however, that does not mean she is no longer interested in Hollywood, even if she hopes to join back the industry it would be something other than acting.

Portia de Rossi

When Portia de Rossi reached her 45th birthday she decided to quit acting and do something completely new. She was last seen in the final season of the show, Arrested Development. She just had her fill as an actress and just wanted to pursue something challenging and began her journey as an entrepreneur.

Mara Wilson

Mara Wilson was on the threshold of superstardom with her foray into successful films such as Mrs. Doubtfire and Matilda. She was just in her teens then, but she stepped away from the spotlight because she never quite deal with the constant scrutiny in Hollywood.

She also had been having some serious self-doubt about the career she was pursuing. Just the idea of pursuing a career where vanity had to play a bigger role than anything else proved to be too jarring for her. She was happy to step away from the limelight and find her true calling.

Meg Ryan

Meg Ryan was the queen of the romantic comedy genre in the 90s but suddenly she decided to quit acting in 2019. She also later confessed later that it was actually because she was feeling burned out. She has not admitted to the fact that she was never going to come back, just that she was not feeling up to acting just yet.

She also explained that she was so much into the roles she was playing that she somehow didn’t know herself. She was just moving through the course of her life at a frenetic pace and wanted out. She just wanted to get rid of the feeling of isolation.

Daniel Day-Lewis

Daniel Day-Lewis recently turned 60 when she thought of quitting acting. It took his fans by surprise. Daniel later told that it was a personal decision but he can never quite forget his colleagues and the people who have been an integral part of his career and life.  However, he was at a loss for words when he was asked why he decided to quit.

He also later said that work had not been giving him as much pleasure as earlier, he was lately not able to cater to his artistic sensibilities. It was not making him feel vital or irresistible, acting has lost its pull well at least for the time being. Well, even if he has decided to quit, we hope he finds happiness in whatever he chooses to do later. He deserves to find contentment in whatever he chooses to do.,

So, does the rest of the artists, retirement for them isn’t a stop word, just a pause at what they are doing currently and choosing a different path to a different destination.