The Gist
For reasons ranging from a desire for privacy to family obligations, celebrities have chosen to step out of the spotlight.
‘80s icons Phoebe Cates and Rick Moranis both cited wanting to be there for their children as reasons for leaving Hollywood behind.
Other stars, like Sade, have always maintained an intensely private life when not promoting their projects.
They were among the world’s biggest stars, but these celebrities decided to leave the spotlight.
For A-listers like Eva Mendes—whose last onscreen outing came in 2014—choosing to make only rare public appearances is a way to protect the privacy of themselves, their partners, and their children. The Ghost Rider actress also elects not to post photos of her two daughters or longtime partner Ryan Gosling on social media. “I have always had a clear boundary when it comes to my man and my kids,” she wrote in a 2020 Instagram comment explaining the choice, per People.
Other household names, such as Jack Nicholson and Terrence Malick, simply stepped out of the spotlight without offering an official reason. Common explanations for an exit from the public eye include retirement, health issues, family obligations, and disillusion with the nature of fame.
Ahead, find out what’s happened to several famous faces from film and music who were once everywhere, but now rarely make public appearances or give interviews.
01 of 08
Julie Andrews
Julie Andrews at NBC’s “Carol Burnett: 90 Years Of Laughter + Love” Birthday Special in 2023.
Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
At 90 years old, veteran actress Julie Andrews has more than earned a break from the public eye. Yet the Mary Poppins star continues to return to the spotlight to speak up about causes she cares about, albeit with less frequency. One of the Oscar winner’s rare public appearances came in May 2026, when she spoke in a video message played at the World Parkinson Congress.
“Your participation is invaluable, as we seek to find a cure to this terrible disease. I know well how devastating it can be,” Andrews said in the pre-taped message, adding, “May we all become a beacon of light to stop it in its tracks.”
Andrews continues to work today as a children’s book author (with daughter Emma Walton Hamilton) and the narrator of Netflix’s popular regency romance series, Bridgerton. Her role as the voice of Lady Whistledown has nabbed her 4 Emmy nominations—and one win, in 2025.
02 of 08
Daniel Day-Lewis
Daniel Day-Lewis at the “Anemone” premiere on February 23, 2026 in Paris, France.
Credit: Kristy Sparow/Getty Images
Three-time Oscar winner Daniel Day-Lewis has maintained a private persona throughout his career. The Lincoln actor announced his retirement from acting in 2017, retreating further from the limelight, but he returned in 2025 to appear in Anemone. The project was a family affair: his son, Ronan Day-Lewis, directed and co-wrote the screenplay with his famous father.Daniel previously retired from 1997 to 2002, during which time he became a shoe-maker in Italy, per Far Out magazine. One can only imagine what side quest he’s on now.
03 of 08
Sade
Singer-songwriter Sade performing at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on September 3, 2011.
Credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images
In the ‘80s, Nigerian-British hitmaker Sade dominated the charts. Her self-titled band’s second album, Promise, went quadruple platinum in the U.S. with chart-leading singles like “The Sweetest Taboo.” Yet the artist steps back from the spotlight for years between projects, only giving rare interviews following invasive experiences with the press (who once climbed trees to try to photograph her in her London home, per The Times).
Don’t rule out her eventual return—she told The Times in 2010 following the release of Soldier of Love, “After every album, I think, ‘Right that’s it, no more.’ But how lucky am I at my age still to be doing this without any outside pressure?”
04 of 08
Phoebe Cates
Phoebe Cates at the 2017 Tony Awards in NYC.
Credit: Jim Spellman/WireImage
‘80s It Girl Phoebe Cates rose to fame at just 18 years old when she appeared in hit teen comedy Fast Times at Ridgemont High. She followed up the film’s success with star turns in Gremlins, Drop Dead Fred, and Princess Caraboo, before retiring to focus on raising her two kids: daughter Greta Kline and son Owen Kline.
She might not be gracing big screens anymore, but Cates continues to work as a boutique owner, running Blue Tree on Madison Avenue in N.Y.C. Her last major public appearance was at the 2017 Tony Awards with longtime husband Kevin Kline, also an actor.
05 of 08
Phil Collins
Phil Collins performing at U Arena on March 17, 2022 in France.
Credit: David Wolff-Patrick/Redferns
Phil Collins ran the airwaves as the frontman of Genesis and a successful solo artist. Today, it’s his daughter, Lily Collins, who’s most often in the spotlight. The 75-year-old “In the Air Tonight” singer began dealing with various health issues in the late 2000s, and in 2011, he confirmed his retirement from music. In May 2026, he made a rare public appearance at a Buckingham Palace party for The King’s Trust 50th Anniversary, People reported.The legendary drummer gave a rare update on his condition in a 2026 BBC News interview. “Everything healthwise caught up with me at the same time and whatever could go wrong did go wrong. But everything’s fine now,” he shared, adding that while he’s on the incline, it’s unlikely he’ll perform at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in November 2026.
06 of 08
Jack Nicholson
Jack Nicholson at ‘SNL50: The Anniversary Special’ on February 16, 2025.
Credit: Virginia Sherwood/NBC via Getty Images
His titanic career made him a household name, but Jack Nicholson left acting behind in 2010. The 89-year-old Oscar winner, known for intense dramas like Chinatown and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, has largely disappeared from the public eye. Still, his loved ones provide occasional updates on how he’s doing. “I just saw Jack a couple weeks ago—it was his birthday a month ago, and he’s great,” Danny DeVito told People in July 2025.
In April 2026, Nicholson’s daughter Lorraine shared a rare recent photo of the actor celebrating his 89th birthday. The picture, posted to her Instagram Stories (via Entertainment Weekly), sees Nicholson smiling next to musician Joni Mitchell.
07 of 08
Rick Moranis
Rick Moranis at CinemaCon on April 15, 2026 in Las Vegas.
Credit: Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images
Rick Moranis became a bona fide star with his roles in classic ‘80s films like Ghostbusters, Spaceballs, and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. He stepped away from his prolific career following the death of his wife, costume designer Ann Belsky, in 1991. Moranis explained that while he tried to continue his career, being a single father made it “too difficult to manage” for long. “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,” the actor told USA Today in 2005.In 2027, 73-year-old Moranis will end his decades-long acting hiatus by reprising his role as Dark Helmet in the highly anticipated sequel Spaceballs: The New One.
08 of 08
Eva Mendes
Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling in March 2026.
Credit: Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images
From 2001 to 2012, Eva Mendes was leading romantic comedies, action-packed blockbusters, and twisty crime dramas like her breakout film, Training Day. The actress’s most fateful role, however, was 2012’s The Place Beyond the Pines, where she starred across from Ryan Gosling. The co-stars fell in love and eventually started a family, prompting Mendes to step away from Hollywood so she could raise their daughters.“I don’t really miss (acting),” the Hitch star told Variety in 2022, adding that once she welcomed daughters Esmeralda and Amada, “I thought, ‘Oh, this is what I’m supposed to do right now.’” She also cited the lack of opportunities for Latina actresses as another reason for her exit from the industry in the 2010s.Despite being together for over a decade, Mendes and Gosling rarely make joint public appearances. They enjoyed a surprise outing—their first in 13 years—on a March 2026 episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Gosling invited his longtime partner out on stage for a surprise birthday celebration as the former actress and businesswoman turned 52 that night.
Read the original article on InStyle