10 Popular Young Actors Who Quit Hollywood
Fame isn't for everyone.
People spend their entire lives trying to make a name for themselves in Hollywood, seeking the fame and money that comes with the industry. Few manage to follow in the footsteps of their idols and live amongst the biggest stars in the world, though. Indeed, what might be a dream job for some isn't as exciting and glamorous for others.
While this lifestyle has its advantages, it certainly comes with its fair share of obstacles. The pressures of being in the public eye have proven too much for some people to handle.
Maintaining a personal life can be hard when the media scrutinizes every move celebrities make, and as a consequence, this can become a safety concern. In just 2021, Blake Lively and Gigi Hadid have publicly begged the paparazzi to stop taking pictures of their young children.
Quitting acting altogether may be rare, but there have been instances of an established actor with a promising future choosing to leave fame behind for a more conventional career.
This is particularly true for child actors. Although, of course, some remain in the entertainment industry - think Leonardo DiCaprio - and continuously make blockbuster movies.
Nevertheless, actors of all ages have left Hollywood, proving it's never too late to follow your true dreams.
10. Dolores Hart
Dolores Hart made her movie debut in the 1957 musical drama Loving You, in which she was Elvis Presley's first on-screen kiss. She then starred in several movies, including Where the Boys Are, paving a promising career for herself.
But in 1962, the 24-year-old left fans shocked when she announced she was retiring from acting to become a nun. "God called me," Hart told Fox News earlier this year.
Mother Dolores Hart has spent over 50 years living at the Abbey of Regina Laudis in Bethlehem, Connecticut. She has written a memoir, The Ear of the Heart: An Actress' Journey from Hollywood to Holy Vows, and her life was the subject of an Oscar-nominated HBO documentary, God Is the Bigger Elvis.
The 82-year-old may have left Hollywood's spotlight, but she still receives hundreds of letters from loyal fans seeking religious guidance.