Lesbian Celebrities Who Disappeared from Spotlight After Coming Out

After publicly identifying as lesbian, several stars stepped back from the high-profile world of Hollywood. Many found new careers in areas like directing, producing, teaching, or local theater. Some prioritized family or dedicated themselves to starting businesses and charitable organizations. Here are a few well-known examples of actors who became less visible in mainstream Hollywood after coming out.

Kristy McNichol

Kristy McNichol, a former actress who starred in several popular films and TV shows in the 1970s and 80s and won two Emmy Awards, publicly shared her story in 2012. She had stopped acting in 2001, citing health concerns and stress, and transitioned to teaching, seeking a more private life. While she occasionally makes appearances to support charities, she hasn’t returned to acting full-time.

Kelly McGillis

Kelly McGillis publicly came out in 2009 and later settled in North Carolina. She focused on teaching acting and performing in local theater, with occasional roles in smaller, independent films. She didn’t participate in the recent remake of her most well-known movie, explaining she wanted to prioritize her family and personal life. Since then, she’s been very careful about the projects she takes, mostly appearing in films made outside of the big Hollywood studios.

Portia de Rossi

Portia de Rossi publicly came out as a lesbian in the mid-2000s and married Ellen DeGeneres in 2008. In 2018, she stepped back from full-time acting after appearing in several seasons of a popular TV drama. Since then, she’s focused on business and supporting the arts, with only occasional acting roles, like a return to a well-known comedy series. Her work now primarily takes place outside of mainstream Hollywood acting.

Amanda Bearse

Amanda Bearse publicly came out as a lesbian in the early 1990s while she was a regular on a popular TV sitcom. After that, she moved into directing, building a successful career directing episodes for many different television shows. While she still occasionally acted on stage or in movies, directing became her main focus and she largely stepped away from performing in front of the camera.

Heather Matarazzo

Heather Matarazzo publicly came out in 2004. After finding success in the early 2000s, she shifted her focus to independent films, writing, and directing her own projects, leading to fewer appearances in big-budget Hollywood productions. She continues to work creatively, often on projects outside of the mainstream film industry.

Meredith Baxter

After publicly coming out in 2009, Meredith Baxter shifted her focus to advocacy work and public speaking. She wrote a memoir and continued to act in occasional TV movies and guest appearances. Unlike earlier in her career, she no longer appeared regularly on network television, and her work became more focused on specific projects rather than maintaining a constant presence in Hollywood.

Patricia Velásquez

Patricia Velasquez publicly came out in 2015 and has successfully combined her acting career with important humanitarian efforts. She started a charity that supports Indigenous communities and dedicates a lot of her time to this cause. While she still acts in select films and at festivals, she generally avoids big studio productions. These days, she’s known more for her advocacy work and cultural initiatives than for appearing in mainstream Hollywood movies.

Alexandra Hedison

I’ve been following Alexandra Hedison’s career for a while now, and I really admire her journey. She was open about who she was early on, and then made a bold move from acting to become a fine art photographer. She’s built an incredible portfolio, with exhibitions and photographic series that have traveled the world! While she occasionally does creative projects with others, she’s definitely stepped away from seeking out typical acting roles. These days, she’s really established herself as a visual artist, and that’s where her focus is – it’s amazing to see.

Tammy Lynn Michaels

Tammy Lynn Michaels, who is known for her role in a popular teen TV show from the late 1990s, eventually left acting to concentrate on writing and raising her family. She’s published essays and poems, and hasn’t been regularly appearing on screen recently. Compared to her early career, she now makes fewer appearances in movies and television.

Linda Perry

Linda Perry publicly shared she was a lesbian early on in her music career. She later found success as a songwriter and producer, moving into a creative leadership role working with big-name artists and on film scores. While she sometimes makes appearances at music events, she doesn’t pursue acting. Perry largely focuses on her work in recording studios and as a producer, rather than performing for live audiences.

Cathy DeBuono

Cathy DeBuono publicly came out as LGBTQ+ while starting her career in television and independent film. She then became a trained therapist, continuing to work on smaller creative projects alongside her practice. Today, DeBuono combines her work as a counselor with occasional creative contributions to media focused on the LGBTQ+ community. She hasn’t had a significant presence in major Hollywood films recently.

Guinevere Turner

Guinevere Turner started her career early, focusing on independent films as a writer and actor. She’s known for co-writing screenplays and appearing in films showcased at festivals, intentionally choosing these projects over mainstream Hollywood work. In addition to her creative work, Turner also shares her expertise by teaching screenwriting and giving lectures and essays. She continues to prioritize independent filmmaking and education in her career.

Clea DuVall

Clea DuVall publicly shared her identity and shifted her career focus from acting in big studio films to writing and directing. She directed movies like ‘The Intervention’ and was the creator and executive producer of the series ‘High School’. While she still occasionally takes on acting roles, Clea now primarily works behind the camera, focusing on developing and directing projects rather than pursuing mainstream Hollywood acting.

Jill Bennett

Jill Bennett started her career by creating online series and independent projects geared towards LGBTQ audiences, gaining a dedicated following. She was a co-creator and star of ‘3Way’ and also appeared in ‘Dante’s Cove.’ More recently, she’s focused on producing smaller, digital projects and showcasing them at specialized film festivals. While she’s done some work for larger studios and networks, her presence in those areas has been relatively small.

Michelle Paradise

Michelle Paradise publicly came out as a member of the LGBTQ+ community early in her career while working on independent TV projects. She then focused on writing and producing, creating the show ‘Exes & Ohs’ and later taking on leadership roles in science fiction and fantasy television. As her responsibilities grew to include running writers’ rooms and overseeing shows, she stepped away from performing on screen. Now, Michelle’s main contributions to Hollywood are behind the scenes, developing and producing new content.

Rose Troche

Rose Troche has been openly LGBTQ+ for years and is primarily known as a director and producer, not an actress. She first gained recognition with the independent film ‘Go Fish’ and then focused on television episodes and developing feature films. While she’s continued to work on high-profile projects for cable and streaming services, she typically stays behind the camera. This career path has allowed her to remain a working figure in Hollywood without seeking the spotlight.

Cheryl Dunye

Cheryl Dunye is a groundbreaking filmmaker known for her early work in queer cinema. After achieving recognition with her film ‘The Watermelon Woman,’ she began directing episodes for various television shows. Dunye continues to work as a director and also shares her expertise through teaching, giving lectures and workshops. While she occasionally appears on screen, her primary focus remains directing.

Stephanie Allynne

Stephanie Allynne, who is married to Tig Notaro, has shifted her focus to writing and directing after publicly sharing their relationship. She co-created the film ‘Am I OK?’ and is now developing more independent film projects. While she still occasionally acts, Allynne now dedicates most of her time to the behind-the-scenes work of development and production, leading to fewer on-screen appearances than earlier in her career.

Let us know who you think faded from the spotlight after publicly coming out, and share your thoughts in the comments below. We’re also interested in hearing about anyone else who seemed to quietly leave Hollywood.

2025-10-31 18:16