Gay Actresses Who Quit Hollywood to Pursue Other Interests

The entertainment world can be incredibly stressful, causing many performers to look for different ways to live their lives. Several gifted actresses have decided to leave acting behind to pursue personal happiness, dedicate themselves to causes they believe in, or start careers in completely new areas. This article highlights the stories of LGBTQ+ women who have moved on from acting to work in fields like politics, writing, and art.

Portia de Rossi

Portia de Rossi, famous for her roles in shows like ‘Ally McBeal’ and ‘Arrested Development’, left acting to pursue her love of art. She started General Public, a company that uses 3D technology to create and share reproductions of paintings. She wanted a new challenge and a way to support artists, so she traded Hollywood for the art world.

Kristy McNichol

Kristy McNichol became famous as a teen in shows like ‘Family’ and ‘Little Darlings,’ but she stopped acting in 2001. She explained that she needed to prioritize her own well-being after experiencing a lot of pressure and anxiety. Later, McNichol publicly shared her support for children facing bullying because of their sexual orientation. Today, she focuses on her health, enjoys traveling, and occasionally teaches acting, all while maintaining a private life.

Adèle Haenel

Adèle Haenel, a French actress who became internationally known for her role in ‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire,’ stepped away from filmmaking. She explained that her decision was due to political concerns and her dissatisfaction with how the industry addressed issues of sexual violence. Since then, she’s been involved in theater and political work. Her departure sent a strong message that had a significant impact throughout the entertainment world.

Nancy Kulp

Nancy Kulp is best remembered for playing Miss Jane Hathaway on ‘The Beverly Hillbillies.’ After her time as an actress slowed down, she became involved in politics, even running for Congress in Pennsylvania. She later shared her knowledge by teaching film and drama at a small college. Kulp’s life showed her to be a thoughtful and multi-faceted person, transitioning from a beloved sitcom star to a teacher and political candidate, and she came out later in life.

Greta Garbo

As a film lover, I’ve always been fascinated by Greta Garbo. She was truly one of a kind – incredibly mysterious and captivating on screen. What always struck me, though, was that she walked away from it all at just 36! She really valued her privacy and spent the rest of her life in New York, immersed in art and enjoying the company of close friends. While she never had a husband, letters have revealed she had deep, meaningful relationships with women like Mercedes de Acosta. Ultimately, she left Hollywood because she wanted to live life on her own terms, away from the constant public gaze, and I really admire her for that.

Amanda Bearse

Amanda Bearse is best known for playing Marcy D’Arcy on the show ‘Married… with Children’. While working on the sitcom, she started directing and quickly became a successful director. She’s directed many TV episodes and has also been a strong voice for LGBTQ+ rights. Moving into directing gave her the chance to be more creative and control how stories were told.

Mara Wilson

Mara Wilson became famous as a child actress in movies like ‘Matilda’ and ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’. She later chose to focus on writing and creating stories. Now, she’s a writer of both memoirs and plays, and she also uses her voice to support bisexual rights and mental health. These days, her work is centered around books and writing, rather than acting in films.

Kelly McGillis

Kelly McGillis was a popular actress in films like ‘Top Gun’ and ‘Witness,’ but she later chose to leave the fast-paced Hollywood scene. She relocated to North Carolina and dedicated herself to helping people overcome addiction as a rehab counselor. In 2009, she publicly came out as a lesbian. Since then, she’s occasionally taken acting roles, but has primarily focused on teaching and enjoying her personal life, prioritizing her health and family over the pressures of being a major star.

Josephine Baker

Josephine Baker was a famous performer who achieved success and found a welcoming home in France after leaving the United States. She was a trailblazing bisexual icon who bravely fought for equality and even worked as a spy for France during World War II. Baker left the limitations of the American entertainment industry to create a life of freedom, and she’s remembered for building a diverse family by adopting children from all over the world – her “Rainbow Tribe.”

Patsy Kelly

As a classic movie fan, I recently learned about Patsy Kelly, a really funny actress from the 1930s. It’s amazing she even won a Tony Award later on! What’s sad is that, while she was openly gay amongst her friends, that definitely hurt her career. The big studios basically sidelined her for a while because of it. She even had to work as Tallulah Bankhead’s assistant for a time while she wasn’t getting screen roles. She did eventually come back to acting, but it’s clear the prejudice of the time really changed the course of her career.

Eva Le Gallienne

Eva Le Gallienne was a famous Broadway actress who chose theater over a career in Hollywood. She started the Civic Repertory Theatre in New York and was known for her relationships with women in the arts. Le Gallienne devoted her life to the stage, working as an actress, director, and producer. She believed theater was a more meaningful art form and wouldn’t sacrifice her artistic principles for movie fame.

Katharine Cornell

Katharine Cornell, often called the ‘First Lady of the Theatre,’ famously avoided making movie contracts throughout her successful career. She and her partner, director Guthrie McClintic, had an open relationship disguised as a marriage of convenience, which gave them both personal freedom. Cornell dedicated herself to touring shows, bringing excellent theatrical performances to audiences nationwide. By staying away from Hollywood, she ensured she could fully control her artistic reputation.

Louise Brooks

Louise Brooks was a major star of the silent film era, but she left Hollywood because she disliked how the movie studios operated. She then moved to New York, worked in sales, and eventually became a well-known writer and film expert. Brooks was honest about her relationships and preferred a private life as she got older. Through her writing, she was able to share her critical views on the film industry she had famously turned her back on.

Leisha Hailey

Leisha Hailey is well-known for her role as Alice on ‘The L Word,’ but music has always been her true passion. She’s the founder of the band Uh Huh Her and spent years touring and performing. Even after returning for the show’s revival, she continued to prioritize her music, successfully combining her acting career with her love of songwriting and performing.

Alice Wu

I recently watched both of Alice Wu’s films, and it’s amazing to learn the story behind them. She wrote and directed ‘Saving Face’ and then stepped away from filmmaking for over ten years – not because she wanted to, but because she needed to support her family and care for her mom, working as a software engineer. It’s so refreshing to hear that her break wasn’t about chasing fame, but about prioritizing what truly mattered. Then, thankfully, she came back with ‘The Half of It’ on Netflix, and it’s clear her talent never faded.

Guinevere Turner

Guinevere Turner first gained recognition in the early 1990s starring in and writing the film ‘Go Fish.’ She then moved into screenwriting, becoming known for films like ‘American Psycho.’ Now, she teaches screenwriting and continues to work as a behind-the-scenes creative force in film and television, enjoying the ability to develop stories and characters for other actors.

Jean Acker

Jean Acker was a movie star in the early days of film and the first wife of Rudolph Valentino. She spent much of her life at the Garden of Allah hotel and was friends with a group of actresses who were openly lesbian or bisexual. Acker chose to step away from her successful film career to live a more peaceful life with her partner, continuing to act in minor roles while mostly enjoying her privacy.

Natacha Rambova

Natacha Rambova began as a costume designer and actress, famously marrying Rudolph Valentino. After leaving Hollywood following their divorce, she reinvented herself as a scholar, dedicating her life to the study of ancient Egypt. She focused on symbolism and old texts, finding intellectual fulfillment that contrasted sharply with what she saw as the shallowness of the movie business.

Alla Nazimova

Alla Nazimova was a huge star in silent movies and even started her own film production company. After her movie career slowed down, she turned her home into the well-known Garden of Allah hotel. This became a welcoming place for Hollywood’s biggest stars and members of the LGBTQ+ community. In her later years, Nazimova dedicated herself to running the hotel and performing on Broadway again.

Maria Maggenti

Maria Maggenti began her career as an activist with ACT UP while also working as an independent filmmaker. She then successfully transitioned into television writing, contributing to popular shows like ‘Without a Trace’ and ‘Supergirl’. Her path shifted from direct activism to a creative role behind the scenes in television.

Rose Troche

Rose Troche is a groundbreaking filmmaker known for directing ‘Go Fish,’ a key film in the New Queer Cinema movement. She transitioned from independent films to directing popular TV series, including ‘The L Word’ and ‘Black Lightning.’ Throughout her career, Troche has prioritized creating opportunities for queer voices and stories through her directing and producing work, rather than performing herself.

Cheryl Dunye

Cheryl Dunye is a groundbreaking filmmaker who made history as the first Black lesbian to direct a feature-length film, ‘The Watermelon Woman.’ While she initially acted in her own movies, she later dedicated herself to directing and teaching. Today, she’s a professor and a successful television director, sharing her expertise with aspiring filmmakers while also directing episodes of popular TV shows.

Angela Robinson

Angela Robinson is a director and writer best known for her popular film ‘D.E.B.S.’ While she initially worked as a director, she now primarily focuses on running and producing television shows. She’s contributed to series like ‘True Blood’ and directed the film ‘Professor Marston and the Wonder Women.’ A common thread throughout her work is exploring topics of sexuality and identity in a way that also appeals to a broad audience.

Jamie Babbit

Jamie Babbit started her career directing the beloved film ‘But I’m a Cheerleader’ and has since become a highly sought-after director for television. She’s known for her work on popular shows like ‘Girls’, ‘Silicon Valley’, and ‘Only Murders in the Building’, and has successfully built a lasting career by defining the look of some of television’s best comedies.

Stacie Passon

Stacie Passon started her career creating commercials, working as both a director and producer. She gained recognition for her film ‘Concussion’ and then transitioned to directing high-quality television series, including ‘Transparent’ and ‘Dickinson’. Her work shows a smooth and successful shift from advertising to telling stories through film and television.

Desiree Akhavan

I first noticed Desiree Akhavan in her own movie, ‘Appropriate Behavior’ – she played a bisexual Iranian-American woman and it was a really strong debut. Since then, she’s been doing more directing and writing for both TV and film, which is awesome. I was especially blown away by ‘The Miseducation of Cameron Post,’ which she directed and won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance! What I really appreciate is that she consistently delivers these complex and thoughtful portrayals of queer women, and she’s doing it all from behind the camera. It’s great to see such authentic voices getting a chance to shine.

Nicol Paone

Nicol Paone started her career as a performer on ‘The Big Gay Sketch Show’ with Kate McKinnon, but she shifted her focus to writing and directing movies like ‘Friendsgiving’. She’s using her experience in comedy to create funny films, now as a director who specializes in stories centered around women.

Clementine Ford

Clementine Ford, the daughter of actress Cybill Shepherd, initially appeared on the show ‘The L Word’ but later shifted her focus from acting to writing and blogging. She openly discusses her experiences with sexuality, lifestyle, and parenting online, finding a strong voice and audience through her digital platforms.

Meredith Baxter

Meredith Baxter, famous for her role on ‘Family Ties,’ publicly came out later in life. Though she still takes on acting jobs now and then, she’s largely turned her attention to interior design and writing. She wrote a memoir detailing her life and path to self-acceptance, and has become a vocal advocate, speaking out on topics like addiction and LGBTQ+ rights.

Kay Francis

Kay Francis was the leading lady at Warner Bros. in the 1930s, earning the highest salary of any actress. Later, she decided to leave the movie industry and return to performing on stage, including summer theater productions. Francis was also known for keeping detailed diaries about her relationships with other women. She preferred the direct connection of live performances to the studio system she’d become disillusioned with.

Marjorie Main

Marjorie Main, fondly remembered for her role as Ma Kettle, enjoyed a long and successful career in classic Hollywood films before retiring from acting. She lived a peaceful, private life with her close companion, Spring Byington. While famous for her unique voice and comedic talent on screen, Main was a very private person away from the cameras. Her retirement signaled the end of a remarkable acting career.

Jane Sibbett

Jane Sibbett, known for her role as Ross’s ex-wife Carol on the popular show ‘Friends,’ left acting to pursue a different path. She now works as a spiritual healer and tour manager, dedicating her time to holistic wellness and creating documentaries. She’s transitioned from being on one of television’s most iconic sets to a life focused on spirituality and helping others connect with themselves.

Ellen DeGeneres

Ellen DeGeneres was a pioneer when she came out as gay on her TV show in the 1990s. After years of hosting a popular talk show, she briefly returned to stand-up comedy before announcing her retirement from entertainment with a special in 2024. Now, she’s planning to focus on personal interests like gardening, architecture, and helping with gorilla conservation in Rwanda, and wants to live a more private life with her wife.

Share your favorite performance from these actresses or tell us who we missed in the comments.

2025-12-14 16:19