Rosie O’Donnell Reacts to Dancing With the Stars Casting Rumors

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Rosie O’Donnell won’t be two-stepping onto the dance floor any time soon.

A former contestant on The View recently responded to an AI-created video showing her dancing in a sparkly dress, which falsely suggested she was about to compete on Dancing With the Stars.

Rosie shared a funny picture on Instagram, joking that it reminded her to avoid getting a perm. She admitted the picture wasn’t true, but still found it amusing.

There haven’t been any announcements yet about who will be competing on season 35 of the show. This comes after Robert Irwin and Witney Carson won the title last year on season 34.

Although she’s not appearing on Dancing With the Stars, the 64-year-old, who relocated to Ireland last January because of the political climate in the U.S., recently returned to the States to spend time with her family.

During a February interview on SiriusXM’s Cuomo Mornings, she revealed she’d secretly returned home for two weeks. According to Entertainment Weekly, she wanted to test how difficult it would be to travel internationally and experience what it felt like to be back with her family, especially to hold her children again, as she hadn’t seen them in over a year.

Rosie, who has four children – Parker (30), Chelsea (28), Blake (26), and Vivienne (23) – with her former wife Kelli Carpenter, and a younger son, Clay (13), with her late ex-wife Michelle Rounds, is planning to spend the summer in the U.S. She and Clay are looking forward to bonding with a new addition to the family.

“My son [Blake] is having his first child,” she continued. “So we’re very excited to be home.”

Rosie recently shared the wonderful news that Blake and his wife, Teresa O’Donnell, have had a son named Anthony Joel O’Donnell.

The comedian announced on Instagram on March 28th that they were overjoyed, writing, “Congratulations to Teresa and Blake Christopher—I love you both!”

And she was able to meet the little one earlier this month.

She shared a sweet moment on Instagram April 5th, posting a picture of herself with her new grandson, Anthony. She wrote that it was the ‘best day ever’ and expressed how proud she is of Anthony and his parents, Teresa and Blake.

Rosie isn’t alone – many celebrities have chosen to leave Hollywood behind. Here’s a look at some other stars who’ve traded the glitz and glamour for a different life.

Following a serious heart attack in 2019, the actor best known for The Mask of Zorro returned to his hometown of Málaga, Spain, to dedicate himself to performing on stage.

“It really shifted my perspective on everything,” Antonio shared with The Times in March 2026. “Coming so close to death made me step back and recognize that, at my core, I’m a stage actor.”

The Tony Award nominee, who still acts in TV and movies sometimes, now owns a theater and actively participates in local events.

He went on to say he’d never felt happier. Staying connected to his community – his home, his neighbors, and the people he grew up with – meant everything to him. He hadn’t lost that feeling over time; in fact, it had only grown stronger.

After 19 seasons, The Ellen DeGeneres Show ended in 2022 following accusations of a negative and harmful workplace. These claims led to an internal review, the dismissal of several executives, and widespread public criticism.

Ellen made a return to comedy with her final standup special, For Your Approval, which premiered on Netflix in September 2024. Before the special’s release, she announced her plans to retire from Hollywood.

During her Ellen’s Last Stand…Up tour, the comedian told the audience, according to SFGate, that she’s retiring after her upcoming Netflix special. She stated, “This is the last time you’re going to see me.”

Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, Portia de Rossi, have settled in the Cotswolds. Ellen explained to Richard Bacon in July 2025, during a conversation at the Everyman theater in Cheltenham, that they decided to stay there permanently after Donald Trump was reelected in November 2024.

She raved about the English countryside, telling the BBC it was ‘absolutely beautiful’ and unlike anything she was used to. She especially loved the charming villages, towns, and architecture, noting it felt like a more relaxed and simple way of life.

“It’s just a nicer place,” Ellen explained. “The animals are well cared for, and everyone is friendly. We really love living here. We moved in November, which wasn’t the best timing, but I finally got to experience snow! Portia brought her horses with her, I have chickens, and we even had sheep for a couple of weeks.”

Tyra Banks, the host of America’s Next Top Model, moved to Australia partly to focus on her ice cream company, SMiZE and Dream. She explained on Today with Jenna & Friends that her business had been primarily supplying ice cream to places like airplanes and cruise ships, and she’d been traveling to Australia frequently because that’s where a large production facility was located. She quickly fell in love with the country during her visits.

She also realized Australia was a promising market for her product, noting that the top three ice cream-consuming countries are the United States, New Zealand, and Australia.

Banks decided to make the move with her son, York (whose father is her ex, Erik Asla), and her boyfriend, Louis Bélanger-Martin, sharing that Australia has been a wonderful experience for her and her family.

Eva Longoria, known for her role on Desperate Housewives, has moved from Los Angeles and now splits her time between Mexico and Spain with her husband, José Bastón, and their son, Santiago. She explained to Marie Claire that while she lived in Los Angeles her entire adult life, the city had changed, and the pandemic accelerated that change. Issues like homelessness and taxes contributed to her decision, though she doesn’t want to criticize California.

Longoria clarified to The View: Behind the Table that her move wasn’t politically motivated by the election. Instead, it stemmed from work opportunities, starting with six months of filming in Catalonia for Land of Women, followed by four months in Mexico for Searching for Mexico, and then returning to Spain. She’s been living there for years now and dislikes the idea of her decision being framed as political.

Despite the move, Longoria remains busy with her career, recently appearing in Only Murders in the Building and Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip. She also expressed feeling fortunate to be able to leave the U.S. when many Americans aren’t so lucky, and feels sadness and anxiety for those who are stuck in what she describes as a dystopian country.

Actor Richard Gere has relocated from Chicago to Spain with his family. He explained on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in November 2024 that his wife, Alejandra Silva, who is from Galicia, encouraged the move, and they plan to live in Madrid for several years. Gere is excited about the opportunity for their young sons, Alexander and James, to thrive in a bilingual environment. He also has an adult son, Homer, with his ex-wife, Carey Lowell. The family seems to be adjusting well to the change. In an interview with Elle España in January 2025, Gere shared that they are happier than ever and are really enjoying this new chapter in their lives.

Singer Christina Milian and her family have officially moved to Paris. She and her husband, singer Matt Pokora, spent the last three or four years splitting their time between the U.S. and France, but decided to make Paris their permanent home so their children could attend school there. This includes her daughter Violet (from a previous marriage to The-Dream) and their sons Isaiah and Kenna. Milian shared with TopMob that her kids are thriving and learning French, and she’s enjoying a healthy work-life balance with daytime activities and work done ahead of schedule. She feels it’s a wonderful opportunity for her family and they are all very happy.

Lindsay Lohan is frustrated by the ongoing speculation surrounding her departure from Los Angeles. She recently explained that a busy work life and frequent partying in the early 2000s were often overshadowed by constant paparazzi attention, which she found irritating. In a March 2024 interview with Bustle, she expressed a desire for her work to be the focus, rather than tabloid stories. This feeling contributed to her decision to move abroad, first to London and then to Dubai, where she also started opening beach clubs in Greece, seeking a life away from the constant spotlight.

Lindsay Lohan once worried she might never find love, questioning if it would ever happen for her. She realized that taking time to focus on herself was key to opening up possibilities and receiving the opportunities she truly wanted.

Eventually, she did find love with Bader Shammas, and they married in 2022, welcoming their son, Luai, the following year.

Although they currently live in Dubai, Lindsay hasn’t left acting behind. She continues to appear in films like Our Little Secret, Irish Wish, and Freakier Friday.

Josh decided to leave Hollywood after some careful thought. He explained to People magazine in July 2024 that Hollywood isn’t just a location, but a way of life. Being surrounded by people constantly focused on the film industry, he felt, would limit his perspective. He wanted a more diverse life.

“I’ve always wanted to be around people doing lots of other things, to take my mind off work and help me grow,” Josh said. “That’s what makes life interesting.”

So, Josh, his wife Tamsin Egerton, and their four children moved to the countryside in Hampshire, England. He told The Guardian in July 2024 that time flies when you have a family. He felt that while life might seem simpler, it allowed him to focus on what truly mattered.

Despite the move, Josh has remained active in his career, appearing in films like Verity, Fight or Flight, and Trap.

Many fans may not realize Jesse no longer lives in Los Angeles. In a February 2025 interview with CBS News Sunday Morning, the A Real Pain star revealed he’s lived in Indiana for the past ten years, finding it a more comfortable environment. He explained he prefers to avoid the instability he feels is common in the entertainment industry.

Despite being an Oscar nominee, Jesse lives a surprisingly ordinary life with his wife, Anna Strout, and their son, Banner. He avoids social media and doesn’t spend much time networking with industry professionals, which helps him maintain a sense of separation from the pressures of Hollywood. His wife works as a teacher, and his son isn’t even much of a moviegoer, further distancing him from the constant need to evaluate his standing in the industry.

Eliza Dushku, known for her roles in shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the movie Bring It On, announced in September 2024 that she’s now a certified psychedelic-assisted therapist and is continuing her education in the field of mental health.

She explained to Boston Magazine that she was able to change her life’s path to focus on her own well-being, with the goal of then helping others. She felt it was important to share her personal journey and the sense of peace and passion she’d found, as she now clearly understood this was her true calling and purpose.

The actress best known for playing a character in The Flintstones shared that she relocated to Ireland in January 2025 with her son, Clay. She’s currently working on becoming an Irish citizen because of her family’s roots there. While she mentioned recent political events as a factor in her decision to move, she hasn’t ruled out the possibility of returning to her home country in the future.

In a TikTok video, she shared that she misses her children, friends, and life back home. She’s working on building a new life in her current country and said her family will think about returning to America when it’s safe and everyone there has equal rights.

Actress Evangeline Lilly, known for her role in Ant-Man and the Wasp, has said she’s stepping away from acting for an unspecified amount of time after two decades in the business.

In a June 2024 Instagram post, Evangeline shared how happy and fulfilled she feels while pursuing her life’s purpose. She expressed gratitude for her blessings and explained that while choosing a path less traveled – one that doesn’t necessarily lead to wealth or fame – can be frightening, embracing what truly feels right brings a deep sense of satisfaction instead.

However, she’s not ruling out a return to Hollywood completely, saying, “I could see myself going back someday, but right now, I’m happy where I am.”

Since finishing his role in the 2019 Netflix series V-Wars, the actor best known for The Vampire Diaries has been focusing on a personal mission: fighting climate change by working to improve soil health around the world.

Ian, who has two children with his wife Nikki Reed, took a break from acting over four years ago to focus on his family and businesses. He was also working to release two documentaries, Kiss the Ground (2020) and Common Ground, both of which highlight the importance of regenerative farming. He shared this with TopMob News in November 2023.

Looking ahead, the actor said he plans to become a rancher and focus on building lasting brands – including his bourbon and health company. He’s deeply committed to sustainable farming and healthy soil, principles he and his family practice. He explained this is his life’s direction, and that’s why these things are so important to him – it’s who he is and who he’s becoming.

In a February 2021 episode of her podcast, Empty Inside, former iCarly star Jennette McCurdy shared with guest Anna Faris that she had stopped acting a few years prior. She’s now pursuing writing and directing, alongside hosting the podcast.

Jennette shared that she deeply regrets many of the acting roles she took in the past, detailing these feelings in her 2022 memoir, I’m Glad My Mom Died. She admitted to feeling resentful towards her career and unfulfilled by the parts she played, describing them as cheesy and embarrassing. Having worked on those shows from ages 13 to 21, she was already feeling self-conscious by age 15, realizing her peers weren’t impressed by her being on Nickelodeon.

I’ve been following her career for years, and I was so interested to hear her talk about potentially acting again. She’s said that writing her book has actually helped her rethink things. For a long time, she carried a lot of negative feelings about acting, but she now feels like maybe, just maybe, she could explore it again if she wrote a role specifically for herself. It’s amazing to see her open to the possibility, and I’m really hoping we might see her on screen again someday, but on her own terms.

It seemed like a pretty easy decision. The chance to marry Prince Harry, devote ourselves to meaningful charitable work, and even wear the Queen’s tiaras would make leaving Hollywood completely worthwhile.

Similar to Grace Kelly’s transition from Hollywood to Monaco, Meghan Markle left her life and acting career in Toronto—including her role on the show Suits—to join the British Royal Family. Now that she and Prince Harry have stepped down as senior royals and live in California, Meghan is returning to professional life. This includes a deal with Netflix, where she released the 2022 docuseries Harry & Meghan and will launch a lifestyle show, With Love, Meghan, in 2025. She has also started a podcast and launched her brand, As Ever.

Oh my gosh, can you believe she’d made over 40 movies since she first burst onto the scene with The Mask back in ’94? Seriously, by the time she finished Annie in 2014, she needed a break! She’d been working non-stop for twenty years, it was about time she took a breather. I was so worried she was going to burn out, honestly!

She told Gwyneth Paltrow that she realized she wanted a different lifestyle. After years of intense work and filmmaking, she felt burnt out. Making movies, she explained, is incredibly demanding – it’s a total commitment where you work long hours every day for months and have no personal time.

Cameron Diaz had many interests she wanted to pursue, including writing—she followed up her 2013 bestseller, The Body Book, with The Longevity Book in 2016—and starting a family with her husband, Benji Madden. While she told InStyle in 2019 that she didn’t miss acting and was focused on wellness, it seems she might be open to returning for at least one more project.

Jamie Foxx explained to TopMob News how they convinced Cameron Diaz to star in the 2025 Netflix movie Back in Action. He said they practically pleaded with her, getting down on their knees to ask her to do it. “We love her and have been waiting for her to return – this is going to be amazing!”

The actor stated firmly that he wouldn’t return to acting after completing his five years on Empire. When Extra asked Terrence Howard about his plans before the show’s sixth and final season in 2019, he said, “I’m finished with acting. I’m done with pretending.”

Despite appearing in a few projects since then, the Oscar-nominated actor announced his intention to retire from acting again in 2022 while promoting his Peacock series, The Best Man: The Final Chapters. He explained to ET that he felt he’d given everything he had to offer as an actor and now wanted to focus on watching and supporting new talent, rather than simply repeating performances of his own.

Even with those past issues, Howard has continued to act, appearing in shows like Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist and the Netflix movie Shirley. He also has several new projects planned.

After his character, King Joffrey, died on the show in 2014, Jack Gleeson, then 21 years old, told EW he was retiring from acting. He explained that he’d been acting since he was a child, but simply wasn’t enjoying it as much anymore.

Jack isn’t a child star anymore, and some of the excitement has faded. He explained that turning a hobby into a job changes things. “Before, it was just something fun to do with friends or during the summer,” he said. “I still like it, but making a living from it feels different. It’s not that I dislike it, it’s just not what I want to do as a career.”

After taking six years off, Jack returned to acting in 2020 with a role in the BBC series Out of Her Mind. Since then, he’s also been in films like Rebecca’s Boyfriend and In the Land of Saints and Sinners, and TV shows including Safe Harbor and The Famous Five.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve always admired couples who prioritize family. It was really interesting to learn about Jennifer Aniston and Kevin Kline’s approach to balancing work and raising their kids, Owen and Greta. When they got married back in 1989, they made a conscious decision to stagger their work schedules. Kevin shared with Playboy that they agreed to never be on set at the same time, ensuring one of them was always available for their children. And how amazing is it that their daughter, Greta, is now a successful singer known as Frankie Cosmos? It’s a beautiful example of a family supporting each other’s dreams.

He added that Phoebe consistently prioritizes staying home with her children whenever she’s scheduled to work. While she briefly appeared in her friend Jennifer Jason Leigh’s 2001 independent film, The Anniversary Party, Cates mainly focuses on running her New York City store, Blue Tree.

Oh my gosh, it broke my heart when Rick Moranis basically disappeared! He was so amazing in Ghostbusters and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids – a total comedic genius! I remember being so shocked when he stepped away from acting. Later I found out it was because his wife sadly passed away from breast cancer in ’91, and he wanted to be there for his kids, Rachel and Mitchell. It was totally understandable, of course, but still… a huge loss for all of us fans!

Okay, so it kills me that Rick hasn’t been in a live-action movie since, like, forever – 1997! Can you believe he even turned down a Ghostbusters cameo? Seriously?! But honestly, it just proves how much everyone loves him. When I heard about that awful thing that happened to him in New York in 2020, I was genuinely horrified – it just showed how protective we all are! But OMG, the BEST news ever? He’s coming back! He and Josh Gad are going to be in this new Disney movie, Shrunk, and I’m already counting down the days. It’s going to be AMAZING!

After marrying fashion designer Adam Kimmel in 2010, actress Drew Barrymore suggested she was considering stepping back from acting. She told Vogue that most acting roles require a lot of intimate scenes, and she wasn’t comfortable with that. While she felt her relationship was strong enough to handle potentially challenging roles, she believed any role she took on needed to be truly exceptional to justify the emotional risk.

After her son, Martin, joined his older sister, Louisanna, in 2014, she firmly decided to step away from acting. She told Us Weekly in 2016 that she felt like an outsider and was now focused solely on being a mom. She explained that she primarily helps her husband, Kimmel, with his work and enjoys painting as a hobby, adding that her children were the main reason she stopped pursuing film roles.

She’d starred in popular shows like Ally McBeal, Nip/Tuck, Arrested Development, and Scandal. After those roles, the Australian actress began to feel like it was time for a change.

Turning 45, I started thinking about taking on a new, really challenging project I hadn’t tried before,” she shared on her wife Ellen DeGeneres’ talk show in 2018. “I had a good idea of what my acting career would look like for the next decade or two, so I decided to leave acting and start my own business instead.”

Her company, General Public, which creates art for everyone, was almost complete – she just needed to finish one final piece.

I spoke with Mitch Hurwitz, the creator of Arrested Development, and told him I wouldn’t participate in a fifth season because I had decided to stop acting. He was very understanding and supportive, and we had a good talk. Surprisingly, he ended up writing me into five episodes.

It’s understandable why, after winning three Oscars, an actor might consider their career complete. Following his sixth Academy Award nomination for the 2017 film Phantom Thread, the actor announced through his representative that he was retiring from acting. The statement expressed his gratitude to colleagues and fans over the years, and clarified that this was a personal decision, with no further comments to be made.

Just as Daniel Day-Lewis had announced his retirement from acting, a new project drew him back in. In October 2024, Focus Features revealed he would star in Anemone, a film he co-wrote with his son, Ronan Day-Lewis, who will also be directing.

After appearing on Good Luck Charlie, Bridgit Mendler stepped away from acting in 2018 to focus on her education. She went on to earn both a master’s degree and a PhD from MIT, and also attended Harvard Law School.

On top of everything else, Bridgit started her own company, Northwood Space, in February 2023. The company is building ground stations to facilitate communication with satellites, and Bridgit is serving as its CEO.

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2026-04-14 05:22