Stranger Things’ Dacre Montgomery Reveals Why He Quit Hollywood

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Dacre Montgomery is getting back to saner things.

In simpler terms, the actor who plays a role in Stranger Things shared why he took a long break from acting in movies and TV shows, discussing the significant changes that have occurred within the entertainment industry during that time.

According to Dacre, the enigma surrounding old Hollywood celebrities was essential to their existence. He explained this in an interview with The Australian, as reported by the Daily Mail. However, he believes that social media has removed this element of mystery, which could explain why he chose to retreat from public view for the past five years.

He stated, “I’m not aiming to rival others; instead, I’m pursuing authenticity, and I hope that this journey allows me to meet my financial obligations along the way.

Apart from wishing for privacy restoration, the 30-year-old actor, known for acting alongside Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, and Noah Schnapp in Stranger Things, also expressed a strong desire to regain control over his personal image or self-identity.

He explained that each character he’s portrayed has required a part of him, leading to his need for a break. He’s been spending time contemplating his professional goals, seeking more autonomy over the projects he chooses to work on.

Although Dacre Montgomery won’t appear in the last season of “Stranger Things,” he is excited about it wrapping up, particularly for the show’s creators Matt Duffer and Ross Duffer. His upcoming movie “Went Up the Hill,” set to hit theaters on Aug 15, signals his return to acting.

Dacre expressed his enthusiasm to ScreenRant during an interview on August 6th: “I can hardly contain my excitement because I know the Duffer Brothers have a multitude of amazing tales yet untold. They’ve been sharing these stories with me for years, and it seems they finally have the time and resources to bring this project to life.

Plus, he’s optimistic about his costar Sadie Sink’s future. 

Dacre emphasized, ‘She’s an incredibly gifted actress who’s had fantastic roles recently.’ What I truly hope for her is to keep shining in numerous exciting performances beyond ‘Stranger Things,’ because I firmly believe she’s extraordinarily talented, highly professional, and incredibly driven.’

Read on for more stars who have stepped away from the Hollywood spotlight. 

After wrapping up “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” in 2022 following a 19-season tenure marred by accusations of a harmful workplace culture and an internal probe, as well as dismissals of executives and widespread criticism, Ellen stepped back into the limelight with her standup special titled “For Your Approval,” available on Netflix in September 2024. In the build-up to this special, it was announced that she would bid farewell to Hollywood entirely.

During her stand-up comedy tour titled ‘Ellen’s Last Stand…Up,’ she informed the audience that this would be her final appearance. Following the release of her Netflix special, she plans to retire.”

And regarding their move:
“In November 2024, Ellen and her wife Portia de Rossi decided to relocate to England. This move took place after Donald Trump was reelected as President, a fact Ellen confirmed in an interview with broadcaster Richard Bacon in July 2025.

One of the reasons Tyra Banks, the host of America’s Next Top Model, decided to relocate to Australia was due to her commitment to her ice cream brand SMiZE and Dream. As she shared on an episode of Today with Jenna & Friends in April 2025, her company had primarily been focused on business-to-business sales, such as on airplanes and cruises. However, they were manufacturing a significant amount of their ice cream in Australia at a large facility, and every time she visited, she fell more in love with the country. Not only did Australia appeal to her personally, but it also presented a promising market for her business, as it is one of the top three countries that consume the most ice cream, along with America and New Zealand. With her son York and boyfriend Louis Bélanger-Martin by her side, Tyra and her family found Australia to be a dream come true.

Although it’s been some time since Eva Longoria’s character resided on Wisteria Lane, she has since relocated in real life. In an interview with Marie Claire in November 2024, Eva spoke about her decision to leave Los Angeles, explaining that even before the pandemic, the city was undergoing significant changes. The ambiance shifted, and then Covid-19 exacerbated the situation. Factors such as homelessness and high taxes contributed to her feeling that this phase of her life is now complete.

For several years, Eva, her husband José Bastón, and their son Santiago have been spending time between Mexico and Spain. “I’m fortunate,” she remarked. “I can escape and go elsewhere. Many Americans aren’t as lucky; they’re stuck in a dystopian country, and my feelings of anxiety and sadness are for them.”

Eva clarified that her move was not motivated by President Trump’s re-election. In fact, she explained on The View: Behind the Table podcast in November 2024 that her work took her to different countries since Land of Women-spending six months in Catalonia, then four months in Mexico for Searching for Mexico, and subsequently returning to Spain. She has now resided there for an extended period. Therefore, she expressed displeasure at the politicization of her decision to move.

Since relocating, Eva has remained active, with recent roles in Only Murders in the Building and Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip.

The actor and his family have relocated from Chicago to Madrid, Spain, due to the wife’s Spanish origins and their desire to spend some years there. This move is expected to benefit their young sons who are already bilingual, as they will thrive in this environment. Richard himself seems content with this change, expressing that the family is happier than ever.

During the daytime and evening, the singer (Christina) and her family are residing in Paris. The singer is married to Matt Pokora, and they have been together for several years. Over the past few years, they were frequently commuting between France and the United States every six months. However, they chose to permanently relocate to France so their children could attend school there. Christina’s children include Violet from her previous marriage with The-Dream, and sons Isaiah and Kenna from her union with Matt. It seems like life in Paris suits the family well as they have adapted to the lifestyle, and the children are happy and learning French. Christina maintains a balanced routine, engaging in daily activities during the day while doing her work at night since she works ahead of her time zone.

After years of rumors surrounding her departure from Los Angeles, Lindsay decided to clarify the situation. Reflecting on her busy career and social life during the 2000s, she shared with Bustle in March 2024 that she felt her work was often overshadowed by paparazzi. ‘I’ve had enough of it being all about my personal life rather than my professional achievements,’ she explained. Desiring to escape this focus on her private life, Lindsay moved to London and later Dubai, even opening beach clubs in Greece. However, there was another reason for her desire to distance herself from the public eye – a personal matter she wished to keep private.

In her own words, Lindsay expressed, “I wondered, ‘Could I never experience love? Could this opportunity pass me by?’ Then, I simply focused on myself, which ultimately led to the opening of doors and affirmative responses – the chances I was eager to embrace.”

Indeed, Lindsay did encounter love with Bader Shammas. Their marriage took place in 2022, followed by the birth of their son, Luai, in the subsequent year. Although they currently reside in Dubai, Lindsay hasn’t completely severed ties with Hollywood and has continued to star in films such as “Our Little Secret,” “Irish Wish,” and “Freakier Friday.

After giving it a lot of thought, Josh decided to depart from Hollywood. He felt that being immersed in the movie industry had limited his experiences and personal growth, as he was constantly surrounded by people who predominantly discussed films. Instead, he yearned for diversity and sought a change of environment. He desired to be around individuals engaged in various activities, which would distract him from his work and foster his development in different aspects. As he put it, such variety is the essence of life.”

So, Josh, along with his wife Tamsin Egerton and their four children, relocated to the countryside of Hampshire, England. According to an interview with The Guardian, he found that time moves swiftly in this new setting, as raising four children keeps him occupied. Despite this change, he remains active professionally, having secured roles in Verity, Fight or Flight, and Trap.

If you haven’t been keeping up with Jesse’s social media, you might not know that he no longer resides in L.A. As stated in a 2025 interview with CBS News Sunday Morning, Jesse has spent most of the last decade living in Indiana, feeling more comfortable there than in Hollywood. Despite being an Oscar nominee, his life is rather ordinary as he lives with his wife Anna Strout and son Banner. Jesse avoids social media and rarely communicates with industry people, keeping his personal life separate from the unstable world of entertainment. His wife works as a teacher, and their son doesn’t watch many movies, so they don’t spend much time evaluating their status in the industry.

Following roles in shows like “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and the year 2000’s “Bring It On”, Eliza shared in September 2024 that she had obtained certification in psychedelic-assisted therapy and is continuing her education to become a mental health professional.

She shared with Boston Magazine that she had the opportunity to change her life’s path and concentrate on healing herself, enabling her to help others heal in return. It would be wrong not to share now the transformation, the tranquility, and the fervor I feel about this. This is undeniably my true vocation, my real purpose.

In January 2025, the star of The Flintstones, Rosie, along with her youngest son Clay, relocated to Ireland. She’s in the midst of acquiring Irish citizenship because her grandparents hail from that European nation. Although she mentioned recent political changes as her motivation for leaving, she didn’t completely rule out the possibility of returning home at some point in the future.

In a TikTok video, she expressed her longing by saying, “I pine for my other children. I miss my friends. There are so many things about life at home that I yearn for, and I’m striving to build a new home here in this lovely country. However, once all citizens in America can enjoy equal rights without fear, then we may think about returning.

Actress who stars in “Ant-Man and the Wasp” has decided to take a break from acting for an undetermined period, following two decades in the film industry.

On Instagram in June 2024, Evangeline expressed her happiness and contentment, stating she is living out her vision. She feels deeply grateful for her blessings. Although abandoning what initially appears to be a logical choice (wealth and fame) can sometimes be frightening, embracing one’s purpose brings peace instead of fear.

However, she doesn’t definitely close the door on a possible future return to Hollywood. She further expresses, “I may find myself back in Hollywood someday, but for now, I feel at home right here.

The actor from “The Vampire Diaries” hasn’t taken on a new acting role since Netflix’s 2019 series “V-Wars.” Instead, he has thrown himself into a personal endeavor, focusing particularly on his campaign to combat climate change by enhancing the quality of the world’s soil.

Ian, who is married to Nikki Reed and shares two children with her, explained in an interview with TopMob News in November 2023 that he took a break from acting approximately four years ago to focus on raising his kids, establishing his businesses, and bringing the documentaries “Kiss the Ground” (released in 2020) and its sequel “Common Ground” to the public. These films highlight the importance of regenerative farming practices.

In the future, as he gazes ahead, the actor explained, “I envision myself transforming into a rancher and establishing notable brands, be it my bourbon or my health and wellness business. My commitment to regenerative agriculture and healthy soil management will remain at the heart of these ventures, a practice that our family has long embraced. This is the path I see for myself. When others question ‘Why do you invest your time?’, this is why – because it reflects my identity, it’s where I am headed.

In the February 2021 episode of her podcast “Empty Inside”, the former iCarly star shared with guest Anna Faris that she stepped away from acting a few years prior and is currently pursuing ventures in writing, directing, and podcast hosting, in addition to these endeavors.

In a candid revelation, Jennette shared in her 2022 memoir, “I’m Glad My Mom Died,” that she harbors profound shame regarding the acting roles she took on earlier in her career. She finds herself resentful of her profession, feeling deeply unfulfilled by the characters she portrayed. To her, these roles seemed overly cheesy and embarrassing. During her teenage years, from around 13 to 21, Jennette appeared in shows that left her feeling embarrassed as early as age 15. Even her peers at that time didn’t share the same enthusiasm for her Nickelodeon roles; instead, she found their reaction embarrassing.

Despite not completely ruling out a return to acting, she now feels that writing the book has opened up a potential avenue for her to experiment with acting without the burden she carried for years. She suggested to TopMob News in October 2022 that if she writes something specifically for herself, it could potentially be a way for her to revisit acting again.

This seemed almost inevitable. If we had the chance to unite with Prince Harry, devote our life to charitable endeavors that are deeply meaningful to us, and access the Queen’s stunning collection of tiaras, saying farewell to Hollywood would feel like a tolerable trade-off.

In the footsteps of Grace Kelly’s journey from Hollywood to the Princely Palace of Monaco, I too followed suit by leaving my home in Toronto and my successful stint on Suits behind for a life with The Firm. However, after stepping down from our senior royal roles and settling in Montecito, California, I am now gradually re-entering the entertainment industry through strategic business decisions such as our multi-year production deal with Netflix.

My return to the limelight has seen the release of my 2022 documentary series Harry & Meghan on Netflix, along with my upcoming 2025 lifestyle show With Love, Meghan. I have also branched out into podcasts and my own brand As Ever.

Since her acting debut in “The Mask” back in 1994, the actress had starred in nearly 40 movies. By the time shooting ended on “Annie” in 2014, it was clear that she had worked tirelessly and deserved a well-earned break.

She shared with her friend Gwyneth Paltrow that she had recently made a change in her life goals, stating, “I found myself yearning for something different.” She further elaborated, “For years, I’ve been pushing myself relentlessly, working, producing films, and it’s been an exhausting journey. When you’re involved in filmmaking-it becomes a demanding commitment. You’re expected to be present for 12 hours a day, day after day, for months on end, leaving little room for anything else.

Besides delving deeper into her interests, such as publishing additional books like “The Longevity Book” following her 2013 best-seller “The Body Book,” and building a family with husband Benji Madden, Cameron Diaz had previously stated in an interview with InStyle in 2019 that she no longer missed performing. However, it seems there might be room for a comeback.

As a lifestyle expert, I can’t help but share an exciting moment from my recent conversation with Cameron. In true enthusiasm, I found myself kneeling, pleading, and expressing genuine admiration: “Cameron, please, could you give us one more for the 2025 Netflix film ‘Back in Action’?” Why? Because we adore her, have long been anticipating this moment, and are confident that the collaboration will result in something extraordinary.

In response to queries about his future during an interview before the final season of Empire aired in 2019, actor Terrence stated, “I’ve wrapped up my acting career. I’m through with the acting game now.” This implies that he had no plans for another performance or encore after completing his five-year stint on Empire.

Despite coming back for a few roles, the Oscar nominee declared once more in 2022, while promoting his Peacock series “The Best Man: The Final Chapters,” that he intends to retire from acting. As he explained to ET, “I’ve reached a stage where I feel I’ve offered my finest as an actor. Now I delight in witnessing fresh talent emerge, and I don’t wish to mimic myself anymore.

Even though those comments were made, it’s worth noting that Howard has continued to work in various shows and films since then. Some of his recent appearances include the TV series “Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist” and the Netflix film “Shirley.” There are also several projects scheduled for him in the future.

After King Joffrey met an abrupt, purple-faced end in 2014 at the age of 21, he shared with Entertainment Weekly that he was stepping away from acting. He reflected on his career, stating, “I’ve been acting since I was 8 years old. Lately, I haven’t been enjoying it as much as I once did.

Jack explained that his perspective towards acting had shifted since it became his profession. Beforehand, he considered it as a fun pastime he shared with friends during leisure time or summer breaks. However, now that he earns a living from it, he finds himself having a different connection with it. It’s not that he dislikes acting, but it is no longer the path he wants to pursue.

Six years after a hiatus, Jack made his comeback in 2020, reclaiming his role in the BBC series titled “Out of Her Mind “. Since then, he has also graced the screens in films such as “Rebecca’s Boyfriend” and “In the Land of Saints and Sinners“, along with TV shows like “Safe Harbor” and “The Famous Five“.

In September 2020, when Jennifer Aniston, known as Fast Times at Ridgemont High’s dream girl, participated in a virtual table read, she was already married to Kevin Kline, whom she wed in 1989. They decided that one of them would always be free from work so they wouldn’t clash schedules while caring for their children, Owen and Greta. In an interview with Playboy, Kevin shared that this arrangement allowed them never to work at the same time. Their daughter, Greta, is now known by her stage name Frankie Cosmos as a singer.

Nevertheless, he went on to say that whenever it was Phoebe’s turn to work, she decided to stay with the kids instead. Despite making a brief appearance in Jennifer Jason Leigh’s 2001 independent film titled “The Anniversary Party”, Cates primarily focuses her time on managing her New York City store, Blue Tree.

At the peak of his fame from “Ghostbusters” and “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids,” the ’80s actor took a break from filmmaking not much after his wife succumbed to breast cancer in 1991, choosing instead to concentrate on parenting Rachel and Mitchell.

Despite not taking on a live-action movie role since 1997, even declining an appearance in Paul Feig’s 2016 Ghostbusters remake, Rick continues to be cherished as a cultural icon, highlighted by the public outcry over reports of his assault in New York City in 2020. Luckily for fans, he’s set to reappear on the big screen, teaming up with Josh Gad in the upcoming Disney remake Shrunk.

After marrying fashion designer Adam Kimmel in 2010, the prominent actress from “Never Been Kissed” seemed to suggest a shift away from movies. She expressed her discomfort with the high proportion of acting roles requiring intimate scenes with others, stating, “I don’t wish to participate in such activities.” She further explained that acting, with its intense sexual undertones, is like playing with fire, and while her relationship could endure it, she prefers to find more rewarding opportunities instead.

Her resolve became firm when her son Martin joined her older daughter Louisanna in 2014. As she expressed to Us Weekly at a 2016 event, she stepped away from the movie industry and now considers herself merely a mother and an outsider. She assists Kimmel with his business and enjoys painting as a hobby. Her main focus is her children, which is the primary reason for her decision to stop her previous engagements.

She had watched shows like “Ally McBeal,” “Nip/Tuck,” “Arrested Development,” and ultimately “Scandal.” At this point, the Australian figured out she might be prepared for a change.

In a conversation on Ellen DeGeneres’ popular talk show in 2018, she shared that at around 45 years old, she found herself pondering if there was something new and difficult she could undertake. She had a sense of what her acting career would look like for the next decade or two, so she made the decision to step away from acting and instead venture into entrepreneurship.

In her ongoing art company for consumers, named General Public, she was left with only one more creation to complete.

I contacted Mitch Hurwitz, the brain behind ‘Arrested Development’, and shared that if there’s a season 5, I won’t participate due to my decision to quit acting. He appeared sympathetic and completely grasped my situation. We had an enjoyable chat, and later on, he included me in five episodes.

After winning three Academy Awards, one might wonder what else is left to achieve in acting. Following his sixth Oscar nomination for his last film, “Phantom Thread” in 2017, the actor announced his retirement from acting through his representatives. He expressed gratitude towards his collaborators and audiences over the years, stating that this was a personal decision and he would not provide further comments on the matter.

Despite thinking he had moved on, Daniel found himself returning to the world of cinema when his son, Ronan Day-Lewis, announced in October 2024 that they would be collaborating again for Focus Features’ production of “Anemone“, a film Daniel co-wrote and which his son would also direct.

In 2018, the actress from “Good Luck Charlie” decided to temporarily retreat from public attention as she embarked on a journey to obtain a master’s degree from MIT. She later accomplished her goal of earning a PhD from the same esteemed institution. Additionally, she furthered her education by enrolling in Harvard Law School.

Furthermore, not only did Bridgit initiate Northwood Space, a startup focused on constructing earth-based satellite stations for data exchange with space, but she also assumed the role of CEO for the company as early as February 2023.

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2025-08-14 05:18