Balancing any career with being a present and involved parent can be challenging, but we’d imagine it’s even more taxing when your job requires constant travel and an unending stream of public appearances. Throw into that mix the paparazzi and unnecessary tabloid scrutiny, and we can understand why these ten celebrities decided to step away from the spotlight to focus on their families.
Cameron Diaz
Cameron Diaz was one of Hollywood’s hottest stars in the ’90s and 2000s. She made a dazzling debut in The Mask and went on to star in hits like Shrek and My Sister’s Keeper. But Diaz left stardom behind to focus on herself and her marriage to musician Benji Madden. The couple have two kids together and live a more private life away from the spotlight. However, Diaz did make a return to acting in 2025 with a role in Netflix’s spy comedy Back in Action.
Daniel Day-Lewis
Daniel Day-Lewis has never been one for the glitz and glam of Hollywood, but his retirement from acting in 2017 still took fans by surprise. The Oscar winner was reportedly feeling “hollowed out” by the lifestyle that goes hand in hand with being an actor and wanted to protect his family from the spotlight. That said, he did make an exception to star in his son Ronan’s film, Anemone, released this October.
David Beckham
Back in the late ’90s, David Beckham had hordes of female fans around the world tuning in to watch him on the football pitch. But after stepping away from the sport back in 2013, Beckham didn’t try too hard to stay in the spotlight. Sure, he had stakes in various clubs and other ventures going for him, but it seems Beckham was more than happy to embrace a new role as “stay-at-home dad“.
Demi Moore
Demi Moore became a household name after starring alongside Whoopi Goldberg and Patrick Swayze in what can only be described as one of the most unforgettable romantic thrillers of the ’90s. But at what many would consider the height of her success, Moore decided to put her career on hold to raise her three daughters. Of course, you would have seen her in a few movies here and there, but not at the same pace as before.
Hilary Duff
Hilary Duff landed the role of a lifetime as Disney’s Lizzie McGuire in the early 2000s. But to break the dreaded child actor curse, Duff made a conscious decision to step away from the spotlight. Of course, that meant more time with her growing family, but keep an eye out for her comeback in 2025.
Jessica Simpson
Before the Kardashians and Jenners, there was Jessica Simpson. After being a pop princess for years, the singer turned her focus to reality TV and eventually acting. Simpson’s star was definitely on the rise, but she chose to leave it all behind for motherhood. Of course, Jessica juggled being a full-time mom of 3 with starting a $1 billion retail empire.
Lisa Bonet
Lisa Bonet won plenty of fans playing Denise Huxtable in NBC’s The Cosby Show and A Different World. But after marrying rock star (and her now ex-husband) Lenny Kravitz and having her first child, Zoë, the young starlet chose to put her family first. She hasn’t completely given up on acting, but she has made it clear that her family always comes first.
Lauryn Hill
Whether it was with the Fugees or as a solo artist, Lauryn Hill’s early music career was an undeniable success. Yet she didn’t hesitate to set aside the Grammy Awards and fame to focus on raising her six children over the years. In Hill’s own words, “I love music, and I always put my 100% into making music, but now I have to put 200% into being a mother.”
Lily Allen
Lily Allen songs like Smile and The Fear were constantly playing on the radio back in the 2000s. But the singer made a conscious decision to prioritise her little ones over pop stardom. She hasn’t completely stopped singing, though. Allen was able to make a successful move to theatre, and fans can look forward to the release of her fifth studio album pretty soon.
Shania Twain
Once upon a time, Shania Twain was the queen of country pop. Twain has a list of certifiable hits like That Don’t Impress Me Much and Man! I Feel Like A Woman! under her belt. But after the birth of her son Eja, the singer took a prolonged sabbatical from the music industry. Now that Eja is all grown up, Twain is back with a bang. She even has her own Las Vegas residency!
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