Famous Actors Who Rejected the L.A. Lifestyle

Los Angeles is still the center of the American film and television industry.

But not every actor wants to build a life there.

Some stars spent years in L.A. before deciding they wanted more privacy, more space, or a better place to raise their children. Others never fully bought into the Hollywood social scene in the first place. A few moved to farms, ranches, small towns, or home states while continuing to work in film and television on their own terms.

This is not a list of actors who “quit acting.” Many still take roles, attend premieres, and work on major projects. They simply chose not to make the L.A. lifestyle the center of their lives.

Here are famous actors who stepped away from Hollywood living and built quieter lives elsewhere.

1. Matthew McConaughey

Matthew McConaughey left California and returned to his home state of Texas.

He and his wife, Camila Alves McConaughey, have spoken about leaving Malibu for Austin, where they raise their family with more space and a stronger connection to relatives. McConaughey has also said the move helped him reset professionally, especially after years of being boxed into romantic-comedy roles. The family still lives in Texas, even as McConaughey continues making films.

For him, leaving L.A. was not about disappearing. It was about getting control of his life and career.

2. Amanda Seyfried

Amanda Seyfried left Los Angeles and New York City for farm life in the Catskills.

The Mean Girls and Mamma Mia! actress has called the move one of the best decisions she made. Her life now includes animals, privacy, and a much slower daily rhythm than the one usually associated with Hollywood. Even before attending the 2026 Met Gala, she spent time at her farm with her donkey, horses, chickens, goats, cats, and ducks.

Seyfried still works on major projects, but her home life is intentionally far from the industry bubble.

3. Glen Powell

Glen Powell moved back to Texas after breaking through in Hollywood.

After Top Gun: Maverick and Anyone But You, Powell became one of the most in-demand actors of his generation. But instead of staying fully rooted in Los Angeles, he returned to Texas to be closer to family and finish his degree at the University of Texas.

Powell’s move shows a newer version of stardom: build the career in L.A., then live where you feel grounded.

4. Mark Wahlberg

Mark Wahlberg moved his family out of California and made Nevada his base.

The actor and producer has said he wanted a better lifestyle and more opportunity for his children. His move also fits his business-minded public image, with Wahlberg discussing plans around film production, fitness, and growth outside Los Angeles.

Wahlberg did not leave work behind. He left the daily L.A. setup behind.

5. Sylvester Stallone

Sylvester Stallone made a major move from California to Florida.

The Rocky and Rambo star said in 2024 that he and his family were permanently leaving California for South Florida. His move became one of the most widely covered celebrity relocations because Stallone had been so strongly associated with Hollywood for decades.

For Stallone, the move marked a later-life reset after a long career built inside the Hollywood system.

6. Josh Duhamel

Josh Duhamel traded big-city life for a quieter lifestyle.

The actor has spoken about wanting more nature, space, and normalcy. PEOPLE included him among celebrities who moved away from major entertainment hubs to live in smaller or more remote areas, especially for family and lifestyle reasons.

7. Julia Roberts

Julia Roberts has long preferred a life away from constant Hollywood attention.

The Oscar-winning actress has been associated with homes outside Los Angeles, including New Mexico and other quieter settings. Roberts’ career proves that privacy and major stardom can exist together, as long as the actor sets clear boundaries.

8. Chris Hemsworth

Chris Hemsworth left Los Angeles for Australia.

The Thor actor has spoken in past interviews about moving his family back to Byron Bay, where they could live closer to nature and away from the pressure of Hollywood. Hemsworth still works on global blockbusters, but his day-to-day life is not built around Hollywood parties or paparazzi culture.

9. Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman has built much of her family life outside Los Angeles.

The actress and Keith Urban have spent significant time in Nashville and Australia, choosing a life that gives their family more space than a typical L.A. setup. Kidman remains one of the busiest actors in film and television, which makes her lifestyle choice even more notable.

10. Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively

Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively chose New York over Los Angeles.

The couple has been widely reported to live outside the L.A. spotlight, with a family-focused life in New York state. Their story works well because both remain highly visible professionally while keeping their home base away from the usual Hollywood scene.

11. Adrian Grenier

Adrian Grenier stepped away from the Los Angeles pace and moved to a ranch outside Austin, Texas.

The Entourage and The Devil Wears Prada actor relocated in 2020 and built a more nature-focused life with his wife and children. PEOPLE reported that Grenier lives on a 46-acre ranch and has focused on sustainability, family, environmental work, and selected entertainment projects.

Grenier is not completely retired from acting, but his life now looks very different from the Hollywood image that once surrounded him.

12. Luis Guzmán

Luis Guzmán has lived far from Hollywood for decades.

The Wednesday, Boogie Nights, and Traffic actor moved to Vermont in 1995 and has spoken proudly about living there. Entertainment Weekly reported that Guzmán said he feels lucky to live in Vermont and takes pride in telling people where he lives.

His story is a strong reminder that character actors do not need to live in L.A. to have long, respected careers.

13. Cillian Murphy

Cillian Murphy built an international career without becoming an L.A. regular.

After years in London, the Oppenheimer and Peaky Blinders actor moved back to Ireland with his family. He has said returning home was one of the best decisions he made, partly because he wanted his children to grow up with Irish roots and accents.

Murphy’s career is proof that an actor can win an Oscar and still keep a quiet, grounded life far from Hollywood culture.

14. Daniel Day-Lewis

Daniel Day-Lewis has long been known for avoiding the machinery of celebrity.

The three-time Oscar winner has lived a quiet life in Ireland and has repeatedly stepped back from acting for long periods. He is an Oscar winner who chose a quiet life away from the spotlight in County Wicklow.

Day-Lewis did not just reject the L.A. lifestyle. He rejected the idea that a great actor must always be publicly available.

15. Chrissy Metz

Chrissy Metz left Los Angeles after years of living there.

The This Is Us actress moved to Nashville, saying it gave her a better quality of life, less stress, and a closer route to family in Florida. Metz had lived in L.A. for 21 years before deciding Nashville suited her better.

Her move reflects a common post-pandemic celebrity shift: less pressure, more space, and a stronger sense of home.

16. Tom Welling

Tom Welling left Los Angeles for ranch life in North Carolina.

The Smallville actor has been included in recent coverage of celebrities who moved away from L.A., with Us Weekly noting that he left to raise horses on a ranch.

Welling’s post-Smallville life shows how some actors choose a slower pace after years of intense TV production.

17. Joe Manganiello

Joe Manganiello moved away from Los Angeles and returned closer to his roots.

Manganiello and fiancée Caitlin O’Connor relocated to Pittsburgh in December 2025. For actors with strong hometown ties, leaving L.A. can be less about rejecting work and more about choosing a community that feels real.

18. Jeffrey Donovan

Jeffrey Donovan is another actor who left Los Angeles for a different lifestyle.

Us Weekly included the Burn Notice actor among celebrities who decided to move away from L.A. and put down roots elsewhere. He represents a quieter kind of working actor: successful, recognizable, but not dependent on living inside Hollywood’s social circuit.

19. Catherine Zeta-Jones

Catherine Zeta-Jones has lived outside Los Angeles for years.

Us Weekly noted that she moved to New York years ago and has even questioned whether leaving L.A. affected her career. Leaving Los Angeles can bring privacy and peace, but it may also change how often an actor is seen by the industry.

20. Jonah Hill

Jonah Hill has also moved away from the traditional L.A. celebrity setup.

The actor has become increasingly private in recent years, making his lower-profile lifestyle part of a larger shift away from constant public exposure. Hill’s story fits the modern version of rejecting L.A.: less visibility, more boundaries.