9 Hollywood Stars Who Have Taken a Break On Their Acting Careers

Even in the glitzy world of Hollywood, not every A-lister is always in the spotlight. Some of the industry’s biggest stars have taken extended breaks, sometimes for years, between projects. Whether for personal reasons, career pivots, or simply choosing selectiveness over quantity, these actors remind us that sometimes, stepping out of the limelight can be just as noteworthy as stepping onto the big screen. We’re looking at 9 actors everyone knows who surprised us the most by putting their careers on pause.

Taylor Lautner

Taylor Lautner is best known for playing the werewolf Jacob Black in The Twilight Saga film series from 2008 to 2012, according to IMDb. However, he’s been noticeably absent from movie and television sets in recent years. His last full-length movie was Home Team in 2022, in which he played Troy Lambert, per the outlet.

Cameron Diaz

Cameron Diaz stepped away from acting from 2014 to her 2025 return to focus on her family and new business, as reported by Variety. In an interview at the Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Summit in 2024, she said, “It felt like the right thing for me to reclaim my own life. And I just really didn’t care about anything else,” per Fortune Magazine. She returned to acting in 2025, starring in the Netflix movie Back in Action.

Renée Zellweger

Renée Zellweger, acclaimed for her portrayals of iconic characters, took an extended break from acting from 2010 to 2016, per IMDb. When asked by Hugh Grant in a 2025 interview with Vogue UK about her hiatus, she explained, “Because I needed to. I was sick of the sound of my own voice. When I was working, I was like, “Oh, my gosh, listen to you. Are you sad again, Renée? Oh, is this your mad voice?”

Liv Tyler

Liv Tyler, known for memorable roles in Armageddon and the Lord of the Rings franchise, recently returned after five years off-screen. She didn’t act in anything between 2021 to 2024, per IMDb. Her return came to reprise her role as Betty Ross in Captain America: Brave New World, according to the outlet.

Tobey Maguire

Tobey Maguire, forever etched in pop culture as Spider-Man, has taken various breaks from acting throughout his career. His latest gap is around 3 years, with his last credited role being an appearance in the TV miniseries Extrapolations in 2023, per IMDb.

Matt LeBlanc

Matt LeBlanc, best loved as Joey Tribbiani, has taken a step away from Hollywood. His last TV project was Man with a Plan, which ended in 2020, per IMDb. LeBlanc gained major recognition worldwide for his role on the NBC sitcom Friends, which ran from 1994 to 2004, according to the outlet.

Katherine Heigl

Once a frequent face in romantic comedies and television, Katherine Heigl has kept a low profile recently, with her last acting role listed on her IMDb being in 2023. One of her best-known roles is her appearance as Dr. Isobel “Izzie” Stevens on Grey’s Anatomy from seasons 1 to 6. She went on to star in the hit romantic comedies Knocked Up, 27 Dresses, and Life as We Know It.

Emma Watson

Emma Watson rose to fame playing Hermione in the Harry Potter series, but in recent times, she’s taken a step back from acting. Her last credit was the short film Prada Paradoxe in 2022, while her last major film role was Meg March in Little Women in 2019, according to IMDb.

Daniel Day-Lewis

Daniel Day-Lewis, a legend of method acting, has built a reputation for rare yet unforgettable screen appearances. Instead of rapid-fire releases, Day-Lewis has seemingly chosen gaps between roles. He has only taken 8 roles since 1997, with Anemone being his latest film in 2025, per IMDb.