She was Hollywood’s golden girl, with a string of hit movies and a dazzling smile.
But Cameron Diaz stunned fans when she walked away from the limelight in 2018, after her last film role as Miss Hannigan in Annie.
Now, in an exclusive interview with Gwyneth Paltrow for Goop, the 49-year-old star has finally revealed the truth behind her decision to retire from acting – and how she found peace and happiness in her personal life.
‘I was burnt out and lost’
Diaz confessed that she felt ‘burnt out’ and ‘lost’ after working non-stop since she was 16, when she started her career as a model.
She said she felt like a product in her own life, and that she had no time for anything else.
She told Paltrow: ‘I stopped, I really looked at my life, and I saw what I had been [missing].’
She said she had to take back control and responsibility for her own life, and that retiring from acting brought peace to her soul ‘because I was finally taking care of myself.’
‘I explored other passions’
Diaz also opened up about how she used her time away from the spotlight to explore other interests and passions, such as writing books, producing films, launching an organic wine label called Avaline, and starting a family.
She married Good Charlotte singer Benji Madden in 2015, and the couple welcomed their first child, Raddix, in 2020.
Diaz said she was happy and fulfilled with her new lifestyle, but she did not rule out a possible return to acting.
She said: ‘Will I ever make a movie again? I’m not looking to, but will I? I don’t know. I have no idea. Maybe. Never say never.’
‘Jamie Foxx got me back in action’
In fact, Diaz has already confirmed that she is coming out of retirement for a new Netflix film called Back in Action, alongside Jamie Foxx.
The two previously starred together in Annie, Diaz’s last feature film appearance.
Diaz wrote on Instagram: ‘(Jamie Foxx) only you could get me back in action. I can’t frickin wait it’s gonna be a blast!’
Netflix has not yet set a release date for the film, but Foxx wrote on Twitter that production is set to begin this year.
Foxx celebrated Diaz’s comeback by posting a recording of the two chatting about her comeback.
He said: ‘I feel excited but, I don’t know how to do this, you know?’
He then brought Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady to the call, who joked that he was ‘relatively successful at un-retiring’ after winning six Super Bowls with the New England Patriots.
Diaz thanked Foxx and Brady for their support and said she was looking forward to working with them again.
She said: ‘You guys are awesome. Thank you so much for being here for me. I can’t wait to see you on set.’