Cameron Diaz talks about leaving Hollywood a decade ago and what drew her back

By: Shawn
Cameron Diaz, one of Hollywood's brightest performers, stepped away from the limelight in 2014. Now, 10 years later, Diaz is opening up about her decision to both leave and return.

Cameron Diaz.
Presley Ann/Getty Images for Fortune's Most Powerful Women Summit

Diaz, who last appeared in 2014's Annie, stated at Fortune's Most Powerful Women Summit on Monday that she felt compelled to end her acting career. It felt like the appropriate thing to do to recover my own life, and I honestly didn't care about anything else. Nobody's opinion, success, offer, or anything else could make me reconsider my decision to take care of myself and establish the life I truly want."

Diaz married Good Charlotte musician Benji Madden a decade ago and has two children, Raddix and Cardinal. In 2020, she and partner Katherine Power founded the clean wine company Avaline.

Diaz is now poised to return to the big screen in Netflix's Back in Action starring Jamie Foxx, which will premiere in January 2025. She is also expected to return for the upcoming Shrek 5 and is in discussions to feature with Keanu Reeves in the dark comedy Outcome.

"It was exactly the ideal time for my family. We were at the home for a long time after Covid, which was fantastic, but the concern was that we would most likely stay there, as we are right now. "People would say, 'It's over,' and I'd say, 'No, it's not over for me,'" Diaz revealed of returning to Hollywood. "So I had to push myself; my husband and I — my husband, who is the best — he was like, 'You've been supporting us and building the family,' and he's like, 'It's time for us to support you and let Mommy ascend and do her thing.'" He says, 'Let me watch you do it, girl.' 'Alright, here we go.'"

She noted that with the Netflix project, she "couldn't say no to Jamie." He said, 'Come with me,' and I responded, 'OK, let's do it.' It's our third picture together, so it's really amazing." The two previously collaborated on Annie and 1999's Any Given Sunday. 

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