Los Angeles has long been the epicenter of the American entertainment industry, drawing countless aspiring performers who dream of stardom. However, for many celebrities, the city’s fast-paced lifestyle and constant scrutiny eventually become overwhelming. After achieving success, some choose to leave the spotlight behind and move to more tranquil locations. Here are 18 celebrities who have traded their Hollywood lives for a quieter, more peaceful existence.
1. Glen Powell
In 2024, Glen Powell made the decision to return to his hometown in Texas to be closer to family and complete his degree. In an interview with GQ, he mentioned that the benefit of reaching a certain point in Hollywood is the freedom to leave it behind.
2. Rachel McAdams
Rachel McAdams reportedly resides in the Southern United States with her partner Jamie Linden and their two children. She has shared that taking breaks from acting helped her feel empowered and grounded.
3. Lily Collins
Lily Collins and her husband Charlie McDowell moved to Copenhagen, Denmark in 2023, seeking a change of scenery and a more relaxed lifestyle.
4. Chris Evans
Since 2014, Chris Evans has largely lived in his home state of Massachusetts. In 2023, he told GQ that being at his residence outside Boston allows him to “really take [his] time” away from the pressures of fame.
5. Amanda Seyfried
Amanda Seyfried’s main residence is a farm in the Catskills in New York. In 2020, she shared with the New York Times that she feels accomplished and successful without the need to be in a major movie.
6. Jason Segel
After wrapping How I Met Your Mother, Jason Segel moved from LA to a small stone house in an orange grove in Ojai, California. He initially moved there while preparing for The End of the Tour, asking himself, “What would Edward Norton do?” and deciding that moving to the middle of nowhere was the answer.
7. Eric Stonestreet
Eric Stonestreet has been living in Kansas City since Modern Family ended, according to reports.
8. James Van Der Beek
James Van Der Beek, along with his wife Kimberly Van Der Beek and their five (now six) kids, moved to Texas in 2020 after a difficult year for the family.
9. Jesse Eisenberg
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jesse Eisenberg, his wife Anna Stout, and their son relocated to Bloomington, Indiana. They chose this location to help fundraise and volunteer for the domestic violence shelter run by Anna’s mother for 35 years. The family made the move in a 10-day RV road trip.
10. Debby Ryan
Debby Ryan and her husband Josh Dun moved to Ohio in 2021. While visiting Josh’s family during the holidays, she suggested moving to Columbus. A new listing appeared on his real estate apps, prompting them to extend their trip to view the property.
11. Matthew McConaughey
In 2014, Matthew McConaughey and his wife Camila Alves McConaughey moved to Texas to be with his mother and brothers during a family crisis. Camila noticed that Texas had a different “gravity” on Matthew, and one day, when he returned from visiting his mom with a peaceful but confident expression, she said, “You want to move here, don’t you?”
12. Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan reportedly moved to Dubai because paparazzi are illegal there, offering her a much-needed escape from the media.
13. Hilarie Burton Morgan
Hilarie Burton Morgan and her husband Jeffrey Dean Morgan initially lived between Los Angeles and New York City. However, they both always dreamed of living on a farm—a shared dream discussed on their second date. After the birth of their first child, they relocated to Mischief Farm in Rhinebeck, New York.
14. John Goodman
After meeting his wife Anna Beth Goodman, John Goodman decided he had had enough of show business and wanted to get away from Los Angeles. The couple eventually moved to New Orleans.
15. Adrian Grenier
Adrian Grenier made a permanent move to Austin four years after buying property there. He left because he felt the “lackluster” nature of fame at the top. Soon after, he relocated 45 minutes away to Bastrop and started a farm.
16. Nikki Reed
Nikki Reed and her husband Ian Somerhalder moved a short distance from LA to a farm in Santa Barbara. She wanted to avoid the public eye and live a more private life.
17. Josh Harnett
After living between the US and the UK, Josh Harnett and his wife Tamsin Egerton spent lockdown in her home country. When they were expecting their third child, they decided to permanently call Hampshire home.
18. Jeff Daniels
Jeff Daniels moved back to his hometown of Chelsea, Michigan in 1986. In 2017, he told The Off Camera Show that he never bought into the Hollywood lifestyle, which included attending parties and premieres just to be seen. He preferred a simpler life away from the industry’s demands.
What’s the most peaceful place you’ve ever lived (or dreamed of living)? Let us know in the comments!
