Cameron Diaz Says She Quit Acting to Make “Life Manageable”

[just444]

Cameron Diaz has no regrets about stepping away from acting, saying that there were “so many parts of my life...that I wasn't touching and that I wasn't managing.” https://t.co/jHBlwr1vjF
- VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) August 13, 2021

source

her last credit is 2014's Annie

speaking on Kevin Hart’s new Peacock talk show:

“When you do something at a

Comments

[yankeesarelove]

there's something that rubs me wrong when celebrities say things like this- like she had the luxury of literally quitting her job and just living her life however she wants and she doesn't even acknowledge that utter privilege. They all frame it as this "I'm finally happy"/brave thing and its just.. utter privilege.

[the_pinkdress]

Also the idea that ‘everyone did everything for me’ had to do with operating at a higher level and working hard, and not with the fact that rich celebrities are spoiled, catered to, and coddled. Even now there are no doubt many things taken out of her hands that many people still have to manage for themselves or even struggle to afford.

[yankeesarelove]

yeah exactly! like clearly she had an entire career staff, being an A-list actress, but she also had a private chef, house staff, etc that she very easily could've done herself and not 'missed out on'.

[gloeden2]

She's living the dream: The ability to choose because you are not forced to work. Why does she have to acknowledge privilege when it's something we all crave and congratulate others for achieving? She's not flexing on us workers ("Ha ha! Look at you working like a sucker while I'm free!") or acting like she's better than us ("You're all slaves to the man! Be free like me!") She's explaining why we haven't seen her working in films, not shoving our face in her good fortune.

[windupbarbie]

Mte. People can be bitter about their conditions, but why take it out on someone else? I experience this too as someone who doesn't have a job yet still earns income. People really don't like seeing others not work. If you can't relate to an experience, that doesn't mean the person needs to "check their privilege".

[browneyedguuurl]

Right?! Jesus Christ the projection in these comments! And I say this as someone who works 70+ hours a week and isn't even close to being paid what I should. Good for her! I wish I had the luxury to do it but I'm not going to be angry at her for it. She's not really laughing at us poors and working class about our misfortunes.

[pciam]

Yeah I was surprised by the tone of some of the comments here.
Yes -- she is allowed this due to her wealth/privilege, and most of us will never have this luxury. If I could afford it, I'd likely do the same. I didn't see anything problematic with her statement though; as you said--she wasn't being an asshole about it or acting ~better than us regular ppl.

Though regardless of her privilege, she does seem, to me, like she's more down to earth than a lot of other celebrities. She may not have been the 'most amazing' actress ever, but she was certainly A list enough to keep doing projects, and/or branching out into other areas of Hollywood if she wanted to do that. She very consciously has made an attempt to step completely out of the limelight, IMO, because it seems like she wanted a much more laid back life w/o some of the Hollywood pressure/toxicity. But maybe I'm just giving her the benefit of the doubt b/c she hasn't really given me reason not to.

[genbu_no_miko24]

If Cameron had come from a rich family or nepotism then I might’ve said different. But she did not come from that.

Cameron worked from the ground up in the industry. Going from some teen modeling to later transitioning into acting and managing to find success in it. She earned her earning by doing the work and putting in her part.

She retired in her 40s which everyone knows is a dry area for actress getting quality work in comparison to the aging men of Hollywood. So it’s not at all surprising to think that she looked at her situation and left to focus on other things.

[ginainabottle]

I mostly agree with you but let's not delude ourselves into thinking her looks didn't play a HUGE part in her success. Cameron is nothing to write home about in terms of acting talent, so this isn't a case of someone who actually had to go through great lengths to get a decent chance.

[theactualworst]

Let's not also act like Hollywood doesn't treat attractive women like they're a dime a dozen. There are a lot of really gorgeous people out there who won't reach her level of success so clearly she did something right.

[ginainabottle]

And I'm also well aware of how brutal is the treatment of women who don't fit their beauty standards so while there are plenty of attractive women in Hollywood, there are also plenty of chances available for them, which cannot be said for unconventional women. So yes, while I commend Cameron for knowing how to explore the chances she was given I'm also not about to act like her success is all due to the fact that she worked hard.

[theactualworst]

Lol women can just never do enough.

[ginainabottle]

My comment was pertaining to the OP failing to recognize that privilege isn't just having rich parents/connections, but if you want to look at it in such a simplistic way by all means go ahead.

[elderpricely]

they are just saying that she worked hard, not that she worked harder than anyone else ever has or that her success was only because she worked hard. you're arguing against something they didn't even claim.

[ginainabottle]

I know that now, I'm awfully in my feelings today.

[maidenhell]

Cameron has insane charisma. I was a tween/teen when she had her come up. I remember her debut in The Mask. She was very magnetic on screen. I also feel she deviated from taking on traditional "sexy girl" roles and did some drama, some comedy, some action. Her repertoire is actually quite diverse when you look it. She's one of the few actresses I feel could open an action flick on her own based on her name. She could have gone the Jolie/Theron route if she wanted.

All that to say, yes I do believe she worked hard and didn't necessarily take whatever was thrown her way.