Cameron Diaz explains why she left acting for 11 years

17 October, 2024

Cameron Diaz has opened up on why she decided to step away from acting for 11 years – see what she had to say below.

In 2014, Diaz starred in three films: The Other Woman, Sextape and Annie. Annie marked the last time Diaz has appeared onscreen – whether in film or TV. Next year, she’ll make her return to acting for the first time in 11 years when she co-leads the Netflix action-comedy film Back In Action alongside Jamie Foxx. The year after, she’ll reprise her role as Fiona for Shrek 5.

Now, however, Diaz has shared the reasons for her departure from the industry a decade ago. Speaking at Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Summit, Diaz remarked: “For me, it was just something I had to do,” Diaz said. “It felt like something I had to do to reclaim my own life. And I just really didn’t care about anything else.”

She added: “Nobody’s opinion, nobody’s success, no one’s offer, no one’s anything could change my mind about my decision of taking care of myself and building the life that I really wanted to have. It really comes to: What are you passionate about? For me, it was to build my family.”

Back In Action is set to premiere on Netflix in January 2025. The film will see two former CIA spies Emily (Diaz) and Matt (Foxx) getting pulled back into the world of espionage after their identities are exposed.

Shrek 5 is currently in the works, and is due to release on July 1, 2026 – just in time for the franchise’s 25th anniversary. Besides Diaz, all of the film’s core cast will return, including Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy.

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