Cameron Diaz Reflects on Early Retirement: ‘Best 10 Years of My Life’

• Cameron Diaz has said his decade-long acting retirement was “the best 10 years” of his life.
• Diaz stopped acting in 2014 but recently returned to star in “Back In Action” with Jamie Foxx.
• Diaz isn’t the only celebrity who has reversed her decision to retire.

Cameron Diaz said the decade she spent retired from acting was “the best 10 years” of her life, but she believes she is now ready to return to the industry.

Appearing on “The Graham Norton Show,” the 52-year-old actor reflected on his decision to take an extended break from his career.

“Oh my God, I loved it. It was the best 10 years of my life,” Diaz said. “I was just free to say, ‘I’m a mom, I’m a woman, I’m living my life.'”

She said that stepping away from acting “made sense for my family”, and after a while “people stopped asking her” to take on roles.

“It was so lovely,” she added.

However, Diaz, who stars in the new Netflix film “Back in Action” alongside Jamie Foxx, said she realized that entertaining people for a living was a “privilege” that ultimately led her to not not retire.

“I just said to myself: If I let go of all this goodwill, all this that I’ve been able to build over so much time, the passion that I have for entertaining people and making films, if I don’t Don’t commit while still being grateful for it, I’d be a fool.

As for whether her return to acting is permanent, Diaz said, “Maybe this is the beginning, maybe I’ll tiptoe into it, maybe I’ll go excitedly, we’ll see it’s here and I’m really grateful for it.”

According to her IMDb page, she has two upcoming projects: she will return to play Princess Fiona in “Shrek 5” and will also star in a new film directed by Jonah Hill called “Outcome.”

A representative for Diaz did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider, which was sent outside of normal business hours.

Diaz is not the first actor to reconsider his decision to retire.

Jim Carrey, 63, announced in 2022 that he was retiring from acting after “Sonic the Hedgehog 2.” But he returned to work last year, reprising his role in the third film.

Speaking to the Associated Press, Carrey said: “I came back to this universe because, first of all, I get to play a genius, which is a little bit of a stretch. And I just bought a lot of stuff , and I honestly, I need the money.”

Diaz became one of Hollywood’s biggest stars after making her debut alongside Carrey in the superhero comedy “The Mask.”

The film became one of the 10 highest-grossing films of 1994, grossing over $350 million at the worldwide box office.

Over the next few years, Diaz landed more and more roles, including in “There’s Something About Mary,” “Charlie’s Angels” and “The Holiday.”

Discussing how she’s spent her time since her last starring role in the 2014 remake of “Annie,” Diaz told YouTube channel “Still Watching Netflix” that she’s focused on educating her children.

“That was what I focused on the most if I was doing anything other than just being a mom and going about my daily life,” Diaz said. “And that was about it. I’m just trying to stay alive, like every other mother. I’m just trying to keep going.”

Diaz married Benji Madden of the rock band Good Charlotte in 2015. They welcomed their daughter, Raddix, in 2019 and their son, Cardinal, in 2024.