There are many elements of Sandra Bullock’s life that aren’t particularly relatable to most regular moms — though many of us might dream about getting to spend several weeks in a tropical paradise with Channing Tatum! The duo’s new movie The Lost City was just released and, in the course of promoting it, Sandra revealed something suprisingly relatable: She wants to take some time off and just focus on being a mom.
While we might be a bit disappointed to not have a new Sandra Bullock rom-com to look forward to (especially if a shirtless Channing Tatum is involved), we’re always supportive of parents who want to spend more time with their families. Interestingly, Sandra isn’t the only celebrity who has decided to put their career on hold to have some time as a stay-at-home mom or dad.
While some celebrities take a shorter sabbatical and come back stronger than ever in their careers, others end up choosing to stay out of the limelight for years as they grow their families and raise their children. Read on for some of the unexpected stories of celebrity parents who’ve gone the stay-at-home route.
Candace Cameron Bure
Leelee Sobieski
Leelee Sobieski, now Leelee Kimmel, was a rising star after roles in high-profile films including Eyes Wide Shut and Never Been Kissed. She now describes herself as a retired actress because she chose to step away from that career when she became a mother of two. She’s now living in New York and working as an artist, in addition to the mom life.
Elizabeth Hurley
Elizabeth Hurley is internationally known for her modeling career and acting roles in movies such as Austin Powers, but many fans don’t realize that she actually pulled back from public life to live on a farm and raise her son. Damian, who looks EXACTLY like his mom, is now an adult and working to follow in her famous modeling footsteps.
David Beckham
David Beckham, professionally good looking athlete, retired from English soccer in 2013. Since then, he’s devoted himself to becoming a self-described “house husband” and stay-at-home dad to the four children he and wife Victoria Beckham share (while Victoria is busy running her successful fashion brand).
Ryan Reynolds
Another celebrity who has recently shared a desire to pause their career for a while is Ryan Reynolds. In December 2021, he revealed that he wants to take a sabbatical from acting. “The biggest thing for me is that I don’t want to miss this time with my kids,” he said.
Poppy Montgomery
Actress Poppy Montgomery, who starred in the series Without a Trace, took some time away from acting when her son was young, something she described as intense but meaningful. She’s now a mother of three and has returned to work in both TV shows and TV movies.
Rhea Wahlberg
Rhea Wahlberg (formerly Rhea Durham) was a sucessful model — including walking in the Victoria’s Secret fashion show twice and appearing on the cover of major magazines — when she met and fell in love with Mark Wahlberg. The two now have four children, and Rhea gave up her modeling career to focus on their family.
