In the case of certain celebrities within LGBTQ+ circles, coming out was followed by a conscious step away from the fast-paced Hollywood environment. These women were redefining their careers and lives outside the studio spotlight whether because they wanted their privacy, their creative focus changed or they had fallen in love with something completely new. The stories they tell show how success may come in many different ways – and how success may be outside the red carpet limelight.
1. Kristy McNichol
Kristy McNichol, who was once regarded as one of the most celebrated young actors on television, dropped out of acting in 2001 and then, she later shared that she had been managing bipolar disorder for many years. In 2012, she went public with it, stating that she was very happy and healthy with her partner Martie Allen. McNichol also subsequently turned to teaching and personal life and has periodically performed in charitable events but not as a regular screen actor.
2. Kelly McGillis
Kelly McGillis, known in movie parts in Witness and top gun, came out in 2009 and settled in North Carolina. She is a regional theater performer, an acting teacher and chooses independent film roles selectively. McGillis has clarified that family, privacy, and work in the community are her priorities at this moment as opposed to high profile Hollywood work.
3. Portia de Rossi
Since she came out in the mid-2000s and married Ellen DeGeneres in 2008, Portia de Rossi ended her full-time acting career in 2018. She turned her attention to business projects and philanthropic activities connected with art, and she only made appearances in individual projects like a revival season of Arrested Development. Her career emerges, to a great extent, out of the conventional acting decisions.
4. Amanda Bearse
As a star of the sitcom Married… with Children, Amanda Bearse made her celebration in the early 1990s and became a director. She established a stable background career as a film director, directing episodes on many television series and still doing some work on the stage and maintaining a low profile on screen.
5. Heather Matarazzo
Heather Matarazzo, who also came out in 2004 has commented on the long pauses between big roles. She has concentrated on independent films, writing and coming up with her own projects. Although her early 2000s achievements are what got her mainstream attention, her recent output is usually done outside the big studio system.
6. Meredith Baxter
Having emerged in 2009, Meredith Baxter shifted her focus to the road and speaking. She also wrote a memoir and featured in Lawrence occasional television films and guest appearances, leaving the frequent network series acting that had characterized much of her previous career behind her.
7. Patricia Velásquez
Patricia Velasquez came out publicly in 2015 and has been, since then, combining acting with humanitarian efforts by establishing a charity organization that serves Indigenous people. Her recent life has also been more advocacy and cultural projects rather than mainstream Hollywood releases.
8. Alexandra Hedison
Alexandra Hedison shifted her career as an actor to fine art photography after she came out earlier in her career. Her creative career has ensured that she has established international touring exhibitions and long series of photographs that are firmly rooted in the art industry.
9. Tammy Lynn Michaels
Tammy Lynn Michaels, who had made her name known through a late 90s teen series, left the TV industry after her coming out and dedicated her time to writing and her family. She has written essays and poetry, and has made few on-screen performances of late.
10. Linda Perry
Linda Perry emerged early on in her music career and emerged as a popular songwriter and producer. Although she sometimes participates in music events, she mostly works behind the scenes in the studio producing hits on behalf of other artists and writing the movie sound track.
11. Cathy DeBuono
Cathy DeBuono went to the level of acting in television and independent movies, then changed to a licensed therapist. Nowadays she balances the activities of counseling with the infrequent work in LGBTQ-oriented media, maintaining her mainstream Hollywood presence to a minimum.
12. Guinevere Turner
Guinevere Turner is an actor and writer in independent cinema, thus a performer who emerged early. She is a co-writer of several screenplays and goes on to teach screenwriting, but concentrates on indie productions and training, and not big studio productions.
13. Clea DuVall
Clea DuVall wrote and directed post-coming out with films such as The Intervention and co-created the series High School. She continues to do selective acting roles but she now focuses her career on development and direction.
14. Jill Bennett
Jill Bennett established her niche in web series and independent works about LGBTQ, co-created 3Way and featured in Dante’s Cove. Since that time she has moved onto making smaller scale content in digital platforms and niche festivals.
15. Michelle Paradise
Michelle Paradise was in the business of independent television when she was still in working process and eventually shifted to full writing and production. She has produced Exes & Ohs and worked in top-level producing capacities in genre television, abandoning being on screen.
16. Rose Troche
Rose Troche who has long been doing work in queer cinema switched to directing and producing. Following her debut feature Go Fish, she concentrated on episodic television and feature development, hardly ever being on camera.
17. Cheryl Dunye
Cheryl Dunye, an early feminist of queer cinema has focused on television directing and teaching. Although she is seen thereafter on screen, she is chiefly involved behind the camera and in the classroom.
18. Stephanie Allynne
Stephanie Allynne has publicly spoken about her relationship with Tig Notaro, and since then has focused on writing and directing including as a co-director on Am I OK?. She continues to take occasional acting jobs, but devotes more time to project development in the independent film.
The post Hollywood lives of these women indicate that getting out of the limelight does not imply getting out of influence. It has been art, advocacy, education, or, simply, new career paths, all of which they have turned into their way of creating, contributing, and living their lives in their own authentic ways.
