Catherine Zeta-Jones Reflects on Leaving Hollywood for East Coast Life
Zeta-Jones on Leaving Hollywood: No Career Regrets

Catherine Zeta-Jones Embraces East Coast Life Without Hollywood Regrets

Academy Award-winning actress Catherine Zeta-Jones has opened up about her decision to step away from Hollywood and build her life on the East Coast, revealing she has no regrets about the significant lifestyle change. According to a recent interview with E! News, the actress stated that moving away from Los Angeles has not negatively impacted her acting career in any way.

Reflections on Career Impact and Lifestyle Choices

Catherine shared rare insight into her current life in New York with husband Michael Douglas, reflecting on whether leaving the entertainment capital of Los Angeles affected her professional journey. "It's interesting whether it's been detrimental to my career," the actress said. "I never quite know because I've never been in L.A. schmoozing."

The actress emphasized that her career continues to thrive despite being geographically distant from Hollywood's traditional power centers. This perspective challenges the conventional wisdom that actors must maintain constant physical presence in Los Angeles to sustain successful careers in the entertainment industry.

Family Life and Recent Moves

Zeta-Jones and Douglas, who have been married for nearly 26 years, currently live approximately 40 minutes outside New York City. The couple recently sold their Westchester County home in June 2024 as part of their evolving lifestyle adjustments. They share two adult children: son Dylan, 25, and daughter Carys, 22.

While they are no longer based directly in the city, Zeta-Jones revealed that their social circle remains active but differs significantly from traditional Hollywood networks. "I spend more time with New York business people, Wall Street people, art people," she explained, noting that her interactions and social environment would be substantially different if she were still living in Los Angeles.

Global Properties and Future Plans

The couple has owned properties in several international locations throughout their marriage, including:

  • Bermuda
  • Wales
  • California
  • Majorca

Following the sale of their Westchester home, Zeta-Jones previously indicated they planned to spend more time in Bermuda and Europe now that their children have left home. This transition marks a new chapter for the couple as empty nesters exploring different living arrangements across their various properties.

Part of a Growing Trend

Zeta-Jones joins an increasing number of actors who have chosen to step away from Hollywood while continuing to pursue their careers. This trend reflects changing dynamics in the entertainment industry, where:

  1. Remote work capabilities have expanded
  2. Geographic flexibility has increased
  3. Quality of life considerations have become more prominent

The actress's experience demonstrates that successful acting careers can be maintained from locations outside traditional entertainment hubs, offering valuable perspective for industry professionals considering similar lifestyle changes.