Shelley Duvall Reveals the Heartbreaking Reason She Retired at 53, & It Had Nothing to Do With Aging
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
Shelley Duvall has been a beloved star for decades, and for years, many have wanted to know what happened to her that made her leave the public eye.
For those who don’t know, the BAFTA-nominated actress started working in 1970, and she rose to prominence after her roles in Annie Hall and The Shining. She continued acting until 2002 with the comedy Manna from Heaven, where she effectively retired at 53.
More from SheKnows
For years, many believed her work on The Shining scarred her for life, making her leave the industry or the fact that she wanted to retire at 53. Tragically, none of this was the case.
In a super-rare interview with the New York Times, Duvall talked about why she retired in 2002.
“I was a star; I had leading roles. People think it’s just aging, but it’s not. It’s violence,” she said, adding, “How would you feel if people were really nice, and then, suddenly, on a dime … they turn on you?”
She added, “You would never believe it unless it happens to you. That’s why you get hurt, because you can’t really believe it’s true.”
Truly, this revelation into the murky side of Hollywood is incredibly heartbreaking, and it shines an even darker image of why Duvall left Hollywood after so many decades. We just hope that at 74 years old, Duvall is happier, healthier, and ready to leave the past behind her as she steps into a new era (one that we can’t wait to see more of).
Recently, Duvall stepped back into the spotlight last year, in 2023, with the indie film The Forest Hills (which will come out publicly later this year).
Best of SheKnows
Kate Middleton & Prince William, Then & Now — 72 Photos That Capture How They've Changed
28 TV Shows That Have Figured Out Women Over 50 Are the Most Interesting People in the World
Sign up for SheKnows' Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
