Melissa Gilbert made a significant decision in her life in 2013 when she decided to leave her hometown, Los Angeles. The actress, now 60, felt that Hollywood’s demanding focus on youth and beauty created an environment that was not conducive to aging gracefully.
Even though Los Angeles is her place of birth, the constant pressure to maintain a youthful appearance took its toll on Melissa Gilbert. She felt compelled to remain a certain size and always tried her best to look young; however, she soon became dissatisfied with the struggles of living up to societal standards.
Why Melissa Gilbert left Hollywood
Over ten years ago, Melissa Gilbert pursued her desire by leaving Hollywood to seek a more comfortable and welcoming environment. The actress relocated to New York City with her husband, Timothy Busfield, to allow her to embrace aging and find contentment with her physical growth.
Best known for her role as Laura Ingalls on Little House on the Prairie, Melissa Gilbert opened up about the intense demand of aging standards that Hollywood places on women. She realized that the environment she had always known as her comfort zone began to feel unsafe for her as she grew older.
Gilbert did not hold herself back from reflecting on all she experienced before she left Hollywood. “When you live in Los Angeles, it’s like living at the mall when you work at the mall.” She shared. However, life in New York City has been totally different, making her appreciate her age in contrast to the disdain she used to feel for growing older in Los Angeles.
Melissa Gilbert continues to pursue her career
Meanwhile, Melissa Gilbert did not stop making progress in her career even in New York City, taking on roles that align with her current stage in life. She starred alongside Mark Moses in the off-Broadway play Still. There, she played the role of a woman going through a difficult relationship with her former lover amidst differing political views.
Leaving Hollywood has also made Gilbert rethink societal standards of beauty and aging. She became vocal about criticizing the word “anti-aging,” emphasizing that aging is a natural and valuable part of life that should be cherished, not despised.