For over a decade, the world watched Ariel Winter grow up in the pristine, suburban sets of Modern Family. But as the actress approached her late twenties, she realized that the character of Alex Dunphy was only one small part of a much larger identity she was eager to explore. In late 2024, while accepting the Legacy Youth Leadership Award at the 4th Annual Legacy Ball, Winter reflected on a profound internal shift. After years of imagining herself as a doctor or a lawyer, she has finally embraced her role as an entertainer—not for the sake of fame, but as a vehicle for activism. It is a purpose she found only after making the difficult, yet life-changing, decision to leave Los Angeles behind.
Winter’s departure from the epicenter of the entertainment industry was not a sudden whim but the culmination of a lifelong search for peace. Despite booking her first commercial at age four and her film debut at seven, the Virginia native never truly felt at home in the Los Angeles "vibe." When Modern Family concluded its historic 11-season run in 2020, the timing coincided with a global pandemic that fundamentally altered how Hollywood operates. With the industry shifting toward remote meetings and digital auditions, Winter realized she no longer needed to live in a city that had become a source of personal trauma.
The "heartbreaking" reason for her exit lies in the relentless scrutiny that accompanies child stardom. Coming of age in the public eye meant that Winter’s body, her fashion choices, and her personal family struggles were constant tabloid fodder. She navigated a high-profile legal emancipation at age 17 and faced a barrage of online bullying regarding her physical appearance. On her former TV mother Julie Bowen’s podcast, Quitters, Winter expressed a deep-seated discomfort with the paparazzi culture of Southern California. The feeling of being watched, of having her personal space invaded by photographers when she hadn’t "signed up" for the attention, led to a desperate desire for a "normal life."
Her move to Nashville, Tennessee, represented a "season of change." Alongside her boyfriend of six years, Luke Benward, and a literal pack of six dogs, Winter traded the hustle of Hollywood for the greenery of the South. The transition allowed her to heal and evolve, providing the mental clarity to pursue projects that align with her values rather than just her resume. She has become a vocal activist and producer, notably working on the docuseries SOSA Undercover. The project, which combats online child sex abuse and trafficking, is deeply personal for Winter, who has spoken about her own experiences being preyed upon as a young person in the industry.
While some industry insiders warned that leaving L.A. would be "career suicide," Winter has found the opposite to be true. She has diversified her portfolio, balancing voice acting for projects like The Sisters Grimm and Disney’s Sofia the First: Royal Magic with indie film roles that challenge her range. Her 2024 film Pools allowed her to step away from the "nerdy sister" trope and play a complex college student, a move she felt was necessary to redefine herself as an adult actress. Through it all, her relationship with Benward has remained her "bedrock," a partnership built on mutual respect and a shared love for their "dog-kids."
Winter’s exodus is part of a growing trend among A-list talent who are prioritizing mental health and authentic living over the perceived necessity of a Hollywood zip code. She is far from alone in her quest for a simpler life; several other high-profile stars have recently packed their bags for domestic and international shores.
Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi famously relocated to the English countryside in late 2024. Settling in the Cotswolds, DeGeneres described the move as a return to beauty and politeness, citing a desire for a "simpler way of life" away from the political and social pressures of the United States. Similarly, Tyra Banks moved to Australia to oversee her expanding ice cream empire, SMiZE and Dream, finding the Australian market and lifestyle a perfect fit for her family and her business ambitions.
The pull of international living has also attracted stars like Eva Longoria and Richard Gere. Longoria, who now splits her time between Mexico and Spain, noted that while Los Angeles was the backdrop of her entire adult life, the city’s atmosphere had shifted significantly post-pandemic. For Gere, the move to Madrid was a tribute to his Spanish wife, Alejandra Silva, and a way to ensure their bilingual children could flourish in a different cultural environment.
Others have sought refuge in the American heartland or the quietude of the European countryside to escape the "one-note" conversations of the film industry. Josh Hartnett moved to the Hampshire countryside in England to ensure his four children grew up away from the Hollywood "state of mind," while Jesse Eisenberg has spent the last decade living "on-and-off" in Indiana. Eisenberg, who avoids social media and the Hollywood social circuit, finds that the stability of the Midwest keeps him grounded and separate from the "unstable" nature of show business.
For some, leaving Hollywood means a total career pivot. Eliza Dushku Palandjian, known for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, moved to Boston to become a certified mental health professional specializing in psychedelic-assisted therapy. Evangeline Lilly and Ian Somerhalder have also stepped back from acting to focus on "dharma" and environmental activism, respectively. Somerhalder, a veteran of The Vampire Diaries, now identifies more as a rancher and a businessman dedicated to regenerative agriculture than as a leading man.
The reasons for these departures vary—from Lindsay Lohan seeking privacy in Dubai to raise her son, to Jennette McCurdy quitting acting to heal from the trauma of her Nickelodeon years—but the core sentiment remains the same: the "dream" of Hollywood is no longer enough. Even Meghan Markle’s historic exit from the industry to join the British Royal Family (and her subsequent move to Montecito) underscores the reality that fame is often a secondary goal to personal fulfillment.
Ariel Winter’s journey from a "watched" child star to a purposeful adult in Nashville serves as a blueprint for this new era of celebrity. She remains open to the possibility of a Modern Family reboot, hoping that her character, Alex, has "expanded her life" just as much as Winter has expanded her own. By reclaiming her autonomy and moving miles away from the city that made her famous, Winter has proven that an entertainer’s platform is mobile, and their purpose is self-defined. As she navigates her late twenties, she isn’t just a former child star; she is a woman who chose her own peace over the public’s expectations, proving that there is indeed life—and a very good one—after Hollywood.
