Actress Kelly LeBrock Took A Break From Acting To Live On An Isolated Ranch After 'Trauma' Of Hollywood

Dec 30, 2021

Kelly LeBrock is an American actress and supermodel who made her acting debut in the 1984 film “The Woman in Red.” She starred alongside Gene Wilder, and the role helped her gain attention in Hollywood. LeBrock then went on to star in the John Hughes directed film “Weird Science.” In 1990, she starred alongside her then-husband Steven Seagal in “Hard to Kill.”

The star was born on March 24, 1960, in New York City. She grew up in the Kensington area of London. LeBrock began her modeling career at the age of 16 and started to gain popularity around age 19. What drew her attention was her 24-page spread in Vogue magazine. Quickly, LeBrock became one of Eileen Ford’s most popular models. She is also recognized for a Pantene commercial she starred in.

LeBrock went on to appear in a number of films in the 1980s and 90s. She then settled down with Seagal, and the couple had three children. Their eldest daughter Annaliza was born in 1987, and her brother Dominic came in 1990. The youngest, Arissa, was born in 1993. Sadly, in 1994 LeBrock filed for divorce and cited irreconcilable differences. Their divorce was finalized in 1996. 

For nearly two decades LeBrock and her three children lived on a ranch in California’s Santa Ynez Valley. Living in the wilderness, as LeBrock describes it, was the optimal place to raise her kids away from the press and reporters who were covering her divorce. During those years, LeBrock only appeared in a handful of movies.

In 2021, LeBrock starred as Donna in the film “Tomorrow’s Today” which was previously named “Charlie Boy.” Keep reading to learn more about LeBrock and her choice to live away from the public eye.

In an interview with Fox News, LeBrock shared why she decided to move away from the spotlight and appear in fewer films. She said, “Hollywood wasn’t a place where I wanted to raise my children. My divorce was very much in the press. And I’m just not a Hollywood girl. Never have been. I never really liked the attention. I wanted to have dirt in my nails and be in the outdoors.”

LeBrock added: “So I quit my career and moved to the wilderness where I lived with no television for 25 years. I did the best that I could as a single mom. I have three wonderful children. I could always go back to my career. I could never go back to my children. Some people can do both. But I already had the fame and was done with it. I became famous when I was very young and it didn’t do me a bit of good. It just caused trauma. Being famous is not for everybody.”

The star elaborated, “I’m just more comfortable in the country. Always have been. I grew up in upstate New York on the Lake Champlain region. I’ve always had this inherent need to be on land with big, open spaces. I ride my horse, I’ve chased grizzlies up on the continental divide, I’ve been up and down the Grand Canyon. I grow my own vegetables. I’ve been out in the wild where I’ve run out of water and drank from puddles. I guess I’m kind of different, but I like it that way.”

Living a full life is more important to LeBrock than starring in movies. She said, “I don’t even really have an agent. I can’t be bothered to be honest with you. I just want to ride my horse, eat good food and drink lovely wine. I want to enjoy the rest of my days. I’m a grandmother to three amazing grandchildren.”

LeBrock has found great peace in her life and career. She explained: 

“I want a simple life. I don’t care about doing movies anymore. There has to be something really special in the script for me to say yes. There was something special in this script. I do love to cook and eat foods that are healing, beneficial, and very tasty. I live in a very beautiful place and I’m perfectly content. I’m dating and I hope to find my last partner. That would be wonderful.”

When asked what advice she gave to her daughter Arissa when she started her own modeling career, LeBrock responded: “Don’t be anybody else. God gave you beautiful things and made you special. You shouldn’t rely on someone else to feel happy. Be the best person you can be. Don’t look at someone else and say, "I wish I had what they have" because there are people out there who have nothing.” 

The mother of three added, “But my children are grounded. They grew up in the river free with animals. They knew how to track, skin and all kinds of things. And to me, that’s the best thing I can have as a parent – validation. They’re good with themselves and it’s wonderful. It gives me so much peace. They were always going to be my priority.”

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