Is retirement the hot new thing for Hollywood's top talents? In the past few weeks, a flurry of A-listers have talked about leaving their careers in Tinseltown to pursue greener pastures.
During press conference in Sydney to promote Baz Luhrman's $130 million epic romance "Australia," Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman hinted at doing exactly that.
"In terms of my future as an actor and stuff, I don't know... I am in a place in my life where... I've had some great opportunities and I may just choose to have some more children. I've no idea what is in my future but I am very at peace with where I want to be. There are many things I want to do besides act."
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Kidman certainly does seem to be in a happy place in her life. Four months ago, she gave birth to a daughter with her country singer husband Keith Urban.
Uber-star Angelina Jolie has also been making noises about quitting. In an interview with the BBC last week, the 33-year old mother of six said, "I don't plan to keep acting very long. I'm ready to do a few things now and fade away and get ready to be a grandma one day. I'm not so worried that I want to keep this pace up and try to be something and be a celebrity."
Jolie subsequently backtracked a bit, telling reporters during a press conference for her current film "Changeling" that, "I'm not making some retirement announcement." She indicated she may end her acting career "eventually."
A much more decisive, if weirder, retirement announcement came earlier this month when Joaquin Phoenix, who won an Oscar as Johnny Cash in "Walk the Line," surprised everyone by announcing that he too was giving up acting, effective immediately. The 34 year old plans to pursue a music career. Phoenix even went so far as to write "Good Bye" on his knuckles during the premiere of his latest and presumably last film, "Two Lovers."
So if this really is the latest rage for the big stars, who else is going to follow suit? We haven't a clue, but here's a few that probably ought to follow Nicole, Angie and Joaquin's lead:
George Lucas: No one out there has been responsible for creating -- and destroying -- more cherished childhood memories than Mr. Lucas. He needs to stop making movies. Seriously.
Eddie Murphy: It's been a long time since Murphy was actually funny in a non-animated movie. And with stinkers like "Pluto Nash", "Norbit", and "Meet Dave" among his recent credits, it's probably time for him to think about taking up golf.
Mike Myers: As enjoyable as "Austin Powers" and "Wayne's World" were, "The Love Guru" was so depressingly unfunny that Myers' comedy license ought to be revoked. Or maybe he and Eddie should just stick to the "Shrek" series.
November 19, 2008
