These famous actors reject the LA lifestyle

Most aspiring actors tend to move to Los Angeles to help launch their careers. It's an obvious place to start, but once they've established themselves, they have far more financial freedom to live exactly where they want to.

Take a browse to see who else has shunned the LA lifestyle in favor of something quieter, better, or simply completely different.

Harrison Ford

The actor lives with his wife Calista Flockhart ('Ally McBeal') and their son Liam on an eight hundred acre ranch in Jackson, Wyoming.

Hugh Jackman

Hugh Jackman lives in Melbourne in his native Australia. He lived there with his wife until their 2023 divorce, and their two children.

Sandra Bullock

The actress lives in New Orleans these days, with her adopted son and daughter. She previously lived in Los Angeles and also in Austin, Texas.

Robert De Niro

The legendary actor lives in his native New York City, owning two apartments in the city and a more substantial residence in a small town in New York state.

Elijah Wood

The actor relocated from Los Angeles to Austin, Texas several years ago. He sold his Santa Monica property for nearly US$2 million.

Jude Law

The British actor may film in Hollywood but he resides in London. He lived in the celebrity enclave of Highgate until he sold his mansion in 2023.

Meryl Streep

Originally a New Jersey native, and a former resident of Los Angeles, the iconic actress now lives in Connecticut.

Chris Rock

Despite divorcing his former wife Malaak Compton-Rock in 2016 (after 20 years of marriage), the comedic actor continues to lives in Alpine, New Jersey.

Jeff Daniels

The actor has lived with his wife Kathleen in Chelsea, Michigan since the 1980s. They raised three children in Michigan and he has said "he wouldn't have it any other way."

Daniel Day-Lewis

A native Londoner, Day-Lewis lives with his wife, filmmaker Rebecca Miller, and their two sons in a small Irish town called Annamoe.

Rachel McAdams

Hailing from London, Ontario, the actress lived in Los Angeles for several years before returning to Canada. She now lives in Toronto.

Bill Murray

The funnyman resides in Charleston, South Carolina. He refuses to have an agent, and instead has an answering machine that takes messages about potential castings.

Michael Fassbender

The half-Irish, half-German star lived in London for over two decades. He now resides in Lisbon, Portugal with his wife, actress Alicia Vikander.

John Travolta

The New Jersey native lives in Florida with his children.

Nicole Kidman

From Australia to Hollywood to Nashville, now Kidman has her eyes on Portugal. According to local media SIC Notícias, Kidman has already applied for residency and was recently spotted in Cascais to explore property options. Her sights are set on Melides, and the Lisbon City Council confirmed that she already owns an apartment in Lisbon’s Parque das Nações.

Harvey Keitel

A native New Yorker, Keitel remains a Brooklyn resident to this day. He lives with his wife, Daphna Kastner (who also works in the entertainment industry).

James McAvoy

Originally from Glasgow, Scotland, McAvoy has resided in Crouch End, a suburb of north London, for many years.

Russell Crowe

Originally from New Zealand, the actor has resided in Australia for most of his life.

Vera Farmiga

The New Jersey native keeps residences in both New York and Vancouver, Canada. She lives with her husband, musician Renn Hawkey, and their son and daughter.

Robert Pattinson

Originally from London, he lived in Los Angeles for many years, before deciding to return to live in the United Kingdom.

Sarah Jessica Parker

As per her character on 'Sex and the City,' SJP is a New Yorker through and through, despite living in Ohio and Cincinnati as a child.

Chris Hemsworth

Hemsworth decided to leave Los Angeles several years ago, and now resides with his wife, Spanish actress and model Elsa Pataky, and their three children in Byron Bay, Australia.

Daniel Radcliffe

The native Londoner now divides his time between London and New York City's West Village.

Josh Hartnett

Originally from Minnesota, Hartnett now lives with his English partner, actress and model Tamsin Egerton, and their two young children in London.

Christopher Walken

The native New Yorker lives with his wife of 50 years, casting director Georgianne Walken, in Westport, Connecticut. They also have a residence in Rhode Island.

Mark Ruffalo

The Wisconsin native lives with his wife, actress Sunrise Coigney, and their three children in New York City.

Neve Campbell

Originally from Guelph, Ontario, the Canadian actress now lives in New York City with her partner, actor JJ Feild, and their two children.

Edward Norton

Raised in Columbia, Maryland, the Boston-born actor now resides in New York City with his wife, film producer Shauna Robertson and their son.