Joan Cusack appeared to take a swipe at Los Angeles as she opened up on her decision to step away from Hollywood life.
The Oscar-nominated actress – best known for Working Girl (1988) and In & Out (1997) – made the comments while promoting Toy Story 5, marking a rare red carpet return after 11 years out of the spotlight.
‘I’ve been in Chicago raising my kids, which there’s nothing more important to me than that,’ she told People. ‘It’s been kind of crazy to be part of it, a red carpet thing. It’s just not what I do. I don’t even dress up that much.’
The actress, who starred alongside her brother John Cusack in 1984’s Sixteen Candles, lives in the Midwest city with her husband Richard Burke, whom she married in 1996, and their two sons, Dylan John, 28, and Miles, 25.
She said she once tried the Hollywood lifestyle, but the atmosphere – and especially the weather – never suited her taste.
‘I never lived anywhere else,’ she added. ‘I think a couple times I tried to go out to L.A., and I’d be in a coffee shop and the waitress would be like, “Oh my God, I just got a part doing blah-blah-blah.” Everyone’s so beautiful. It’s too sunny. I don’t even like the sun, so I couldn’t do it.’
Joan Cusack appeared to take a swipe at Los Angeles as she opened up on her decision to step away from Hollywood life; Above, on June 9
The actress, who starred alongside her brother John Cusack in 1984’s Sixteen Candles, lives in the Chicago with her husband Richard Burke, whom she married in 1996, and their two sons, Dylan John, 28, and Miles, 25.
She then reiterated that her recent red carpet appearance was something of an anomaly in her reclusive lifestyle. ‘In my life, I haven’t really done that many of those things,’ Cusack said.
She added of the event, ‘I think I turned the corner with my husband and was like, “Whoa. What’s going on here?” And then those guns popped the confetti out and I was like, “Whoa. What’s happening?”’
Despite her aversion to Tinseltown, she made her return to Hollywood as she reprises her voice role as cowgirl toy Jessie in Pixar and Disney’s new animated sequel, which features a Taylor Swift song and has already smashed box office records.
Her other roles include Addams Family Values (1993), School of Rock (2003), and the TV comedy Shameless, for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award.
Since 2019’s Toy Story 4, she has appeared in eight episodes of The Stinky & Dirty Show, as well as the films Let It Snow and Klaus.
In 2020, she starred in three episodes of Homecoming, and in 2023 she voiced Jessie for Disney Speedstorm.
Speaking to reporters at the premiere for Toy Story 5 on Tuesday night, she also said: ‘I feel so honored to have worked in this industry for a long time.’
‘But it’s also great to live your life and raise your kids and be in Chicago and be a normal person,’ she continued.
The Oscar-nominated actress – best known for Working Girl (1988) and In & Out (1997) – made the comments while promoting Toy Story 5, as she voices Jessie, marking a rare red carpet return after 11 years out of the spotlight
‘I think a couple times I tried to go out to L.A., and I’d be in a coffee shop and the waitress would be like, “Oh my God, I just got a part doing blah-blah-blah.” Everyone’s so beautiful. It’s too sunny. I don’t even like the sun, so I couldn’t do it,’ Above, in 1993’s Addams Family Values
The two-time Oscar nominee is John Cusack’s sister; Above, in 1992
‘It’s kind of priceless, so there’s that.’ She added: ‘There are not that many movies that do huge red carpets unless you’re doing an action film.’
Away from Hollywood, Cusack has also built a quieter life in Chicago, where she runs a gift shop called Judy Maxwell Home.
The shop is named after Barbra Streisand’s character in What’s Up, Doc? (1972), which is her favorite movie.
The store’s website describes it as ‘full of sweet, and sometimes silly, curated items for the home. Perfect for quick gifts, local crafts and last minute surprises.’
‘It’s so fun,’ Cusack told People. ‘At first I didn’t have price tags on anything, and I was sad when someone bought something because what was I going to do? I have to find another thing!
‘So it’s been such a funny journey. I’ve never made any money, but it’s been a great hobby.’
