Priceless reason Joan Cusack quit Hollywood for 11 years before Toy Story 5 return

Where many people around the world spend their time hoping to become Facebook, for some people the reality leaves them wanting anything but the spotlight.

Ariana Richards (aka the little kid from Jurassic Park who disappeared from Hollywood to become a painter) is just one example of endless situations where actors step back from the spotlight after a short experience with celebrity.

Joan Cusack was famous for more than a short time, but after years as one of the premiere actors in Hollywood decided to quit altogether. Cusack is arguably best known for playing Jessie in the Toy Story films, but also appeared in School of Rock, Shameless, and received two Oscar nomination for her roles in 1988’s Working Girl and 1997’s In & Out.

Despite this though she more or less disappeared in the last decade, not appearing on a red carpet for the last 11 years.

Cusack last appeared on a red carpet in September of 2015.

She has returned however for Toy Story 5, which is more focused on Jessie than any of the previous four films, and spoke on the red carpet ahead of the Pixar film’s premiere about how she had ‘worked for a long time’ and that this allowed her to be more selective in her roles.

Speaking to Variety she said: “I feel so honoured 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, it’s kind of priceless’.

She went on to add: “It’s kind of cool, there’s not that many movies that do huge red carpets unless you’re doing an action, superhero [movie]. It’s cool!”

Joan Cusack says she’s become more selective about the roles she takes on because “it’s great to live your life, raise your kids and be a normal person in Chicago.” #ToyStory5 pic.twitter.com/QCWWIxV9MT

— Variety (@Variety) June 10, 2026

The actor opened up a shop in Chicago alongside her husband in 2011 when working on Shameless, explaining to the New Yorker: “My kids were young, and I didn’t really want to take acting work, because I always had to go away.

“I was trying to think of something to do, because I’m not really a big cooking person.

“I also think, if you’re a woman now, it’s so fun to have a shop of your own.

“You hone your instincts in the world, versus at home. This is a little lab of my own instincts about being in the world.”

She continued, saying that being a celebrity ‘isn’t that fun’. Finally the actor added: “It’s just not that great of a world, except for being exposed to cool sets and talented, interesting people. But this is so fun.”

Speaking on Virgin Radio, Cusack said that the story of Toy Story 5 is one that she can ‘relate to’. The fifth film focuses on Jessie enlisting the help of Woody and Buzz to try and thwart a learning tablet her kid Bonnie is using, and in the process help her make some new friends.

Cusack said: “It’s hard to make friends when you're eight and a half.”