Berkshires-Bound by Way of Hollywood

Those who enter the world of Hollywood are often scrutinized when they decide to leave it, even if it's voluntarily. Karen Allen, who played Marion Ravenwood in "Raiders of the Lost Ark," consciously left the movies when she noticed dwindling roles, a reality for a lot of actresses as they age and are replaced by younger women. After some time in Manhattan, she moved to western Massachusetts with her son and decided to pursue some lifelong dreams there.
 
What were they? She bought and renovated an 18th century barn, directed local theater productions, sold knit goods at her own shop and ran her own yoga studio. Then one day she got the call from Steven Spielberg, asking her to return in the fourth installment of the "Indiana Jones" series.  With resurrected fame comes renewed public interest in her life, and the predictable question: what has she been up to?
 
In pursuing her various dreams, she elaborates, “I just felt like I had to create a life for myself where I was more independent. Where what I was doing in my life was so interesting I could literally put my whole acting life on the back burner because I was so fascinated by what was right in front of me. And that was the only thing that felt healthy to me.”

Would you do what Karen did and turn away from a big career in Hollywood to live the quiet life? [Latimes.com]