Cameron Diaz Says She Returned to Acting When It Was the ‘Right Time for My Family’ but ‘I Had to Push Myself’

Cameron Diaz is giving more details about her return to acting following a years-long hiatus.

Ahead of her upcoming comeback projects Back in Action and Shrek 5, the 52-year-old participated in a conversation at Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Summit on Monday, Oct. 14, where she reflected on her journey as an actress, wife to Benji Madden and mom to their two children.

Speaking about her return to making movies after nearly a decade, Diaz said, according to The Hollywood Reporter, “It was just the right time for my family.”

“After COVID, we were in the house for a long time, which was amazing and the problem was we would probably stay there, we would still be there right now,” she added.

After last starring in 2014’s Annie remake, Diaz shifted focus to family, marrying Madden, 45, in 2015, before going on to welcome daughter Raddix in December 2019. The couple announced the arrival of son Cardinal this past March.

The Charlie’s Angels actress and Avaline wine founder went on to say that, during her hiatus from Hollywood, “People would be like, ‘It’s over’ and I’d be like, ‘No it’s not, it’s not over for me.’ ”

“So, I had to push myself,” Diaz added.

Fortunately, Good Charlotte musician Madden “was just like, ‘You’ve been supporting us and building the family,’ ” she said. “And supporting him in his businesses. He’s like, ‘It’s time for us to support you and let Mommy ascend and do her thing.’ ”

Taking a step back from her film career “felt like the right thing for me to reclaim my own life, and I just really didn’t care about anything else,” explained Diaz, per E! News. “Nobody’s opinion, nobody’s success, no one’s offer, no one’s anything could change my mind about my decision of taking care of myself and building the life that I really wanted to have.”

She added, “It really comes to what are you passionate about? For me, it was to build my family.”