Heather Graham reveals why she hasn't spoken to her estranged parents for 30 years

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Heather Graham, star of 'Austin Powers', opened up about a 30-year estrangement from her parents in a candid interview.

Reflecting on her move to Hollywood at 18 and her journey to independence, Graham revealed the personal and professional challenges that shaped her career.

Currently, as she prepares for the release of her new film 'Chosen Family', Graham is thriving in her creative pursuits and success.

Heather Graham shares about 30-year estrangement from her parents

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Heather Graham recalled leaving home at 18 to move to West Hollywood. She said, "He [her father] regularly told me that the entertainment industry was evil and that Hollywood would claim my soul."

Graham revealed that her parents belonged to a "generation that didn’t believe in therapy or discussing personal things, "so I never felt I could talk to them."

After the 1988 premiere of her film 'License to Drive', Graham felt it was time to move out. "When the movie came out, I was 18, living at home had become more difficult," she said. "I said to myself, ‘I’ve got to get out of here, I’ve got to be successful, and I’ve got to be a movie star'." 

"I found an apartment in West Hollywood with another girl from high school — a working model who was also investing in real estate on the side. Living with her was freeing," Graham explained.

Graham’s family had moved from Virginia to Agoura Hills, California, when she was 9. She felt a significant shift from being "popular" on the East Coast to struggling to fit in on the West Coast. "In Virginia, I had a tomboy phase and loved exploring the woods. After we moved, I was isolated. You had to be driven everywhere. Without kids to play with in the street, I had fewer social interactions and grew insecure. I turned to books and read above my level," she shared.

She graduated high school with a 5.0 GPA and enrolled at UCLA to study English. However, she left after her junior year to focus on acting. Her roles in 'Austin Powers' and 'Swingers' led her to realize her independence and prompted her to reassess her relationship with her parents. "I stopped talking to my parents when I was 25, and I’m estranged from them now," she admitted. "My friends are proud of me, and I’m proud of myself. I have really good friends."

Now 54, Graham is content with her achievements. "I live in Los Angeles in a house I bought last year. I also have a loft in New York," she said, noting her West Coast home offers views of the Pacific. "I love the ocean, I also like sitting out back when writing or preparing for a movie. Nature is inspiring."

Graham is wearing multiple hats in her upcoming film 'Chosen Family', which she wrote, directed, and starred in. The film is set to be released in October. She will also star alongside Nicolas Cage in 'The Gunslingers', scheduled for release in 2025.

Heather Graham slammed over interview about estranged family

Social media users slammed Heather Graham over her estrangement from her parents and her Hollywood journey. 

One slammed, "It’s a shame she has not made amends with her parents. I feel sorry for her parents." Another added, "She really did.  Selfish human being. Shame on her."

Someone else claimed, "Strange flex. Her friends are proud of her?  Is she trying to prove that dad was right about Hollywood?  She has never been married and has no kids.  She is 54, which for women in Hollywood is near the end of the road.  Enjoy the homes and the money. I feel richer with my wife and kids...and the rest of our family." 

One individual said, "What a sad story. Turn your back on your family. No children or husband. She has a couple of houses and she’s an actress but not a star. She’s missing all that is good in life and she has stuff."

A user shared, "My mom passed when I was 10 and my dad a few years later, I would do anything to see them and here she has parents and doesn’t even talk to them! How sad!😞"

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