Joan Cusack says raising her kids mattered more than Hollywood, jokes LA was 'too sunny'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Joan Cusack says raising her family in Chicago mattered more than Hollywood, even as she returned to the spotlight for ‘Toy Story 5’.
The Oscar-nominated actress, who is back in Hollywood to promote the upcoming film, recently reflected on why she chose a quieter life away from Los Angeles. Speaking at a London launch event, which also marked her first red carpet appearance in more than a decade, Cusack said living a normal life with her family was always her priority.
Joan Cusack says raising her children mattered more than Hollywood
She told PEOPLE, “I've been in Chicago raising my kids, which there's nothing more important to me than that. And 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.”
Cusack, who has been married to her husband Richard Burke since 1996, lives in the Midwest city. She is also the mother of their two sons, Dylan John, 28, and Miles, 25.
Joan Cusack says Los Angeles never felt like the right fit
The 'Working Girl' star further revealed that she tried to adjust to the Los Angeles lifestyle but could not do it.
She explained, “I never lived anywhere else. I think a couple times I tried to go out to LA, 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.”
The 63-year-old then went on to shed light on her red carpet outings as she noted, “In my life, I haven't really done that many of those things. 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?'”
Joan Cusack says she feels honored to have worked in Hollywood
But despite her love for a private life, Cusack feels grateful to work in Hollywood.
On Tuesday, June 23, she reportedly 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.”
“It’s kind of priceless, so there’s that. There are not that many movies that do huge red carpets unless you’re doing an action film,” the 'Addams Family Values' actress added.
Apart from acting, Cusack also has a gift shop in Chicago called Judy Maxwell Home, named after Barbra Streisand’s character in 'What's Up, Doc?'
She called it “fun” while stating, “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.”
