Melissa Gilbert, 60, leaves LA for NYC, admits the city's ‘anti-aging’ culture was not safe place for her

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Melissa Gilbert shared her journey of moving away from Los Angeles, embracing aging, and thriving in her career and personal life.

Best known for her role as Laura Ingalls Wilder in the beloved television series 'Little House on the Prairie', Gilbert has long since left Hollywood behind.

Melissa Gilbert leaves LA for a fresh start

Now 60, Gilbert reflected on her decision to leave Los Angeles for New York City, calling it one of the most empowering choices of her life.

In an interview with Page Six, Gilbert explained that Los Angeles, with its obsession with youth and beauty, was not the right place for her to grow older.

“I just didn’t feel like that was a safe place for me to age. It’s so anti-aging, which is one of my least favorite expressions in the world,” Gilbert revealed.

“Anti-aging means dead,” she added.

Feeling constant pressure to maintain an unrealistic image, she recounted how her years in California left her striving to stay unnaturally thin and youthful.

However, her cross-country move to Manhattan’s Upper West Side brought about a dramatic shift in her perspective.

“I went from, ‘Oh God, I better not get older!’ to ‘Oh God, I’m so glad I’m older!’” she said.

“I love the age I am right now. Sixty has been the most incredible year—just to look back on all the things I’ve done and to know that I’ve earned my opinions, I have value, I am wise,” she added.

Melissa Gilbert opens up on rediscovering her roots and her love for LA

Despite her decision to leave, Gilbert still holds a deep love for Los Angeles, where she grew up and built her career.

She admitted that the recent Pacific Palisades wildfire, which caused widespread devastation earlier this month, made her reflect on her connection to the city.

“I did not realize the depth of love that I have for my hometown until the wildfires,” she said, noting how many friends, not just celebrities, lost everything in the blaze.

“It’s devastating, and I do love so much about Los Angeles. It just wasn’t the right place for me to live any longer, but it will always be my hometown,” she shared.

Melissa Gilbert's thriving career and personal growth

Now settled in New York with her husband, actor-director Timothy Busfield, Melissa Gilbert has embraced a fulfilling career post-Hollywood.

She is preparing to star alongside Mark Moses of 'Mad Men' fame in the off-Broadway play 'Still.'

The drama tells the story of a couple who reconnects 30 years later, grappling with political differences to see if their love can reignite.

Drawing from her own life, Gilbert shared that her past marriages to Bo Brinkman and Bruce Boxleitner were also marked by differing political views.

“That did become untenable, and it was before 2016 when things got even more heated,” she said, referencing the political climate of Donald Trump’s presidency.

“When I was single again, there was a weight that was lifted and a peace that filled my home because I didn’t have to clamp down on my opinion or avoid starting arguments,” she added.

Melissa Gilbert's entrepreneurial life

In addition to her acting endeavors, Gilbert has embraced entrepreneurship.

She runs Modern Prairie, an apparel and decor company aimed at empowering older women.

She is also set to appear in the popular Hallmark series 'When Calls the Heart.'

With 'Still' beginning performances on February 6, 2025, and numerous projects in the pipeline, Gilbert shared, “I have done so much, and I continue to do it. It’s not over by any stretch of the imagination.”