Good for them: these stars took some time off

Reaching the heights of fame is hard; maintaining it is even harder. In truth, even the most luminous figures in Hollywood sometimes need to pause, introspect, and rejuvenate, providing them with a fresh outlook on their life and career and helping them avoid burnout.

There's a lengthy list of celebrities who've felt the need to hit the brakes, to steer clear of a potentially hazardous downfall. Shall we delve into some of the most prominent cases? These are the celebrities who opted for lengthy sabbaticals.

This young actress blossomed under the spotlight. From her initial TV appearance on 'Barney & Friends' at the tender age of seven to her swift rise as a Disney icon and subsequent musical triumphs, she's always been an icon for people around her age. That's a lot of pressure to shoulder.

Adding to this weight was her high-profile romance with Justin Bieber. Their tumultuous relationship, combined with the relentless gaze from millions of their fans, made it almost inevitable for Selena Gomez to call for a timeout.

To compound matters, her presence on social media, where Selena Gomez shattered numerous records, only intensified the strain on her already packed schedule.

In 2015, Selena Gomez told US Magazine about her battle with lupus, deciding then to step back and prioritize her mental well-being. "I've discovered that anxiety, panic attacks and depression can be side effects of Lupus, which can present their own challenges,” she said. On her return, she chose to shelve her musical endeavors and focus solely on her acting career.

Leonardo DiCaprio's two-decade chase for the coveted Oscar was a tale of patience and perseverance. Despite several snubs, it wasn't until 2016, with 'The Revenant,' that he finally clinched the award.

Holding the Oscar, DiCaprio felt the weight lift. He had pursued this accolade for years, investing everything into that year's Oscar race. At the same time, filming Alejandro González Iñárritu's masterpiece wasn't a walk in the park. As he later said: "It was the most difficult film I've ever done."

Following his 2016 Oscar win in late February, DiCaprio took a well-deserved break. He didn't return to film until 2018 with 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood', a role that earned him yet another Oscar nomination.

Britney Spears' journey is a tale known the world over The pop princess skyrocketed to fame right from her debut at a mere 16 years old. Her 'Baby, One More Time' dropped in April 1998, and from then on, it was a whirlwind of album releases, concerts, films, and promotions.

By 2007, the strain had taken its toll. The day she shaved her head and lashed out at a paparazzo's car with an umbrella became emblematic of her breakdown. Her life and career came to a standstill. Admitted to specialized care, she went into rehab. This episode also paved the way for the controversial conservatorship by her father, which persisted for 13 long years.

Fast forward to the end of 2008, she returned with one of her most lauded albums: 'Circus'. However, the Britney Spears that re-emerged was not the one fans remembered. Too much had transpired for her to be the same.

Daniel Day-Lewis's acting approach demands such physical and emotional investment that from 2002 to 2017 (spanning 15 years), he only took on seven film roles (securing four Oscar nominations and bagging two trophies in the process).

As he's often remarked, after each film he works on, he requires a period of detachment and recuperation before diving into another major role. Or at least, that used to be the case...

In 2017, after the shooting of 'Phantom Thread', the actor's representative, Leslee Dart, made a startling announcement in 'Variety': "Daniel Day-Lewis will no longer be working as an actor." With three Oscars under his belt and at the age of 60, he proved true to his word, as he hasn't taken on another role since.

It was 2016 when Demi Lovato took to Twitter to announce she needed a breather. "Taking a break from music and the spotlight... I am not meant for this business and the media."

Nearly a year later, in July of 2017, the singer resumed her schedule. In hindsight, this decision was ill-advised, as in 2018 she experienced an overdose that could have been fatal.

In fact, by 2021, she found herself re-entering rehabilitation. Like many of her peers, being a child star has challenges that most people can't comprehend.

For two seasons (2015-2016), Wagner Moura embodied the most notorious drug lord in history, Pablo Escobar, in one of Netflix's top shows: 'Narcos'.

Image: Netflix

To prep for the role, the Brazilian actor had to learn Spanish with a Colombian accent, prompting him to relocate to Medellín. He also gained 40 pounds to fully immerse himself into the character. This was an all-in commitment since he signed on exclusively and couldn't take other roles during his two-season stint as the lead.

Image: Netflix

Wagner Moura required two years, as he described it to 'The Hollywood Reporter', to "detox from Pablo Escobar". It was in 2018 when he made a brief return to 'Narcos', this time only for a cameo.

The tireless Shakira has been rocking the charts since the last century, which means decades of non-stop work: concerts, releases, promotions, tours, and on top of all that, managing a family. It's a workload that would challenge anyone.

Thus, in 2017, the Colombian singer had to hit pause and postpone the 'El Dorado World Tour' after suffering a hemorrhage in her right vocal cord.

Shakira revealed in an interview with The Guardian that she even lost her voice at one point, leaving her with two choices: "surgery or divine intervention." She opted for the former and was able to resume her global tour a year later.

At one point, Emma Watson was arguably the most talked-about actress on the planet. Portraying Hermione in the 'Harry Potter' saga and consistently delivering impeccable performances, appearances, and interviews took a tremendous amount of effort.

So, in 2016, Emma Watson told People magazine that she would be taking some time to study feminism and take care of herself.

After her break, she landed two of the most exciting roles of her post-'Harry Potter' career: 'Beauty and the Beast' and 'Little Women'. The respite did wonders.

Everything about Justin Bieber's career has been extreme. From millions of fans to criticisms for certain behaviors and his relationships with Selena Gómez and Hailey Baldwin.

In 2019, he took to Instagram to announce a hiatus " I’ve toured my whole teenage life, and early 20s," he said, saying he needed to take time off: "So that I don’t fall apart, so that I can sustain my marriage and be the father I want to be."

In 2020, he also revealed that he had been diagnosed with Lyme disease. "Not only that but had a serious case of chronic mono which affected my, skin, brain function, energy, and overall health,” he said, correcting the critics who said he looked like he was on meth or doing drugs.

In 2023, he even took a three-month break from social media. But it seems that his marriage is strong and there's speculation he and Hailey Baldwin might have a bun in the oven. He has two other children with his ex-girlfriend Erin Wagner.

Even the greatest divas need to recharge. For Lady Gaga, her break was mandated by a chronic illness: fibromyalgia.

In 2018, amid her concert tour, she had to halt her performances due to severe pain.

In her Netflix documentary 'Gaga: Five Foot Two', she asked her fans to be "more compassionate," emphasizing that "chronic pain is no joke, and every day you wake up not knowing how you're going to feel." It seems the Oscars didn't particularly factor this in.

The reviews for 'Jupiter Ascending' (2015) were so harsh they shattered the actor. Concurrently, the Marvel project 'Gambit', which he was deeply involved in and set to star in, was shelved.

Adding to the strain, in 2018 he separated from his wife, Jenna Dewan. All these events led him to make a drastic decision: to step away from acting for a while.

He took a four-year hiatus in which he regained strength, started a relationship with Zoe Kravitz, and emerged healthier and more rejuvenated than ever.

The singer's divorce from Russell Brand in 2012 was hard on her. She considered taking a sabbatical year then, but it wasn't until 2014 that she actually took that break. It turned out to be the best decision she could make.

During the 2017 Grammy Awards ceremony, Katy Perry admitted to Ryan Seacrest that her hiatus was all about taking care of her mental health.

Meanwhile, she began her relationship with Orlando Bloom, with whom she grows happier every day and with whom she welcomed her first daughter, Daisy Dove Bloom.

Ever since making it to Hollywood's A-List with 'Deadpool' in 2016, Ryan Reynolds had been working like crazy.

Five years later, the Canadian actor realized what truly matters. With a hefty bank account, he's now prioritizing his family.

By the end of 2021, he announced a break with no set return date. "The biggest thing for me, and I know you have kids as well, is that I don’t want to miss this time with my kids,” he told LinkedIn News. Is there a better guy than Ryan Reynolds? Maybe Keanu Reeves?

If Queen B needs a break because she's getting overwhelmed, it only makes sense that the rest of us mere mortals might need one too.

In 2011, Beyoncé took a sabbatical year. She openly discussed her reasons with 'The Sun' newspaper.

"I couldn’t even tell which day or which city I was at. I would sit there at ceremonies and they would give me an award and I was just thinking about the next performance. My mother was very persistent and she kept saying that I had to take care of my mental health," she said.

It was 2016 when Ed Sheeran decided to make a radical life change.

On one hand, he put his work on hold to focus on his relationship with Cherry Seaborn, his wife, reconnect with loved ones, travel, and enjoy life's little pleasures.

On the other hand, thanks to sports, a healthy diet, and leaving behind drug and alcohol addictions. “Two months before Lyra [his daughter] was born, Cherry said, ‘If my waters break, do you really want someone else to drive me to the hospital?” Sheeran told The Independent. Now, the new Ed Sheeran is currently thriving and is a happy family man.

Yes, Adele has an Oscar for her song 'Skyfall', from the James Bond film of the same name. She won it in February 2013, while '21', her second album, continued to dominate the charts.

But of course, four months before receiving the Oscar, Adele had become a mother. So after receiving the award, she knew what she needed to do: pause and enjoy time with her little D'Angelo.

She wouldn't return to work until 2015, with her third album, '25', which also did quite well in sales and received critical acclaim. And then, in 2024, having restarted her personal life with a new love and delivered great moments during her residence in Las Vegas, she decided to take a break once again. Good for her!

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