Why ’80s icon Kelly LeBrock left Hollywood for a ranch life – realestate.com.au

She was once considered one of Hollywood’s most attractive movie stars, but today Kelly LeBrock lives far away from the red carpets and glamorous galas.

The Weird Science star turned his back on Los Angeles in favor of a “reclusive” life on a farm in rural California, Broker reports.

LeBrock, 65, opened up about her rustic lifestyle and explained why she left the glitz and glamor of Hollywood to pursue a much quieter existence — and why she couldn’t be happier with where she is today.

“I gave up diamonds for dirt, and I have a big farm where I have horses and cattle and dogs and chickens, and I take care of them myself,” she said the Daily Post.

But while LeBrock is perfectly happy with her remote residence, she admits that it has led to her being cut off from society for much of the time.

“I don’t really go out anymore. I’m a bit of a hermit, but I like it that way… I have one man, one day a week, who comes to help,” she explained.

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LeBrock in the 1985 film Weird Science. Image: supplied

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The Woman in Red star moved into her Santa Ynez estate after splitting from her former husband, Steven Seagal.

The actress and model, who shares three children with Seagal, bought a large parcel of land in Santa Ynez for $2.7 million in 1995 – and transferred the property to a trust.

At the time, it was noted that the ranch had no bedrooms, but images show that the property now features multiple buildings, including an expansive main home and several barns.

Speaking of her home, LeBrock noted that it is tucked away by a lake, describing it as a “little gem” and likening the setting to a kind of natural “church.”

“It’s behind the lake. It’s a little gem in itself. I live in the church. The scenery there is so incredible,” she continued.

LeBrock moved to the Santa Ynez building in the mid-1990s. Photo: Instagram/Kelly LeBrock

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In 2021, LeBrock opened up about her decision to step away from the spotlight.

The former glamor girl revealed that her move to the ranch was largely motivated by a desire to get her children away from Los Angeles.

“Hollywood was not the place I wanted to raise my children,” she said Fox News when asked why she disappeared seemingly overnight.

The actress went on to reveal that the headline-grabbing toll of Seagal’s divorce further fueled her desire to escape the increasingly blinding spotlight.

“My divorce received a lot of press,” she remembers. “And I’m just not a Hollywood girl. Never have been. I never really liked the attention.”

“I wanted to have dirt in my nails and be outdoors.”

The former actress has revealed glimpses of her life on her social media accounts. Photo: Instagram/Kelly LeBrock

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LeBrock further noted that fame was never something she enjoyed.

The ’80s legend admitted it caused nothing but “trauma” in her life – and therefore wasn’t a status she wanted to extend.

Still, she knew that if the time came when she desperately wanted to act again, that time would always be there, unlike the precious time she spent with her children as they were growing up.

“So I quit my career and moved to the wilderness where I lived without television for 25 years,” she said.

“As a single mother, I did my best. I have three wonderful children.

“I could always go back to my career. I could never go back to my children.

“Some people can do both. But I already had the fame and was done with it.

“I became famous when I was very young and it didn’t do me much good. It just caused trauma. Being famous isn’t for everyone.”

LeBrock was considered the poster girl for Hollywood glamor in the 1980s. Photo: Getty Images

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She previously revealed that the focus on her divorce from Steven Seagal, with whom she shares three children, has fueled her desire to leave Hollywood. Photo: Getty Images

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In August this year, she elaborated further on her LA escape, clarifying that she “didn’t so much quit the industry” as she “ran away” at top speed.

“I was never impressed with myself or Hollywood. I never really cared about it. And I did the right thing,” she said Fox News.

“The most important thing for me was raising my children, because I grew up in a boarding school.

“At 5 [years old]I was sent away. And I didn’t want that story for my children.”

Although she hasn’t posted on social media in a while, LeBrock has previously shared a glimpse into her life in Santa Ynez.

In a photo posted to her Instagram, the on-screen star revealed that a bobcat had found its way into her front yard, where she snapped a photo of it drinking from her fountain, while another image showed one of her horses poking its head through the window of her car while she was on her way back from the grocery store.

Despite retiring from Hollywood, LeBrock — originally from New York but raised in London, England — has dipped her toe into the acting pool a number of times over the years, most recently in the 2021 film Tomorrow’s Today.

Parts of this story first appeared in Broker and was republished with permission.

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