In a new interview with Bustle, Lindsay Lohan opened up about taking a break from acting and leaving Hollywood.
The actor, who got her start in the industry at the age of three and remained in the spotlight for most of the 2000s, moved to Dubai nearly a decade ago.
At the peak of her stardom, the Mean Girls star logged 12 films and 2 albums in only a three-year span from 2004-2007. During that time, she was also the star of tabloid stories, the night life and a few legal issues.
Unfortunately for Lohan, the media was more interested in the party girl than her projects.
She told Bustle:
“I feel like some of [my work] got overshadowed by paparazzi and all that kind of stuff when I was younger, and that’s kind of annoying."
"I wish that part didn’t happen."
Lohan continued:
“I feel like that kind of took on a life of its own. So that’s why I wanted to disappear. I was like, ‘Unless there’s no story here, they’re not going to focus on just my work.’”
The Parent Trap star also believes her roots in child acting had a lot to do with her hefty work load.
“They teach you to say ‘yes’ to everything, and that’s not really what life’s all about.”
She recounted a time when her packed schedule superseded a dental issue:
“I was recording an album in my trailer on the set of the movie ['Herbie'] and promoting the album while shooting, like, 'TRL.'"
“I remember this so specifically: I had to go to the dentist. I had no time to go to the dentist, but something happened with my tooth. The dentist had to come to see me. It was just so much all the time.”
Ultimately, Lohan made the decision to move to Dubai, where paparazzi is not allowed, in an effort to protect her personal life.
“I was like, ‘What if I never fall in love? What if this never happens? And it took me just taking time for me for all those doors to open and the ‘yesses’ to come — the things I wanted to say 'yes' to.”
Lohan also had the opportunity to interview herself, in an oh so Hallie and Annie fashion.
In the interview, Lohan said the advice she would give her younger self would be:
"Live every day to its fullest."
"Live with gratitude and love in your heart."
The actor, who welcomed her first child in July with husband Bader Shammas, added:
"I think having a baby opens your eyes to that more, too."
People on social media agreed that Lohan did the right thing by staying away from the Hollywood scene for a while.
@BuzzFeed It's important for celebrities like Lindsay Lohan to prioritize their mental health and well-being. Taking a break from the spotlight to focus on oneself is a brave and necessary decision. Wishing her all the best on her journey.— (@)
They also expressed their delight to see her return to acting, this time with a sound perspective and experience to guide her.
And while Lohan did recently confirm a Freaky Friday sequel is in the works, the interview with herself definitely has the masses wanting another Parent Trap, as well.
Now that Lohan has signed a creative partnership deal with Netflix, the family will be spending quite a bit more time in the states.
The location, however, is yet to be determined.
"We’re probably going to start to spend more time here [in the United States]."
"We’re still deciding. We’re looking now.”
The actor's latest Netflix endeavor, Irish Wish, was released on Netflix on Friday.
