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Leelee Sobieski: From Hollywood Star to Acclaimed Artist
Leelee Sobieski was everywhere in the late nineties – from *Deep Impact* to *Eyes Wide Shut* opposite Tom Cruise, she seemed destined for stardom. But in 2012, at the peak of her career, the actress walked away from Hollywood entirely. Now 42, she's built a completely different life far from the cameras.
Her departure was deliberate. Sobieski has been refreshingly honest about why she left, calling Hollywood a "gross industry" where actors are forced to "sell their appearance." She particularly struggled with romantic scenes, admitting they often left her feeling "cheap" and in tears.
Instead, she chose family and art. Now going by Leelee Kimmel, she's focused on raising her two children – Louisanna and Martin – with her husband, fashion designer Adam Kimmel. She wanted to be a present mum and didn't want her kids seeing her in someone else's arms on screen.
Since 2016, she's become a respected artist, creating large-scale abstract paintings and exploring virtual reality art from her Upper East Side studio in New York. Her work has been exhibited in galleries from London to Paris, proving her creativity burns as bright as ever – just in a different medium. For Leelee, leaving Hollywood wasn't about losing a career; it was about finding a more private, fulfilling life.