Cameron Diaz explains emotional real reason behind decision to retire from acting for 11 years

The Holiday favorite last appeared on screen as Miss Colleen Hannigan in 2014’s Annie 

 Cameron Diaz has been a bona fide Hollywood darling since making her point- film debut beside Jim Carrey in 1994’s The Mask. 

 Following her part as Tina Carlyle in the blockbuster, the 52- time-old went on to appear in classics like My Stylish Friend’s marriage, raised Princess Fiona in the Shrek ballot and played Natalie Cook in 2000s Charlie’s Angels and its effect, Full Throttle. 

 Now if you cast your mind back to 2014, Diaz was having a shelter of a time. 

 She was Carly Whitten in The Other Woman, Annie Hargrove in Jake Kasdan’s coitus Tape recording and Miss Hannigan in the Annie reboot. 

 But after stepping out as the matriarch of the iconic Hudson St Orphanage, Diaz mysteriously went silent. 

 A decade latterly, the Californian has lifted the lid on why she decided to suddenly quit Hollywood and exit the limelight. 

 The concession comes as Diaz gears up to make her return to the tableware screen with the aptly named action comedy film, Back in Action. 

 The mama – of- two will play former CIA asset Emily contrary Jamie Foxx’s Matt as she and her mate are forced to return to work after their secret individualities are exposed. 

 Back in Action, directed by Seth Gordon, is set to debut on Netflix on 17 January 17 and comes ahead of Shrek 5’s cinematic release in July 2026. 

 The direct effect to 2010’s Shrek Forever After will see Diaz reprising her voice part as Princess Fiona alongside Mike Myers as the nominal Dream works character and Eddie Murphy as their noble horse, jackass. 

 Making it a chapeau- trick, Diaz is also presently rephotographing the Apple TV movie outgrowth. 

 The Jonah Hill- directed design is billed as a black comedy and will star The Holiday alumna in an unnamed part. 

 The star- speckled also cast includes Keanu Reeves, Laverne Cox and Bottoms’ Kaia Gerber. 

 So with her triumphant assiduity return on the horizon, why did Diaz move down from the spotlight in the first place? 

Appearing at Fortune’s utmost important Women Summit in California before this week( October 14), Diaz admitted bowing out was just ‘ commodity’ she had to do. 

 “ It felt like the right thing for me, to reclaim my own life, and I just really didn’t watch about anything differently, I didn’t. 

 “ And nothing’s opinion, nothing’s success, no bone’s offer, no bone’s anything could change my mind about my decision of taking care of myself and erecting the life that I really wanted to have, ” she continued, as per The Hollywood journalist. 

 The actress continued to claim that erecting a family came commodity she was ‘ passionate about’ and that working in the assiduity no longer ‘ fed her soul’. 

 Thankfully, it appears the star has re-found her spark, with all eyes now on Diaz’s imminent return. 

3 Inspiring Stories of Kindness Repaid in Full

Small acts of kindness can have life-changing consequences. In this heartwarming compilation, three people share how their simple, selfless gestures were repaid in extraordinary ways.

Kindness doesn’t always ask for recognition, but sometimes, it gets repaid in incredible ways. In this collection, we follow three individuals whose generosity sparked chain reactions that changed their lives forever.

These stories show how even the smallest act of kindness can lead to the most unexpected rewards.

An older woman smiling | Source: Midjourney

An older woman smiling | Source: Midjourney

1. Single Dad Helps Older Woman Mow Her Lawn, Soon Gets a Call from Her Lawyer

My wife passed away seven years ago, but I still feel her absence in the house. I never thought I’d have to live without her. My only source of joy is my 15-year-old daughter, Alice. Her presence keeps me going.

One afternoon, I looked out the window and saw my elderly neighbor, Mrs. White, struggling with her lawnmower.

Without a second thought, I went out to help.

A close-up shot of a lawnmower | Source: Pexels

A close-up shot of a lawnmower | Source: Pexels

Mrs. White is fiercely independent, but that day, she accepted my assistance.

“Felix, you’re always so kind,” she said, smiling at me. “You’ve never asked for anything in return.”

“It’s no trouble, Mrs. White,” I replied, brushing it off. “That’s what neighbors are for!”

Once I finished mowing her lawn, she approached me holding an ornate box.

It was a work of art, its surface a canvas of precious stones that shimmered and sparkled in the daylight. Diamonds, rubies, and emeralds were set in intricate patterns, their colors complementing each other perfectly.

“This is for you, dear Felix,” she said. “It’s a reward for your kindness.”

An older woman talking to a man | Source: Midjourney

An older woman talking to a man | Source: Midjourney

“For me? I can’t accept this, Mrs. White… it’s too precious,” I politely refused. “You don’t need to thank me for anything.”

But she handed me a bag of apples for Alice.

Back at home, I gave Alice the apples, and her eyes lit up with delight. But as she reached into the bag, she pulled out the same ornate box Mrs. White had tried to give me.

“Daddy! Look what was in the bag!” Alice exclaimed, holding it up.

I knew we couldn’t keep it.

“This isn’t ours, Alice. We have to return it,” I said firmly.

A man in his house | Source: Midjourney

A man in his house | Source: Midjourney

When I went back to Mrs. White’s house to return the box, something felt wrong. I knocked, but there was no answer.

I found her lying peacefully on the couch.

Already gone.

I gasped.

I left her house with the box in my hands and called an ambulance. I felt so sad.

***

A day later, I looked up the box online. I found similar boxes worth over $250,000. I couldn’t believe my eyes.

A man using his laptop | Source: Pexels

A man using his laptop | Source: Pexels

At that point, I still felt it wasn’t right to keep the box.

Just as I was trying to figure out what to do, I got a call from Mrs. White’s lawyer, Jonathan. He asked me to meet him the next morning.

Upon entering his office, I saw Mrs. White’s son, Henry. He accused me of stealing the box.

“I didn’t steal it,” I insisted. “She gave it to me.”

But Henry didn’t believe me.

Instead, he offered me $1,000 to return it.

A man standing in a lawyer's office | Source: Midjourney

A man standing in a lawyer’s office | Source: Midjourney

Knowing its real value, I refused and told him he could bid for it at an auction.

But things spiraled out of control at the auction. I had to flee from the venue because I didn’t have proof of ownership.

That night, I went back to Mrs. White’s house, desperate to find anything that could prove she wanted me to have the box. But Henry caught me in the act.

A man standing in a house | Source: Midjourney

A man standing in a house | Source: Midjourney

“You’ve made a big mistake,” he warned. “This is breaking and entering. It’s a criminal offense. But I’m willing to overlook this if you do exactly as I say.”

“You have until tomorrow,” he stated firmly. “Bring the box to me, or I’ll have no choice but to file a report with the police. They’ll be very interested to learn about your little nocturnal excursion.”

I returned home and thought about my next steps.

A man sitting on a couch, thinking | Source: Midjourney

A man sitting on a couch, thinking | Source: Midjourney

I knew I couldn’t return the box, so I decided to send Alice to her grandmother’s house with the box for safekeeping.

“Dad, why can’t you come with me?” Alice asked before leaving.

“I might not be around for a while, sweetheart,” I said, trying to hold back my fear. “But I promise I’ll come back.”

After Alice left, I called Henry and told him I was ready to turn myself in. The police arrested me that night.

I spent months in prison, wondering if I had made the right choice.

A silhouette of a man | Source: Pexels

A silhouette of a man | Source: Pexels

One day, a guard told me to pack up.

To my shock, Alice was there waiting for me. She had found documents in the box that proved Mrs. White had wanted me to inherit it.

“It wasn’t easy Dad,” she told me. “The box needed a three-digit code to open, remember?”

“Yes, I remember,” I said. “But how did you crack the code?”

“It took me a lot of time Dad,” she replied. “Probably a month or so.”

A teen girl | Source: Pexels

A teen girl | Source: Pexels

“I found these papers inside the box,” she continued. “At first, I didn’t know what to do, but then I found a buyer for the box who helped me so much. They didn’t just pay for the box but helped me find a lawyer and explained about bail.”

“That’s… that’s wonderful, sweetheart,” I said, unable to process how my daughter had suddenly become so responsible.

Alice had secured my release thanks to those papers and the lawyer’s help.

“Dad, we’re free,” she smiled. “The box was worth everything, but the most important thing is we still have each other.”

“Thank you, my love,” I said, hugging her. “I’m so lucky to have you in my life.”

That day, I realized how my kindness repaid me in an unimaginable way.

A man sitting in his house | Source: Midjourney

A man sitting in his house | Source: Midjourney

2. I Gave My Last Dollar to a Stranger and Saw Him Again at My Prom

Living with my mom and grandma was never easy, but we made the best of it. We didn’t have much, but we had love, and that was enough for me.

Still, I couldn’t help but feel excited about prom. Like most girls, I dreamed of wearing a beautiful dress and feeling like I belonged.

One morning, my mom, Dina, and grandma, Holly, surprised me with an envelope.

An envelope | Source: Pexels

An envelope | Source: Pexels

“We’ve been saving up,” Mom said softly, sliding the envelope across the table.

Inside, there was just enough money to buy a dress.

“Thank you!” I hugged them. “I can’t believe you did this for me!”

I was super happy and couldn’t wait to buy the perfect dress.

On the bus ride to the dress shop, I clutched the envelope tightly, imagining the gown I’d choose. But my thoughts were interrupted when two workers started checking tickets.

That’s when I noticed a man at the back of the bus. He looked worried.

A man sitting in a bus | Source: Pexels

A man sitting in a bus | Source: Pexels

“I-I don’t have my ticket,” he stammered. “I forgot my wallet at home.”

The workers exchanged annoyed glances.

“No ticket means a fine,” one of them said sternly.

“You need to pay up, or we’re calling the authorities.”

“Please, I’m begging you,” the man said. “I need to get to my daughter. She’s sick, and I have to take her to the hospital. I… I forgot my wallet in my rush. Please, I just need to get to her. I can’t pay the fine.”

A worried man | Source: Midjourney

A worried man | Source: Midjourney

The bus workers didn’t seem convinced. One of them shook his head.

“We’ve heard every excuse in the book. If you can’t pay the fine, you’ll have to explain yourself to the police.”

My heart ached watching the desperation in the man’s eyes.

I hesitated, thinking about the dress, but something inside me told me this man needed my help more than I needed a gown.

Before I could second-guess myself, I stood up and said, “I’ll pay his fine.”

A girl standing in a bus | Source: Midjourney

A girl standing in a bus | Source: Midjourney

The man, Rick, looked at me with wide eyes while I handed money to the bus workers.

“I… I can’t believe you did that,” he said with tears in his eyes. “You’ve saved me. Thank you!”

“It’s okay,” I smiled. “I hope your daughter feels better soon.”

I went home empty-handed and told my mother what had happened. She was furious.

“You gave away the money?” she asked, shocked. “How could you be so naive, Carly? That man could have been! What if he tricked you?”

A woman talking to her daughter | Source: Midjourney

A woman talking to her daughter | Source: Midjourney

Tears filled my eyes. I didn’t think about that.

That’s when my grandma wrapped me in a hug.

“You did the right thing,” she whispered. “Kindness always comes back.”

A few days later, I attended my prom wearing an old dress. I felt so out of place as other girls twirled in their beautiful, shiny gowns.

I almost regretted showing up until I felt a tap on my shoulder.

I turned and saw Rick standing there, smiling. Beside him was his daughter, healthy and full of life.

An older man smiling | Source: Midjourney

An older man smiling | Source: Midjourney

“This is my daughter, Haley,” he said.

Then, he handed me a gift-wrapped box.

“Please open it,” Rick insisted.

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I unwrapped it. Rick had bought me the most beautiful dress I had ever seen.

“I don’t know what to say…” I said.

Rick smiled. “You’ve already said enough by helping me when no one else would. Now, it’s time for you to enjoy your night.”

I quickly changed into the dress and walked into prom feeling like a princess.

A back view shot of a woman in a dress | Source: Midjourney

A back view shot of a woman in a dress | Source: Midjourney

That night, I realized that kindness really does come back when you least expect it.

3. I Paid for a Stranger’s Groceries, and It Led to My Grandma’s $230k Treatment

I was at the grocery store, just getting a few things for my grandma, when I noticed that the woman in front of me at the checkout was struggling.

She realized she’d left her wallet in her friend’s car and was about to walk away empty-handed.

“Ma’am, I’ll cover it,” I said without thinking.

A boy at a grocery store | Source: Midjourney

A boy at a grocery store | Source: Midjourney

“Oh, no. I couldn’t put you out like that,” she said after looking at me from head to toe. I think she was shocked to see a 12-year-old offering to help her.

“I insist, ma’am. Sometimes, we have to do good things, and karma will reward us later, right? That’s what my grandmother says all the time,” I said.

She hesitated, but I insisted.

I wasn’t rich, but I knew it was the right thing to do.

“Thank you so much,” she said. “I’m Mary. And you?”

A woman in a supermarket | Source: Midjourney

A woman in a supermarket | Source: Midjourney

“I’m Mark,” I replied.

“Thank you for what you did, Mark,” she smiled. “Listen, how about you give me your phone number so I can pay you back as soon as I get my wallet?”

I wrote down my number on the receipt and handed it to her. “Here, but don’t worry about it. There’s no rush. I live nearby anyway.”

“Alright, Mark,” she smiled and thanked me once again before leaving.

A woman talking to a boy | Source: Midjourney

A woman talking to a boy | Source: Midjourney

I felt good, but honestly, I didn’t think much about it after that. My focus was on my grandma. She was in the hospital and needed a major surgery that we couldn’t afford.

I had started a GoFundMe, but it wasn’t going well.

A few days later, I heard a knock on my door. Mary came with her daughter, Anastacia, to return my money.

“Thank you once again, Mark,” Mary said. “How’s your grandma doing? Is she around?”

A woman asking a boy about his grandmother | Source: Midjourney

A woman asking a boy about his grandmother | Source: Midjourney

That’s when I explained our situation. They were shocked that I was raising money for her surgery on my own.

Then, they did something incredible. They offered to help.

Anastacia shared our GoFundMe link with everyone she knew. She even posted the story on Reddit, telling people how I had helped her mom.

At first, I didn’t think it would work, but the story started getting attention.

A boy using a phone | Source: Pexels

A boy using a phone | Source: Pexels

Soon, more people donated, and the story went viral.

And before I knew it, donations were pouring in, amounting to $230,000, which was enough for my grandma’s surgery. I was in shock.

I had only spent $20 to help Mary, and somehow, it had led to saving my grandma’s life.

Thanks to Mary and Anastacia, my grandma got the treatment she needed, and I’ll never forget how one act of kindness brought everything full circle.

A boy smiling | Source: Midjourney

A boy smiling | Source: Midjourney

If you enjoyed reading these stories, here’s another one you might like: When Phoebe decides that her new chapter begins with a divorce and a new house, she finds a little house in a sleepy neighborhood. As she gets unpacking, she meets a wonderful neighbor, who has a big responsibility for Phoebe.

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

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