Actress Joan Cusack recently made an appearance on the red carpet. During the moment, she talked about taking a break from moviemaking over the past few years. This also comes out as fans saw Cusack make her return to a famous franchise.
Joan Cusack Recently Appeared On The Red Carpet For The Los Angeles Premiere Of Toy Story 5
Cusack is an actress with a career spanning decades. She first rose to prominence after appearing in films like Working Girl and In & Out. She later became known for films including Toys, Addams Family Values, and School of Rock. Outside of film, she also starred in Shameless as Sheila Jackson.
As a voice actress, Cusack is also known for voicing Jessie, a cowgirl doll, in the Toy Story films. Initially appearing in the second film in 1999, she made her most recent return to the franchise with 2026’s Toy Story 5.
Not only is the film Cusack’s return to the franchise, it also marks her return to moviemaking following a six-year hiatus. Speaking with Variety, she reflected on this break, noting the life she shares with husband Richard Burke and two sons.
While at the Los Angeles premiere of Toy Story 5m Cusack talked about building a life away from Hollywood, talking about spending time with her family in Chicago. She shared, “I feel so honored to have worked in this industry for a long time. But it’s also great to live your life and raise your kids and be in Chicago and be a normal person. It’s kind of priceless.”
The Actress Previously Talked About Moving From Hollywood To Chicago A Few Years Back
This Los Angeles premiere was just her second red carpet appearance since 2015. Her previous appearance as the film’s London-based launch event back in late May.
Cusack previously spoke about her decision to step away from Hollywood with HuffPost in 2019. As she noted, in addition to relocating to Chicago, she has also run a gift shop, Judy Maxwell Home, since 2011.
Joan Cusack says she’s become more selective about the roles she takes on because “it’s great to live your life, raise your kids and be a normal person in Chicago.” #ToyStory5 pic.twitter.com/QCWWIxV9MT
— Variety (@Variety) June 10, 2026
At the time, Cusack shared, “[Chicago] has rich culture and history, as well as some of the best museums, architecture and restaurants in the world. Plus, it prevents our family life from revolving around TV and the movies. In L.A., it’s easy to get caught up in what you look like or how much money you have, and those aren’t values I want my kids to adopt.”
Toy Story 5 is set to make its debut on June 19. The story will revolve around the clash between the franchise’s familiar toys and more digital devices as they compete for children’s attention.
What is your reaction to Joan Cusack’s recent share? Have you been following this story? Make sure you come back to TV Shows Ace for all the latest TV and celebrity news.
John Witiw has been a writer since at least 2015. He’s covered a variety of topics, especially when it comes to film and television.
