Fame often comes with the assumption of gated mansions and constant visibility, but not every celebrity embraces that lifestyle. Some have deliberately stepped away from major cities to settle in small rural towns, blending into communities where privacy still exists. In these places, they shop locally, keep a low profile, and live lives that look strikingly ordinary from the outside. This list highlights ten well-known names who’ve found comfort and normalcy far from the spotlight.
Jason Segel: Ojai, California
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Though only a 90-minute drive from Los Angeles, the small town of Ojai feels worlds away, and that is exactly why Jason Segel decided to make it his permanent home. After the massive success of How I Met Your Mother, Segel sought a slower pace and found it in this orange-grove-filled valley, where he is known to frequent high school football games and local diners. He has embraced the simplicity of small-town life so thoroughly that he famously admitted his neighbors often have no idea he’s a famous actor, viewing him instead as just the guy in overalls who lives down the road.
Amanda Seyfried: The Catskills, New York
For actress Amanda Seyfried, the transition from Hollywood ingenue to farmhand was a deliberate move to preserve her mental health. Residing on a picturesque farm in the Catskill Mountains, she spends her days caring for a menagerie of animals, including chickens, horses, and a donkey named Gus. Seyfried has been vocal about how the isolation of rural New York provides a center of gravity for her family, allowing her to balance a high-profile acting career with the grounding, messy reality of agricultural life.
Daniel Day-Lewis: Annamoe, Ireland
The only man to win three Best Actor Oscars, Daniel Day-Lewis is perhaps the most famous un-famous person in the world. Since his retirement from acting, he has retreated almost entirely to the tiny village of Annamoe in County Wicklow, Ireland. In this misty, quiet corner of the world, he is known to locals as a skilled woodworker and shoemaker rather than a cinematic legend. He embodies the true meaning of a recluse, living a life of profound craftsmanship and silence that mirrors the intensity he once brought to his silver screen performances.
Julia Roberts: Taos, New Mexico
While she may be the quintessential American sweetheart, Julia Roberts has spent decades cultivating a life of desert solitude on her massive ranch in Taos. Away from the glare of Los Angeles, Roberts and her family embrace a boho-chic lifestyle centered on the rugged beauty of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Neighbors in this artsy enclave respect her privacy, allowing her to shop at local markets and attend community events without the typical fanfare associated with a global superstar.
Jeff Daniels: Chelsea, Michigan
Jeff Daniels famously made the decision to move his family back to his hometown of Chelsea, Michigan, at the height of his career in the 1980s. He wanted his children to grow up with a sense of normalcy that he felt was impossible to find in the Hollywood bubble. Decades later, he remains a pillar of the community, where he even founded the Purple Rose Theatre Company to foster local talent, demonstrating that an actor’s career can flourish without ever leaving the roots that planted them.
Zach Galifianakis: Allegheny County, North Carolina
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The man known for his chaotic humor in The Hangover lives a life that is surprisingly serene on a 60-acre farm in rural North Carolina. Galifianakis refers to his secluded property as Farmageddon, a place where cell service is spotty and the nearest neighbor is a significant drive away. He has often expressed a disdain for the celebrity machine, preferring the company of his tractor and his thoughts to the vanity of the entertainment industry’s social circles.
Michael Keaton: McLeod, Montana
Michael Keaton has long been a resident of the Big Sky Country, owning a sprawling ranch near the tiny community of McLeod, Montana. A dedicated outdoorsman and fly-fisherman, Keaton has spent over 30 years integrating into the local culture, far removed from the “Batman” or “Birdman” personas that made him famous. He has often remarked that the vastness of Montana reminds him that humans are merely tenants on the land, a perspective that keeps him grounded despite his Hollywood resurgence.
Josh Duhamel: Otter Tail County, Minnesota
Looking for a complete escape from the industry’s frenetic energy, Josh Duhamel built a cabin deep in the woods of Minnesota. Located nearly 40 miles from the nearest grocery store, his retreat is a testament to his desire for a rugged, self-sufficient lifestyle. Duhamel uses this lakefront property to disconnect from the digital world and reconnect with his North Dakota roots, spending his time fishing and teaching his children the value of manual labor and quiet reflection.
Mark Ruffalo: Callicoon, New York
Known to millions as the Hulk, Mark Ruffalo finds his personal equilibrium as a part-time resident and full-time advocate for the tiny hamlet of Callicoon. Nestled in the Delaware River valley, this village serves as the home base for Ruffalo’s family, where his wife Sunrise Coignet even operated a local boutique. He is often seen at town hall meetings or enjoying the rugged beauty of the Catskills, having become a fixture of the local community who is more likely to be asked about water conservation than the next Marvel sequel.
Vera Farmiga: Accord, New York
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The Oscar-nominated star of The Conjuring franchise lives a life that is more pastoral than paranormal in the Ulster County town of Accord. Residing on a quiet farm, Farmiga has become a champion of the Hudson Valley lifestyle, often seen at local markets or tending to her garden away from the industry’s glare. Her choice of Accord reflects a growing trend among serious actors who prioritize the creative clarity and privacy offered by New York’s upstate apple orchards and rolling meadows over the distractions of Tinsel Town.
