Cameron Diaz She had reached her breaking point. when that I Hitting theaters in 2014, it marked her 38th film in 20 years. “It's very intense to work at that level and be public and put yourself out there,” she told pal. Gwyneth Paltrow During a 2020 interview with Goop. “There's a lot of energy coming at you at all times.” She decided to take a big step back from Hollywood to focus on herself and build the family she always wanted. In 2015, she married Jude Charlotte, a rock singer Benji MaddenThe two welcomed their daughter Radix in December 2019 and their son Cardinal in March. “Cameron was burned out,” says a source. Us Weekly In the latest cover story, “And her priorities changed.”
After an eventful — and personally fulfilling — decade, Diaz is returning to the spotlight. Her new movie on Netflix, Back to workdebuted on January 17. It includes her and the movie star Jamie Foxx Play as two former CIA agents who are pulled back into the world of espionage when their identities are revealed. In May, the 52-year-old actress was spotted filming an upcoming Apple TV+ movie outcome with Keanu Reeves and Matt Bomer In Los Angeles, she's ready for it star in Partner 5, It is scheduled to be released in July 2026. A second source says Diaz's decision to work again “evolved over time,” adding: “It wasn't a surprise.” In October, she told an audience at Fortune's Most Powerful Women Summit that “this is the right time for my family.”
Make no mistake: the next chapter will be on her terms. “Cameron is very selective about future projects,” says the first source. Her priorities are her children and Madden, 45, and their simple life in Montecito, California. “I don’t define anything,” Diaz said recently. empire About coming out of retirement. “I'm open to whatever makes sense for me and my family at any given moment.”
New perspective
According to the first source, Diaz wasn't sure whether she did it or not Make another movie. She's been burning the candle at both ends for two decades. “(I looked) around and (saw) there were so many parts of my life that I hadn't touched,” she said on Hart to Heart in 2021. “It was about changing priorities,” the second source says of Diaz's decision to leave the entertainment industry. “Having kids was something she always wanted, (but) she didn't feel like she could while working in Hollywood,” adds the first source.
In 2022, Diaz told the “Rule Breakers” podcast host. Michelle Face That, during her hiatus, she “also came in and did some really deep personal healing.” It took years for her to be ready to get back into the swing of things. “Cameron feels like she's settled down now and is in a good place mentally,” the source says. “She has a fresh outlook on business and the industry as a whole.”
Cameron Diaz has dated many celebrities, but she never thought she would get married until she started dating her now-husband, Benji Madden, in May 2014. “(Getting married) was the biggest thing I did in my 40s, and it opened the way for me,” Diaz told Harper’s Bazaar. May 2016, 16 months after she and the rock star married (…)
It helped that her first big project involved a reunion with Foxx, with whom she starred in the 1999 film. That is, Sunday. “Only you can get me back to work,” she wrote in a June 2022 Instagram post addressed to her old friend when the film was first announced. “They were constantly laughing on set,” says the first source, noting that they share the same sense of humor and “their chemistry is unparalleled.” For Diaz, getting back into the mix has been fun. “Cameron had some nervousness at first, but she has rediscovered her love for the craft,” the second source adds.
Happy marriage
Madden was encouraging throughout the process. “He (Benji) was like, 'You've been supporting us and building the family'… It's time for us to support you and let mommy step up and do what she wants,” she said in October. “He was cheering her on every step of the way,” notes the first source.
The musician has been her rock since they fell in love in 2014 (they were introduced by Diaz's boyfriend Nicole Richiewho married Benji's twin brother, Joelin 2010). “I saw him walking towards me, and I was like, 'Huh, he's hot,'” she said in 2021. “And when I saw him — like him — that's what made me say, 'Oh, you, you.'” “You're special, you're the man.” According to the second source, ” Cameron said she knew Benjy was different almost immediately. He felt the same thing. Their connection was immediate and natural.
Cameron Diaz and Benji Madden are parents of two children! Diaz, 51, and Madden, 45, announced the arrival of baby No. 2 on Friday, March 22. “We are blessed and excited to announce the birth of our son, Cardinal Madden❤️🙏,” the duo wrote in a joint Instagram post. statement. “It's wonderful and we all are (…)”
Their relationship is built on mutual respect and constant communication. “They are a team,” says the second source. “They always lift each other up and prioritize each other's happiness.” Madden took to the scene when Diaz returned to work, where he helped care for their two young children: “Benji is a very hands-on, very helpful father.” Diaz recently revealed that the couple relies heavily on therapy. “(It's) a big thing in our family,” she told Joel on the Dec. 11 episode of his “Artist Friendly” radio show. “You can't be married and have a family if both people aren't 100 percent every day.”
The couple will celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary on January 5 by doing something simple and meaningful. “Cameron and Benji like to keep the highlights intimate and personal,” says the second source. In general, they are not much interested in industry events or flashy parties. “They like to cook, watch movies or take a quiet walk,” the source adds. They also spend a lot of time with Richie and her husband. “They try to come together as one big family more often,” the first source shares, adding that Diaz has been relying on Richie when it comes to the kids. “I helped Cameron with everything she needed.”
Raddix and Cardinal are the center of their own universe. “There's a lot of love and laughter at home,” says the second source. The couple purchased the six-bedroom Montecito mansion for $13 million in 2022. “They enjoy privacy there,” says the first source, adding: “They live a very peaceful life.” They love the quaint local cafes, the beach (and) the slower pace of life to raise their children. As for more children, both sources say they are open but content with two, with the first noting, “They are incredibly happy with their family.”
Looking forward
Cameron Diaz
Stephanie Keenan/Getty Images for ELLEBesides motherhood and her upcoming films, Diaz has a lot of things on her plate. She launched her organic wine line, Avaline, in 2020, and it remains a major focus. “It takes precedence over acting,” says the first source. I have written two books on health and longevity. “Cameron is passionate about Avaline, and she also loves health, food, and exploring other creative projects,” the second source says, adding, “Her goal is to pursue projects — whether acting, business, or family life — that feel meaningful and real.”
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With preparation by Andrea Simpson and Amanda Williams
