Buffy the Vampire Slayer actress Eliza Dushku is opening up about her Hollywood retirement and the possibility that fans will ever see her on a small or big screen again.
“I will not be in front of a camera again unless it’s in some capacity that is in service of my new work and passion,” Dushku, 22, told The Hollywood Reporter in an interview published on Thursday, December 4.
For the uninitiated, the Bring It On star announced her retirement from acting in 2017. According to the former actress, her decision is permanent — though she is plenty busy behind the camera.
That work and passion includes executive producing the Netflix documentary In Waves and War, which she told the outlet is “such an important film that makes me want to scream it from the top of the Hollywood Hills.”
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Dushku was introduced to the movie by way of producer friends in Boston, Massachusetts. The documentary follows the stories of three Navy SEALS who travel to Mexico to explore the use of psychedelic therapy to treat their PTSD symptoms and the underlying trauma they’ve endured as a result of their time in the military.
“We have all these old ideas of what a psychedelic trip looks like, just think of those kaleidoscope images from the 1970s,” Dushku said. “And this needed to bring the vets’ stories to life in a way that reflects more what the experience looks and feels like in a profound way.”
Though Dushku also said “the last thing I wanted to do was step out in a public way and do press again,” she feels the movie has had an impact on her life and is worth her speaking to the press.
“Maybe part of the reason I had my career during the first part of my life was that I’m now able to spread a message and shine a light on this important work,” she admitted.
The Buffy the Vampire Slayer star also reflected on how addiction played a role in her decision to step back from Hollywood and acting entirely, and noted that she’s kept in touch with people she previously worked with.
“After spending 25 years in this town and working in this industry, I’ve had so many fascinating, enriching experiences,” she said. “I have been open about this, but then I eventually hit a point in my experience with addiction when my life became unmanageable. For many years, I was functioning but as so often is the case with addiction, I got to a place when it became more and more unmanageable.”
She continued, “There was something in me that signaled that something wasn’t right. When the #MeToo movement came about, I disclosed my personal experiences [of being the victim of sexual misconduct]. I didn’t expect that to be such an immediate catalyst for what became the beginning of a journey to process what happened and what I needed to heal from.”
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She soon realized she was not “living my highest purpose” and decided to make changes. Dushku now works as a therapist, completing a master’s program with a focus on addiction and trauma.
“As an actor, there was an intimacy in the work, but with this, I really get to remove myself and just fully be there for someone else who is taking that elevator down to explore and heal,” Dushku explained of her career switch. “Suffering is a part of our human experience, and it’s really hard to suffer alone. The beauty of being there for someone is that it’s invigorating to help. It fills me with such passion and purpose.”