Kelly LeBrock reflects on leaving Hollywood for family and ranch life ahead of 'Weird Science' anniversary

Actress and former model Kelly LeBrock has spoken about her decision to leave Hollywood at the height of her career, prioritising family life and a quieter existence.

LeBrock began modelling at 16 and rose to fame with roles in The Woman in Red (1984) and Weird Science (1985). She later starred alongside her then-husband, Steven Seagal, in Hard to Kill (1990).

The couple divorced in 1996, after which LeBrock moved to a ranch in rural Southern California to raise their three children.

“I ran away. I didn’t step away,” LeBrock told Fox News Digital, explaining she wanted to focus on her children rather than her career, having been sent to boarding school at a young age.

Her eldest daughter, Annaliza, works as a deputy sheriff in California; her son, Dominic, is in Russia, starting a film production; and her youngest daughter, Arissa, has pursued modelling, acting, and professional wrestling.

Now 65, LeBrock tends to animals including chickens, goats, horses, and dogs. She is developing a pet care product and says she has no plans to return to Hollywood full-time. She described herself as shy and a homebody, spending much of the COVID-19 pandemic alone.

Reflecting on Weird Science, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, LeBrock recalled initial nerves joining the cast midway through filming.

Directed by John Hughes, the film became a cult classic, also featuring a young Robert Downey Jr. LeBrock said she never anticipated its lasting popularity.

While she occasionally takes on acting roles, LeBrock remains committed to rural living. “Life’s good now,” she said, adding that she values time in nature over the pressures of the entertainment industry.