Why ‘Little House’ Star Melissa Gilbert Left Hollywood—And Why She’s Anti-‘Anti-Aging’
The ‘Little House on the Prairie’ star on aging pressures, new projects and life at 60
Melissa Gilbert said goodbye to Hollywood over 10 years ago, and now she’s opening up about the motivation behind her decision. The Little House on the Prairie actress, 60, left Los Angeles in 2013 and relocated to New York City—and there’s a shocking reason why. Keep reading to learn what she just revealed about why she made the change, what she’s said about the upcoming Little House reboot and what she’s working on in the Big Apple!
Melissa Gilbert explains why she left Hollywood
In a new interview with Page Six, Gilbert said she left California for NYC because the former wasn’t a place where she felt comfortable growing older.
“I just didn’t feel like that was a safe place for me to age,” she said. “It’s so anti-aging, which is one of my least favorite expressions in the world. Anti-aging means dead.”
Despite being born and raised in California, Gilbert said living there later in life made her feel pressured to keep pace with societal standards, “not get any older and stay a size 2 or 4 or whatever [I] was at that time.”
As soon as she moved to New York, though, the Emmy Award nominee found the different mindset and culture she had been seeking, which also allowed her to shift her perspective on aging.
“I went from, ‘Oh God, I better not get older!’ to ‘Oh God, I’m so glad I’m older!’” she exclaimed. “I love the age I am right now. Sixty has been the most incredible year, just to look back on all the things I’ve done and to know that I’ve earned my opinions, I have value, I am wise. I have done so much and I continue to do it and it’s not over by any stretch of the imagination.”
“Anti-aging is one of my least favorite expressions in the world. Anti-aging means dead.” —Melissa Gilbert
She still holds L.A. near and dear
Gilbert now contentedly calls Manhattan’s Upper West Side home with her husband, Timothy Busfield, but the recent tragic California wildfires reminded the star that L.A. still holds a very special place in her heart.
“I did not realize the depth of love that I have for my hometown until the wildfires,” she acknowledged. “The amount of people I know who have lost everything, and not movie stars and television stars. It’s devastating and I do love so much about L.A. It just wasn’t the right place for me to live in any longer but it will always be my hometown.”
Melissa Gilbert weighs in on the ‘Little House on the Prairie’ reboot
Netflix has officially ordered a Little House on the Prairie reboot, following an initial announcement by Paramount TV Studios and Anonymous Content in 2020. While details are still emerging, the first season will reportedly follow one of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s classic books, bringing a fresh take on the beloved family drama.
Gilbert, who portrayed Laura Ingalls in the original Little House on the Prairie series, has addressed concerns about a potential “woke” adaptation of the upcoming reboot. She reminded fans that the original show already tackled social issues like racism, addiction, antisemitism, and misogyny, urging critics to revisit past episodes to appreciate its progressive themes. “Watch any episode on any streaming platform anywhere in the world,” she wrote in an Instagram post.
“I love the age I am right now. Sixty has been the most incredible year, just to look back on all the things I’ve done and to know that I’ve earned my opinions, I have value, I am wise. I have done so much and I continue to do it and it’s not over by any stretch of the imagination.” —Melissa Gilbert
What’s next for Melissa Gilbert?
Like many actors living in New York, Gilbert is gearing up to take the stage. Starting February 6, she’ll star opposite Mad Men’s Mark Moses in the off-Broadway play Still.
The drama follows a couple, Helen and Mark, who broke up 30 years ago. When they meet up for dinner decades later, they find that their spark is still alive, but their future together is threatened by drastically different political views.
Gilbert told Page Six she pulled inspiration for her role from her real life as she had differing politics from her ex-husbands, Bo Brinkman (1988-1994) and Bruce Boxleitner (1995-2011).
“That did become untenable and it was before 2016 when things got even more heated,” she said of those relationships. “I will say that both of those times when I was single again, there was a weight that was lifted and a peace that filled my home because I didn’t have to clamp down on my opinion or not start an argument because I disagreed.”
Outside of the theater, Gilbert will guest star in two episodes of the 12th season of the Hallmark series When Calls the Heart, beginning Saturday, February 8. Her character, Georgie McGill, will share “a surprising past with one special Hope Valley resident,” according to a press release.
Gilbert’s appearance sees a Little House on the Prairie reunion, too, as she collaborates with the show’s executive producer Michael Landon Jr., whose father, Michael Landon, starred as Pa (Charles Ingalls) on the classic series.
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