Joan Cusack on Why She Stepped Back from Acting for More than Half a Decade

Joan Cusack is back after years away from Hollywood — and she made her return count. The Oscar-nominated actress stepped out in style at the "Toy Story 5" LA premiere.

Joan Cusack has returned to the spotlight after 11 years away from the red carpet and six years off-screen. The Oscar-nominated actress has lent her voice once more to the beloved cowgirl toy Jessie in "Toy Story 5."

She recently attended the Los Angeles premiere of the film — and she did it in style. Cusack exuded elegance in a cream, structured jacket with off-shoulder detailing, paired with matching wide-leg trousers.

A chunky black beaded necklace sat prominently at the neckline, complemented by delicate drop earrings featuring what appeared to be small light pink stones. She completed the look with bold black rectangular-frame glasses, a wide white cuff bracelet, and black pointed-toe heels.

Her dark brown hair was swept back in a sleek wave with soft volume at the crown, and her makeup featured light eye-shadow and a muted rose lip. Cusack made the evening a family affair, with her husband and sons joining her on the red carpet.

The 63-year-old shares sons Miles and Dylan with her husband, Richard Burke. Speaking to reporters at the event, she briefly touched on why she stepped away from Hollywood.

"I feel so honored to be able to work in this industry for a long time, but it's also great to live your life and raise your kids and be in Chicago and be a normal person," she said. "It's kind of priceless."

Cusack has owned and operated a gift shop, Judy Maxwell Home, in her native Chicago since 2011. She has blended in so seamlessly with everyday life that customers have browsed the store without recognizing the star standing right beside them.

When patrons do clock her, Cusack enjoys redirecting their attention to something more tactile — like her hand-bound, hand-markered book about Tootsie Rolls.

"Being a celebrity actress isn't that fun, over and over," she told The New Yorker in 2019. "It's just not that great of a world, except for being exposed to cool sets and talented, interesting people. But this is so fun."

She went on to offer further insight into why she stepped back from acting and how the shop became the perfect outlet — one that kept her close to home.

"My kids were young, and I didn't really want to take acting work, because I always had to go away," she said. "I was trying to think of something to do, because I'm not really a big cooking person."

Now back in the limelight, Cusack never imagined it would be Jessie who brought her back. She has voiced the character across all of the "Toy Story" films since the franchise first hit screens in 1995 — and admits she never expected to still be playing Jessie in 2026.

In fact, she didn't think the role would have that much of an impact she was first cast. "I just thought they cast me because they thought it was gonna be funny to have a cowgirl with the Chicago accent," Cusack said. "I'd have a couple of lines, be in a couple of scenes, and that would be it."

Clearly, she was wrong — and fans are more than thrilled to have her back.