Cameron Diaz Says She Was 'Trying to Stay Alive Like Every Other Mother' During Her Decade-Long Acting Hiatus

Mar. 15, 2025

Cameron Diaz on the red carpet for the special screening of Netflix’s “Back in Action”.Photo:Sebastian Reuter/Getty

Sebastian Reuter/Getty

Cameron Diazis making her big return to the screen after spending the last few years focused on motherhood.

In abehind-the-scenes interviewfrom her new movieBack In Action,Diaz, who sharestwo kids, Cardinal, 10 months, andRaddix, 5, with husbandBenji Madden, admitted she didn’t think she’d ever make another movie again until one call from costarJamie Foxxchanged her mind.

“How do you say ‘No’ to Jamie Foxx?” Diaz, 52, began. “If there’s anyone I’m going to go back and spend months on end on set having a ball and laughing with, it would be Jamie.”

During her hiatus, Diaz said “no to everything,” including any training or public appearances. Instead, she prioritized two things: her family and her wine company, Avaline.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“That was what I was putting most of my focus on,” Diaz explained. “If I was doing anything other than just sort of being a mom and living my day-to-day.”

“That was pretty much it,” she continued. “I’m just trying to stay alive just like every other mother. I’m just trying to keep it going.”

Diaz added that she hopes her new Netflix film will have children look at their parents and wonder if they did anything “cool” before they came along.

Benji Madden and Cameron Diaz attend House of Harlow 1960 x REVOLVE on June 2, 2016 in Los Angeles, California.Donato Sardella/Getty

Donato Sardella/Getty

“One of those little fantasies that all parents have is that their kids could see them as they existed before they had all of the weight of the world of being a parent on them,” she shared. “Children just can’t see their parents that way.”

“And maybe, just maybe, their kids will believe them when they say, ‘Yeah, I was pretty cool,” she said.

Back in ActionisDiaz’s first film since 2014’sAnnie, in which she also starred with Foxx. They first shared the screen in 1999’sAny Given Sunday.

“So it was literally, ‘Do you wanna have some fun? Just have some fun!’ And I think that’s what brought her to it,” said Foxx. “We miss special moments sometimes in our business, and I think this is a special moment. So we’re so happy that it’s happening and looking forward to it.”

source: people.com