U News

Celebrities who quit acting Celebrities who quit acting. Sure, we’ve all had a bad day at work and wanted to throw in the towel, but how do you “quit” being a celebrity? Academy Award-winning actress Natalie Portman is the latest superstar to publicly hint at quitting the business. Here are some actors who tried to leave the business. Did any of them succeed?   Ryan Phillippe Just as his latest movie hits theaters, the young actor announced he was leaving the business. Here’s what he said. A rep is already denying the report.   Amanda Bynes The former Nickelodeon teen queen appeared in a modest Colin Firth hit and this cult fave before announcing that she was retiring in June 2010. She had a change of heart one month later. Joaquin Phoenix In 2008, the Oscar-nominated actor said “I’m done” with acting. What followed was a bizarre interview with David Letterman in 2009, followed by him un-retiring in 2010. Evangeline Lilly In 2009, the actress revealed plans to quit acting afte...

Actors and historical characters Stars who portrayed historical figures We’re all intrigued by the lives of history’s most famous people, and so is Hollywood. John Travolta is the latest star to take on a historical role as a notorious American mobster. Check out this list of actors and actresses who dared to imitate real-life characters. John Travolta The former greaser won’t have to extend his acting range much to inhabit the character of a man nicknamed “Dapper Don” Gotti (check out his mug shot), not to mention the most powerful crime boss in America during the 1980s. Johnny Depp In 2009, Depp captivated audiences when he played a Depression-era gangster  who rose to “Public Enemy No. 1” status for his dozens of bank heists. Cate Blanchett Sixteenth-century England was the setting for this 2007 film, in which Cate Blanchett depicts the rise of a young queen. The film earned the actress international attention and lead to many major movie parts. Elizabeth Taylor In this 1963 cla...