Inside Cameron Diaz’s Breakthrough Return (Outside)

Cameron Diaz she has reached her breaking point. When Annie hit theaters in 2014, it was her 38th film in 20 years. “It’s so intense to work at this level and be so public and put yourself out there,” she told a friend Gwyneth Paltrow during a Goop interview in 2020. “You always have a lot of energy flowing to you.” She decided to take a giant step back from Hollywood to focus on herself and build the family she always wanted. In 2015, she married rocker Good Charlotte Benji Maddenand the two welcomed daughter Raddix in December 2019 and son Cardinal in March. “Cameron is burnt out,” says the source My Weekly in the latest title story “and her priorities shifted”.

After a busy — and personally fulfilling — decade, Diaz is returning to the spotlight. Her new Netflix movie, Back in actiondebuts on January 17th. In it she and costar Jamie Foxx play married ex-CIA agents who are drawn back into the world of espionage when their identities are revealed. In May, the 52-year-old actress was spotted filming an upcoming Apple TV+ movie Result with Keanu Reeves and Matt Bomer in LA and is about to star in Shrek 5, is due out in July 2026. A second source says Diaz’s decision to act again “evolved over time,” adding, “It wasn’t sudden.” In October, she told an audience at Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Summit that “the time was right for my family”.

Make no mistake: Her next chapter will be on her terms. “Cameron (is) very selective about future projects,” says the first source. Her priorities are her children and Madden, 45, and their quiet life in Montecito, California. “I don’t define anything,” Diaz said recently Empire on retirement. “I’m just open to whatever makes sense for me and my family at the time.”

A new perspective

According to the first source, Diaz wasn’t sure if she ever did make another movie. She has been burning the candle at both ends for two decades. “(I) looked around and (saw) there were so many parts of my life that I hadn’t touched,” she said on Hart to Heart in 2021. It was about changing priorities,” a second source says of Diaz’s decision to leave show business. She adds first source: “Having children was something she always wanted, (but) working in Hollywood, she didn’t feel like she could.”

In 2022, Diaz told the host of the “Rule Breakers” podcast. Michelle’s face that she also “stepped in and did some really deep, personal healing” during her hiatus. It took years before she was ready to get back into the swing of things. “Cameron feels like she’s settled in now and she’s doing well mentally,” says the source. “He has a fresh perspective on work and the industry as a whole.”

It helped that her first major project involved a reunion with Foxx, with whom she starred in 1999. Any given Sunday. “Only you can get me back in action,” she wrote in a June 2022 Instagram post addressed to her longtime boyfriend when the film was first announced. “They were laughing all the time on set,” says the first source, noting that they share a similar sense of humor, “and their chemistry is second to none.” It was fun for Diaz to be back in the mix. “Cameron had some initial nerves,” adds a second source, “but she rediscovered her love for the craft.”

Happy marriage

Madden was encouraging throughout the process. “(Benji) said, ‘You supported us and built a family’ … It’s time for us to support you and let mom step up and do her thing,” she said in October. The first source notes, “He was rooting for her every step of the way.”

The musician has been her rock since they fell in love in 2014 (Diaz’s friend introduced them Nicole Richiewho married Benji’s twin, Joelin 2010). “I saw him walking towards me and I was like, ‘Huh, he’s hot,'” she said in 2021. “When I saw him — like who he was — it made me really like, ‘Oh you , you ‘re special, you’re the guy.'” According to a second source, “Cameron said she knew Benji was different almost immediately. He felt the same. Their connection was immediate and natural.”

Their relationship is built on mutual respect and constant communication. “They are a team,” says a second source. “They always lift each other up and prioritize each other’s happiness.” Madden stepped up to the plate when Diaz returned to work and helped care for their two young children: “Benji is a very hands-on dad and he’s been extremely helpful.” Diaz recently revealed that the pair rely heavily on therapy. “(It’s) a big thing in our family,” she told Joel on the Dec. 11 episode of his “Artist Friendly” podcast. “You can’t be married and have a family if both people aren’t 100% every day.”

The couple will celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary on January 5 by doing something low-key and meaningful. “Cameron and Benji like to keep milestones intimate and personal,” says a second source. Generally, they are not big on industry events or loud parties. “They like cooking, movie nights or quiet walks,” adds the source. She also spends a lot of time with Richie and her husband. “They often try to hang out as one big family,” says the first source, adding that Diaz has leaned on Richie when it comes to the kids. “She helped Cameron with everything she needed.

Raddix and Cardinal are the center of their universe. “There’s a lot of love and laughter at home,” says a second source. The couple bought their six-bedroom Montecito mansion for $13 million in 2022. “They have privacy there,” says the first source, adding, “They live a very quiet life. They love the local quaint cafes and beaches (and) a slower pace of life to raise their children.” As for more children, both sources say they’re open but happy with two, with the former noting, “They’re incredibly happy with their family.”

Looking ahead

Aside from motherhood and her upcoming movies, Diaz has plenty of other things to keep her busy. Avaline launched its organic line of wines in 2020 and remains a big focus. “He takes precedence over acting,” says the first source. She has written two books on health and longevity. “Cameron is passionate about Avaline and also loves wellness, food and exploring other creative ventures,” says a second source, adding, “Her goal is to pursue projects — whether acting, business or family life — that are meaningful and authentic.”

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With reporting by Andrea Simpson and Amanda Williams