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Yes, Kim Basinger is living life on her own terms now! A wildly popular actress in the '80s and '90s, Basinger all but vanished from the Hollywood limelight.
But while fans have missed seeing her face on the big screen, the 69-year-old has quietly savored a wildly fulfilling life away from the camera's lens that includes family, volunteering, and a new relationship.
With her comeback on the horizon, the question everyone wants to know is what prompted her mysterious retirement from the spotlight?
The actress emerged in the late '70s and became one of the most familiar faces in Hollywood. Starring in a series of notable projects, she captivated the public, establishing herself as the undeniable sex symbol. In the late '90s, Basinger transitioned towards more independent and contemplative roles and grabbed the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1998 for her performance as an escort in Curtis Hanson's neo-noir L.A. Confidential.
Given her captivating career, one would expect her to have a lasting presence on the silver screen. However, as the new millennium rolled in, her visibility considerably diminished.
The actress, set to turn 70 in 2023, was in her early 20s when she caught the attention of a prestigious modeling agency, launching her into the world of national magazine covers and commercials. Despite earning a substantial $1,000 daily, the industry never truly connected with Basinger on a personal level.
She condemned the vanity involved with modeling and despised checking herself out in the mirror before every shoot, “It was very hard to go from one booking to another and always have to deal with the way I looked.” In 1981, Basinger posed nude for Playboy, using the exposure as a springboard to her first love of acting.
Basinger’s acting breakout was as a Bond girl, when she starred across Sean Connery in the 1983 film Never Say Never Again. It was an opportunity of a lifetime, a pathway to a new universe of possibilities. Next, she was cast in The Man Who Loved Women and Blind Date. Her work in cult erotic romantic drama 9½ Weeks marked a turning point in her career, solidifying her image as a figure of sensuality and beauty in the eyes of many.
Other notable movies in her 90s filmography included The Marrying Man, Final Analysis, The Real McCoy, Wayne World 2, and The Getaway. Following her Oscar-winning turn in L.A. Confidential, Basinger has the honor of being the only actress to date to have posed nude for Playboy and been honored with an Academy Award.
However, as the early 2000s unfolded, Basinger's professional journey took a different direction, and the excitement surrounding her fame gradually declined. Was her decision to decrease her workload a personal choice, or had Hollywood producers already lost interest in her and begun exploring other talents?
During her interview withVanity Fairin 2013, Basinger candidly discusses her Hollywood trajectory, reflecting on the unpredictable nature of the industry and appreciation for her enduring success and "longevity" within it. “I’ve been so blessed because I’ve had such longevity.”
Yet, though always a champion of the artistry, she has deep-rooted reservations about the artifice of celebrity. “I’m not a big red-carpet girl. But I love the work.”
Basinger told the magazine she’d been suffering from agoraphobia and anxiety for a while, which played a role in how she dealt with her burgeoning renown. She needed to step away from the spotlight and cope with her mood disorders without relying on drugs on substances. “Now I wake up and enjoy life. I didn’t want to live on drugs. I wanted to face everything I was afraid of.” she says.
Kim Basinger may have left a slew of broken hearts in her wake (including musician Prince) but her marriage to Alec Baldwin was one of the more tumultuous relationships. Married for over a decade, the couple welcomed daughter Ireland to their family. But ultimately the '90s power couple broke up in and Basinger made her only child her absolute priority.
The Georgia native disclosed part of the reason why she disappeared from the scene was to protect Ireland and give her structure and calm through the turbulence of a broken family. “She grew up in the limelight but I tried to provide stability and a quieter world.”
Yet, it is crucial to note that despite Basinger's deliberate decision to limit her commitments, she never entirely retreated from the public eye. Over the course of the last 20 years, she maintained a steady presence in both television and film, appearing in a diverse range of productions, spanning from independent films to blockbuster hits such as Fifty Shades Darker, 8 Mile, and Charlie St. Cloud.
What is truly commendable about Basinger is her willingness to embrace and experience love in all its splendor.
She has been dating her boyfriend, hairstylist Mitch Stone for nearly a decade, and together they lead a serene existence by the seaside, relishing each other’s company and shared passions.
Over the years Basinger has cultivated a fondness for writing children's stories, discovering that it provides both a creative outlet and a means of personal therapy. “My boyfriend and I spend a lot of time in Hawaii, our favorite place on Earth. I have always loved writing and I'm getting more into it these days, especially children's books. The most important thing I do is work with four wonderful animal protection groups to help stop the cruelty that goes on in every country on this planet.”
While Basinger does appreciate occasional retreats to the serenity of nature, she still looks forward to undertaking roles that intrigue her. “It's a very privileged position to be in. You get offers your whole life. They've never stopped, and I'm happy to say that I'm going back on the screen pretty soon myself,” she told Vulturemagazine in 2021.
Ultimately, as we eagerly await Basinger's future endeavors, we also need to applaud her courage and patience. Not everyone has the determination to walk away from a life of consistent work, success and fame, but Basinger made the decision to do so to suit her own needs.
Basinger’s pathway demonstrates that not everyone wants to chase the same dreams, and that people have different definitions of peace and fulfillment. As long as you’re content in your own corner, and if you’re continuing to grow and learn and make new memories, you’re living the dream.
Everyone has unique markers for success, and the sooner you recognize your own, the quicker you can start on your journey.
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