Heather Graham Opens Up About Moving Out of Family Home in High School and Becoming ‘Estranged’ from Parents

Mar. 15, 2025

Heather Grahamis reflecting on a difficult period of her early life — and how it led to her current happiness.TheBoogie Nightsstar, 54, recalled the events leading up to her decision to leave her family home at 18 years old and later become “estranged” from her parents during an interview with theWall Street Journalpublishedon Aug. 27.Graham looks back on having to move from her suburban neighborhood in Virginia to live in Agoura Hills, Calif. when she was nine years old. She went from being “popular” in the Washington D.C. suburb to feeling like she “didn’t fit in” when she got to the West Coast.“In Virginia, I had a tomboy phase and loved exploring the woods. After we moved, I was isolated. You had to be driven everywhere. Without kids to play with in the street, I had fewer social interactions and grew insecure. I turned to books and read above my level,” says Graham.Aerial view of a neighborhood in Agoura Hills.GettyEven after she adjusted, she began to face challenges from her parents — especially her dad, who was against her acting career from the start.“He regularly told me that the entertainment industry was evil and that Hollywood would claim my soul,” she says, adding that her parents “were part of a generation that didn’t believe in therapy or discussing personal things, so I never felt I could talk to them.”Heather Graham in July 1988.Ron Galella Collection via GettyGraham explains that after her movieLicense to Drivepremieredin 1988, she decided that she needed to move out.“When the movie came out, I was 18,” she recalls. “Living at home had become more difficult. I said to myself, ‘I’ve got to get out of here, I’ve got to be successful, and I’ve got to be a movie star.’”She continues, “I found an apartment in West Hollywood with another girl from high school — a working model who was also investing in real estate on the side. Living with her was freeing.”Heather Graham in March 2024.Randy Shropshire/Getty ImagesAfter she graduated from high school with a 5.0 GPA, Graham went on to study English at UCLA before leaving her junior year to focus on acting.She says a major “turning point” in her life was when she landed films likeSwingersandAustin Powersin the 90s, making her completely “self-sufficient.” This period prompted her to reevaluate her relationship with her parents.“I stopped talking to my parents when I was 25, and I’m estranged from them now,” she adds. “My friends are proud of me, and I’m proud of myself. I have really good friends.”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 juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Now, Graham feels peace when she thinks about the life that she’s built and takes pride in the homes she’s carefully selected for herself.“I live in Los Angeles in a house I bought last year. I also have a loft in New York,” she says, noting that her L.A. home “has views of the Pacific.”“I love the ocean,” the actress shares. “I also like sitting out back when writing or preparing for a movie. Nature is inspiring.”Graham wrote, directed and starred in her most recent film,Chosen Family,and next appears in the action WesternThe Gunslingers,co-starring Nicholas Cage, in 2025.

Heather Grahamis reflecting on a difficult period of her early life — and how it led to her current happiness.

TheBoogie Nightsstar, 54, recalled the events leading up to her decision to leave her family home at 18 years old and later become “estranged” from her parents during an interview with theWall Street Journalpublishedon Aug. 27.

Graham looks back on having to move from her suburban neighborhood in Virginia to live in Agoura Hills, Calif. when she was nine years old. She went from being “popular” in the Washington D.C. suburb to feeling like she “didn’t fit in” when she got to the West Coast.

“In Virginia, I had a tomboy phase and loved exploring the woods. After we moved, I was isolated. You had to be driven everywhere. Without kids to play with in the street, I had fewer social interactions and grew insecure. I turned to books and read above my level,” says Graham.

Aerial view of a neighborhood in Agoura Hills.Getty

Getty

Even after she adjusted, she began to face challenges from her parents — especially her dad, who was against her acting career from the start.

“He regularly told me that the entertainment industry was evil and that Hollywood would claim my soul,” she says, adding that her parents “were part of a generation that didn’t believe in therapy or discussing personal things, so I never felt I could talk to them.”

Heather Graham in July 1988.Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Graham explains that after her movieLicense to Drivepremieredin 1988, she decided that she needed to move out.

“When the movie came out, I was 18,” she recalls. “Living at home had become more difficult. I said to myself, ‘I’ve got to get out of here, I’ve got to be successful, and I’ve got to be a movie star.’”

She continues, “I found an apartment in West Hollywood with another girl from high school — a working model who was also investing in real estate on the side. Living with her was freeing.”

Heather Graham in March 2024.Randy Shropshire/Getty Images

Randy Shropshire/Getty Images

After she graduated from high school with a 5.0 GPA, Graham went on to study English at UCLA before leaving her junior year to focus on acting.

She says a major “turning point” in her life was when she landed films likeSwingersandAustin Powersin the 90s, making her completely “self-sufficient.” This period prompted her to reevaluate her relationship with her parents.

“I stopped talking to my parents when I was 25, and I’m estranged from them now,” she adds. “My friends are proud of me, and I’m proud of myself. I have really good friends.”

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 juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Now, Graham feels peace when she thinks about the life that she’s built and takes pride in the homes she’s carefully selected for herself.

“I live in Los Angeles in a house I bought last year. I also have a loft in New York,” she says, noting that her L.A. home “has views of the Pacific.”

“I love the ocean,” the actress shares. “I also like sitting out back when writing or preparing for a movie. Nature is inspiring.”

Graham wrote, directed and starred in her most recent film,Chosen Family,and next appears in the action WesternThe Gunslingers,co-starring Nicholas Cage, in 2025.

source: people.com