Princess DiariesStar Heather Matarazzo Gave Up L.A. for Michigan — and Is 'Very Grateful' for the Change

Mar. 15, 2025

Heather Matarazzo and Anne Hathaway in 2001’s ‘The Princess Diaries’; Heather Matarazzo in 2021.Photo:Ron Batzdorff/Brownhouse Prod/Botnp Inc/Kobal/Shutterstock; Michael Tullberg/Getty ImagesMichigan-based fans ofThe Princess Diariesshould keep their eyes peeled for Lilly Moscovitz at the Ann Arbor Art Fair.In a recentTikTok,Heather Matarazzo, who playedAnne Hathaway’s nerdy bestie in the beloved 2001 Disney flick and its 2004 sequel, answered a question from a fan confirming that she is currently a Michigan resident.“Yes, it is true. I live in Michigan,” she said.Matarazzo, who got her start at the age of 12 starring in 1995’s dark indie comedyWelcome to the Dollhouse,explained that after meeting and marrying comedian Heather Turman, a Michigan native, the couple made the decision about a year and a half ago to move to the state.Heather Matarazzo in 1995’s ‘Welcome to the Dollhouse’.Suburban/Kobal/Shutterstock“We kind of looked at each other and we were like, ‘Do we wanna be in Los Angeles anymore?’ And the answer was a big fat no,” she said. “I’ve only ever lived in New York or L.A., so this was quite an experience for me and continues to be.”Matarazzo may have left L.A., but she hasn’t left Hollywood. After bursting onto the scene inWelcome to the Dollhouse, the actress landed a recurring role on the final season of ABC’sRoseannein 1997, and a starring role in CBS’s short-livedNow and Again, while also appearing in films likeThe Devil’s Advocate,54, Scream 3andSaved!.Since the move to Michigan, she said, she’s also spent some time in Dublin, filming a guest role in the upcomingsecond season of Netflix’sWednesday.Nevertheless, Matarazzo said she’s thrilled to now call Michigan home.“I’ve gotten to go to the Ann Arbor Art Fair, which I absolutely loved,” she enthused. “I’ve gotten to check out some of the cider mills around this beautiful state, which is incredible! Oh my god, an apple cider donut? Yes please. Give me 10!”Heather Matarazzo in 2023.Albert L. Ortega/Getty ImagesNever 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.“I love that we can finally garden,” Matarazzo continued, “and our animals are so happy, and I just love it here, I love it so much. There’s such an abundance of nature and everybody that I’ve met has just been so incredibly kind.”At the same time, the 41-year-old is hesitant to call herself a “Michigander” just yet. “I don’t feel worthy of owning or honoring that title as of yet,” she said, wondering if she might need a few more winters of shoveling snow before she can truly earn the label.Still, she said, “I feel very grateful to have landed in Michigan. Very, very grateful indeed.”

Heather Matarazzo and Anne Hathaway in 2001’s ‘The Princess Diaries’; Heather Matarazzo in 2021.Photo:Ron Batzdorff/Brownhouse Prod/Botnp Inc/Kobal/Shutterstock; Michael Tullberg/Getty Images

Ron Batzdorff/Brownhouse Prod/Botnp Inc/Kobal/Shutterstock; Michael Tullberg/Getty Images

Michigan-based fans ofThe Princess Diariesshould keep their eyes peeled for Lilly Moscovitz at the Ann Arbor Art Fair.In a recentTikTok,Heather Matarazzo, who playedAnne Hathaway’s nerdy bestie in the beloved 2001 Disney flick and its 2004 sequel, answered a question from a fan confirming that she is currently a Michigan resident.“Yes, it is true. I live in Michigan,” she said.Matarazzo, who got her start at the age of 12 starring in 1995’s dark indie comedyWelcome to the Dollhouse,explained that after meeting and marrying comedian Heather Turman, a Michigan native, the couple made the decision about a year and a half ago to move to the state.Heather Matarazzo in 1995’s ‘Welcome to the Dollhouse’.Suburban/Kobal/Shutterstock“We kind of looked at each other and we were like, ‘Do we wanna be in Los Angeles anymore?’ And the answer was a big fat no,” she said. “I’ve only ever lived in New York or L.A., so this was quite an experience for me and continues to be.”Matarazzo may have left L.A., but she hasn’t left Hollywood. After bursting onto the scene inWelcome to the Dollhouse, the actress landed a recurring role on the final season of ABC’sRoseannein 1997, and a starring role in CBS’s short-livedNow and Again, while also appearing in films likeThe Devil’s Advocate,54, Scream 3andSaved!.Since the move to Michigan, she said, she’s also spent some time in Dublin, filming a guest role in the upcomingsecond season of Netflix’sWednesday.Nevertheless, Matarazzo said she’s thrilled to now call Michigan home.“I’ve gotten to go to the Ann Arbor Art Fair, which I absolutely loved,” she enthused. “I’ve gotten to check out some of the cider mills around this beautiful state, which is incredible! Oh my god, an apple cider donut? Yes please. Give me 10!”Heather Matarazzo in 2023.Albert L. Ortega/Getty ImagesNever 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.“I love that we can finally garden,” Matarazzo continued, “and our animals are so happy, and I just love it here, I love it so much. There’s such an abundance of nature and everybody that I’ve met has just been so incredibly kind.”At the same time, the 41-year-old is hesitant to call herself a “Michigander” just yet. “I don’t feel worthy of owning or honoring that title as of yet,” she said, wondering if she might need a few more winters of shoveling snow before she can truly earn the label.Still, she said, “I feel very grateful to have landed in Michigan. Very, very grateful indeed.”

Michigan-based fans ofThe Princess Diariesshould keep their eyes peeled for Lilly Moscovitz at the Ann Arbor Art Fair.

In a recentTikTok,Heather Matarazzo, who playedAnne Hathaway’s nerdy bestie in the beloved 2001 Disney flick and its 2004 sequel, answered a question from a fan confirming that she is currently a Michigan resident.

“Yes, it is true. I live in Michigan,” she said.

Matarazzo, who got her start at the age of 12 starring in 1995’s dark indie comedyWelcome to the Dollhouse,explained that after meeting and marrying comedian Heather Turman, a Michigan native, the couple made the decision about a year and a half ago to move to the state.

Heather Matarazzo in 1995’s ‘Welcome to the Dollhouse’.Suburban/Kobal/Shutterstock

Suburban/Kobal/Shutterstock

“We kind of looked at each other and we were like, ‘Do we wanna be in Los Angeles anymore?’ And the answer was a big fat no,” she said. “I’ve only ever lived in New York or L.A., so this was quite an experience for me and continues to be.”

Matarazzo may have left L.A., but she hasn’t left Hollywood. After bursting onto the scene inWelcome to the Dollhouse, the actress landed a recurring role on the final season of ABC’sRoseannein 1997, and a starring role in CBS’s short-livedNow and Again, while also appearing in films likeThe Devil’s Advocate,54, Scream 3andSaved!.Since the move to Michigan, she said, she’s also spent some time in Dublin, filming a guest role in the upcomingsecond season of Netflix’sWednesday.

Nevertheless, Matarazzo said she’s thrilled to now call Michigan home.

“I’ve gotten to go to the Ann Arbor Art Fair, which I absolutely loved,” she enthused. “I’ve gotten to check out some of the cider mills around this beautiful state, which is incredible! Oh my god, an apple cider donut? Yes please. Give me 10!”

Heather Matarazzo in 2023.Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images

Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images

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.

“I love that we can finally garden,” Matarazzo continued, “and our animals are so happy, and I just love it here, I love it so much. There’s such an abundance of nature and everybody that I’ve met has just been so incredibly kind.”

At the same time, the 41-year-old is hesitant to call herself a “Michigander” just yet. “I don’t feel worthy of owning or honoring that title as of yet,” she said, wondering if she might need a few more winters of shoveling snow before she can truly earn the label.

Still, she said, “I feel very grateful to have landed in Michigan. Very, very grateful indeed.”

source: people.com