Ian Somerhalder and Nikki Reed: From Hollywood to the farm
Ian Somerhalder and Nikki Reed became household names through their roles in massive entertainment franchises, with Somerhalder starring as Damon Salvatore in The Vampire Diaries for eight seasons and Reed playing Rosalie Hale in the Twilight film series that defined a generation of young adult entertainment. Their on-screen success brought wealth, fame, and all the trappings of Hollywood celebrity, with red carpet events, magazine covers, and constant attention from devoted fans. Both actors seemed positioned for continued careers in Los Angeles, the entertainment industry’s epicenter, where proximity to opportunities typically determines career trajectory. However, Somerhalder and Reed made a surprising decision: they chose to leave the Los Angeles lifestyle entirely, trading red carpets for overalls and soil. They dedicated themselves to raising their children and pursuing farming, healthy living, and environmentalism on a working farm far from the industry that made them famous.
Leaving Los Angeles behind
Somerhalder and Reed gradually withdrew from the Hollywood lifestyle, recognizing that the values they wanted to instill in their children contradicted the superficiality, environmental waste, and constant scrutiny characterizing Los Angeles entertainment culture. They purchased farmland and committed to creating a sustainable, environmentally conscious lifestyle that aligned with their beliefs about health, ecology, and family priorities. Their departure wasn’t retirement but rather a redefinition of what work and success meant, choosing manual labor, animal husbandry, and environmental stewardship over auditions and industry politics.
Values over visibility
Somerhalder and Reed’s commitment to farming, healthy living, and environmentalism reflects genuine passion rather than celebrity posturing. They raise their children on the farm, teaching sustainable agriculture, animal care, and environmental responsibility through hands-on experience. Their daily lives involve physical labor, maintaining the farm, caring for animals, growing food, and implementing sustainable practices that reduce environmental impact. Somerhalder founded the Ian Somerhalder Foundation years before leaving Los Angeles, demonstrating a long-standing commitment to environmental causes and animal welfare that predated his farm life. Reed has similarly been vocal about environmental issues, ethical fashion, and sustainable living, using her platform to promote causes she genuinely believes in.
Farm life and advocacy
Somerhalder and Reed continue occasional acting work and maintain social media presence, but their primary focus remains the farm, their family, and environmental advocacy extending beyond their personal property. They share farm experiences on social media, showing followers the realities of sustainable living, the challenges of farming, and the rewards of living according to values, even when it’s physically demanding and far less glamorous than their previous lives. Their willingness to trade Hollywood convenience for farm work represents a radical rejection of celebrity culture’s typical trajectory.
Conclusion
Ian Somerhalder and Nikki Reed’s transformation from franchise stars to environmental farmers demonstrates that Hollywood success can serve as a foundation for entirely different lives built around family, sustainability, and genuine values. Their choice to leave Los Angeles and dedicate themselves to farming wasn’t an escape but a pursuit of authenticity, proving that celebrities can successfully walk away from the industry to build meaningful lives prioritizing purpose over visibility.
Related:
- Child stars whose post-fame lives are surprisingly normal
- The fading spotlight: What adulthood is like for ’90s child stars
Like MediaFeed’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
AlertMe
