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

The ‘Austin Powers’ star opened up about her falling out with her parents in an Aug. 27 interview with the 'Wall Street Journal'

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

The Boogie Nights star, 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 the Wall Street Journal published on 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.

Related: Heather Graham Shows Off Her Stunning Bikini Body at 54 During Mexico Beach Vacation

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.”

Related: Heather Graham Shares Sun-Drenched Images of ‘Italian Getaway’ with John de Neufville

Graham explains that after her movie License to Drive premiered in 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.”

Related: Heather Graham Says She Doesn't 'Feel That I'm Missing Anything' by Not Having Kids (Exclusive)

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 like Swingers and Austin Powers in 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 for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to 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 Western The Gunslingers, co-starring Nicholas Cage, in 2025.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.