Reinventing Passion: Why Retirement Isn’t for Me

I am putting out into the universe the following mantra: “I don’t believe in retirement. I believe in reinvention!”

Throughout my journey in the entertainment industry, I have embraced numerous roles—I have crafted screenplays as a filmmaker, graced the stage and screen as an actor, and even taken the helm as a director. It’s safe to say that this vibrant community of creatives has played a significant role in shaping my path!

Yet, there’s a question that seems to circulate among some: “Ellen, when are you going to retire?” To this, I confidently respond: “Never!”

First, I am having an incredible time with my passion project, CookieFace! I have spent years perfecting this screenplay to prepare it for production. Recently, we held a public reading, and it was a huge success! My fingers and toes are crossed that CookieFace will soon be brought to life as a comedy feature film – VERY SOON!

What’s particularly exciting is the increasing number of roles being written for women of “mature age.” We might owe this surge in quality opportunities to trailblazers like Kathy Bates, Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, and Lily Tomlin, who have paved the way for diverse storytelling. I feel incredibly grateful to be involved in outstanding shows and projects such as MONSTER, The Lincoln Lawyer, Nobody Wants This, Aloha Means I Love You, The Last Social Security Office in South Dakota, and THREE WEEKS!

And for me, I absolutely cherish my Wednesday evenings when I teach my actor’s workshop. Witnessing actors develop their skills and gain confidence is very rewarding!

So retire? Not for me – I’m having too much fun, and there’s still so much ahead to look forward to doing!