Why Did Neve Campbell Stop Acting after ‘Scream’? Inside the Life of the Iconic Horror Movie Actress

Actress Neve Campbell shot to stardom in her early 20s with outstanding performances in “Party of Five” and the “Scream” film franchise, but she suddenly disappeared from Hollywood.

In early June 2022, Neve Campbell shocked her fans by announcing she would not appear in “Scream 6” because her offer was too low. Campbell added that it did not equate to the value she had brought to the franchise.

Although it was a “very difficult decision” to make, Campbell said goodbye to her “Scream” fans and thanked them for always supporting her. It is not the first time Campbell prioritized her life over her Hollywood career.

Neve Campbell on December 6, 2014 in Los Angeles, California | Source: Getty Images

NEVE CAMPBELL HAS A GORGEOUS FAMILY

Campbell, who portrayed Sidney Prescott in the first five “Scream” movies from 1996 to 2022, has been in a relationship with fellow actor JJ Felid since 2011. 

The couple announced the birth of their eldest son in August 2012. The delivery process was unusual as Campbell was in labor for nine days. 

Neve Campbell on September 15, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California | Source: Getty Images

Throughout the pregnancy, Campbell and Felid didn’t know the baby’s gender, so they prepared a list with ten names – five for boys and five for girls. However, they forgot the list when the boy was born, and the only name they could remember was Caspian.

The Hollywood star admitted they liked Caspian because it was an uncommon name like hers. Caspian became a big brother in January 2018 when Campbell and Felid adopted another boy, Raynor.

WHY DID NEVE CAMPBELL STOP ACTING AFTER “SCREAM”?

Knowing that Campbell and Felid prefer to keep their kids away from the spotlight should not surprise anyone, mainly because Campbell took a break from Hollywood in her heyday. 

Between the mid-1990s and early 2000s, Campbell landed starring roles in three “Scream” films, “Party of Five,” and even hosted a “Saturday Night Live” episode with David Bowie.

Campbell confessed she was unsure about working on a new “Scream” movie without Wes Craven.

However, she left everything behind and moved to London because she needed “a minute.” Campbell admitted that achieving fame in her 20s was beautiful but overwhelming. 

She also stopped receiving opportunities to appear in projects she was genuinely interested in. Instead, she would only get scripts for horror films or bad romantic comedies.

Campbell was “completely anonymous” in London, where she had new life experiences that inspired her in different ways. Once she returned to the States, she got the offer to appear in “Mad Men” and “House of Cards,” so her hiatus worked great. 

WHY DID NEVE CAMPBELL RETURN TO THE “SCREAM” FRANCHISE?

Although Campbell needed time away from Hollywood to stop being typecast as an “ingénue” in horror films, she reprised Sidney Prescott in 2022 “Scream 5.”

Campbell confessed she was unsure about working on a new “Scream” movie without Wes Craven, who directed the first four films and died in 2015.

Fortunately, “Scream 5” directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett sent Campbell a letter and were so respectful of Craven and his work that she decided to join the project. It is a shame she won’t be back for the sequel.

Anomama