Melissa Sue Anderson, star of ‘Little House on the Prairie,’ speaks of her decision to leave Hollywood for Canada

How many times has it happened that you think of an old show you used to love watching and wonder what the actors are doing after so many years? I guess many of you that have seen “Little House on the Prairie” and were eager to see each new adventure of the family living on the farm in Plum Creek near Walnut Grove, Minnesota, would love to know what the actors are up to these days.

Those fans who were fond of the actress playing Mary Ingalls, beautiful Melissa Sue Anderson, were convinced she would continue being part of their life through the small screens, but she had other plans.

Wikimedia Commons

Today, she speaks of her decision to leave Hollywood behind and move to Canada.

This actress started her acting career playing guest roles, and had her way into the showbiz when she became one of the central figures of “Little House on the Prairie.” Her acting brought her several nominations for Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series, and her fans knew she deserved it.

Wikimedia Commons / NBC Television

Speaking of her experience filming this drama that made her famous, back in 2010, Anderson told Pop Entertainment, “I’m lucky that there even was a character to play, because in the book, there isn’t much of one. Laura [Ingalls, author of the Little House novels upon which the series was based and the story was centered] was a quite older woman when she wrote the books. She was remembering the best of her life. The characters of Ma and Mary didn’t factor in a lot. There was a lot of Laura and Pa and Laura and Jack the dog and Laura and Mr. Edwards, but there wasn’t a lot of Mary. I’m fortunate that they discovered that I could act.”

Instagram

She tried herself in other minor roles after Mary Ingalls, but then in 1990 she got married to television producer Michael Sloan and moved to Montreal in 2002 with her husband and their two children, daughter Piper and son Griffin.

Melissa Anderson with her husband (Twitter)

In 2007, the family became Canadian citizens and with the new life came new commitments, so Anderson decided to let go of the showbiz because she wanted to spend more time with her kids and didn’t want them to feel pressured to pursue acting careers themselves.

Melissa Anderson with her daughter Piper (Twitter)

In an interview with E-Talk, Anderson said, “I really stepped away for a long time. That was really for the kids so they would have their own sense of who they were as opposed to being with me.”

However, Anderson didn’t step back from acting completely, but took small roles over the recent years. Her life-changing experience of being part in a series like “Little House on the Prairie” encouraged her to write a memoir titled The Way I See It: A Look Back at My Life on Little House.

CELEBRITY NAMES WHO GOT CRITICISED FOR THEIR GRAY HAIR

SARAH JESSICA PARKER

The Carrie Bradshaw of “Sex and the City,” famous actress Sarah Jessica Parker was criticised for her makeup-free and with gray haired look, while having a dinner with Andy Cohen.

Many people caleld her old, because she has silver hair, but no one called Andy Cohen anything, who had more grays than Parker, and those comments were labeled as “misogynistic.”

58-year-old Parker had questioned people, that why they were questions about people who doesn’t care about being aged, in an interview.

“It almost feels as if people don’t want us to be perfectly OK with where we are, as if they almost enjoy us being pained by who we are today, whether we choose to age naturally and not look perfect, or whether you do something if that makes you feel better.”

“I know what I look like… What am I going to do about it? Stop aging? Disappear?” Parker added. “I like to be graceful with myself. I’m not delusional. I know that age adds up…” 58-year-old actress said.

DIANE KEATON

The 78-year-old famous Diane Keaton had faced with criticism in 2014, when she appeared with her silver hair at the Golden Globes. Many people from social media had criticised Keaton over her age.

Keaton had talked about aging gracefully, and stated that the grays in her head were her “battle scars,” and that a person shouldn’t be afraid to show them.

“I don’t see anything wrong with face-lifts or Botox or fillers. They just erase the hidden battle scars. I intend to wear mine, sort of,” Keaton said.

JENNIFER ANISTON

In 2023, the famous actress Jennifer Aniston had shared her gray hair from social media, and she received her share from the criticism towards aging.

“Anyone would think going gray was an anamomaly for tv/movie stars seriously!! We better give Jennifer a plack/award for it she’s soooo brave it’s never heard of [sic],” a person wrote.

Other comments were, “Well done for allowing gray to come through – refreshing,” “Aside from some bad lip work, she looks amazing.”

“I am sure she entered the gray hair stage a while back – she’s just starting to embrace it,” Nah. Dye it. I know, it’s empowering and all that nonsense. Do yourself a favor and make it blonde.” “Gray hair doesn’t suit you yet. Save it for later plz.”

The 55-year-old star actress shared that her Greek genes are the reason for her beauty, and that people should stay hydrated, and sleep for good hours. “Don’t overproduct, that’s the other thing. Getting proper sleep is always important,” Aniston said.

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