All the stars who turned their back on fame for a humble 9-5

For many, the jet-setting life of a celebrity may sound like a dream come true.

With this status often comes fame and fortune, allowing public figures to live a life of complete luxury.

Yet, some talented stars have quit fame for a humble 9-5.

Last month, TOWIE star Kirk Norcross revealed he has landed a new job as a rubbish collector – 11 years after turning his back on fame. 

He is just one of many stars who have swapped the glitz and glamour for a life out of the spotlight.

Here, the Daily Mail takes a look at the stars who have turned their back on fame.

Kirk Norcross

Kirk Norcross, 37, is best known for being a cast member on the ITV2 reality series TOWIE from 2010 to 2013.

However, he turned his back on fame and launched a waste disposal company called County Clear Waste. 

The new company operates as a same-day collection waste service and is based in Norfolk and Suffolk. 

The company appears to be in its early start-up stages, with the business’s Instagram account sharing its first post in early January. 

However, despite the fact that the business was set up earlier this year, they have already amassed over 3K followers. 

But Kirk is certainly no beginner when it comes to setting up a business, having previously operated his own jet-washing business. 

In 2020, the former reality star revealed he had ditched the ‘toxic’ world of fame for a new drain unblocking business, and he couldn’t be happier.

He ran KN Jet Services in Essex, a jet-washing and drain-cleaning company, which was his first business venture after leaving his showbiz career behind. 

Speaking to The Sun about his new business at the time, Kirk said he found the world of fame to be a ‘brutal’ environment and had dramatically downsized his expenses since leaving it behind.  

He said: ‘I used to buy Ferarris, expensive watches and designer jeans — now I’m happy with a £20 pair from Topman.

‘There is so much b******t going on when you live your life in the public eye. It can be toxic and you get surrounded by people who are fake and just hangers-on.

‘And it can be a very brutal environment. Now I get up, go to work, keep my head on and earn a living with a bigger smile on my face.’

Bridgit Mendler 

Bridgit Mendler became a well-known face on Disney Channel.

She had roles on Jonas, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel and The Secret World of Arrietty before her breakthrough role in Disney Channel’s Good Luck Charlie.

In 2019, Bridgit stepped away from the spotlight for a career in law.

The pop star completed a graduate degree at USC, MIT and studied at Harvard Law School.

She’s now a tech entrepreneur and CEO of Northwood Space, a startup focused on improving satellite data communication. 

Now she’s landed a brand new job as the CEO of the new space start-up Northwood Space, which landed around £4.9m in seed funding, according to CNBC.

Paige Thorne

Paige Thorne became a fan favourite after appearing on 2022’s summer series of Love Island.

The paramedic from Swansea made it to the later stages of the show with her partner Adam Collard.

After leaving the villa, Paige – who qualified as an EMT in 2019 – was popular with fashion and beauty brands who lined up to make deals with her.

But after just a few months, in September 2022, she returned to part-time work as a paramedic.

Sharing with fans the news at the time she donned her uniform for a slew of snaps as she declared she ‘can’t wait’ to get back to work. 

During a Q&A with her followers one asked: ‘What’s going to happen with your paramedic job?’

The stunner replied by sharing three snaps of herself in uniform and in the back of her ambulance.

She wrote: ‘Going back on a bank basis which means I can pick and choose shifts that suit me. Can’t wait.’

She also told Vice: ‘It was a very daunting time. I just felt under this enormous pressure all of a sudden to ‘become’ an influencer… I was literally a deer in the headlights.

‘It’s only up until recently that I realised like, no, I’m actually not an influencer.’ 

Ariana Richards

Ariana Richards rose to fame in the 1990s blockbuster Jurassic Park, playing the role of Lex Murphy.

After filming Steven Spielberg’s adventure movie, Ariana earned a degree in Fine Art and Drama. 

She now works as a painter, creating detailed portraits and landscapes.

In an interview in 2013, she said: ‘I like to paint people out in locations they really enjoy doing something spontaneous.

‘I enjoy getting to know what people’s essence is like.’  

Mara Wilson

Mara Wilson made a name for herself as a child star in Matilda and Mrs Doubtfire.

But by the time she reached her early teens, she stepped out of the spotlight to pursue a normal life.  

Mara went to NYU, where she ‘developed a passion for theater and playwriting’, and settled on the fact that she was done with acting.

But though she no longer expected to appear on the silver screen, the rejection she’d felt at thirteen had a lasting effect.

‘I’ve had people tell me, “The way that you judge yourself, looks-wise, is on this really strange level”. Well, it’s because I grew up in Hollywood,’ she told People. 

She continued: ‘I had good experiences there, but I always knew there were girls much prettier than I was, and I knew that I was always competing with them. That has followed me my whole life.’ 

She now works as a writer and author, later publishing a memoir, Where Am I Now?

Nikki Blonsky

Nikki Blonsky shot to fame playing Tracey Turnblad in the 2007 movie version of Hairspray.

She was 18-years-old at the time, working at an ice cream shop in New York when she auditioned.

She won the Critics Choice award for Best Young Performer and a prestigious Golden Globe nomination.

After the movie, she went on to star in two more films before getting her cosmetology license in 2011.

She started working as a hairstylist and make-up artist in her hometown of Great Neck, New York.

Taking to X she confirmed ‘it’s true’ she was working as a make-up artist to help pay her bills – but she said would never ‘lose sight of her dreams’.

In an interview with Out magazine in 2017, Nikki said it wasn’t her choice to step away from Hollywood.

‘I did not take a conscious step out of Hollywood and so long as I’m alive, I never will,’ she said.

‘Singing and acting has been my dream since I was three.

‘It kind of feels like the industry left me.’

Erik Per Sullivan

Erik Per Sullivan is best known for playing Dewey in Malcolm in the Middle.

The show went on to win seven Emmy awards. 

After the popular series wrapped up in 2006, he went on to study at the University of Southern California in 2009.

Now in his 30s, Erik works in academia and declined to join the show’s reboot.  

Rachel Fenton

Rachel Fenton rose to fame on series two of Love Island where she was paired up with Rykard Jenkins. 

She eventually returned to her role as an orthopaedic clinical nurse specialist after struggling to juggle fame and her full-time job.

She said: ‘After leaving the villa, I partied non-stop and went to glitzy events. It was fun, but it wasn’t really me. So I returned to work as a trauma and orthopaedic nurse within two weeks.

‘Being in the public eye was very overwhelming. I remember being in Bluewater shopping centre in Essex when a group of teenagers ran up to me, asking for pictures. Fame was tricky to navigate,’ she said.

Rachel was one of the brave health care professionals who was on the front line amid the coronavirus pandemic.

She contracted the illness twice as she helped patients and told how she lost her sense of taste and smell when she was poorly.

The blonde beauty said at the time: ‘So I came back positive with the virus… everyone who’s been messaging me about their sense of taste and smell going it most likely means you have it so follow guidelines and isolate.’

She said: ‘I’ve not felt unwell, I’ve felt OK. not 100 per cent, but not poorly. I’ve felt OK, still eating and still got an appetite. My symptoms are really mild. You need to be very careful if you’ve had loss of taste and smell to isolate.

‘I’m not going back to work now until I’m tested as negative. I’m not sure when they’ll get me back for a re-swab. For now I’m just isolating and looking after myself. It’s not been horrendous for me.’

Danniella Westbrook

After appearing on I’m a Celebrity back in 2003, Danniella Westbrook said she no longer wanted to be a ‘celebrity’.

She said at the time: ‘I made a pact with Kevin [that] I would do no more TV work that would take me away from home.’

Since 2016, she has not starred in any TV shows or films. 

The year prior, the actress was pictured pulling pints to make ends meet in a real-life London boozer.

Danniella had been putting in shifts behind the bar at The Bill Nicholson in Tottenham. 

Describing her vocation on X, the out-of-work actress said: ‘I help my mate at her pub @thebillnicn17 it makes me feel useful and I laugh all day.’ 

Danniella, who was cast as Peggy Mitchell’s daughter Sam in EastEnders when she was just 16, famously battled a cocaine addiction which forced her septum, the bridge under the nose, to collapse.

Jennifer Stone

Jennifer Stone is best known for playing Selena Gomez’s sidekick on Wizards of Waverly Place from 2007 to 2012 on Disney Channel.

When she was 20 years old, she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. 

Being in and out of the hospital for four years inspired her to enter nursing school, and she graduated in 2019.

Fast forward to today, Jennifer is now an ER nurse and served on the front line during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

She told Healthline: ‘I like the multi-tasking. I like the chaos. I like the collaboration. 

‘Nursing is like that in general, but in the emergency room especially, because we don’t yet know what’s going on, and we’re in the diagnostic space where you really have to work with a group.’

Georgia May Foote

Coronation Street star Georgia swapped the cobbles for cuticles after training as a nail technician.

She played Katy Armstrong on the ITV soap.

She went on to get her beauty qualification in 2021 and opened her own business, GMnails.

While she runs her salon, she still takes on acting and voiceover work. 

In 2025, she revealed that had opened her own salon called the cloud.

Charlie Clements 

Charlie Clements played Bradley Branning, became a beloved character on EastEnders.

But in 2010, his character plummeted to his death after falling off the Queen Vic.

In 2023, the actor revealed that he had been working as a chef in order to make ends meet during lockdown.

Sharing a selfie in uniform, proudly, he told his fans that he is returning to acting as he teased rehearsals for a mystery project.

In 2024, he appeared to have finished working as a chef and took up a role as a greenkeeper. 

He took to Instagram to share with his followers: ‘Aware that some may be less interested in my golf related activities! But for those who are go follow me at @charlieclementsgolf.’

His golf page gives fans a glimpse into his life as a greenkeeper, featuring images of him perfecting his drive. 

Sean Wilson

Sean Wilson returned to his ‘normal job’ after his soap comeback fell apart following a historical sex offence allegation.

The coronation street star was best known for playing Martin Platt in the ITV soap between 1985 and 2005, before a brief stint in 2018.

In July 2024, it was reported that Sean was set to return to the cobbles after 19 years for a storyline involving his former on-screen wife, Gail (played by Helen Worth).

However, his much-anticipated comeback was put to a halt after an unfounded allegation of indecent assault dating back 27 years – with ITV citing ‘personal reasons’ for his departure.

During his time away from the soap, Sean started making cheese and has even won accolades at the British Cheese Awards and became a lecturer in cheese.

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, he shared some Christmas cheese recommendations for fans.

Posting a selfie holding some cheddar while in a supermarket, he penned: ‘@sainsburys⁩ ⁦@Tesco⁩ Both take the best British Cheddar in Wyke Farms Vintage.

‘Completely sustainable and more awards for taste than any other cheddar.

‘These will be my cheddar choice for my awesome Xmas cheese board.

‘Let me know how you get on with it.. S xx.’

Sean started his own cheese-making business called Saddleworth Cheese Company with his ex Susie Fenwick.

Tony Discipline 

Tony Discipline played Tyler Moon in EastEnders.

 However, he decided to quit fame and become a firefighter.

In 2024, he admitted that his time on the popular BBC show still comes back to haunt him.

Speaking about how fans still assume his fire brigade uniform is for a new role, he revealed: ‘I was walking back to the fire truck and someone walked past and said, ‘Oh my God, what are you filming?’.

Tony recalls: ‘I said, “No, I’m a firefighter,” and he said, “No, what is it? What show’s it for?”

‘There have been a few occasions like that.’

Abigail Louise Rawlings 

Abigail starred on series seven of Love Island but was only on the show for a brief period of time.

While the beauty from Surrey went on to secure some brand deals as an influencer, she returned to her trade as a tattoo artist. 

Abigail became ‘quite anxious’ about being in the limelight, and made the decision to step away from her fame to resume her true passion.

She said: ‘Before going on Love Island, I made a promise to my dad that I wouldn’t lose myself. Tattooing has been my entire identity since I was 18, so I was never going to stop. 

‘When I was in the villa and I couldn’t draw or be creative, I felt deprived of who I was. I went back to work because I wanted my identity back.

‘After leaving the show I took some time away from my job to adjust to my new life as a reality star. I thought I’d cope really well with the limelight. 

‘However, I became quite anxious. I even went shopping in sunglasses to avoid attention. I knew I needed to step back for it to become more manageable.’

Glyn Wise 

Glyn rose to fame on the seventh series of Big Brother when he was just 18, coming second to winner Pete Bennett.

But he has gone down a different path since his reality TV fame, as he took to Instagram in 2022 to unveil his new career.

The star revealed that he has been accepted to train for ordained ministry in a post to his followers.

The Welsh native posed in his new uniform for the snap, standing at a lectern in St Micheals church, Camden Town.

Glyn was all in black, as he placed one hand on a bible for the shot.

He has been gaining experience as a Pastoral Assistant at the church, and will now complete his training in Wales.

The former TV personality gushed about his new job in the caption, writing: ‘I’ve done it! I’ve been accepted to train for Ordained ministry with the @churchinwales. I’d like to thank the @thechurchofengland for all it’s support at Camden – St Michaels!’

Glyn revealed that the training will take two years and wrote in Welsh that he would be starting in September, after jesting that he’d be like something out of sitcom Father Ted.

He continued: ‘I’ve really enjoyed giving sermons & bringing the good word to people. In 2 years time I’ll be Father Glyn – my life will be like a sketch show out of #vicorofdibley & #fatherted but I’m looking forward to it! So happy!’

It’s been over 15 years since he entered the Big Brother House as a fresh-faced lifeguard, but Glyn seems to have made longstanding ties with famous faces who have also entered the iconic house.  

Paul Burrell wrote: ‘Congratulations,’ while Pete Bennett joked: ‘Can I come to confession please father.’

Glyn captured hearts on his season of the show as he learnt household tasks such as cooking and cleaning. 

He previously made headlines as he dipped into politics after his Big Brother days, standing with Welsh party Plaid Cymru – before his recent career switch up.