Robin Wright, the acclaimed actress best known for her roles in "Forrest Gump," "House of Cards," and "The Princess Bride," has opened up about her decision to leave the United States for a new life in England. In a series of candid interviews published on September 1, 2025, Wright described her move as "liberating," painting a stark picture of her feelings toward her homeland and the lifestyle she left behind.
Wright, now 59, did not mince words when discussing her reasons for relocating. Speaking to The Sunday Times, she declared, "America is a s–t show." She elaborated, "I love being in this country. There’s a freedom of self here. People are so kind. They’re living. They’re not in the car in traffic, panicked on a phone call, eating a sandwich. That’s most of America. Everything’s rush, competition and speed." According to The Daily Mail, Wright’s frustration with the hurried, competitive American lifestyle was a key factor in her decision to seek a quieter, more peaceful existence across the Atlantic.
Wright’s new chapter began in the English countryside, specifically the Chilterns, where she is renting a home and enjoying the tranquility of listening to birds in the morning—quite a contrast to the "sound of neighbors’ home renovations" that filled her days in Los Angeles. "Everyone’s building a huge house and I’m just done with all that — I love the quiet," she told The Times of London. "And I’ve met my person. Finally."
That person is Henry Smith, a 52-year-old British-born Australian architect. The two met nearly a year ago in a Chilterns pub, a moment Wright recounted with a smile. "Henry was standing at the bar, 6 foot 2, and he put his pint down, came over to me and grabbed my shoulders. He goes, 'Who the f–k are you?' And I said, 'Who the f–k are you?' And that was it," she recalled, according to The Daily Mail. The pair quickly bonded, even weathering five months of COVID-19 together, and are now planning to move to a rented home on the English seaside with their Labradors, Rusty and Rocky.
Wright described Smith as "a sweetheart and just a good, decent adult. He’s a man." She added, "It’s so relaxing to be seen and loved for who I am." For Wright, the move represents more than just a change of scenery; it is a profound personal shift. "It’s liberating to be done. Be done with searching, looking and getting 60% of what you wanted," she explained. "That’s exactly what I wanted. I’m turning 60 and I’m, like, 'Is this it?' I love being alone and I’ve done that many times. But I’m, like, I want to grow old with somebody, and travel and see the world."
The actress’s personal life has often been in the public eye. She was married to actor Sean Penn from 1996 to 2010, and the couple share two adult children: daughter Dylan, 34, and son Hopper, 32. Reflecting on her years as a mother, Wright admitted, "I have a huge regret as a mother and have experienced the fallout of this regret for many years with my kids — I wasn’t hard enough on them." She contrasted her parenting style with Penn’s, noting, "He’d come back and be the policeman and then he’d leave me with the residue. Then I would soften the blow. We were both extremes. They didn’t get that gray area in the middle, which is stern, and that is what they needed."
Following her divorce from Penn, Wright married French fashion executive Clément Giraudet in 2018, but filed for divorce in 2022 after nearly four years of marriage. She was also briefly married to actor Dane Witherspoon in the late 1980s. Despite her romantic history, Wright is adamant that marriage is no longer on the cards. "No. God no. Why? That’s just unnecessary," she told The Daily Mail when asked about the possibility of marrying again.
Wright is not alone in her decision to leave the United States. She joins a growing list of American celebrities who have opted for life in Europe in recent years. Comedians Ellen DeGeneres and Rosie O’Donnell, as well as actors Ryan Gosling, Eva Mendes, Richard Gere, and designer Tom Ford, have all made similar moves. According to The Daily Mail, some, like DeGeneres and O’Donnell, cited the political climate in the U.S.—specifically the re-election of Donald Trump in 2024—as a motivating factor. Gere, who relocated to Madrid, described the move as "a great adventure." DeGeneres, now living in the English countryside with her wife Portia de Rossi, shared her joy at "traveling and exploring the world together."
Wright’s reflections on her new life are tinged with curiosity about British culture as well. She admitted she is still "trying to figure it out" when it comes to England’s class system, asking, "Why are you guys so obsessed with who went to this boarding school or this university? Who gives a s***?" Despite these cultural puzzles, she remains enthusiastic about her adopted home and the freedom it affords her.
For Wright, the move is as much about personal fulfillment as it is about escaping the pressures of her former life. "I love being in this country," she reiterated. "There’s a freedom of self here. People are so kind. They’re living." The actress’s journey from Hollywood to the English countryside is emblematic of a broader trend among American celebrities seeking respite from the relentless pace and divisive politics of the U.S.
As she approaches her 60th birthday, Robin Wright appears content with the choices she has made. Surrounded by the quiet of the countryside, the companionship of her partner, and the promise of new adventures, she has found the peace and freedom she longed for—far from the "rush, competition and speed" she left behind.
