Reclusive actor breaks social media ban in return to spotlight after shunning Hollywood
A reclusive Hollywood star has returned to social media with a surprise post after ditching Los Angeles at the height of his fame. Josh Hartnett even made reference to his lack of communications with fans in the post.
The actor, who starred in Oppenheimer, shared a clip of himself for his latest movie, Fight or Flight. It has racked up a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes score, a number that indicates the overall critical reception of a film or TV show.
Josh was pictured typing on his phone with his face barely visible. A text above his head read: "Me promoting my film before ghosting social media for another 10 years."
The film star joked about his lack of online presence in his caption: "When your team insists on a social media content day to promote your new film, Fight or Flight (in theaters May 9), but you don't get any of these viral trends."
Fans shared their surprise at Josh's post as one said: "'What the hell? Josh Harnett?" Another added: "Please josh you need to come back (actually come back)."
Someone else commented: "Oh Josh i never thought i will see this." A fourth wrote: "2035 shaking in its boots right now trying to figure out how to top that."
The 46-year-old heartthrob, who was a major box office draw in the late '90s and early 2000s, chose to take a step back from Hollywood to pursue more independent projects.
He also stated how he wanted to preserve his "sanity". In a candid chat with Julia Stiles, Josh revealed: "I never really lived in LA. Even when we were making O, I was in Minnesota, New York, nowhere, because I was living from set to set."
The actor also shared the personal journey behind his decision: "I drove my car down from Minnesota to shoot O and then drove back after that. But the choice to step back from the industry had more to do with just plain sanity."
He also admitted that the allure of fame didn't bring him the "satisfaction" he craved. Josh has now settled in the UK with his wife Tamsin Egerton.
The pair had been together since 2012 having met on the set of Time Traveller and walked down the aisle almost ten years later in a private ceremony. They were already proud parents to three children before tying the knot.
He told Mr Porter in 2021: 'The thing I am most proud of is that I'm a father of three and I have a good relationship with my partner and a great family life.'
Opening up on his decision to shun Hollywood, he added: 'I decided to have a life, to put that first. That was always my goal.
'I feel very strongly about friends I've known for a long time and my family. I wanted to make sure I wasn't losing those relationships. Those people make me who I am. I put those concerns ahead of chasing a Hollywood dream.'
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