Anna Faris Was Pretty Depressed, Reveals Why She Almost Retired From Acting

Anna Faris has long been recognized for her comedic talent and relatable screen presence. However, the Scary Movie star has revealed that she was “pretty depressed” during a stretch of her career. It was a time that had her wondering if she should walk away from acting for good, and she almost retired.

Anna Faris on why she almost retired after Mom

Seven seasons of Mom later, Anna Faris felt like her career was getting pushed to the sidelines.

Speaking on the August 20 episode of the Dear Chelsea podcast, Faris shared, “I didn’t know what my ambition [was]. I didn’t know where I stood, what opportunity there was.”

Faris admitted that in her late 40s she felt “disturbed by my lack of ambition.” With perspective, the comedian has acknowledged that she was clearly going through mental health struggles.

“I was, in hindsight, I think pretty depressed, like, premenopausal depression without recognizing it,” reflected the 49-year-old. “I was just having a distant relationship with this city and my career and wondering if I had enough money to retire.”

Faris noted that she was in the middle of that struggle when the 2025 Pacific Palisades fires destroyed her Los Angeles home. She described the loss as a constant sting, something that came back to her multiple times a day.

The Overboard actress had already booked Spa Weekend before the fire. It gave her the confidence that her career would keep going.

For Faris, being on set was a good outlet amid everything she was facing. At the same time, she felt like it was easing her into stepping away from acting, per Entertainment Weekly.

Finally, a phone call from Marlon Wayans was what changed things for Anna Faris. He told her that the Scary Movie franchise was theirs again. The podcast host has shared that working on this year’s new installment of the franchise that launched her career felt like a full-circle moment in her life.

“Suddenly I had this rush of like, what if my destiny hasn’t quite forged itself in slow aging actress retirement?” she said. “It was a very wonderful and heady year for me.”