Josh Hartnett was set up for a long career as a Hollywood star before he turned his back on Tinseltown around the middle of 2000.
The American actor, who was a star in the big-budget movie industry, revealed his true motivation for leaving that career and choosing a path more artistic.
Hartnett (43), said that keeping Hollywood out of my life was the best thing for both my mental and professional health.
Revealed: Josh Hartnett (pictured) has revealed the real reason why he turned his back on Hollywood at the peak of his career in the mid 2000s
‘Luckily I think I hit onto it early on in my life: it’s about creating a good home life and being able to do things that are wild and wonderful like making films, which is such a privilege,’ he added.
It comes after Hartnett revealed the one role he regrets turning down during his early Hollywood career.
A role was offered to him in Brokeback Mountain’s 2005 award-winning film. He eventually was taken on by Heath Ledger, an Australian actor.
Hartnett said, “Unfortunately I was going to Brokeback mountain.”
Rewind: Hartnett said that keeping Hollywood away from me was the best decision for my career and mental health. Pictured left with Brian Van Holt, Black Hawk Down
“And I had signed a contract to the [2006 film]Black Dahlia I had to film. So I had to quit it,” he added.
He revealed that his original intention was to play the role of Joaquin Phoenix in the romantic drama.
Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal and others soon made this a reality. They both received multiple awards and nods at 2006 Academy Awards.
Six more Oscars nominations were received for the movie, along with numerous international accolades.
Harnett is open about his regrets over some big roles that he turned down, such as Superman in three pictures and Batman in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy.
Grounded: ‘I think I hit onto it early in life: it’s about creating a good home life and being able to do things that are wild and wonderful like making films, which is such a privilege,’ he explained
However, he admits that Brokeback Mountain is a regrettable experience. He jokes about how he wanted to kiss Joaquin.
Hartnett made his debut in the 2001 war film Pearl Harbor, and Black Hawk Down.
In recent years, he turned his attention to independent film, and starred in Target Number One and Ida Red. However, he also appeared in larger productions like Guy Ritchie’s Wrath of Man.
Hartnett was a star in one of the most well-known horror series Penny Dreadful. It ran from 2014 through 2016.
Reflection: It comes after Hartnett revealed the one role he regrets turning down during his early Hollywood career: playing one of the leads in 2005’s Brokeback Mountain