Cameron Diaz Says Having Kids Gave Her a 'Different Perspective' on Being an Actor: 'A Lot More Happening in My World'

Mar. 15, 2025

Cameron Diaz.Photo:Christoph Soeder/picture alliance via Getty

Christoph Soeder/picture alliance via Getty

Cameron Diaz’s world shifted when she became a mother.The actress, 52, spoke withE! Newsahead of the premiere of her new Netflix movieBack in Actionand shared that after she became a mom, her priorities and perspective changed. Diaz and her husbandBenji Madden, 45, share daughterRaddix, 5, and sonCardinal, whom they welcomed in 2024.“You’re a different person after you have children, after marriage, after building a life,” Diaz explained. “So me, I never made a movie before with family. So all of the boxes change that need to be checked off, having taken 10 years and live a life that I wasn’t when I was an actor.““There’s a lot more happening in my world that allows me [to have] a different perspective on life.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Benji Madden (left) and Cameron Diaz in 2016.Donato Sardella/GettyEarlier this month, Diaz shared in a behind-the-scenes interview withNetflixthatshe didn’t think she’d return to actinguntil a call from her costarJamie Foxxmade her reconsider.“How do you say ‘No’ to Jamie Foxx?” Diaz began. “If there’s anyone I’m going to go back and spend months on end on set having a ball and laughing with, it would be Jamie.“During her hiatus, Diaz said “no to everything,” including any training or public appearances. Instead, she prioritized two things: her family and her wine company, Avaline.“That was what I was putting most of my focus on,” Diaz explained. “If I was doing anything other than just sort of being a mom and living my day-to-day.““That was pretty much it,” she continued. “I’m just trying to stay alive just like every other mother. I’m just trying to keep it going.“Cameron Diaz.Presley Ann/GettyShe also added that she hopes her new role will one day make her own kids think that she’s “cool.““One of those little fantasies that all parents have is that their kids could see them as they existed before they had all of the weight of the world of being a parent on them,” she shared. “Children just can’t see their parents that way.““And maybe, just maybe, their kids will believe them when they say, ‘Yeah, I was pretty cool,” she said.Back in ActionisDiaz’s first film since 2014’sAnnie, in which she also starred with Foxx. The two costars first appeared together in 1999’sAny Given Sunday.Diaz and Foxx’s latest collaboration, Back in Action, is streaming now on Netflix.

Cameron Diaz’s world shifted when she became a mother.

The actress, 52, spoke withE! Newsahead of the premiere of her new Netflix movieBack in Actionand shared that after she became a mom, her priorities and perspective changed. Diaz and her husbandBenji Madden, 45, share daughterRaddix, 5, and sonCardinal, whom they welcomed in 2024.

“You’re a different person after you have children, after marriage, after building a life,” Diaz explained. “So me, I never made a movie before with family. So all of the boxes change that need to be checked off, having taken 10 years and live a life that I wasn’t when I was an actor.”

“There’s a lot more happening in my world that allows me [to have] a different perspective on life.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Benji Madden (left) and Cameron Diaz in 2016.Donato Sardella/Getty

Donato Sardella/Getty

Earlier this month, Diaz shared in a behind-the-scenes interview withNetflixthatshe didn’t think she’d return to actinguntil a call from her costarJamie Foxxmade her reconsider.

“How do you say ‘No’ to Jamie Foxx?” Diaz began. “If there’s anyone I’m going to go back and spend months on end on set having a ball and laughing with, it would be Jamie.”

During her hiatus, Diaz said “no to everything,” including any training or public appearances. Instead, she prioritized two things: her family and her wine company, Avaline.

“That was what I was putting most of my focus on,” Diaz explained. “If I was doing anything other than just sort of being a mom and living my day-to-day.”

“That was pretty much it,” she continued. “I’m just trying to stay alive just like every other mother. I’m just trying to keep it going.”

Cameron Diaz.Presley Ann/Getty

Presley Ann/Getty

She also added that she hopes her new role will one day make her own kids think that she’s “cool.”

“One of those little fantasies that all parents have is that their kids could see them as they existed before they had all of the weight of the world of being a parent on them,” she shared. “Children just can’t see their parents that way.”

“And maybe, just maybe, their kids will believe them when they say, ‘Yeah, I was pretty cool,” she said.

Back in ActionisDiaz’s first film since 2014’sAnnie, in which she also starred with Foxx. The two costars first appeared together in 1999’sAny Given Sunday.

Diaz and Foxx’s latest collaboration, Back in Action, is streaming now on Netflix.

source: people.com