After a string of blockbuster films in the mid 2000s, Josh Hartnett suddenly left Hollywood behind. He has no regrets.
"It was the best thing for my mental health and my career to keep Hollywood at bay," he told the Australian morning show "Sunrise" in a rare interview on Dec. 8. "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."
While Josh, 43, is certainly at peace with his decision to back away, he does wish he could have one redo. Back in 2005, he was offered a role in "Brokeback Mountain" opposite Joaquin Phoenix. Josh, though, was committed to something else, and the title roles ended up going to Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal instead.
"Unfortunately, I was going to do 'Brokeback Mountain' and I had a contract with the [2006 film] 'Black Dahlia' that I had to film, so I had to drop out of it," he said, according to Daily Mail Australia. He then joked, "I always wanted to kiss Joaquin."
Since stepping back from major Hollywood roles, the "Black Hawk Down" star has primarily stuck to acting in independent films.
In 2014, the told Details magazine that he "didn't trust anyone" in Hollywood.
"I was on the cover of every magazine," he said at the time. "I couldn't really go anywhere. I didn't feel comfortable in my own skin. I was alone. I didn't trust anyone."
"I still get offered film and TV roles, luckily, but years ago, if I saw a role I wanted, there was a good chance I could grab it," he said. "When I see a role now, I've got to fight for it. It's not bad. It's actually more rewarding. Depressing when something doesn't go your way, but only for a minute."