Holly Marie Combs and the rest of the “Charmed” cast absolutely dominated television screens in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Since then, many of the cast members went on to pursue other projects and are still active to this day.
However, the situation looked a little differently for Combs. After “Charmed,” she went on to star in “Pretty Little Liars.” After the show ended in 2017, Combs made a few more acting appearances. Her last television role was in a 2019 episode of “Grey’s Anatomy.”
Seven years later, the actress admits she’s retired from the acting world. Even so, she still has a lot of love for the projects she worked on and the relationships she cultivated.
See what Holly Marie Combs had to say about leaving Hollywood behind and what it might take to get her back on a set.
Holly Marie Combs Retired From Acting
Though Holly Marie Combs has said goodbye to acting for now, she’s certainly keeping busy. She currently co-hosts the “House of Halliwell” podcast, delighting “Charmed” fans all over the world.
In a recent episode, Combs addressed her choice to take a step back from acting.
“The stuff that I was getting and coming across my desk was just nothing that I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is really great. I need to do this,” she explained. “And being in, you know, that 40 to 50 range, the job pool gets even smaller and smaller. And I feel like the roles get a little less interesting.”
Of course, having three children also played a pivotal role. She shares her sons with her ex-husband, David Donoho. She has a stepdaughter through her current husband, Mike Ryan.
“It was a lot of family,” the “Charmed” star further explained her decision to leave Hollywood. “During COVID, we had three teenagers. Well, it was three teenagers and a preteen in the house, and it was just mayhem and chaos.”
The Actress Could Return to the Screen Someday
Though Holly Marie Combs’ priorities have shifted, she still holds many fond memories from her time on the “Charmed” set. For now, she’s set on retirement. However, she’s not completely ruling out a return to the screen some day.
“I miss it occasionally,” the former actress shared on the podcast. “There’s those moments when you’re involved and you’re acting and you’re working that are just, I think it’s like being present.”
Combs played Piper Halliwell from 1998 through 2006, spanning eight seasons and 178 episodes. The role allowed her to explore her creative side and provided escape from reality.
“That’s what escapism is. And we get to escape into this different character with a different set of situations than our own life,” the 52-year-old continued. “And there is something about being in that moment that is quite peaceful, even if you’re doing something highly dramatic.”
Holly Marie Combs quipped that once her sons are all out of the house, she will have a lot of time on her hands. What happens after that is anyone’s guess.
All eight seasons of “Charmed” are currently available to stream on Peacock.
