Actress Joan Cusack has spoken about her decision to leave Los Angeles and her preference for a more low-key life in Chicago with her family.

Cusack, 63, who was born in New York City, stated in a recent interview with People that she never truly lived anywhere other than Chicago. She chose to raise her two sons, Dylan and Miles, there with her husband, attorney Richard Burke.

The "Toy Story" actress described her experiences visiting Los Angeles, noting that she found the environment unappealing. "I think a couple times I tried to go out to LA, and I’d be in a coffee shop and the waitress would be like, ‘Oh my God, I just got a part doing blah-blah-blah,'" she recalled. Cusack also commented on the perceived aesthetics of the city, adding, "Everyone’s so beautiful. It’s too sunny. I don’t even like the sun, so I couldn’t do it."

Balancing her acting career with family life in Chicago presented challenges, particularly during her tenure on the television series "Shameless" from 2011 to 2015. Cusack expressed the internal conflict she often felt, stating, "When [the boys] were younger, there was always that [struggle of] . . . ‘I should be home.' And then I’d be home and I’d be like, ‘I should be at work.'"

Cusack is reprising her role as Jessie in "Toy Story 5," her first major film role since "Toy Story 4" in 2019. She recently attended the film's premiere in London on May 28, her first red carpet appearance in nearly 11 years. Her husband and sons accompanied her to the "Toy Story 5" premiere in Los Angeles on June 9.

![Richard Burke and Joan Cusack at the "Toy Story 5" London premiere](/images/7ehK2m21tJkK "Richard Burke and Joan Cusack at the "Toy Story 5" London premiere")

Reflecting on the London premiere, Cusack noted her unfamiliarity with such events. "In my life, I haven’t really done that many of those things," she told People. "I think I turned the corner with my husband and was like, ‘Whoa. What’s going on here?'"

Cusack described red carpets as "not what I do," emphasizing her preference for remaining out of the spotlight. "I’ve been in Chicago raising my kids, which there’s nothing more important to me than that," she explained. "And it’s been kind of crazy to be part of it, a red carpet thing."

![Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and Joan Cusack at the "Toy Story 5" premiere](/images/ZEkARp5pYq1F "Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and Joan Cusack at the "Toy Story 5" premiere")

She also mentioned her generally understated personal style, adding, "I don’t even dress up that much."