Once one of Australia's best-known child stars, she rose to fame at the tender age of 12 after being cast in the iconic series The Saddle Club.
But for Lara Jean Marshall, life looks very different these days.
In an essay published by SBS, the former child star, 35, revealed that she had given up her Hollywood dreams in recent years and was now pursuing a career as a journalist.
Shortly after finishing filming The Saddle Club in 2003, Lara moved from Australia to Hollywood in hopes of taking her local fame to the international stage.
Unfortunately, making it as an actress wasn't as easy as she had hoped.
The Saddle Club star Lara Jean Marshall, 35, has penned a heartfelt essay for SBS in which she reveals why she turned her back on Hollywood after a decade of trying to make it as an actress
“I've had jobs that gave me the flexibility to act, and I've done my best to make it, but I've gotten little in return,” she complained.
Lara said she became fatigued by the many difficulties that come with living abroad and blamed “bureaucracy and other obstacles” as the reason she was unable to break into the industry.
“It got to a point where the lifestyle was having a negative impact on my mental health and putting a financial strain on me. “I decided to quit acting because I was tired of being powerless over my own life,” she said.
Shortly after finishing filming The Saddle Club in 2003, Lara moved from Australia to Hollywood in hopes of taking her local fame to the international stage. (Pictured on The Saddle Club)
After turning her back on acting, Lara returned to Australia and enrolled in a journalism course. In November 2022, she was announced as the new co-host of Power FM Ballarat's breakfast show
The brunette said it “really hurt” to give up her dream and described her efforts as “a big loss”.
After turning her back on acting, Lara returned to Australia and enrolled in a journalism course.
In November 2022, she was announced as the new co-host of Power FM Ballarat's breakfast show.
“My new career allows me to engage with the local community through on-air contests and giveaways, playing the latest hits, bantering with listeners and empathizing with the personal struggles they may be having,” she enthused
“My new career allows me to engage with the local community through on-air contests and giveaways, playing the latest hits, bantering with listeners and empathizing with the personal struggles they may be having,” she enthused.
Lara was last seen as an actress in the 2019 science fiction short film Remarkable, in which she played a supporting role.
She is also expected to appear in the upcoming TV series “We Were Tomorrow” alongside “Underbelly” star Gyton Grantley, which she filmed in 2019.
Lara starred as Lisa Atwood in 52 episodes of The Saddle Club and also released five albums with her co-stars Sophie Bennett and Keenan Macwilliam.
Speaking to Ten in 2019, Lara revealed that she was still in touch with Sophie and Keenan, confirming that they had “remained very close” after filming.
Lara starred as Lisa Atwood in 52 episodes of The Saddle Club and also released five albums with her co-stars Sophie Bennett (left) and Keenan Macwilliam (right).