Actress Heather Graham has had an acting career that has spanned decades, and by all accounts, she has been quite successful in her career; however, her career choice came at a cost.

Graham knew she wanted to be an actress at an early age, but her parents didn’t approve of Hollywood. Graham was raised Catholic, and her dad called the entertainment industry “evil.”

In an article in the Wall Street Journal, Graham explained, “My father, James, was an F.B.I. agent.” She added, “He regularly told me that the entertainment industry was evil and that Hollywood would claim my soul if I became an actress and appeared in anything with sexual content.” 

While Graham’s dad was against his daughter’s passion for becoming an actress, her mother was caught somewhere in the middle. It seems that she supported Graham but also didn’t argue with Graham’s dad about his statements about Hollywood.

Graham explained, “To her credit, my mother supported my creative streak and acting ambition. It was a mixed message, though, since my father was strongly against them and my mother didn’t do much to protect me from him.”

Graham, who is now 54 years old, had her big break when she was just 17 years old. E! News shares that her big break was a movie called “License To Drive.”

She was living with her parents when the movie came out, but that was also when she decided to leave home. Since she knew her dad didn’t approve of her career, she knew she would have to move in order to really pursue an acting career.

Graham explained, “When the movie came out, I was 18.” She continued, “Living at home had become more difficult. I said to myself, ‘I’ve got to get out of here, I’ve got to be successful, and I’ve got to be a movie star.’”

Graham is now estranged from her parents. She hasn’t spoken to them in decades. The actress shared, “I stopped talking to my parents when I was 25, and I’m estranged from them now.” She added, “My friends are proud of me, and I’m proud of myself.”

Watch the video below to hear Graham discuss another way her dad showed his disapproval of Hollywood.

Does it surprise you that Graham hasn’t talked to her parents in decades?