Former Child Star Christy Carlson Romano Explains Decision To Leave Hollywood
Christy Carlson Romano, known for her roles in Disney shows like Kim Possible and Even Stevens made a life-changing decision by moving her family out of California. Together with her husband Brendan Rooney, they shifted to Austin, Texas, in 2020. According to Christy, this move turned out to be one of the best choices they’ve made.
“I love that the girls can kind of be out of the Hollywood area,” the former child actress shared with PEOPLE. She expressed her contentment with the decision, emphasizing how it felt just right. She also highlighted the importance of having her two small daughters, Isabella aged 7, and Sofia aged 5, away from the hustle and bustle of Hollywood.
“I love California, we have our PodCo offices there. And I also truly feel at home in Austin. I have a really strong community of friends there, and I’ve really found a way to set down roots,” she said further
Christy, who now heads the podcast company PodCo, admitted that balancing work and family keeps her on her toes. Alongside managing the company, she hosts her own podcast, Vulnerable, where she candidly talks about her life and experiences as a former child star.
Shedding light on how her children perceive her fame and crediting her supportive fans for making her girls feel at ease with the attention she receives, she said, “Something I’ve realized is that my daughters think it’s normal for people to come up to me because I’m so friendly to my fans. My fans, especially since I started doing YouTube and podcasts, are so supportive and loving to me. And so my girls, I don’t think they’re freaked out about it because it just kind of feels like to them that I am talking to someone I know.”
Although Christy’s daughters belong to a different era, they still recognize one of her iconic characters. “Kim Possible is my avatar on Disney Plus, so they do know I’m Kim Possible,” she revealed.
Being a parent comes with its challenges, Christy acknowledged. She admitted to feeling scared at times and facing numerous daunting questions about parenthood. However, she strives to ensure her children have a balanced life amidst her busy schedule.
“How am I going to be a parent? How am I going to afford that? Am I going to have more than one, if one at all? I have multiple children and I work, and so I want to always make sure that they have a very balanced life,” she said.
Christy further pointed out the contrasting pace of life between her former life in Hollywood and a quiet life in Austin. She appreciated the slower rhythm of Austin while noting that it still offers everything her daughters could need.
