“Landman” actress Ali Larter has opened up about her decision to trade the glitz and glamour of Hollywood for a quiet life in rural Idaho—while looking back on her “simple, beautiful” childhood in an idyllic suburban home.
Larter, 49, has enjoyed a hugely varied career in front of the cameras, having shot to fame in the 1999 hit movie “Varsity Blues,” which she followed up with a wildly-successful run in the “Final Destination” franchise.
But her introduction to the bright lights of Hollywood fame began she was just 13—and was spotted by a talent scout while she was enjoying a bowl of snapper soup near her childhood home.
Speaking to The Wall Street Journal about her upbringing in Cherry Hill, NJ, about 10 minutes away from Philadelphia, Larter painted a picture-perfect image of suburban bliss, one in which she enjoyed a “simple, beautiful, and fun” childhood as a “sporty, suburban kid.”
She grew up in a quaint “two-story, white-and-brown house,” which she shared with her dad, Dan, mom, Margaret, and sister, Karen.
“My bedroom was painted yellow, and my mom and dad and older sister, Kristen, were my everything,” she recalled.
However, her entire world “shifted” when she was a teenager and was approached by a talent scout looking for someone to appear in a commercial for the Philadelphia Phillies.
“When I was 13, my mom and I went to eat snapper soup at Bookbinder’s in Philadelphia. A talent agent came over and asked if I wanted to be in a Philadelphia Phillies TV commercial. My mom and I said, ‘Oh my gosh, maybe.’
“He left his card, we followed up and I booked my first job for the ad. It was cute. From that day forward, everything changed. I started appearing in local clothing ads that kids in school saw. They kept their distance.”
Soon, Larter found herself ostracized by her peers, forced to “walk the hallways alone” and eat her lunches “in the bathroom.”
“I didn’t know what table to sit at in the cafeteria. Even in high school, I wasn’t the most popular girl or the prom queen. I was too busy trying to find my way professionally,” she revealed.
After that, Larter’s career took off and her “normal life disappeared.”
She began earning multiple modeling jobs—and soon transitioned to acting on the big screen, taking center stage in “Varsity Blues,” before entering the world of horror with “Final Destination.” A role in “Legally Blonde” would cement her status as a Hollywood legend.
But the trappings of fame were not all they seemed to be and Larter eventually made the decision to leave Los Angeles with her spouse, Hayes MacArthur, and their children, Teddy, 14, and Vivienne, 10.
Their move to Sun Valley, ID, was prompted by a visit to the area during the COVID pandemic, when they were all entranced by the beauty of the area—and the opportunity to enjoy wide, open spaces.
“There’s some magic in the mountains. When I’m up there hiking for three hours, I feel a special calmness. I feel the most in my skin now than I’ve ever felt before,” she said.
After deciding that they were going to ditch Hollywood, Larter and MacArthur focused on building their dream home.
“The house we built on 2 acres has lots of windows and great views of the mountains,” she said.
In 2024, she opened the doors to her sprawling dwelling for Rue Magazine, telling the outlet that the small town was a big change for her and her family.
“Neither of us had ever lived in a small town before. People look out for each other. There’s a real sense of community here and we’re so happy to be a part of it,” she said.
While building their 4,400-square-foot dwelling, the actress noted that she wanted to make a home that would “fit into the natural geography of Sun Valley but didn’t have that traditional ‘cabiny’ feel.”
It also included “walls of glass that showcase and invite the gorgeous scenery into the home.”
She emphasized how the “quiet grandness” of the mountains and Idaho’s calming environment helps her remember to slow down and enjoy the little things in life.
“Most of the time in my life, I feel like I’m going 1,000 miles an hour and these giant rocks chill me out,” she said.
The actress later told People that moving from California to Idaho ended up being the best decision for her and her family.
“It’s incredibly calming and grounding to live in the mountains, and we love raising our children in a rural small town.
“[It] has been a gift for our family. It’s important to me that when I come home, I can be present with my children,” she added.