From the Spotlight to the Stillness: Ali Larter’s Life-Changing Move to Idaho

“Looking at the mountains relaxes and inspires me. 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.” — Ali Larter

In the heart of Idaho’s peaceful mountains, actress Ali Larter, best known for her roles in Legally Blonde and Landman, has found a new kind of serenity—one far removed from the glittering chaos of Hollywood. At 48, Larter and her family made a bold decision to leave the bright lights of Los Angeles behind, choosing instead the quiet expanses of Sun Valley, Idaho, a place that, just a few years ago, she never imagined could become her home.

The journey, which began during the pandemic, was not a move she or her husband, actor Hayes MacArthur, had initially planned. As schools shut down and remote learning took over, Larter and MacArthur, both disillusioned by the industry’s standstill, packed up and sought refuge in the mountains. “We thought it would be a temporary escape,” Larter recalls. “We thought we’d ski for a couple of months and then return to our usual lives.”

But something unexpected happened in those few months. The mountains, the slow pace of life, and the vibrant, tight-knit community of Sun Valley began to weave a new story for their family. The stress of the fast-paced world they had known started to feel distant, and in its place grew a new sense of belonging.

“The beauty of the mountains and their quiet grandness captivated us,” Larter explains, her voice filled with a deep reverence for the land she now calls home. “We fell in love with the scenery and the people here. It’s simpler, more grounded, and there’s an accountability to how we live that I really love.”

For Larter and MacArthur, who share two children—Vivienne, 9, and Theodore, 3—the move was not just about escaping a challenging time but about embracing a more meaningful way of life. “We were searching for something better,” MacArthur admits. “The industry was at a total standstill, and our kids were stuck on screens. We needed a change.”

Their bold decision to leave behind the hustle of Los Angeles wasn’t just about finding peace for themselves, but about giving their children the kind of childhood they had envisioned—a childhood rooted in nature, community, and family.

“There’s something special about the families here,” Larter reflects. “It’s about family, nature, and a slower pace. There are no big-box stores, no endless freeways. Time feels longer, and there’s more space to just be—together, as a family.”

What seemed like an unthinkable leap a few years ago—leaving behind Hollywood for the rural plains of Idaho—has now turned into the couple’s proudest achievement. Larter is quick to emphasize that it wasn’t just the mountain views that drew them in. It was the sense of community and the ethos of small-town living that made them feel at home. “It’s about simplicity and generosity,” she says. “The town feels like a big, extended family. We’ve found something here that we didn’t even know we were looking for.”

With their decision solidified, Larter and MacArthur have built a 4,400-square-foot home that stands as a testament to their new life. “When I look at the mountains,” Larter says, “I feel at peace. They remind me to slow down and appreciate the little things.”

For Larter, the pandemic may have disrupted her life, but it also gave her the opportunity to redefine what success and happiness look like. As she continues to work on projects like Landman and her husband on The Runarounds, both of them have embraced the flexibility of modern work, finding balance in their careers and personal lives. They are no longer tethered to the expectations of Hollywood—they are charting their own course, hand-in-hand with the mountains and the quiet that now nurtures them.

In a world that often seems obsessed with the next big thing, Larter has found her true joy in the stillness. The move to Idaho wasn’t just a change of address; it was a radical act of prioritizing family and peace. And for the actress who once dazzled on red carpets, there’s nothing more rewarding than raising her children in the tranquility of the mountains.