She Was an '80s Teen Idol Who Struggled With Bulimia & Stepped Away From the Spotlight for a While — Where Is She Now?

In her early Hollywood days, the veteran actress felt pushed to become a classic movie star. Now, she finds "fulfillment" in other careers — offering a different joy than acting.

The former '80s teen idol shot to fame after starring in the comedy "The Breakfast Club." Over time, she has openly reflected on her role and what she disliked about it — and how her journey since then reshaped her path in life.

In the 1985 teen hit, she portrayed Allison Reynolds — a quirky outsider known as the "Basket Case" — who famously trades her dark, mysterious style for a more polished, mainstream look.

While the transformation became iconic, it left the actress, who made her film debut in "Bad Boys" (1983), with mixed emotions. During an interview once, she admitted feeling uneasy about the makeover scene.

"It was uncomfortable even when we were filming it. It was one of those things, though. It was the '80s, and we got to take this young woman who seems like a crazy person and make her into, you know, somebody pretty or whatever it was," said the star.

She didn't hold back her opinion on the change, noting, "But I agree Allison is much more delicious before the hair bow goes on."

Though uncomfortable about her character's makeover, the star still holds a deep appreciation for the film itself. She described the John Hughes classic as "nothing but a gift" and admitted she had no idea it would become such a success. At the time, the celebrity didn't fully grasp how big it was or imagine that it would live on for so many years.

Her breakout role may have opened doors, but fame brought pressures that quickly shaped her image in Hollywood. Following that whirlwind, she appeared in titles like "St. Elmo's Fire" and "Short Circuit," though her later work leaned toward indie films that often slipped under the radar.

Cast repeatedly in "cheerleader girl-next-door roles," the movie actress admitted feeling pushed to mold herself into a movie star.

That meant turning into "some kind of sex object" — wearing heavy makeup, short dresses, attending endless parties, posing for provocative magazine spreads, and even facing pressure to change her appearance, from teeth to weight, based on the expectations of others.

The shift toward smaller films wasn't just a creative turn — it became a way to survive in an industry that no longer seemed to fit. At the time, she was quietly battling bulimia and knew that conforming to Hollywood's image demands wouldn't lead her where she hoped to go.

Her ambition was to follow the lead of performers like Helen Mirren, Alfre Woodard, Frances McDormand, and Judy Davis. She gave it an honest effort, taking on offbeat roles in lesser-known films such as "Heart of Dixie."

As her mainstream appeal faded, the reality of her position in the industry became clearer. She said she was no longer seen as "commercially viable." The experience revealed a harsh side of the business.

The actress once confided in a prominent female agent about her discomfort with a nude scene. The agent responded that if a major studio director wanted her to take her clothes off, she should "just shut up and take off your shirt."

The New York native later admitted the experience "completely freaked [her] out." Despite the industry setbacks, she continued to seek out roles that challenged her and reflected where she was in life.

In the late 1990s, during a period of career uncertainty, the public figure embraced more complex material. She delivered a standout performance in the psychosexual indie drama "High Art," which earned critical acclaim at Sundance and sparked awards buzz.

That role marked a turning point in how the star was perceived — no longer confined to teen films, but seen as a performer with depth. She viewed it as the ideal part for that stage of her life, one that brought a new layer to her work and redefined how others in the business regarded her.

Soon after, the celebrity tackled the title role in the Off Broadway production of "Hedwig and the Angry Inch." While many of these opportunities came her way, they didn't always translate into steady career growth. The work was meaningful, but it didn't consistently push her professional trajectory forward.

She explained that it wasn't about the size of the projects — there was some television, consistent work — but nothing that elevated her status. After "High Art," the focus quickly shifted to, "What was the last thing you did?"

The star felt labeled as difficult, no longer the type for "girl-next-door" parts. Instead, she became associated with darker roles, which she actually preferred.

However, leading roles didn't follow. What came instead was an unpredictable journey shaped by bold choices that led her down unexpected paths. She left Hollywood for a while.

Her career may have taken unpredictable turns, but her personal life soon spiraled in even more painful ways. A brief romance with Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora led to a downward spiral, ending with a stay in rehab for an addiction to Halcion, Xanax, and antidepressants.

She described the relationship as destructive, admitting, "It was a key relationship in my life — not his. It destroyed me. I ended up in a lot of trouble."

Unprepared for the chaos of the rock scene, the star began using drugs to match his world and dull her own anxiety. It became a way to cope not just with being around him, but also with the emotional damage he caused.

Emerging from the chaos of her personal struggles, actress Ally Sheedy slowly began piecing her life together, even if her path no longer led to the spotlight.

In the years that followed, she surfaced here and there — taking parts in the occasional TV movie or stage production. Sometimes she worked to stay busy, other times simply to make ends meet.

Looking back on that period, Sheedy admitted there were moments of doubt, wondering if things should have unfolded differently. Still, she found clarity in the experience, realizing she never truly wanted the life of a major movie star. She felt lucky that everything happened early enough for her to make a change.

That shift in priorities gave Sheedy the space to rediscover herself — not just as an actress, but as a person — on her own terms.

In recent years, she has quietly made her way back into the limelight with roles in "SMILF," "Chantilly Bridge," and most notably, "Single Drunk Female." The 2022 series marked her first significant onscreen appearance in over five years.

Her return to television wasn't something she had been chasing, but when the opportunity came, it felt right. In an interview, Sheedy admitted that during her 50s, she had started to accept the idea of stepping away from acting.

At 59, she thought, "I'm really going to miss acting. I love it so much. It's heartbreaking not to do it more." Still, she reminded herself that she had other interests to focus on — until the right role arrived unexpectedly.

That unexpected role turned out to be more than just a return to acting — it became one of her most meaningful performances. In a May 2023 interview, Sheedy shared that it stands among her favorite roles of her entire career.

The reason felt personal — she portrayed a mother who stumbles and struggles, something she admitted mirrors her own life. Offscreen, she is a mom to her son, Beckett Lansbury, whom she shares with ex-husband, actor David Lansbury.

That personal connection made the role feel even more natural for Sheedy, allowing her to bring a grounded, authentic energy to the screen.

As she prepared for "Single Drunk Female," she noticed a quiet similarity between fiction and reality — her character's daughter is the same age as her own son.

The 62-year-old described this stage of motherhood as a fulfilling one. Her son is independent, but she still enjoys being there for him in the small ways that matter — whether offering advice or helping him shop for a new mattress.

The same steady presence she offers her son has also defined her work beyond the screen. As her focus shifted from full-time acting to other creative outlets, Sheedy continued to find meaning in spaces that allowed her to guide and nurture others.

In recent years, she has explored new territory — quietly teaching theater at City College of New York and working as a book editor under an alias. She noted that while some students and authors are aware of her identity, many are not.

These roles, though different from acting, have given her a sense of "fulfillment that's actually completely different from the joy I get out of acting."

From teen icon to thoughtful teacher, Ally Sheedy's journey has been anything but ordinary. She faced Hollywood’s pressures, endured personal struggles, and carved a quieter path shaped by intention rather than expectation.

Her story isn't defined by fame but by growth, reinvention, and heart. And in that quiet evolution, she's found exactly where she belongs.