What Happened To Mia Sara (2024)

Highly regarded as one of the most iconic and talented actresses of the '80s, Mia Sara has not been in the spotlight much since her role in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, leading to speculation about what she has been up to. Mia Sara made her film debut in 1985 as Princess Lili in the cult-classic film Legend, alongside Tom Cruise. Before that, she had been picking up jobs in television shows and commercials, but Legend is what put her on the map and made her a household name. In the '90s, she participated in big-name films like A Stranger Among Us, Timecop, and Bullet to Beijing.

Given her impressive and robust acting resume, it was expected that Mia Sara's stardom would only continue to grow and evolve. This was not the case, however, but not due to the industry pushing her out. It was, instead, by her own choosing as her life changed and her priorities and availability shifted. After 1995's Bullet to Beijing, Sara chose to take on just a few roles before ultimately taking a significant break from the field of acting. While she has been noticeably absent from the entertainment industry for decades, she is now confirmed to be making a return to the big screen in an upcoming film.

What Mia Sara Has Done Since Ferris Bueller's Day Off

One of Mia Sara's most memorable roles was the sophisticated and confident Sloane Peterson in the beloved 1986 comedy film Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Her portrayal of the captivating character really kick-started her career and highlighted her acting abilities. After Ferris Bueller's Day Off's massive success, Sara went on to star in a number of film projects throughout the '80s, including Apprentice to Murder, Big Time, and Shadows in the Storm. She continued to make a name for herself in the '90s, landing roles in Caroline at Midnight, The Maddening, and The Set Up.

Amid all these films, she also picked up roles in shows like Alfred Hitchco*ck Presents and Chicago Hope. As she continued to find success on both the big screen and small, she also got married in 1996 to Jason Connery, the son of acting legend Sean Connery. They had one child together before divorcing in 2002. She then got remarried to Brian Henson, the son of Muppets creator Jim Henson and the chairman of The Jim Henson Company, and the two have a daughter together.

Related: When Ferris Bueller's Day Off Actually Takes Place (All 3 Dates Explained)

Mia Sara's Break From Acting Explained

Despite her massive success, Mia Sara declares herself "mostly retired," which she shared in a 2010 interview with Total Film. She explained that she's a "mother with a really noisy, difficult house to maintain!" She further shared, "I'm a poet, so for the last couple of years that's what I've been focusing on." After the birth of her second child in 2005, Sara has only taken on six projects, most of which are miniseries. She has further expressed that writing is her ultimate passion, and even states on her own official website, "Mia Sara used to be an actress but recovered her senses, and now she writes" (via MiaSara.nyc).

Sara's choice to step away from the acting spotlight might also be due to the fact that she does not reflect on some of her roles as fondly as her viewers do. In her interview with Total Film, she candidly detailed her time working on Ferris Bueller's Day Off. She explained that the project documented her awkward adolescent years, and she felt out of her depth. Sara emphasized that the cast was nice, but she just did not have fun. She also did not enjoy her time on Legend, as during filming a fire destroyed the studio and threatened the lives of the actors.

Mia Sara Will Return To Acting In A Major Stephen King Project

Despite her long break and temporary partial retirement, Mia Sara is now returning to the entertainment industry in a big way. She will be participating in Stephen King's new project, The Life of Chuck. Tim Hiddleston will star as the titular role, Charles "Chuck" Krantz, who dies of a brain tumor. His life is then documented backward to show him living in a haunted house. The movie will be directed by the esteemed Mike Flanagan, who has received massive success from projects like The Fall of the House of Usher, The Haunting of Hill House, and Midnight Mass.

Alongside Hiddleston and Sara, the movie's cast includes Chiwitel Ejifor, Q’orianka Kilcher, Matthew Lillard, David Dastmalchian, and Harvey Guillén. The story is one of King's most experimental pieces of work. That coupled with Mike Flanagan's direction and a star-studded cast is shaping this film to be one of the best King adaptations to date, which could be huge for Sara's career. The release date for The Life of Chuck and Mia Sara's comeback has not been announced yet, but the highly-anticipated film is speculated to hit theaters in early 2025.

Sources: Total Film, Mia Sara