‘Babes in Toyland’ actress Jill Schoelen explains why she left Hollywood for 29 years

Jill Schoelen opens up about ‘Babes in Toyland’ and her Hollywood comeback Jill Schoelen reflects on "Babes in Toyland," now recognized as a Christmas cult classic, her time with Drew Barrymore and her return to acting with ‘Ralph’s Perfekt Christmas.’" Jill Schoelen, who starred as Drew Barrymore’s sister in the Christmas cult classic "Babes in Toyland," is returning to Hollywood for the first time in nearly 30 years. The 1986 remake starred an 11-year-old Barrymore as Lisa, a young girl pulled into a surreal fantasy world of living toys, where she must face an evil villain plotting to take over Toyland. "Babes in Toyland" - which Barrymore later called "an obscure masterpiece" - also featured Pat Morita of "The Karate Kid" fame and a young Keanu Reeves before his rise to superstardom. "Babes in Toyland," a 1986 Christmas cult classic, starred Keanu Reeves, Jill Schoelen and Drew Barrymore. (Everett) Schoelen is returning to her holiday roots. She recently completed a new film, "Ralph’s Perfekt Christmas," set to premiere in 2026, and released her first seasonal album, "Christmas Is Forever." Jill Schoelen told Fox News Digital she was inspired to record a holiday album after filming "Ralph's Perfekt Christmas." (Lesley Bohm) "What really led me to step away from Hollywood was finding out I was pregnant with my eldest son , Dante," Schoelen told Fox News Digital. "The day I found out I was pregnant, I called my agents and said, ‘I’m done.’" The actress said that after welcoming her first child, she briefly considered staying in show business. WATCH: JILL SCHOELEN OPENS UP ABOUT ‘BABES IN TOYLAND’ AND HER HOLLYWOOD COMEBACK "Maybe three months after having my baby, I thought I should be open to going back to work," she said. "I called my agents and told them, ‘I think I’m still open to working.’ I had three job interviews and almost got all of them." But by her third audition, Schoelen had a nagging feeling she couldn’t ignore - she knew it was time to walk away, and this time, for good. Jill Schoelen said she has no regrets giving showbiz a break to raise her children. (Mikel Healy) "I remember sitting at an audition for a really good part I was about to get," Schoelen recalled. "I thought, ‘I need to be at home with my baby.’ I called my agents again and said, ‘OK, I really am done.’ I turned that corner and never went back." Jill Schoelen, seen here in the 1980s, walked away from Hollywood for 29 years. (Ralph Dominguez/MediaPunch via Getty Images) Schoelen quietly worked behind the scenes, producing small theater shows . She said she never regretted her decision. "I really wanted to be a full-time mom," Schoelen explained. "I know that’s not popular to say these days, but as the saying goes, ‘To each their own.’ I grew up in a backward way. In the ‘60s and ‘70s, most of my friends’ mothers stayed home. My mom not only worked, but she...

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