The estranged father of “Austin Powers” star Heather Graham warned that Hollywood would “claim my soul”

“Austin Powers” ​​star Heather Graham hasn’t spoken to her parents in almost 30 years.

Graham recalled leaving home at 18 to move to West Hollywood, California, to pursue her dream of becoming part of the entertainment industry. At the time, her father warned her that Hollywood would “claim [her] Soul.”

“He would tell me regularly that the entertainment industry was evil and that Hollywood was going to claim my soul,” Graham said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal. She noted that her parents “were part of a generation that didn't believe in therapy or discussing personal things, so I never felt like I could talk to them.”

HEATHER GRAHAM FEELS “FREE” WITH HER DECISION NOT TO HAVE CHILDREN

After the premiere of her film “License to Drive” in 1988, Graham knew it was time to move out of her parents’ house.

“When the movie came out, I was 18 and life at home had become more difficult,” she said. “I said to myself, 'I have to get out of here, I have to be successful and I have to be a movie star.'”

“He regularly told me that the entertainment industry was evil and that Hollywood would claim my soul.”

—Heather Graham

Graham continued, “I found an apartment in West Hollywood with another girl from high school – a professional model who also invested in real estate on the side. Living with her was liberating.”

When Graham was 9, her family moved from Virginia to Agoura Hills, California. At that time, the actress felt like she went from being “popular” on the East Coast to “not fitting in” on the West Coast.

The actress, now 54, moved to West Hollywood, California at the age of 18 to study at UCLA. (Venturelli/WireImage)

“In Virginia, I went through a phase where I was a tomboy and loved exploring the woods. After we moved, I was isolated. I had to be driven everywhere. Without children to play with in the streets, I had fewer social contacts and became insecure. I turned to books and read beyond my level,” she told the outlet.

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Graham graduated from high school with a 5.0 GPA and went on to study English at UCLA. After her third year at the prestigious Southern California university, she decided to drop out to focus on her acting career.

At this time, Graham landed major roles in the films “Austin Powers” ​​and “Swingers,” which made her aware of her “independence” and she began to rethink her relationship with her parents.

Graham says she has “really good friends” and is proud of the life she has built for herself. (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Redbox)

“I stopped talking to my parents when I was 25 and now I'm on friendly terms with them,” Graham admitted. “My friends are proud of me and I'm proud of myself. I have really good friends.”

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The 54-year-old actress is proud of the life she has built for herself. “I live in Los Angeles in a house I bought last year. I also have a loft in New York,” she said, noting that her West Coast home “overlooks the Pacific Ocean.”

Graham now has residences on the East and West Coasts. (John Sciulli/Variety via Getty Images)

“I love the sea,” she explained. “I also like sitting outside when I'm writing or preparing a film. Nature is inspiring.”

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Graham has taken on multiple roles in her new film, “Chosen Family.” The actress wrote, directed and stars in the film, which is set to hit theaters in October. She stars alongside Nicolas Cage in her next project, “The Gunslingers,” which is set to hit theaters in 2025.