Linda Kozlowski bid farewell to Hollywood nearly 25 years ago after living in her ex husband Paul Hogan’s ‘shadow’.
But instead of missing the glitz and glamour of red carpets, movie premieres and award galas, the Crocodile Dundee star appears to be perfectly content away from the spotlight.
Now, the 67-year-old Golden Globe nominee lives a serene life in village-like Ojai, California, alongside her second husband, Moroccan tour guide Moulay Hafid Baba, and their four-year-old Golden Retriever, Thaddeus.
The retired American actress shot to international fame playing New York reporter Sue Charlton in the 1986 blockbuster that also made a star of her first husband, Paul, 85, who starred as the rugged Australian crocodile hunter Mick Dundee.
While she may have won the hearts of fans worldwide as a blonde damsel in distress who was saved from a croc in the nick of time by the leading man, these days the star looks almost unrecognizable as she enjoys a peaceful life out of the limelight.
Linda, now a youthful brunette, retired from acting due to dissatisfaction with the roles she was being offered in the wake of her Dundee success.
In an interview with Scripps Howard News Service in 2001, after her last screen appearance in the much-loved franchise, she opened up about her choice to leave Hollywood behind and quit acting.
‘These straight-to-video, schlocky films I was getting were giving me an ulcer, basically because I was the only one on the set that cared about anything,’ she said at the time.
Linda Kozlowski bid farewell to Hollywood nearly 25 years ago after living in her ex husband Paul Hogan’s (pictured together in 2000) ‘shadow’
‘I’d say, “Well, this scene doesn’t make sense.” [They would say,] “Aw, so what, just say the lines.” [And] I thought, “This isn’t fun anymore. This is not why I studied, it’s not what I love.” Between that and my biological clock, I decided to give it all away.’
She told the Los Angeles Times in 1988 that she ended up being typecast by Hollywood casting directors after Crocodile Dundee, which she said was both a blessing and a curse.
‘After Crocodile Dundee, I turned down lots of stuff, most of it where I’d play the girlfriend of some funny man,’ she said.
She also opened to the MailOnline in 2014 about ‘living in Paul’s shadow’ after the pair fell in love on set of Crocodile Dundee. Paul – 19 years Linda’s senior – was still married to wife Noelene Edwards when first filming the franchise.
The actor, who would later leave his home country behind to settle in Los Angeles with Linda, wed his co-star in 1990, welcomed son Chance, now 27, eight years later and finalised their divorce in 2014.
‘Paul is very famous and I lived for a long time in his shadow,’ Linda admitted. ‘I feel good now to be out on my own and be doing my own things.’
Opening up about their divorce in 2014, Linda told New Idea: ‘Honestly, we just naturally grew apart. One of our problems was we really had nothing in common and, over time, that happens to a lot of people.’
She insisted, however, that she and Paul were amicable. ‘We’ve been separated to a certain degree for a long time,’ she explained. ‘The divorce is not sudden. It is very friendly. We talk all the time. We co-parent our son.’
But instead of missing the glitz and glamour of red carpets, movie premieres and award galas, the Crocodile Dundee star (pictured in the film, left) appears to be perfectly content away from the spotlight
Now, the 67-year-old Golden Globe nominee (pictured at her wedding to Paul in 1990) lives a serene life in village-like Ojai, California , alongside her second husband, Moroccan tour guide Moulay Hafid Baba, and their four-year-old Golden Retriever, Thaddeus
The retired American actress (pictured with her current partner) shot to international fame playing New York reporter Sue Charlton in the 1986 blockbuster that also made a star of her first husband, Paul, 85, who starred as the rugged Australian crocodile hunter Mick Dundee
While she may have won the hearts of fans worldwide as a blonde damsel in distress who was saved from a croc in the nick of time by the leading man, these days the star (pictured) looks almost unrecognizable as she enjoys a peaceful life out of the limelight
Proving that to be case even a decade on, Linda and Paul were recently spotted with their son Chance, who frequently makes headlines over his erratic behaviour, and the retired actress’ partner Moulay, in LA.
Pictures showed Linda looking youthful as she stepped out for dinner with the group at a local restaurant.
She opted for a casual look for the meal, sporting black trousers, a matching top and shawl, as well as beige sandals, while carrying a Louis Vuitton handbag.
Since leaving Hollywood, Linda often documents her incredible trips on social media with her new travel companion and long-time lover Moulay.
Since meeting more than a decade ago, the couple have travelled all over the globe, including Africa, Spain, Greece, Italy, Japan, Australia and more, all documented on Linda’s official Instagram account.
Moulay, a tour guide and location scout from Morocco was introduced to Linda through mutual film producer friends in 2014.
The couple went into business together in Marrakesh, running Dream My Destiny, which provides tours for tourists and location scouting for films.
‘I was coming often, and friends wanted to come and tour with me and they knew that Baba knows a lot about the country,’ Linda previously explained to the MailOnline. ‘And it just naturally came into place.’
Linda (pictured right), now a youthful brunette, retired from acting due to dissatisfaction with the roles she was being offered in the wake of her Dundee success
In an interview with Scripps Howard News Service in 2001, after her last screen appearance in the much-loved franchise, Linda (pictured) opened up about her choice to leave Hollywood behind and quit acting. ‘These straight-to-video, schlocky films I was getting were giving me an ulcer, basically because I was the only one on the set that cared about anything,’ she said
Paul shares Chance, his youngest child, with with ex-wife and former co-star Linda Kozlowski. All pictured in 2013
Linda said that the experience and business venture had breathed new life into her ambitions following her split from Paul in 2013 after 23 years of marriage.
Two years ago the couple purchased a newly remodelled single story, four-bedroom, two-bath home in Ojai for nearly $2million.
Ojai is a haven for artists and people who love the outdoors with its numerous biking, hiking, and horse trails.
But their home in the village-like city isn’t the only residence of Linda’s, since the retired actress appears to have spent her one-off payment of $6.25 million in her divorce settlement on becoming a property tycoon.
The brunette beauty has bought three Venice Beachfront properties, which is dubbed Silicon Beach for the tech-CEOs it attracts.
She’s even earned the title of the Queen of Silicon Beach after having sold one home for $1.9 million in order to buy a $2 million home that she’s now renting out.
A neighbour told Daily Mail Australia in 2017: ‘She has been really smart and made millions. She got a settlement from Paul of course and she’s used it well.
‘She’s definitely her own woman now. Property prices have rocketed in Venice and she’s rode the crest of a wave, no doubt about it.’
Since leaving Hollywood, Linda often documents her incredible trips on social media with her new travel companion and long-time lover Moulay. Pictured Linda and Paul in Crocodile Dundee
The source added: ‘Everyone who’s anyone wants to live in Venice and it’s where big earners at Google and Snapchat want to live.
‘All the neighbours call her the ‘Queen of Sillicon Beach’ because of it. We all wish we had the clout and sense to buy properties like she has and make the same kind of money. Her fortune will only do one thing – go up.’
Meanwhile, the neighbour added that the star has been on a ‘health kick’ in recent years, and her hard work has apparently paid off.
‘Going on a health kick… has taken years off,’ the insider said. ‘She’s nearly 60 but could pass for a woman in her 40s. No problem,’ the source continued. ‘She’s lost at least 20lbs.’
Linda previously addressed rumours of plastic surgery, after many publications speculated about her ageless good looks and nearly wrinkle-free complexion.
‘I don’t have plastic surgery,’ she said adamantly to the MailOnline in 2014. ‘I had my nose done when I was like 20 years old. Can I just say one thing about that? I work like a dog to stay in shape.
‘And there’s only one way to look good – it’s hard work. Work like a dog every morning. Hard work that’s it!’
Paul, who now lives in the US, admitted he would love to make a permanent move Down Under, but he is staying stateside for his youngest son Chance, 27. Pictured
Her regime consists of daily push ups, sit ups, and ballet. But when she is in Morocco she runs the sand dunes.
But Linda’s life hasn’t been entirely smooth sailing – with her troubled son Chance sparking concern for his welfare recently after sharing concerning videos to his Instagram stories in January.
‘This is my life. This is what it’s been reduced to,’ Chance slurred as he took sips from his wine glass.
The camera he angled toward his face and laptop wobbled as he struggled to hold it steady while he spoke.
He then leaned in close and said: ‘Please. Please kill me. I’m begging you.’
Chance, an aspiring musician who has been based in Venice Beach with his famous father, has frequently made headlines over his erratic behaviour.
But when DailyMail.com caught up with Paul while he ran errands in Los Angeles in December, the father-of-six said there was nothing to fear.
Asked if he was worried about Chance, Paul shook his head casually and smiled before replying: ‘Nah.’
He continued: ‘No. It’s a lot of made up stuff and a lot of it he [Chance] does on purpose.’
The largely reclusive star appeared friendly and happy to chat despite the rumours and concerns circulating about his son.
Chatting to Today show entertainment editor Richard Wilkins in May, Paul was asked for an update on the condition of his son, and said: ‘Alright. Better than he gets.
‘He gets a lot of tabloid stuff, but he’s a terrible person because he knows they’re watching him and he puts something on for them.’
