The Hollywood Show: ‘One Day at a Time’s MacKenzie Phillips Explains Why She Isn’t Returning to Acting Anytime Soon
What To Know
- MacKenzie Phillips, known for her role on One Day at a Time, has largely retired from acting to work as a counselor.
- She made a notable return to television with a role on Orange Is the New Black.
- She is not actively seeking more acting work, as her passion now lies in behavioral health and helping others.
MacKenzie Phillips is perhaps best known as scrappy teen daughter Julie Cooper on the sitcom One Day at a Time, but her legacy extends far beyond that role. As the daughter of John Phillips, she grew up in Hollywood royalty, and her well-documented personal struggles, as well as her ability to overcome them, have become just as much a part of her story.
With more than five decades in the entertainment industry, Phillips eventually stepped away from acting to pursue a different calling. Drawing from her own experiences with addiction and recovery, she began working as a counselor in the field of drug rehabilitation, helping others navigate similar challenges.
“It landed in my lap out of nowhere. I do a lot of speaking all over the country on trauma…it’s a little business I’ve created, and it’s successful,” Phillips told ReMIND while at the Hollywood Show in Burbank, California.
While she is largely retired from show business, Phillips still takes on the occasional acting role. One such opportunity came with her appearance on Orange Is the New Black, a rare return to the screen that introduced her to a new generation of viewers.
Karen Ruud
In Netflix’s Orange Is the New Black, Phillips played Barbara “Barb” Denning, a ruthless killer locked in a decades-long feud with her sister, Carol. Throughout Season 6, Barb attempts to get sober with the help of fellow inmate Nicky Nichols (Natasha Lyonne). Despite her efforts, the sisters’ deep-seated hatred ultimately leads to a tragic confrontation. It was a memorable role that Phillips delivered with her trademark intensity, proving she could still command the screen decades into her career.
“I’ve been working in behavioral health for the last 13 years, and at a treatment center as a counselor. And luckily, my employers were so amazing that I got to do Orange is the New Black, stay on payroll, and sit in my prison uniform in my dressing room, auditing charts, calling family members, and doing all that stuff,” explained Phillips.
However, Phillips told us that she didn’t plan on returning to the screen, at least not right now, as the work she is doing now is her passion. “I am not actively seeking acting work,” said Phillips. “It was a natural progression. I’ve always been fascinated by what makes people do the things they do, and what drives behavior.”
At the Hollywood Show, folks still remember her as Julie, a role that continues to hit home with fans. “I think with One Day at a Time, it was pretty cutting edge,” explained the actress. “A divorced mom living alone with two daughters, and the divorced mom is having sex. It really resonated with people who came from the same type of experience. They will come up to me and say, ‘Oh my god, you saved me! We were in the same position with my mom, and it was the only show reflecting back my life experience.'”
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