6 Female Actors Who Were Never The Same After Divorce – They Were Better Off

In Hollywood, divorce is simply part of pop culture, as many A-listers find love and marriage in the spotlight, but eventually they have to face the harsh realities of going through a public divorce. And while going through the grieving process of divorce is never easy, many stars have shared what their experiences have been like. In fact, some of the most candid comments from celebrities about divorce reveal a lot about not only their relationships and why they failed, but also how they moved on with life after their separation.

For some actors, divorce provided the opportunity for a blank new page, which they filled with fabulous fashion, a change in their beauty preferences, and an overall glow that could be subtle yet significant (after all, they had all been gorgeous since their first appearance in front of the camera). Stars like Nicole Kidman, Angelina Jolie, Drew Barrymore, and others have shown us that a woman can not only pick herself up after a marriage that didn’t work out, but she can also look and feel better than ever, whether she’s choosing revenge fashion, moving to a new city, or just focusing on having fun with her girlfriends.

Nicole Kidman is definitely one of those actors who has recently shown us that divorce can make you better. The Hollywood star separated from her husband of 19 years, Keith Urban, in September 2025 and their divorce was finalized in early 2026. After the couple split, the “Practical Magic” star undeniably focused on herself, and her glow immediately attracted attention. In fact, Nicole Kidman wore Revenge dresses on several occasions following her divorce from Keith Urban, such as her red sequined gown with feather detail at the 2026 Met Gala.

In February 2018, actors Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux revealed that they were separating after being married for two and a half years. From what Jennifer Aniston’s exes have said about her, Theroux has always kept things positive and the two have remained really friends even after the divorce. However, one can’t help but notice that the “Friends” star looked fabulous after the split, especially when Jennifer Aniston wore a beautiful champagne-colored halter dress to events like the “Derailed” premiere.

Drew Barrymore married comedian Tom Green in 2001 and the couple separated less than a year later. Barrymore, who was in her second half of her 20s at the time, always looked great, but after the divorce, the star’s career took off even more thanks to the second installment of “Charlie’s Angels” and the comedy “50 First Dates.” In fact, Barrymore’s promotional performance for “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle” in 2003 might be the best Avengers era look we’ve ever seen.

When Angelina Jolie met fellow actor Billy Bob Thornton in 1999, she was known for her Gothic fashion and era beauty. In 2000, the two married, and they soon became known for the blood vial necklaces they wore. In 2002, Jolie and Thornton separated, and their divorce was finalized in 2003. After their separation, the “Maleficent” star’s style changed to a more sophisticated, polished look as she focused on humanitarian work and left her Gothic era behind. And like most of these women, Angelina Jolie has dressed with a vengeance several times, like at the premiere of “Maria” at the Venice Film Festival, where she wore a beige Tamara Ralph gown with a glamorous fur wrap.

After six years of marriage, Hollywood couple Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise announced their separation in 2012. After this, Holmes moved to New York City with his daughter Suri, and made a new life for himself. And while the “Dawson’s Creek” star preferred a private life away from the spotlight, Katie Holmes’s fabulous style evolution shows just how great she looked after her divorce. After the split, Holmes adopted a more youthful and fun approach to fashion and beauty, something she avoided throughout their marriage.

Kaley Cuoco is another famous actress who became even better after her divorce. “The Big Bang Theory” star met, got engaged and married former tennis player Ryan Sweeting in 2013, but the couple split after only two years. Their divorce was finalized in 2016, and since then, Kaley Cuoco’s transformation has been undeniable. The star has started making more edgy beauty and fashion choices when it comes to her style.