Ariana Richards Changed Her Life After Jurassic Park And Quitting Acting For Good, Here's What She's Really Doing Now

Ariana Richards' life changed drastically after playing Lex in the first Jurassic Park.

Best known for her role in the groundbreaking 1993 film Jurassic Park, Ariana Richards led a successful acting career early in her life. Born in California, Richards started acting at a young age and quickly made a name for herself with her performances. Her captivating role in Jurassic Park left an impression on the audience and became a defining moment of her acting career.

However, in the years following her ascent to fame, Richards made a life-altering decision. Choosing to leave the glitz and glamour of Hollywood behind, she set out on a new path. Today, Richards' life bears little resemblance to her days as a child star just as Trevor Morgan from "Jurassic Park 3". She has quit acting for good and completely transformed her life, channeling her passion and talent into a different field art.

In the cinematic masterpiece, Jurassic Park, Ariana Richards brilliantly embodied the character of Alexis "Lex" Murphy. According to Mirror, as the granddaughter of the visionary park founder, Dr John Hammond, and the older sister to Tim Murphy, Lex was a central character in the narrative. With her bright blonde hair and youthful innocence, she quickly won the hearts of viewers.

An intriguing aspect of Lex's character was her knack for computer programming. This skill proved to be instrumental in key moments of the film, allowing the group of survivors to navigate their way out of the perilous situation they found themselves in on the dinosaur-populated island.

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Lex was among the first characters to uncover the controversial scientific advancements that InGen, the bioengineering company, had achieved in resurrecting dinosaurs.

Following her unforgettable performance in Jurassic Park which later spawned more sequels, Richards continued her acting journey with a range of roles in various films and television shows. Some of her notable appearances include roles in Tremors 3: Back to Perfection, Angus, Battledogs, and the sci-fi comedy Spaced Invaders. Despite these subsequent roles, her portrayal of Lex Murphy continues to be most fondly remembered by fans and critics alike.

Ariana Richards' decision to step away from acting was largely motivated by her desire to explore her other interests and passions, the most prominent of which was art. From a young age, she had shown a deep affinity towards painting and the world of fine arts, an interest that remained with her throughout her acting career.

After achieving significant success in Hollywood, Richards began to feel the pull of her artistic endeavors more strongly. She realized that her true calling lay not in front of the camera but in expressing herself through her art. The glitz and glamour of acting no longer held the same appeal for her as the serene satisfaction she derived from creating a piece of artwork.

As a result, Richards made the conscious decision to leave her acting career behind. The path she chose shows that she valued her personal happiness over fame.

Ariana Richards fully committed herself to her artistry following her exit from the acting industry. According to Daily Mail, with her deep-rooted passion for painting, she honed her skills through rigorous education at prestigious institutions such as Skidmore College and the Art Center College of Design.

Upon the completion of her studies in 2001, Richards was ready to dive headfirst into the art world. She began creating a diverse range of artwork with her knowledge and creativity. Including dinosaurs' paintings. However, her work isn't limited to dinosaur-themed art. Richards has produced a multitude of stunning landscape paintings and intricate portraits, demonstrating her versatility as an artist.

As she stated on her website, her art is heavily influenced by the styles of historic painters such as Claude Monet and Edgar Degas. These inspirations can be seen in the details, colour palettes, and techniques she employs in her work. By investing her time and effort into painting, Richards has managed to build a successful career in the art industry.

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Ariana Richards has not only made a name for herself in the art world but she's also garnered prestigious accolades to recognize her immense talent. According to Wikiwand, in 2005, she received top honours at the National Professional Oil Painting Competition, a prominent event sponsored by American Artist magazine. Her winning piece, an evocative painting titled "Lady of the Dahlias," demonstrated her skill and unique artistic vision.

Richards' success didn't stop there. The following year, in 2006, she was presented with the Award of Excellence from Art of the West, further cementing her status as a respected and admired artist. These accolades signify the high quality of her work and her proficiency in the medium of oil painting.

Richards' artwork has been showcased beyond these formal recognitions in various art publications. This exposure has allowed her to reach a wider audience, introducing more people to her extraordinary talent.

Ariana Richards found a way to pay homage to her Hollywood roots. According to Mirror, she unveiled a magnificent painting, which she shared on her Instagram account. The 30x40-inch artwork served as a beautiful tribute to Jurassic Park, the film that skyrocketed her to fame.

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The meticulously detailed painting, captured in six separate Instagram posts, portrayed a life-size T-Rex in a museum setting. With its mouth wide open, the dinosaur stood under a banner reading, "When Dinosaurs Ruled The Earth," echoing the iconic scene from the movie.

In January 2013, Richards got married to Mark Aaron Bolton in Oregon, and they both welcomed a daughter in 2015. She has described herself as a "painter, actress, mother, and I also happen to be a vegetarian" on her Instagram page.

While Ariana Richards may still be fondly remembered as Lex Murphy, the brave young girl from Jurassic Park, she has moved far beyond her acting roots. She chose to step out of the Hollywood glare and discovered her true passion in the tranquillity of art, turning empty canvases into meaningful expressions of her creativity.

Christina Esuabom is a freelance article writer from Africa, who loves writing words that make reality TV sound even more real! She loves to play volleyball, watch reality tv shows and catch up with some premier league football matches.