It’s been almost a year since Mark Wahlberg moved his family out of Hollywood to Nevada for a “fresh start.” At the time, the “Father Stu” star said he wanted to give his kids “a better life” where they could “follow and pursue their dreams.” And according to recent interviews, that’s exactly what’s happening.
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"Everybody's adapted nicely. The kids are all out at school, and everybody's happy,” Wahlberg said. "I spent lots of time in L.A. pursuing my interests and my career, and now it's time for them to pursue theirs."
Despite being a Hollywood staple for the last few decades, Wahlberg has always been first and foremost a husband and proud dad. He shares daughters Grace, 13, and Ella, 20, plus sons Brendan, 15, and Michael, 17, with wife Rhea Durham, and wanted to create a homebase that made sense for the whole family. In fact, he recently sold the temporary townhome the family has been staying in since the relocation and moved into more of a “family home.”
Read Also: Mark Wahlberg Says Goodbye to Hollywood to Put Family's 'Fresh Start' First
"You have Las Vegas, and people think automatically, 'Oh, the Strip.' But (in) Nevada, there are wonderful communities," the actor explained. "I live in a wonderful community that's really faith-based, great schools. There's much more to Las Vegas than the Strip."
The only downside seems to be the weather as Wahlberg admitted that he misses California’s mild climate compared to the heat of the Nevada desert. Still, he said that seeing his kids “thriving” makes it all worth it.
"The kids are really happy, and it's all about them,” he said.
While Wahlberg has been keeping as busy as ever promoting his many business ventures, one of the things he wants to do is build a film and entertainment studio in Nevada so he can “work from home.” It would also have the added benefit of bringing thousands of jobs to the state and providing options for up-and-comers in the entertainment business.
"I'm always looking for the next generation of filmmakers and talent. There's so many amazing, talented people out there,” he explained. I'm always constantly looking at small films, foreign films, independent work, and I'm trying to find the next thing."
Indeed, Wahlberg has proven that he’s not afraid to roll the dice when it comes to a project that he really believes in. Just look at what he did with “Father Stu,” a film that required six years and a big chunk of Wahlberg’s own money just to get it off the ground.
“This is only the beginning for me,” he said about making a film that helps lead audiences closer to God. “It's been the most fulfilling experience throughout my career. To see the profound effect it’s had on the audience is incredible.”
Like Wahlberg, we at Great American Pure Flix love seeing families come together to grow in their faith and values. If you and your family are looking for clean and wholesome movies to watch together, be sure to check out these 20 Best Movies to Watch with the Whole Family that you can stream right here! Not a member? Sign up for a free trial today.
Photo Credit: Instagram
H/T: People.com