When Eliza Dushku slowly stepped away from Hollywood in 2017, fans noticed. In 2024, she officially announced her retirement, and the former child star meant what she said: she is not coming back to the acting world. Dushku has been keeping things quiet for a while, but she has resurfaced with some big news. The Buffy the Vampire Slayer star recently received her master’s degree. Her second career will focus on helping individuals who have experienced trauma. Eliza Dushku’s own experience informed her pursuit of the degree. She was a victim of sexual harassment multiple times during her time in Hollywood; it’s one of the reasons she left the entertainment world behind.

Eliza Dushku received her master’s degree in counseling

Stepping away from acting has done Eliza Dushku a lot of good. The former actor no longer appears on TV or in movies, but she does update her fan base about her life via Instagram. Her recent upload is particularly exciting.

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The Tru Calling star took to the social media platform to announce she had graduated with her master’s degree this week. She received her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lesley University. Dushku shared a video of her walking across the stage to receive her diploma with her followers.

Last year, Dushku spoke with Boston Magazine about her coursework and her hopes for the future. She told the publication that she had the means to change direction and decided to seize the opportunity. Dushku has a specific interest in the use of psychedelics in mental health treatment. She is officially a counselor.

Why did she leave Hollywood?

Eliza Dushku’s academic coursework is close to her heart. The former actor sought out a counseling degree, hoping to help people work through trauma. She shared one of her own traumatic experiences in 2018 amid the # MeToo movement. In 2018, Dushku outlined how she was molested by Joel Kramer when she was just 12. Kramer was the stunt coordinator on True Lies and had worked closely with the preteen. In an emotional Facebook post, she recalled how Kramer had groomed her before luring her to his hotel room, where he forcibly touched her. She went on to say he nicknamed her “Jailbait.” Dushku also said she was injured in a stunt, likely as a form of retribution, after she revealed what Kramer had done.

Years later, Dushku would be subjected to sexual harassment at the hands of Michael Weatherly. Dushku was cast in Bull alongside Weatherly in 2017. She appeared in just a few episodes before she was dropped from the show. Dushku contended that producers fired her after she complained of sexual harassment. The former actor accused Weatherly of making rape jokes and commenting on her appearance.

Although the claims never reached court, an investigation was launched. Reports suggest outtakes from the show proved harassment had taken place. According to the New York Times, CBS settled with Dushku for $9.5 million. Weatherly later addressed the situation, apologizing for having made Dushku uncomfortable. Despite the scandal, Bull aired for six seasons, concluding in 2022.

The harassment and sexual assault Dushku faced, as well as a PTSD diagnosis and a desire to explore different opportunities, all led Dushku to leave Hollywood behind. She is now married and living in Boston with her husband, Peter Palandjian, and their two sons.