Anjelica Huston’s Los Angeles home didn’t escape the wrath of the recent wildfires, and the damage was more than just cosmetic.
The 73-year-old actress revealed that her property suffered “significant” damage when fires tore through parts of Pacific Palisades earlier this year. She’s since relocated to her ranch near the Sierra Nevada mountains, where she’s been living and healing alongside nature and animals.
In a new chat with People, Anjelica opened up about the toll the fires took. “It turned out to be okay,” she said, “but it’s taken this long to remediate because I had damage and several windows blown out. Not terrible, but significant.” That kind of damage isn’t something you just patch up and move on from quickly, especially when the emotional impact lingers, too.
Back in January, the fires destroyed nearly 17,000 homes across California. Celebs like Spencer Pratt, Heidi Montag, John Goodman, and Paris Hilton were also among those who lost properties. For Huston, the whole experience was traumatic but brought some unexpected moments of kindness, like a touching invitation from ex-boyfriend Jack Nicholson, who reached out during the chaos.
“It was heartbreakingly sweet,” she recalled, “I’ve gone back over it several times in my head, and I think next time I’d accept the invitation.” Their relationship in the ’70s and ’80s may be long over, but clearly the bond still exists. That moment of reflection shows how emotional the aftermath of a disaster can be, reminding you of who truly cares.
While her Los Angeles home gets sorted, Anjelica’s been spending most of her time at the ranch she bought in 1984. And it turns out, she’s been diving deep into a surprising passion, donkeys. “There are several groups here who look after wild donkeys, and I’m one of them,” she said. “Donkeys are not the showiest, but they’re really special.”
She’s basically become a full-on donkey advocate, spending her time riding and caring for animals. Life in the Sierra Nevadas might be a major shift from the L.A. hustle, but it seems to suit her perfectly. “There’s a certain amount of wildlife that goes on, but it’s actually very friendly,” she said. “It’s a small town and very colloquial… I spend my time around the animals and riding, and it’s been very pleasurable.”
Have you ever had to recover from wildfire damage or leave your home behind?
