Dubai: Lindsay Lohan has opened up about her journey from child stardom to finding peace in Dubai, sharing candid reflections on the emotional toll of growing up famous in a new interview with Vogue Arabia.
Best known for early 2000s hits The Parent Trap (1998), Freaky Friday (2003) and Mean Girls, Lohan became a household name while still in her teens. With success came intense media scrutiny, tabloid pressure, and industry expectations that often overshadowed her personal wellbeing.
Lohan Questions Why No One Protected Her as a Teen
Speaking with writer Christine Van Deemter for Vogue Arabia's March 2026 issue — photographed by Jonas Bresnan atop the Burj Al Arab helipad, 212 metres above Dubai — Lohan reflected honestly on how young actresses were treated during that era.
"Why didn't anyone just go and take me out of there, protect me more?" she asked. "You don't know how to do that yourself when you're a teenager."
She noted that only years later has society begun to recognise the emotional toll placed on young women in the entertainment industry. The constant tabloid coverage and pressure to maintain a certain image made it difficult to navigate fame at such a young age.
From Hollywood to Dubai: A Life on Her Own Terms
Lohan's transition away from Hollywood was gradual but deliberate. "I wasn't having fun in the business anymore," she told Vogue Arabia. "I wasn't finding roles I loved. It's not a life I wanted to live, you know? It's not a real life. It pushed me so far away that I moved to the other side of the world."
She first moved to London to explore theatre before eventually settling in Dubai in 2014. The move marked a turning point. Away from relentless paparazzi attention, she found the privacy and balance she had long been missing.
Dubai Gives Her Stability and Family
Today, Lohan is married to financier Bader Shammas and the couple have a son, Luai. She describes the relationship as a grounding force. "We're so good together because he's so calm and I'm like a firecracker," she said.
On what the city means to her: "Being in Dubai is very grounding. I get to just spend time with my family. The city gives me a sense of being with what's most important."
She views her early fame as a double-edged sword — filled with opportunity but also significant personal cost. Living in Dubai has allowed her to build life on her own terms, prioritising family and stability over constant public visibility. "With age comes a different kind of confidence," she added.
Lohan is also set to return to screens in the Hulu miniseries Count My Lies, alongside Shailene Woodley and Kit Harington.
Her story reflects a broader conversation about childhood fame and the importance of safeguarding young talent — a perspective shaped by experience, hindsight and resilience.
