Chloe Moretz has handily avoided becoming another child actor-turned-cautionary tale, and though she’s wildly talented, her roles in recent years have been — with a few exceptions — mostly underwhelming. That’s not to say that she hasn’t been an interesting performer to watch; just that there’s a discrepancy in quality between Moretz’s skills and some of the films she’s chosen. The actress’ schedule has remained consistently busy since her breakout role in Kick-Ass, but according to Moretz, it may be time to take a step back.

After recently appearing in Brain on Fire and November Criminals, Moretz tells THR that she’s “pulled the plug” on her upcoming projects — including Universal’s live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid, which was originally set to be directed by Sofia Coppola:

I pulled the plug on all my movies because I want to reassess who I am and find myself within my roles again. I’m realizing that I can slow down.

Moretz expanded on her comments to E! News (via /Film) and clarified that she’s not taking a hiatus from acting; she just wants to be more particular about her roles:

It’s not particularly time off. I’m just becoming more picky and particular about what roles I’m choosing. I think as an actor you have a huge opportunity to find yourself through the roles that you choose. I think it’s my time, right now in my life, to figure out who I am and what I am and what I want and what this industry means. Why not sit back, slow down, realize I’m 19 and go, “Hey, let’s make stuff that really, really hits hard with who I am and helps me figure out what it means to be a 19-year-old actor who is just doing her thing.”

Of her many recent films, the two that have stood out the most are Clouds of Sils Maria and Neighbors 2 — both of which feature Moretz in roles that subvert expectations rooted in stereotypes. In the former, she plays a young actress with a Lindsay Lohan-esque reputation who turns out to be much more intellectual than she’s perceived. In the latter, Moretz not only defies sorority girl cliches, she defies the “edgy” typecasting that’s made her an easy pick for roles in movies like Carrie and Dark Places.

I’ve had many discussions with friends and peers about my belief that Moretz’s career might benefit from a brief hiatus, not dissimilar from what Natalie Portman did when she took time off for college. When Portman returned, the actress who previously appeared in basic, familial dramas and tearjerkers (and those Star Wars prequels) began choosing more challenging and compelling material. Portman quickly became one of our most interesting actors and, with her role in the upcoming Jackie, is primed for her second Oscar nomination.

Moretz’s talent is undeniable, and her decision to take a step back to figure out what she really wants from her career is a great one that has me fully excited for whatever she does next.

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