Joan Cusack made a rare public appearance at the May 28 premiere of Toy Story 5 at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London, marking her first red-carpet event since 2015. The actress, best known for voicing Jessie in the Toy Story franchise, joined co-stars Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Greta Lee and Tony Hale at the premiere alongside her husband, Richard Burke.
Cusack wore a white button-down shirt with a black maxi skirt, black-rimmed glasses and a bob haircut with bangs. Her return to the spotlight drew attention because she has largely kept a low profile in recent years, preferring a quieter life away from Hollywood’s biggest events.
The Oscar-nominated actress received two Academy Award nominations during her career, for Working Girl in 1988 and In & Out in 1997. She also won an Emmy in 2015 for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for Shameless, which remains the last major award-show appearance before this latest red-carpet outing.
Much of Cusack’s time away from the industry has been spent in Chicago, where she lives with her husband and their now-adult sons, Dylan John and Miles. She also operates Judy Maxwell Home, a gift shop she opened in 2011. In a 2019 interview, Cusack said she values Chicago’s culture, history, museums, architecture and restaurants, and noted that the city helps her family avoid the pressures and image-focused culture she associated with Los Angeles.
Despite her selective approach to work, Cusack agreed to reprise Jessie for Toy Story 5. She described the film as “Jessie’s story” and said the project felt “glorious” in an interview with Virgin Radio UK.
The upcoming animated sequel is set for release in June 2026 and centers on a “Toys vs Tech” storyline, exploring how traditional toys compete with technology for children’s attention. Cusack’s appearance at the London premiere underscored both her enduring connection to the franchise and the continued appeal of the beloved character she has voiced for years.
