Heather Graham is sharing her experiences of nearly three decades of distance from her family.

In an essay for the Wall Street Journal published on Thursday, the “Austin Powers” star opened up about her familial struggles, expressing that “home and schools weren’t joyful environments during my upbringing.” She discussed her father’s disapproval of her choice to pursue acting.

“He repeatedly insisted that the entertainment industry was toxic, warning that Hollywood would take my soul if I ventured into acting or any projects with sexual themes,” Graham shared. She also mentioned that her “parents came from a generation that didn’t embrace therapy or discussing personal issues, which made it hard for me to connect with them.”

In her reflection, Graham, now 54, recounts her move from a suburb near Washington, D.C. to Agoura Hills, California at the age of 9. She felt out of place and recalled times spent shopping at thrift stores, where her mother chose her clothes, which contributed to her feeling like an outsider in school.

“I resembled a 40-year-old woman when I was just 15,” she noted, explaining how she finally left her parents’ home at 18, following the success of her breakout film “License to Drive.”

Graham recounted telling herself, “I’ve got to leave, I need to succeed, I have to become a movie star,” regarding the liberating move to a West Hollywood apartment she shared with a high school friend.

Despite enjoying a successful career, Graham’s conflicts with her parents regarding her Hollywood choices led to a painful conclusion.

“I stopped communicating with my parents at 25, and I’m estranged from them now. My friends feel proud of me, and I take pride in myself too. I have wonderful friends,” she revealed.

However, she expresses contentment at present, residing in Los Angeles and owning a loft in New York City. She shared with WSJ that she loves “relaxing on my couch in L.A. at twilight, watching the sunset as the city lights begin to twinkle below.”