6 Comeback Stories That’ll Fire You Up To Dust Yourself Off And Try Again

After some time away and in normality, the clock’s ticking for Alice to make her return to Underland. PEDESTRIAN.TV has teamed up with Disney for their release of Alice Through The Looking Glass to reflect on all those A+ humans who, like Alice, took time off only to return with a new and fresh outlook on what they left behind the first time ’round. Be sure to check the film when it comes out May 26, 2016.


Time is a funny concept. Besides the fact that we all run out of it at some point, it can also dictate how we look and act as it passes by. It’s safe to say some people aren’t really friends with that ticking clock, namely because it inadvertently runs our lives.

A bit cray considering we only have one lifetime, y’know? Coincidentally, a lil’ time off from worrying about time can do y’all some good, and the below roundup of artistic comeback stories worth remembering/praising prove that. 

Plus, absence makes the heart grow fonder and all that jazz, y’know?

DANIEL JOHNS


Photos: Daniel Berehulak, Mark Metcalfe / Getty. 

After eight years of silence, Silverchair‘s Daniel Johns returned to our playlists with his debut solo album TALK last year. Complete with bangers including ‘Aerial Love’, it was clear that, while Silverchair may’ve been dead, Daniel as a soothing, soulful solo artist was very much alive. 

GEMMA WARD


Photos: Randy Brooke / Getty, Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho / Getty.

The fashion world collectively DIED when Australia‘s own Gemma Ward walked Milan’s Prada runway in 2014, just, y’know, some six years after her last modelling stint.

The home-grown success story – who, if ya remember correctly, was the youngest ever model to grace US Vogue – retreated from the runways/photoshoots in 2008 after her close friend and fellow Aussie treasure Heath Ledger tragically passed away. During that time she focused on her personal life, acting career and gave birth to her daughter, Naia. Time may not heal all wounds (I, for one, still weep like a baby every time I revisit 10 Things I Hate About You), but it sure does allow you to work on yourself and come back with a vengeance.

ANNA CHLUMSKY


Photo: Columbia Pictures Coordination, HBO.

Anna Chlumsky was the golden girl of the 90s – ‘sif you didn’t watch My Girl and turn into a blubbering mess thanks to her totally believable Thomas J-induced tears? Unlike her costar Macaulay Culkin, Anna protected her acting prime with a little time off from the Hollywood game and has now returned to her art better than ever.

From 1999-2005, Anna considered other careers out of the spotlight, graduated with a BA in International Studies in 2002, worked as a fact-check for the Zagat Survey and was an editorial assistant at HarperCollins. Talk about doing a complete 180, hey? She returned to acting after her six-year hiatus, more recently known for her role in Veep.

MARC JACOBS


Photos: Ron Galella / Getty, Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty. 

People still remember Marc Jacobs‘ collection for Perry Ellis – y’know, that grungy one that eventuated in him getting fired in 1993. A year later in 1994, some of the industry’s highest-paid supermodels including Linda Evangelista and Naomi Campbell walked for free in Marc’s “comeback” show, held on his birthday. 

Nothing quite says comeback like a woman who doesn’t get out of bed for less than $10K a day fronting the return, no? Besides, by 1997 he was hired by Louis Vuitton, and, let’s be honest, that’s a much more recognisable name than Perry Ellis. He has now gone on to become one of the most iconic designers of our time spanning watches, perfume and clothing. Blessing in disguise, no?

LILY ALLEN


Photo: Martin Philbey / Getty, RCA.

Lily Allen is a woman of many talents – one being her unwavering inconsistency. We never know if she’s coming or going. The outspoken British singer – known for songs like ‘Smile’ and ‘Not Fair’ – announced her retirement from singing in 2009, only to come back four years later after time spent with her family.

“I wasn’t good at staying at home all day, it didn’t suit me. I’m creative, it’s just who I am… I missed the positive feedback about my music from my fans. I missed the rush of performing. I missed the free clothes and handbags and the good tables in posh restaurants. I did!”
she explained of her return.

Lily eased back onto the music scene by featuring on P!NK‘s commercial banger ‘True Love’, incl. the video clip, in 2013. In other news, P!NK is making somewhat of a musical comeback with a track on Disney‘s forthcoming Alice Through The Looking Glass, three years on from her musical silence.

ROALD DAHL


Photos: Roald Dahl, Disney.

Roald Dahl may’ve passed back in 1990, but his legacy has been reprised in recent years, giving us all a good taste of nostalgia while also reminding us of his impeccable art. Think that dank Willy Wonka meme that won’t stop doing the rounds, his grandkids Phoebe and Lucy Dahl making their imprint on the fashion industry, or almost every one of his novels undergoing a musical and/or film adaptation. We have Disney and Tim Burton, in part, to thank for the latter, and doing his pop culture comeback justice with A+ versions of Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, James & The Giant Peach, The BFG (well, we expect it will be amazing) and more.

We guess good things really do come to those who wait.

AIN’T THAT THE TRUTH. 

To check Alice / homegirl Mia Wasikowska make her comeback to that outlandish haven known as Underland, in Disney’s Alice Through The Looking Glass, catch the film in cinemas May 26.

Photo: MTV.

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