Cameron Diaz returns to rom-com with new NYC film shoot

Cameron Diaz is proving her acting comeback is no one-off. The 53-year-old star was spotted back at work in New York City on March 13, filming a fresh romantic comedy that has fans buzzing. After stepping away from Hollywood for a decade to focus on family, she first returned in 2025 with the hit ‘Back in Action’ with Jamie Foxx. Now, she is diving into this untitled project with clear enthusiasm.

Cameron Diaz teams up with Stephen Merchant, 51, who directs and co-wrote the script alongside John Butler. The Deadline broke the news in January, revealing the plot follows a workaholic British hotel employee in upscale New York. He strikes a deal with a struggling stand-up comedian desperate for health insurance: a fake marriage for appearances. Sparks fly as their arrangement turns real, blending humor with unexpected romance. On set outside the Olive Tree Cafe and Comedy Cellar in the West Village, Diaz embodied her character. She wore a long black leather coat, scarf, and lace-up boots, her blonde curls bouncing in the cool March air.

Photographers caught her laughing between takes, a sign she is enjoying the grind. When Cameron Diaz opened up about her return Diaz has opened up about her return before. In a 2024 interview with InStyle, she said, “I took time away to be with my family, and it was the best decision. But acting is in my blood, and I’m excited to jump back in when the right roles come along.”

On why she picked this rom-com, she told Entertainment Tonight last month, “Stephen’s script had me hooked from page one. It’s funny, real, and about second chances, which feels right for where I am now.” Merchant echoed her vibe during a podcast appearance on The Howard Stern Show, noting, “Cameron’s timing is gold. Working with her feels effortless, like old friends riffing.” Family first, then fame Diaz’s hiatus began around 2014 after films like Annie. She married Benji Madden in 2015, welcomed daughter Raddix in 2019, and son Cardinal last year.

Her Back in Action role marked a cautious re-entry, and this NYC shoot shows momentum building. She is also lined up for Netflix’s ‘Bad Day’ and ‘Shrek 5’ as Princess Fiona. Diaz’s warm smile on set hints at joy in balancing it all. Hollywood welcomes her back, one curl at a time. Her story inspires: step away, recharge, return stronger.


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