This Critically Acclaimed Actress Is Back on the Red Carpet for the First Time in Over a Decade

The one and only Joan Cusack is back on the red carpet, and she looks great. Cusack joined the rest of the cast of Toy Story 5 on Thursday, May 28. The London premiere marks her first red carpet in 11 years.

The Emmy Award-winning actress wore a white button-up shirt, thick-rimmed glasses, and a long black skirt as she was photographed with her co-stars and her husband, Richard Burke. Cusack was all smiles as she posed with the cast.

Cusack is reprising her role as Jessie in the Toy Story franchise. Toy Story 5 is also her first acting role since the 2020 show Homecoming. Of course, Cusack came back since the Pixar animated sequel is "Jessie's story," according to an interview with Virgin Radio UK. Tom Hanks and Tim Allen are also reprising their roles as Woody and Buzz, respectively.

During her break from red carpets and acting, Cusack has been running her Chicago-based store, Judy Maxwell Home. She opened the store in 2011 while playing Sheila on Shameless, a role for which she won an Emmy. Cusack told The New Yorker in 2019 that it was "so fun to have a shop of your own," and that it gave her a reason to step away from Hollywood and the spotlight.

Now Cusack is back in Toy Story 5, written and directed by Andrew Stanton and Kenna Harris. The film focuses on Jessie, with the familiar crew present. Their new challenge: electronics. Jessie, who took over for Woody, has to come up with a plan to turn kids away from technology and back to toys so that Bonnie can make friends. Greta Lee joins as Lilypad, a talking tablet. New voices include Conan O'Brien, Craig Robinson, and Matty Matheson.

Cusack has voiced Jessie for over twenty years, with Toy Story 2 released in 1999. Cusack has had roles in many high-profile films, including Addams Family Values and School of Rock. She also worked with her brother, John Cusack, in Sixteen Candles and many other movies.

Audiences can hear Cusack as Jessie once again in Toy Story 5 in theaters June 19.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 29, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 4:26 PM.