In a new interview, Melissa Gilbert opened up about her journey from Hollywood to New York, leaving behind the "anti-aging" culture of Los Angeles to embrace life on the East Coast.

However, the actress pointed out that she still loves LA and realized her deep attachment to her hometown after the "wildfires".

Now living in Manhattan with her husband Timothy Busfield, Melissa Gilbert reflects on her past and upcoming projects.

During the conversation with Page Six, Gilbert, who retired from Hollywood in 2013, revealed that she left the City of Angels for New York City, describing California as "so anti-aging".

The former "Little House on the Prairie" star, now 60, explained: "I just didn't feel like it was a safe place for me to age. It's so anti-aging, which is one of my least favorite expressions in the anti-aging world. means dead."

Gilbert admitted that during her time in California, she often felt pressured to "not age and stay a size 2 or 4 or whatever (she) was at the time."

But her perspective changed dramatically after her move to the East Coast. "I went from, 'Oh God, I better not get old!' to 'Oh my God, I'm so glad I'm older!'" she said.

Gilbert continued, "I love the age I'm at now. Sixties was the most amazing year, just to look back at all the things I've done and know that I've earned my opinion, I have value, I'm wise."

She added: "I've done so much, and I'm still doing it, and it's not over by any stretch of the imagination."

Now happily settled in Manhattan's Upper West Side with her husband Timothy Busfield, Gilbert said she still has a deep affection for Los Angeles even though she has left it behind.

"I didn't realize the depth of love I had for my hometown until the fire," she said, referring to the Pacific Palisades fire that broke out on Jan. 7, 2025. "How many people I know who lost everything, not movie and television stars ."

While she admits LA will always be special to her, Gilbert explained, "It just wasn't the right place to live anymore, but it will always be my hometown."

Looking ahead, the "Dancing With The Stars" alum is set to star alongside "Mad Men" actor Mark Moses in the off-Broadway play "Still."

The drama explores the complexities of a couple reuniting after 30 years to determine "whether they can now rekindle this relationship despite the fact that they are political, polar opposites."

During the conversation, Gilbert revealed that she drew from her life experiences for her role in "Still," specifically her past marriages to Boo Brinkman (1988–1994) and Bruce Boxleitner (1995–2011), where different political views caused tension.

"It became unsustainable, and it was before 2016 that things got even more heated," explained the "Prairie Tale" author, per Page Sixreferring to Donald Trump's first presidential term.

She continued, "I will say that both times I was single again, there was a lifting of a burden and a peace that filled my home because I didn't have to suppress my opinion or start an argument because I didn't agree."

In the meantime, Gilbert has her hands full, including a role on the Hallmark series "When Calls the Heart" and her work with Modern Prairie, a lifestyle brand that caters to older women with clothing and decor.

Performances for "Still" are scheduled to begin on February 6, 2025.

Gilbert appeared on "The Kelly Clarkson Show" on Oct. 30 and reflected on the lasting legacy of "Little House on the Prairie."

When host Kelly Clarkson complimented her on being a part of the iconic series, which ran from 1974 to 1983, Gilbert shared a touching personal moment about how the show continues to bring generations together.

"I'm watching (Little House on the Prairie) right now with a couple of my grandkids," she said in a clip shared on Instagram.

"They started watching, and it's just amazing. And it kills my mom when she walks in and sees that we're all watching... (it's) multi-generational. Yeah, she just starts sobbing," Gilbert shared.

When asked by Clarkson why she believes the series is still so influential decades later, Gilbert pointed to its timeless themes and relevance.

"A lot of people will say it's because they're stories about, you know, community and family and love and acceptance and all the good things in life that we all crave," she explained, per Good Housekeeping.

Gilbert added, "But we were also telling stories about America in 1974 through the lens of 1874. We were telling stories about veterans coming home from Vietnam, but it was the Civil War... We were telling stories about racism, anti-Semitism , chauvinism and all that we fought against, and we still tell the same stories and try to learn the same lessons.