Shailene Woodley Didn’t Have a Cell Phone While Filming ‘Divergent’

Technology might be constantly evolving, but Shailene Woodley doesn’t seem to have any interest in keeping up. Unlike people who have to have all the latest gadgets, the actor seems pretty uninterested in having high-tech electronics. This is especially true when it comes to cell phones. In fact, the Divergent alum likes to create as much distance from her phone as possible.

Having starred in wildly popular movies and TV shows like Big Little Lies and The Fault in Our Stars, Woodley is a highly-recognizable celebrity. This means that, at times, she doesn’t have as much privacy as the average citizen. However, The O.C. alum has found ways to ensure that she maintains somewhat of a normal life. By setting boundaries with fans and moving around a lot, Woodley has created a sense of normalcy.

Shailene Woodley explains how she keeps her personal life private

“The thing with privacy is I’m just going to make sure that whatever I hold sacred stays sacred,” Woodley shared with The Daily Beast. “What I hold dear to my heart is nobody’s business in the same way whatever you hold dear to your heart is nobody’s business, unless you’re willing to share that.”

But how does Woodley combat those who try to breech her privacy? Many celebrities of Woodley’s caliber have been subjected to having their phones and documents hacked and leaked to the public. However, Woodley didn’t have to worry about such things because there was a period of time when she didn’t even have a phone. While filming Divergent, Woodley decided to go old school and give up her cell phone.

‘The O.C.’ alum didn’t have a cell phone when she was filming ‘Divergent’

“As far as the hacking stuff goes, I don’t really have to worry about that,” Woodley shared. “I’m not a big technology person. I don’t even have a smartphone. I don’t even have a cellphone! And if I were to have one, it would be a flip-phone.” Continuing on, the Divergent alum shared the benefits of getting rid of her phone and how the experience felt freeing.

“There’s a bigger lack of privacy than there’s ever been, but there’s also a bigger lack of camaraderie and community than there’s ever been,” Woodley revealed. “I mean … just asking people for directions. Since I got rid of my phone, having to pull over and be like, ‘Hey, buddy—do you know how to get here?’ I’m talking to people more than I’ve ever talked to in my life because I no longer have that crutch. The more you get away from all the technological buzz, the more freedom you have.”

Woodley limits the amount of time she spends on her phone

Since wrapping the Divergent series, Woodley has started carrying a phone again. However, she still exercises a lot of boundaries with it. In fact, the movie star is rarely on her phone. While it can be challenging for her friends and family to contact her at times, not having a phone helps Woodley manage her anxiety. It’s certainly unusual to be so technology free in this day and age but clearly, it’s working for Woodley.