These days, actor Jason Segel is just as likely to be found strolling through orange groves in overalls as he is attending a Hollywood premiere in an Armani suit. The 44-year-old star of "How I Met Your Mother" recently shared why he decided to leave Los Angeles and move to a "small country town" at the peak of his success in the entertainment industry.

"I was living it up in my 20s," Segel said during an interview with Hoda Kotb on the "Today" show. "I had "How I Met Your Mother'" and was also writing and starring in successful movies. But I wasn’t taking the time to check in with myself because I was constantly busy." Segel explained that his schedule was packed year-round, between filming the TV show, writing movies, and shooting them during his breaks. "I realized that art is supposed to reflect your life experiences, but I wasn’t really living."

At the age of 33, Segel had a moment of self-reflection. "I found myself still writing movies about being afraid of girls," he joked. "I’m a grown man, a successful one at that, and I’m not afraid of girls anymore. So, I left LA and moved to a small town. It gave me the space to ask myself, 'What do I actually enjoy? What do I really think about? Who do I want to be as an artist?'"

Segel believes that this change in lifestyle influenced his work, which eventually led to his current show, "Shrinking," where he plays a grieving therapist alongside Harrison Ford. "It’s like the twist in an M. Night Shyamalan movie where everything starts to make sense," he said. "I’ve realized that I care about deeper, dramatic themes, and I also know I’m good at comedy. Now, I’m figuring out how to blend those two."

In a 2022 interview with Jimmy Kimmel, Segel spoke more about his life in the "little farm town," mentioning his 21-acre orange grove. "I’ve got a lot of oranges and a lot of overalls," he quipped. While he admitted to missing the city "sometimes," he loves small-town life. "I go to high school football games, eat sandwiches, and even attend the local Christmas play. I wait outside afterward and ask the kids to sign my playbill," he shared with a laugh. "It’s a lot of fun. I love it."

When Kimmel asked if the kids were excited to see a famous actor ask for their autographs, Segel humorously replied, "They have no idea who I am." Segel said he moved to the town after "How I Met Your Mother" ended about a decade ago. I realized, ‘Oh, I can do whatever I want now,’ and I never left.

In LA, Segel explained, he was always wary of the paparazzi. "But in this small town, I just walk around like Big Bird," he joked, mimicking an exaggerated wave. "To the kids, I’m the Muppet guy, and to the adults, I’m the guy from "Forgetting Sarah Marshall." It’s the perfect balance."