Leaving Scientology Made Leah Remini Raise Her Daughter Sofia As A “Strong-minded Kid”

Almost nine years after Leah Remini left the church of Scientology behind, she’s opened up about how her life has changed during that time and why it’s been the best decision she’s ever made, not just for herself, but for her kid.

Actress Leah Remini Wants Her Daughter to Run For Congress

In this week’s issue of PEOPLE, the actress and host of the PEOPLE Puzzler game show, 51, recalled how walking away from the church after 30 years in 2013 allowed her and husband Angelo Pagan, 63, to raise their 17-year-old daughter Sophia as the “strong-minded kid she is now, who, hopefully, is going to make some positive change in the world.”

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“I’m always saying to her and her friends, ‘I hope you are going to take all this genius and get your asses into Congress,’ ” Remini shared. “That’s how you’re going to change things.”

Even though Sophia is not yet old enough to be in Congress or enter the House of Representatives (senators must be at least 30, while those in the House of Representatives must be at least 25), she’s at the point where she’ll likely take a big leap towards her future goal. In the fall, she’ll be going away to college.

Speaking about how she feels about Sophia heading off to college, she said: “People are always like, ‘Oh my God, you should be so proud.’ Yes, Angelo and I are very proud, but it’s like I’m having a job of 17 years that I’ve loved and cherished ripped away from me overnight. I’m devastated.”

Until that time when Sofia is all set to leave for college, Remini said she’s “trying to treasure every moment” with her daughter.

“Even though she doesn’t need me, I’m in this perpetual mode of trying to impress her with my domestic skills,” she said. “I’m constantly cleaning, cooking, organizing or running to Party City to help her host parties for her friends.”

“I’ve always provided for my family members, and I’ve always been the boss, so now it feels like it’s coming to a different chapter of my life where it’s not going to be about getting Sofia to and from school anymore,” she continued. “I have to now find ways to get out of the house. It’s scary, because I don’t know what the next thing is for me.”

However, seeing Sophia thrive has made all her past struggle after leaving Scientology (which she documented in her A&E series “Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath”) worth it.

Leah Remini On Growing Up In The Church Of Scientology

“My friend Sherry, who also left the church and has a son in college now, recently texted me, ‘Aren’t we so jealous of our kids?'” she recalled. “We wish we had what we’ve given them.”

The actress recently shared on Instagram that she didn’t receive formal education past the eighth grade as a young member of the church. However, she’s doing something about it as she’s now taking online classes at New York University, where she enrolled for an associate’s degree last fall.

Riverdale Star Celebrates Son’s 1st Birthday With Sweet Tribute @soapoperaspy https://t.co/HNXm1ipMP4 #Riverdale

— SOS/CTS/HH (@SoapOperaSpy) February 2, 2022

“It’s been amazing,” she said about working to get her degree. “It’s been difficult when I’m working because sometimes I’ll work from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. and then have to come home and read chapters and do a quiz when my brain is shutting down. But I’m doing it, and I am proud of myself. With my degree, I might eventually want to go into politics, but who knows? I would like to be of some kind of public service.”

As for her acting career, Remini shared that her years in the business have taught her to be selective about her roles.

“I don’t know that I want to keep up the pace as far as Hollywood’s concerned,” she says. “I like to work, and I’m very blessed that I’m able to say no, but I want to work on things that are fun. It’s not that deep what we do as entertainers, so I don’t want to get caught up in something where people are miserable.”

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