Linda Blair Faced a 'Midlife Crisis' After The Exorcist — Which Led to Her Animal Volunteer Work (Exclusive)

The actress founded The Linda Blair WorldHeart Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of animals

Linda Blair opens up about what led to her many years of volunteer work with animals.

In an exclusive conversation with PEOPLE, the actress and activist, 64, gets candid about how the “midlife crisis” that followed her breakout role in 1973. The exorcist led to what she describes as her “life calling.” “In my 20s, I said, ‘I’m really struggling.’ For some it was a midlife crisis,” Blair explains. “But for me it was my calling in life, to say: ‘What about me? Animals need help.’ ”

“So that’s where I really started to bend… and I was giving my time and my money,” she continues.

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Linda Blair.

Linda Blair WorldHeart Foundation

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Blair became world famous for her role in The exorcistin which she played Regan MacNeil, a 12-year-old girl possessed by an ancient demon.

However, before landing the role, Blair had dreams of one day becoming a veterinarian and says she took on small modeling and commercial roles to fund her future goal. “It wasn’t Hollywood,” she explains. “That’s not what we applied for. We didn’t ask for that, we asked for funding so I could follow my dream, which was to go to Cornell [University].”

Finally, auditions for The exorcist showed up, and after a long process — which Blair says included “makeup tests” and “psychological tests” — she was cast in the role, which earned her an Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe win.

Linda Blair.

Chris Ameruoso

Blair says she still had a normal childhood amid filming the horror movie and details that through it all she tried to keep her love of animals in her heart. “They made sure I went out on the weekends,” she explains. “I have to ride my horses [and] I raised a rooster in an incubator on set for my science project.”

But once The exorcist was released and became a huge hit, Blair says, “It changed the direction of what I wanted.”

“So, I worked and worked,” she adds. “Now I’m proud of all these movies… and I know they’ve changed a lot of lives, so I’m very grateful for that.”

Linda Blair.

Linda Blair WorldHeart Foundation

Still, Blair’s love of animals remained at the forefront of her mind — and her heart — and she knew there was something she needed to do with her platform.

So in 2003, she launched The Linda Blair WorldHeart Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of abused, neglected and abandoned animals, which also provides them with proper nutrition, veterinary care, comfortable facilities, training, companionship and, according to its website, “an abundance of love”.

Looking back, Blair says her late mother, Elinore Blair, inspired her to love animals since she was a little girl. “She really made me who I am and she loved life,” he says.

“She was one of the kindest people I know and always said, ‘Hang out with like-minded people and volunteer. You’ll meet people who will change your life, it’s just that,'” adds Blair.

Linda Blair.

Chris Ameruoso

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Now, even though her foundation is thriving, Blair tells PEOPLE there’s still work to do to make sure rescued dogs live their best lives before moving on to their “forever furry” homes.

“I think a lot of animal welfare people need to get more involved so we can make the changes that are needed,” she explains. “But it requires funding. We get nothing from the state, nothing from the government. There is no funding for the rescue community. Shelters can continue to apply for government funding, but not rescue groups.”

“That’s why I said, help in your area, volunteer, foster and adopt. Ask what you can do,” Blair continues. “You can sell cakes and bring in that money, or you can provide food and blankets while you clean out your closet.”

The star adds: “And when it all comes down to voting [in] in any of these elections, make sure you know who you’re really voting for, because he dictates what you get in your life and the love we can have on this planet.”

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