Everyone struggles with sadness, disillusionment, & addictions. The public struggles of movie stars & famous people may make them less happy than normal people.
Movie star happiness isn't all it's cracked up to be because of the public struggles of famous people. Models, movie stars, musicians and star athletes may actually be prone to more bouts of unhappiness and even despair than regular people.
Famous people are almost four times more likely to commit suicide than average Americans, says writer and professor Jib Fowles (author of Star Stuck: Celebrity Performers and the American Public). Movie star happiness seems hard to achieve, in part because the public struggles of famous people make the headlines every day.
Public struggles of movie stars
We're aware of the struggles of famous people, and they show that movie star happiness is tenuous. For instance Kate Moss was addicted to cocaine and treated in a rehab centre. Marilyn Monroe, blonde bombshell movie star, was severely depressed before she committed suicide (or was murdered, according to some conspiracy theorists). Phil Hartman – tv actor, Simpsons’ Lionel Hutz voice – shot his wife, then killed himself in his home in California. Rock star Kurt Cobain commited suicide. Anna Nicole Smith was found dead in a hotel room. These examples make movie star happiness seem hard to achieve.
Movie star happiness is hard to achieve for several reasons:
Movie stars have no secrets. The public struggles of famous people include break ups, disappointments, and weaknesses. The public struggles of movie stars are available for everyone to see, discuss and mock. We love reading about the gaffes and gossip of the rich and famous; the more embarrassing, the better. Can you imagine your personal life – your divorces, addictions, and mistakes – being available for the world to see? Movie star happiness or despair is public. It doesn't help that we're addicted to celebrity gossip, of course.
Movie stars' sense of self is (or could become) lost. Famous people may lose touch with who they really are and what they really think and like. The media and fans have their own ideas about who a movie star is, which makes it difficult for the celebrity to remain grounded in his or her own self. Movie star happiness is affected by knowing that the world perceives you inaccurately, or doesn't know who you really are. And, sharing your opinions on national tv (such as Tom Cruise’s speculations on Brooke Shield’s postpartum depression) could make you vulnerable to a massive attack. The public struggle of famous people to determine a sense of self can make happiness shaky.
It's lonely at the top. Movie star happiness may be affected by the whole experience of reaching the pinnacle of success and realizing it’s not as fulfilling as you think. It’s like getting your first book published, or earning your first degree, or being on tv for the first time…at first it’s exhilarating, but then you eventually wonder, “Is this it? What else is there?”
Imposter syndrome may hit. Some celebrities are bewildered by their fame, knowing that they’re not perfect – and not even as wonderful – as their fans think. This, the “imposter syndrome”, occurs when people don’t feel they deserve their success. Famous people may also fear being discovered, that the American public will find out that they’re not as wonderful as they’ve been made out to be.
Movie star happiness is affected by:
Paparazzi and the press take unanticipated, unauthorized photos
Their children being approached, even harassed
Stalkers could seriously impact their lives
Critics may negatively review their acting, writing, or singing
The public may lose interest
Their relationships and life events – even their garbage – is on public display
They’re pressured to succeed and perform better and better all the time
Fame no doubt has its benefits, but it could be a stressful existence. Movie star happiness is definitely not a guarantee. However, one person’s garbage is another’s treasure, and one person’s stress is another’s oxygen. If movie stars are in the ‘biz because they genuinely love entertaining, they may find the stress easier to take. Who knows: perhaps movie star happiness could even override the public struggles of famous people.
If you found Movie Star Happiness: The Public Struggles of Famous People interesting, you might like:
The copyright of the article Movie Star Happiness in Psychology is owned by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen. Permission to republish Movie Star Happiness in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Comments
Oct 25, 2006 10:46 AM
Jodee Redmond :
I find it ironic that people pursue careers as entertainers because they want to perform, to have people look at them, so to speak, but then they complain when the attention they get becomes overwhelming to them. The people who seem to achieve the best balance are those to whom it is what they do, not who they are. They keep their private lives private and out of the public eye.
Nov 1, 2006 5:50 AM
Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen :
It's interesting how some celebrities are so private, like Michael Keaton. I almost never hear anything about him, and it makes me curious about his life! Other celebrities are often in the news, like Britney or Tom Cruise. I wonder if they seek it out somehow, an invasion of their private lives?
Nov 2, 2006 3:22 PM
Jodee Redmond :
You're right; some celebs keep their work separate from their private lives and are quite successful at it.
Perhaps it's impossible to be prepared for the level of attention that comes with celebrity status now. Maybe they feel like their fans are friends?
Nov 5, 2006 5:19 AM
Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen :
I don't know about fans being friends, but I just read a quote from Courtney Love: "I love being famous because no one else has it. Because it's psychicly charging. Because I get off on it."
Maybe all famous people feel this way, even if they won't admit it.
Nov 5, 2006 8:12 AM
Pink :
. Have you ever watched George Bush prance on stage? . :) . Do you think he is getting off on it? . What about his smirky smile? . ABC .
Nov 9, 2006 5:49 PM
Jodee Redmond :
To be a "good" politician, trial lawyer, actor, singer, etc., you have to have the "look at me" thing on the go. I guess that means these people get off on being in the spotlight, whether they admit it or not.
Nov 10, 2006 10:39 AM
Pink :
. Something about being in the limelight, as they say. . We're all prone to it. . Makes me think of this song: . "PLEASE HELP ME I'M FALLING"
(Don Robertson & Hal Blair)
Please help me, I'm falling In love with you Close the door to temptation Don't let me walk through Turn away from me, darling I'm begging you to Please help me, I'm falling In love with you
I belong to another Whose arms have grown cold But I promised forever To have and to hold So I can never be free, dear But when I'm with you I know that I'm losing The will to be true
Please help me, I'm falling And that would be sin Close the door to temptation Don't let me walk in For I mustn't want you But, darling, I do Please help me, I'm falling In love with you".
Nov 10, 2006 11:06 AM
Migisi :
. 15 MINUTES OF FAME http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/15_minutes_of_fame . "15 minutes of fame (or famous for 15 minutes) is an expression coined by the American artist Andy Warhol. It refers to the fleeting condition of celebrity that attaches to an object of media attention, then passes to some new object as soon as the public's attention span is exhausted." . The public's 15 minute attention span?? . CULT OF CELEBRITY http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult_of_celebrity . "The cult of celebrity is a description of the widespread interest in arbitrarily famous individuals, or 'celebrities', that became a prominent social phenomenon in late 20th century Western popular culture. . "The public fascination with such celebrities, though not technically a cult, leads to a level of idolatry, hence the quasi-religious use of the term. Driven by constant publicity and exposure in magazines, newspapers and television, fame is an essential prerequisite for celebrity status, though the principle reason for such fame is often minor. Such nonebrities, a portmanteau describing those famous for being famous, are often first noticed as reality television contestants, pop singers, actors or society debutantes. . "The cult of celebrity is often considered <b>representative of the perceived attitudes towards deliberate apathy, trivia, and dumbing down in popular culture.</b>" . The celebrity cultist can identify every actor/actress in every movie. They know their spouses names, and who's leaving/cheating on who. But the cultists can't tell you who's running for President. Amazing. . In the same vein, I think those who obsessively follow politics can also be considered members of the Cult of Celebrity. They know the names of every member of Congress, what positions they've held and for how long, and how they voted on any given issue in what year.
Nov 10, 2006 7:58 PM
Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen :
What's the difference between a fan and a cultist? Maybe a cultist is more involved/obsessed than a fan?
