Do you think many movie stars regret their choice of careers?

bobcat

bobcat

Well-known Member
Location
Northern Calif
Does the enchantment wear off for some, when they are constantly under the gaze of someone's camera. Does the loss of privacy, and the gossip, and signing autographs everywhere they go, ever become too much.

It seems that being a celebrity can come at a high cost. Some seem to take it in stride, but I wonder about the others.
 

It certainly does come at a high cost but there's many, many advantages...

Those who realise they've chosen the wrong career often just go elsewhere..I've known actors, and tv presenters, to change career and become Cheese makes, Farmers, Taxi drivers...

The problem is once people achieve a levl of fame that makes them a global celebrity , and they've become used to a certain way of life, it's very difficult for them to give that up... so tha's where you find those who will work one film a year on e Tv series a year.. and become a hermit... not wishing to mingle with the rest of celeb land..no red carpet appearances.. no interviews...
 
hollydolly said:
It certainly does come at a high cost but there's many, many advantages...

Those who realise they've chosen the wrong career often just go elsewhere..I've known actors, and tv presenters, to change career and become Cheese makes, Farmers, Taxi drivers...

The problem is once people achieve a levl of fame that makes them a global celebrity , and they've become used to a certain way of life, it's very difficult for them to give that up... so tha's where you find those who will work one film a year on e Tv series a year.. and become a hermit... not wishing to mingle with the rest of celeb land..no red carpet appearances.. no interviews...
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Yeah, I think Harrison Ford and Jack Nicholson liked the work, but didn't care much for interviews and the red carpet. They seem to gravitate towards isolation. Likewise, even though Harry and Megan weren't movie stars, they are celebrities who wanted to escape the attention, but then turn around and do things that get attention. Go figure.
 
I can think of a couple of football players who have earned one billion dollars each in their careers, and I suspect they regret nothing. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
 
bobcat said:
Yeah, I think Harrison Ford and Jack Nicholson liked the work, but didn't care much for interviews and the red carpet. They seem to gravitate towards isolation. Likewise, even though Harry and Megan weren't movie stars, they are celebrities who wanted to escape the attention, but then turn around and do things that get attention. Go figure.
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At no time did Megan markle want to escape the attention..just the opposite...hence the lies on Oprah....
 
The two related to me are in it for art's sake, bottom line. They are serious people who have excelled and I'm sure they're happy. They both are balanced with lovely families, successful mates and long term commitments. One comes from a theatrical family; parents were writers, directors & acting coaches.
 
I met Michael J. Fox on the grounds at Universal in California. I think he enjoys being around people and is comfortable with it. He didn’t like signing autographs, maybe because it was a challenge for him. He and Christopher Lloyd were celebrating the 25th anniversary of the movie “Back To The Future.” Even Einstein the dog was there. My impression only was that Christopher Lloyd seemed to be bored. Kind of like he really didn’t want to be there.

I am not an autograph hound or a person that likes to shake hands with movie stars, but I did shake hands with Fox because he reached out to me. I always respected him for accomplishing the things he has considering his handicap.
 
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I don't think famous/successful actors would have chosen other life paths. ...But some chose to live away from that environment to have a more normal life, espeacvilly raising families.

I think of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, who lived in Connecticut.
Also Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn who live in the NW, and are into ranching.
 
JustBonee said:
I think of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, who lived in Connecticut.
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My father co-owned an upholstery shop; in the days when furniture was made so well it was kept & re-covered, not thrown out. He was the office person in Manhattan. When the Newmans hired him, he went with "the guys" to CT so he could get me Paul's autograph and meet them. He asked the maid "Is Mr. Newman at home?" He heard a woman's voice from the top of the stairs, coming down, saying "He's not home now, will I do?" It was Joanne and I have her autograph! Somewhere, it's somewhere, never threw it out. It's with Robert Kennedy's autograph somewhere in this apt.
 
It's an interesting question. Probably a lot of variables including personalities. Do some need that constant adoration and attention. While others can take the money and live different. I don't know. Being a no one.
 
I have never understood the appeal of getting a celebrity’s autograph! What am I supposed to do with the piece of paper? It would just have no value to me.

I can understand maybe getting your photo made with a celebrity. Seems like a fun memory to look back on.
But the autographed paper or whatever would just be more clutter I don’t need.
 
Years ago, I met Debbie Reynolds. From afar, she looked like the perky actress in those 1950s movies. Up close, her natural eyebrows were shaved off, and she had big clown like tattooed ones. Her face was covered in squares from all the plastic surgery. All I could think of was, "My god, you did that to yourself". But when you come down to it, I'm not Debby Reynolds.
 
I suppose some do. It's competitive and I think starting out is hand to mouth. Being a star is a fantasy for us non celebrity types. In real life, I think the celebrity aspect could get tiresome, and I don't think acting is easy. Of course, I'm only speculating.

I remember reading one of those click bait articles years ago that was kind of interesting. A few movie stars were rated as to their approach-ability and friendliness with fans. Johnny Depp was rated highest as always taking time and enjoying talking to fans. I wonder if that is the same today? The bottom of the list was Tobey Maguire who did not want to be bothered.

Hows that for some useless information?
 
I've worked security for the rich and famous. Generally, I've found that they want the same as anyone else - to enjoy their friends and their company, but wanting to have private lives too. For example they like to party but, do so only in the limelight when they want to. If they are rich enough they can manage that. If they have more fame than money then they are often stuck with little privacy.
 
Agree with Rob.

Will also say, London, NYC and LA residents frequently find ourselves in Costco lines and other mundane places with people in the entertainment business. They generally try mightily to blend in, and (to our credit) most who live in those cities allow them to do so. We might smile or nod so they know we know who they are and occasionally say, "I so enjoy your work," but then we leave them to conduct their business.
 
My sister was working as an extra in a movie Ron Howard was directing in Chicago. Later in the week, my sister and her husband were waiting in line to buy tickets for some movie. Ron Howard and his wife were right behind them in the line, and were very friendly. When Ron found out she had been working as an extra, he had my sister edited into three different scenes. I gathered from my sister's description that Howard very much liked his job, his celebrity, people, and probably life in general.
 
JustDave said:
My sister was working as an extra in a movie Ron Howard was directing in Chicago. Later in the week, my sister and her husband were waiting in line to buy tickets for some movie. Ron Howard and his wife were right behind them in the line, and were very friendly. When Ron found out she had been working as an extra, he had my sister edited into three different scenes. I gathered from my sister's description that Howard very much liked his job, his celebrity, people, and probably life in general.
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Yeah, he really seems like a down-to-earth kinda guy. I've always admired him for that.
 
Some movie stars seem to be able to handle fame better than others. Others lose themselves to all that comes with fame. Unless they come right out and say they've had regrets, how would I know? 🤔

If Harrison Ford hadn't become a movie star, he said he would've been a carpenter. 🔨🪚
 
Bella said:
Some movie stars seem to be able to handle fame better than others. Others lose themselves to all that comes with fame. Unless they come right out and say they've had regrets, how would I know? 🤔

If Harrison Ford hadn't become a movie star, he said he would've been a carpenter. 🔨🪚
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If I remember right Grace Kelly gave it up to become Princess Grace when she married the Prince Of Monico. She was fairly young too I think.
 
bobcat said:
If I remember right Grace Kelly gave it up to become Princess Grace when she married the Prince Of Monico. She was fairly young too I think.
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She was 26 when she married 32 year old Prince Rainier. 🫅
 

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