FAME & CELEBRITY

1. FAME & CELEBRITY Glenn Wilson PhD King’s College London Institute of Psychiatry

6. WHAT DO THESE HAVE IN COMMON? • Trailer trash air their dirty linen on the Jerry Springer show. • A child dives into a swimming pool screaming “Mummy, Daddy, look at me!” • Failed actor John Wilkes Booth, living in the shadow of his famous brother, shoots President Lincoln from a box at the theatre. • Britney Spears appears knickerless in public & shaves off all her hair before the paparazzi. All are desperate cries of “I want to be noticed”

7. MODERN OBSESSION WITH CELEBRITY • Is it a sickness of society that we put such a premium on empty celebrity? • Vast amounts of attention/money bestowed on small number of people with high profile or a sensational story to sell/tell. • No need for any special talent or achievement – mere exposure in tabloids/TV sufficient. Nobel prize-winners would not be noticed. • Not surprising that people do extraordinary things for “15 minutes of fame” (streak, appear on reality shows, produce obscene art, shoot famous people). • Distinction between fame and infamy diminishing (O.J. Simpson, Monica Lewinsky, Liam Neeson).

9. DOWNSIDE • Press intrusion: Living in “goldfish bowl”/media forage for sexual indiscretions – destroy relationships. (“Celebs strive for recognition then wear dark glasses to avoid it”). • Stalking: Fans may become dangerous – may assault or kill their idol. “Kiss & tell” groupies. • Often short-lived: Loss may be devastating (“Fame measured by how far you bounce when you tumble off the pedestal”). • Isolation: Like lottery winners, often “burn bridges”, casting off old friends, family & secure identification (lose their roots).

10. CYCLE OF CELEBRITY • Begins with build-up of excitement (press conferences, photo shoots, increased social engagements). • Strangers treat you as friends, or the character you have portrayed. People have preconceptions about you they are seeking to confirm. • Personal space increasingly invaded – reluctance to appear in public. • Fish-bowl effect. Private life scrutinised (George Michael, Hugh Grant). Distorted accounts appear in media. • Feelings of isolation – those around are sycophants, not trusted as real friends and confidants. Old friends & family back off because they can’t keep up or regard you as big-headed. • Dispersion of the self – people relate to your many replications rather than you.

11. OBSESSIVE FANS • From fanaticus – “one inspired to frenzy by devotion to a deity”. Often religious fervour in way fans pursue their idol. • At harmless end – follow around venues, collect autographs, memorabilia, seek brief conversation, start fan clubs. • Destructive extremes – imitate clothing & anti-social behaviour, abandon partners, jobs, etc to become “groupies”. May stalk, threaten or become violent if “snubbed”. • Usually loners of low self-esteem., Live vicariously - seeking to partake of glamorous life-style of idol. Often ambivalent – simultaneously admiring & envying them. • Danger signs in inappropriate letters are (a)references to times & places of proposed encounters and (b)attempts to conceal identity (Dietz et al 1991).

12. SLIDE TOWARD SELF-ABSORPTION • Marilyn Monroe always late for shoot. • Val Kilmer said to have banned eye-contact from crew and extras on film-set. • Elton John phoned hotel reception demanding they “stop the wind”. • Do they begin that way or grow into inflated self-importance? Probably a combination of natural arrogance and “spoilt brat” syndrome. • Said that celebrities have “big heads but fragile egos”. Partly believe their own publicity, partly feel as though they are frauds (imposter phenomenon).

13. NARCISSISTIC PERSONALITY DISORDER? • Parallels observed between stars obsessed with publicity/power and NPD: • Manipulative in milking others for attention. • Vindictive to those thought to have obstructed, humiliated them or withheld proper adulation. • Superficially boastful and bigheaded but basically insecure. • Engage in outlandish/self-destructive behaviour in increasing bid to wrench attention from “neglectful” public. • Need reactions of others to affirm own existence (“People are noticing me – therefore I am”).

14. PLANET DIVA • Young & Pinsky (USC, 2006) gave Narcissism Personality Inventory to 200 Hollywood celebs appearing on a syndicated radio show. • Actors, comedians, musicians & reality TV contestants most narcissistic. • Females esp. high on exhibitionism, manipulativeness and vanity. • Those with least real-life skills were most desperately attention-seeking (c.f. David Brent, Miss Piggy). • New-type celebs (“famous for being famous”) are pressured to behave outrageously to maintain attention.

16. DRUG DEPENDENCY • Drugs easily affordable and readily available in circles in which they move/party (esp. cocaine). • Alcohol problems – 26% of famous people vs 14% general population. • Belief that drugs assist creativity and energy, help one “sparkle”, or needed to stay awake. • Alternative theories – replace “high” of performance; attempt to combat chronic self-awareness, “goodtime oblivion”, stress reduction, weight control, pain avoidance. • Begin as recreational or self-treatment but lead to downward spiral of addiction and attempts at rehabilitation (Betty Ford Clinic, Priory Clinic). • List of victims include actors (Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland, Robert Downey) and pop singers (Janis Joplin, Michael Hutchence, Amy Winehouse).

17. SUICIDE & PREMATURE DEATH • Bellis et al (2007) epidemiologists at Liverpool John Moores U. found young death among pop/rock musicians 3x higher than expectation in first 5yrs of fame. • Suicide rate for celebs in general about 4x average (4.4% vs 1% for non-famous people). • Suggestion that depression may be a particular risk among comedians (Tony Hancock, Kenneth Williams). • Early death and suicide often drink or drug-related (e.g. Alan Ladd, River Phoenix, Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain). • May be final exhibitionistic gesture consistent with histrionic personality (e.g. Peg Entwhistle – failed starlet who jumped off the big “H” of the Hollywood sign).

18. DIVORCE • Also rife among famous. • Individuals at a premium, have “resale” value, and targeted by others. • Jockeying for social advantage – remarriage used to enhance profile? • Lack of taboo against divorce – may even have publicity value (Burton & Taylor x2). • Difficult to conceal affairs under media spotlight. • Conflicting careers & egos – often difficult to live with: (Rita Haworth re. Orson Welles: “When he woke in the morning he expected me to applaud”).

19. BURNOUT • Physical and emotional exhaustion leading to progressive inhibition against performing previously successful routines. • Common among athletes and sports stars where there is intense performance pressure and competition from up and coming younger people. • May occur at any age but typically 30s and 40s. • Loss of pleasure/passion leads to withdrawal, self-sabotage and drop-out. • May be masked by alcohol & drugs. • Treatment requires guidance in establishing new priorities, pacing workload, avoiding stress and rediscovering variety and creativity.

20. SURVIVING FAME • Need to learn to fail safe – like learning how to fall in Judo, or righting a capsized dinghy. • Ups & downs in career are inevitable – strategy needed for coping with failure (positive attitude to setbacks). • Bad performance or being rejected is not a tragedy – needs focus on the incident rather than globalising (“Saturday was a bad night”, not “I’ll never be able to appear on stage again”). • Failure may even prompt creative new directions (Tommy Cooper).

21. KEEPING FEET ON THE GROUND • Important not to let life changes become overwhelming (too many at once = stress). • Change inevitable as fame acquired but need to stagger rate and scale to avoid disorientation. • Choose advisors (managers, lawyers, accountants, etc) carefully. Understand and do as much as possible yourself. • Fame is a commodity – need to be aware that others always looking for a slice of the action. • Maintain love of close friends and family.

22. BE REALISTIC • Recognise that media will discover (or invent) things about you (cultivate a thick skin). • Develop other interests (e.g. relax with sports & hobbies). • Have a “Plan B” for dealing with life after fame (e.g. property investment, restaurants, winery, record company, politics). • May need to shift focus within profession (e.g. acting to directing) • Be prepared to give up gracefully (c.f. Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard). • Guard against over-inflated ego – be aware that bubble may one day burst.

23. REWARDS OF FAME • Satisfies inborn need for attention (social outcasts have poor survival). • Brings massive financial rewards. • Makes one sexually attractive. • May be a form of immortality – Giles (2000) replication of image is next best thing to replicating DNA. (“I want to live forever”) • Dumbing down of media (e.g. reality TV) means fame can be aspired to by all. Celebrity = famous for being famous.

24. BIBLIOGRAPHY • Evans, A. & Wilson, G.D. Fame: The Psychology of Stardom. (Vision, 1999). • Wilson, G D. Psychology for PerformingArtists, Second Edition (Wiley, 2002). • Giles, D. Illusions of Immortality. (Macmillan 2000).