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From hiding behind wigs to fleeing Hollywood altogether, some stars truly despise the spotlight! Join us as we count down our picks for celebrities who can't stand being famous. Our countdown includes actors who've called fame "the worst thing in the world" and stars who've abandoned successful careers just to escape public attention!
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00:00I don't go anywhere where I can get photographed anymore.
00:03Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for celebs who can't stand the limelight.
00:08Can we?
00:11Number 20, Daniel Radcliffe.
00:14Just 11 years old, this British actor was thrust into the spotlight when he became the star of one of the biggest film franchises of all time.
00:21I brought you here 16 years ago, when you were no bigger than a bowtruckle.
00:26It seems only right that I should be the one to take you away.
00:30From frequent fan encounters to increased public scrutiny, fame had a significant impact on Radcliffe's adolescence and early adulthood.
00:37Now that he's grown into a remarkably well-adjusted adult, Radcliffe has been candid about the difficulties of childhood fame.
00:44That's why whenever people are having a go at Justin Bieber, drag racing cars, or whatever, I'm always like, yeah, but you know, I don't know, stuff could be super crazy for him right now.
00:55Though challenged by rude fans and aggressive paparazzi, acting is Radcliffe's true passion.
01:00His love of his craft shines through in his talent, but also in some of the truly outrageous roles he's taken post-Potter.
01:07Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh ho.
01:10Okay.
01:11Hey!
01:12Hey!
01:13Hey!
01:14Hey!
01:14Okay, that's enough.
01:16Thanks.
01:17Number 19.
01:18Michelle Pfeiffer.
01:19Talented and beautiful, Michelle Pfeiffer has always had a star quality about her.
01:24What's your name?
01:25What?
01:25What's your name?
01:28And Vyra what?
01:30Hancock.
01:31What?
01:33Hancock.
01:33Finding wider fame after her role in Scarface, Pfeiffer has admitted that her celebrity status is one of the most difficult aspects of her career.
01:41She is famously quoted as saying,
01:43I act for free, but I demand a huge salary as compensation for all the annoyance of being a public personality.
01:49Especially at the peak of her fame in the 80s and 90s, Pfeiffer was notorious for disliking press interviews and drawing as little attention to herself as possible outside of her professional life.
02:00I'm a bit shy, and it comes off as being kind of icy and aloof.
02:06Today, Pfeiffer's years of avoiding publicity whenever possible have awarded her relative privacy in her personal life, while still allowing for consistent, well-received acting work.
02:15Ah, that is.
02:20Dramatic.
02:21Number 18.
02:22Shailene Woodley.
02:23Though she rose to fame in the 2010s for her roles in major films including The Fault in Our Stars and Divergent, Shailene Woodley has been acting since she was five years old.
02:32What makes you think you can talk to me?
02:37It must be because you're so approachable.
02:41From this young age, Woodley knew she was meant to be an actress.
02:45However, fame was not something she always envisioned.
02:48In fact, she struggles with how her fame feels like it separates her from other people.
02:53And then in my mid-20s, early to mid-20s, I started saying things publicly and seeing what people were saying, and it did affect me because I felt insecure.
03:02I felt like, oh no, did I do something wrong?
03:04Her discomfort with the spotlight is reflected in her non-professional life, which she works to keep private.
03:09Still, Woodley uses her platform for good through her philanthropy and non-profit work.
03:14I feel like the jails aren't doing anything to protect us.
03:17I know we were arrested or convicted, but we still have the same health needs as anyone else.
03:22Number 17.
03:23George Clooney.
03:24Among the most famous people in the world is actor George Clooney, whose breakthrough role on ER set him on the path to superstardom.
03:32Dr. Ross, they needed your double D-5 upstairs 20 minutes.
03:35I will send them four pints of my blood.
03:38What is a DD-5?
03:39He became one of Hollywood's most sought-after leading men, and one of the most discussed celebs in tabloids.
03:45This unfathomable notoriety has severely impacted his life, restricting Clooney's freedom to exist in public in any capacity.
03:52I feel sorry for any kid who's 20 years old and sort of hits it, because I don't know how you handle it.
03:57He says, quote, I haven't walked in Central Park for 15 years.
04:01I'd like to, you know.
04:02Though it might be hard to feel sympathetic for someone with multiple mansions and a sexiest of all time title,
04:08there certainly seem to be some severe downsides to fame that Clooney has extensive experience with.
04:13You said that you sold this?
04:15I said that.
04:17You liar.
04:18Number 16.
04:19Megan Fox.
04:20This actress, known for her roles in Transformers, New Girl, and Jennifer's Body,
04:24has earned a reputation for her intimidatingly good looks.
04:28I'm a god.
04:29Okay.
04:30With beauty, success, and fame, some might think Fox has it made, but she thinks otherwise.
04:37Fox likens fame to high school harassment, only on a global scale,
04:41describing life in the spotlight as a terrifying ordeal.
04:44As for life as a sex symbol, Fox has felt the focus on her appearance devalues her as a person,
04:49making her feel powerless.
04:50I can't believe how negative human beings are and how cruel they need to be to everyone.
05:01This is not just me.
05:03Shy in nature, fame is not something that comes easily to Fox,
05:06though she says the experience has given her greater strength in her sense of self.
05:11Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
05:13You guys don't really want to do this again, right?
05:16Number 15.
05:17Jennifer Lawrence.
05:18This actress has a reputation for being down-to-earth and incredibly candid,
05:23which is why it's unsurprising that Jennifer Lawrence has been open about her qualms with fame.
05:27When did you first feel famous?
05:30Um, when I went to Whole Foods and there were paparazzi everywhere,
05:33and I was like, oh my god, who are they here for?
05:35And it was me.
05:37Keenly aware of her luck and privilege as a star,
05:40Lawrence admittedly dislikes complaining about her situation.
05:43Still, she maintains that fame is something she will never get used to,
05:47and something she wishes she could escape at times.
05:49I think at first it was really overwhelming,
05:51and I was like, is this going to be the rest of my life?
05:53She even joked to Glamour that celebs should be allowed time off from their notoriety,
05:58though it wouldn't be surprising if she truly meant it.
06:01From gross invasions of her privacy to the weight of constant public scrutiny,
06:04Jennifer Lawrence's stardom has taken from her as much as it's given.
06:08Nice job, sweetheart.
06:12Number 14. Jim Carrey
06:14Though he made a career in Hollywood out of making people laugh,
06:18Jim Carrey's experience with fame has, in recent years,
06:20cast a dark shadow over the comedian.
06:22I wanted to find the most meaningless thing that I could come to and join,
06:27and here I am.
06:30Carrey has been an outspoken critic of Hollywood,
06:32characterizing the film industry as greedy and superficial.
06:35His stardom impacted his relationships and family,
06:38and he soon found himself burnt out and disillusioned with his career.
06:42Carrey even considered retirement in 2022,
06:45although he was persuaded to reprise his role as Ivo Robotnik
06:49in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 in 2024.
06:52What are you doing?
06:53Porting your evil plan.
06:54While Carrey's outspoken nature regarding Hollywood and politics can be controversial,
06:58it is clear he has a passion for the creative side of filmmaking,
07:02and aims to see that creativity preserved in the industry.
07:06In case I don't see you,
07:08good afternoon, good evening, and good night.
07:13Number 13. Johnny Depp
07:15From his iconic blockbuster role as Captain Jack Sparrow
07:19to his many collaborations with director Tim Burton,
07:22Johnny Depp is an accomplished and beloved figure in Hollywood.
07:24Listen, I was calling to see if you'd like to attend the world premiere of my new movie,
07:28Bride of the Monster.
07:29Over his decades-long career, Depp has become a household name.
07:33Despite his celebrity status and all its benefits,
07:36Depp describes fame as a, quote,
07:38occupational hazard.
07:39From unwanted public attention as a young heartthrob
07:42to his more recent brush with cancel culture,
07:44fame hasn't always been good to Depp.
07:46First thing I would say is search for simplicity.
07:49Stay away from anything that makes a bunch of people
07:53stare at you while you're in a restaurant.
07:56When it came to the infamous Depp v. Heard trial,
07:58Johnny Depp's fame turned the defamation trial
08:00into a media frenzy where the whole world wanted to weigh in.
08:03For an apparently very private person,
08:06all that fame must be a challenge to deal with.
08:08You are without doubt the worst pirate I've ever heard of.
08:12But you have heard of me.
08:13Number 12. Eminem
08:15Eminem's talent and dedication to his craft
08:28have landed him in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
08:30and garnered him millions of dedicated fans.
08:33However, keen listeners will notice
08:35many of his songs have a distinctly critical view
08:37of his fame and success.
08:39Hits like Stan, The Monster, and the real Slim Shady
08:42discuss the intense reality of public scrutiny
08:44and fan idolization.
08:46Wanted to receive attention from my music
08:48Wanted to be left alone in public, excuse me
08:50For a talented introvert like Eminem,
08:52fame is one of the most challenging aspects
08:54of sharing his art with the world.
08:56So want the real Slim Shady, please stand up
08:58Please stand up
08:59Number 11. Harrison Ford
09:01Before Star Wars was even a twinkle
09:04in George Lucas' eye,
09:06Harrison Ford already had a pretty good life.
09:08On Solo, I'm Captain of the Millennium Falcon.
09:11As an aspiring actor,
09:13Ford became a self-taught carpenter
09:15to support his family,
09:16working for clients like writer Joan Didion.
09:18Still, the silver screen called to Ford,
09:20and fame found him soon after.
09:22Like many other celebrities,
09:24Ford soon found himself mourning the sense of privacy
09:26he once enjoyed.
09:28For this reason,
09:29Ford rarely ventures out in view of the public eye
09:31if he can help it.
09:32From interviews and fan interactions,
09:35Harrison Ford has become notoriously curmudgeonly,
09:37cynical about Hollywood, fame,
09:39and his iconic role as Han Solo.
09:41Are you looking forward to watching
09:44a Han Solo movie as a fan?
09:47Not really.
09:50Still, his work has awed
09:52and inspired many generations of fans.
09:57I'm making this up as I go.
09:59Number 10. Zach Galifianakis
10:01I'm pretty sure that's illegal too.
10:04Yeah, maybe after 9-11
10:05where everybody gets so sensitive.
10:07As it turns out,
10:08this party animal from The Hangover
10:09may not be much of a party animal in real life.
10:12During a press conference for Birdman
10:13at the New York Film Festival,
10:15Zach really tore into his feelings about being famous,
10:18claiming it was, quote,
10:19dumb and not something he was interested in.
10:22Mother, Oreo smoothie now!
10:27Whoa.
10:28He then went on to scathe the public's inane interest
10:31in celebrities and their personal lives
10:33before attacking the industry itself,
10:35saying he finds, quote,
10:36the way Hollywood congratulates itself
10:38to be gross.
10:40Maybe that's why he's moved on to TV.
10:42I'm sorry, I should not have yelled at you.
10:44Number 9. Sia
10:46Sia once worked behind the scenes in the music industry,
10:56co-writing songs like Rihanna's Diamonds
10:58and Neo's Let Me Love You
11:00while making her own music.
11:02It wasn't until 2011
11:03when Sia's name became mainstream
11:05with the release of David Guetta's Titanium,
11:07and her fame hasn't relented since.
11:09Unfortunately, she absolutely hates it,
11:20as evidenced by her covering her face
11:22at public events with her signature wig.
11:24But even prior to this,
11:26she had already begun wearing a mask on stage.
11:28Well, I was just it so that I can go to Target
11:31and buy a hose if I want to.
11:34Sia has said that she doesn't do these things for attention,
11:36but because she's trying to, quote,
11:38maintain some modicum of privacy,
11:40as she finds being famous challenges her sanity.
11:44Number 8. Marilyn Monroe
11:46You can see how becoming a sex symbol
11:48for an entire country
11:49could be detrimental to your mental well-being.
11:52Early in her career,
11:53Monroe was the sexy blonde bombshell
11:55to millions of people,
11:56and she initially loved the attention.
11:58Sugar, you're going to get yourself into a lot of trouble.
12:01Yeah, you better keep a lookout.
12:02However, she soon realized she was being typecast
12:05and desperately tried to be taken seriously.
12:08It was around this time she became depressed
12:10and struggled with substance use disorder,
12:12from which she never recovered.
12:14Her mental health deteriorated,
12:15and she was placed in a mental institution
12:17shortly before dying by overdose.
12:20Former co-star Laurence Olivier
12:21later referred to Monroe as, quote,
12:23the complete victim of ballyhoo and sensation.
12:27You all right?
12:28Oh, sure, fine, fine.
12:31Well, good night.
12:32Number 7. Emma Watson
12:34Selvia Hecthea.
12:36Emma Watson is one of the biggest movie stars in the world.
12:39Not only has she starred in one of the most popular movie series of all time,
12:43she's also played the lead role in the live-action adaptation
12:46of one of the most popular Disney movies of all time.
12:49So, it's safe to say that millions know her name.
12:52And for once it might be grand.
12:56However, she's since grown quite uncomfortable with the fame,
12:59describing it as not easy to deal with.
13:02She also rarely poses for photos with fans,
13:05calling it, quote,
13:06the difference between being able to have a life and not.
13:10However, she doesn't refuse children,
13:12so, rest assured there.
13:20Number 6. Daniel Day-Lewis
13:22This is what I do.
13:25This is my place here.
13:26This three-time Academy Award-winning actor
13:29is one of the most respected performers of all time
13:31and is known for his dedication to the craft.
13:34However, he hates the attention that comes with it.
13:37He was forced to move away from his hometown of London
13:39because he hated being in the public eye.
13:42And he now resides in a county in Ireland,
13:44calling his life, quote,
13:45He also rarely gives interviews
13:55and, in 2017, declared himself to be retired.
13:59However, he did come out of retirement in 2025
14:02to star in a film directed by his son, Ronan.
14:05Number 5. Shia LaBeouf
14:07For someone who hates being famous so much,
14:13LaBeouf's attempts to stay out of the limelight
14:14often backfire.
14:16He also seems to just as often find himself
14:18in the spotlight for the wrong reasons.
14:20In 2014, LaBeouf famously announced via Twitter
14:23that he was retiring from public life
14:25after he was caught plagiarizing a Dan Klaus comic.
14:29And his red carpet bag stunt
14:30is now a thing of legend.
14:32On top of that,
14:33LaBeouf has told Variety that he feels, quote,
14:36enslaved as a celebrity
14:37and that being one, quote,
14:39robs you of your individuality.
14:42Yeah, of course.
14:43Yeah, I planned it.
14:44Yeah.
14:46Number 4. Robert Pattinson
14:48See, I tell you I can read minds
14:50and you think there's something wrong with you.
14:52It's a well-known fact that Robert Pattinson
14:54is not a fan of the Twilight franchise,
14:56the very series that made him a household name.
14:59That's probably why he spent so much time
15:01in the indie scene
15:02since the final Twilight film was released.
15:04Well, that and hating the fame
15:06that comes with starring
15:07in a blockbuster movie franchise.
15:09When I get up, it stops.
15:10When I sit back down,
15:11they all start changing again.
15:12He told the Spanish edition of GQ that, quote,
15:15you don't have a normal life anymore
15:17after becoming famous.
15:18And that, quote,
15:19people don't realize how lonely you are
15:22once you become a household name.
15:24He probably wishes he lived
15:25in the woods of Seattle right about now.
15:27It's having stalkers with cameras
15:30and, you know,
15:32they say, oh, I'm not a stalker,
15:33or I'm a paparazzi.
15:34Number three, Britney Spears.
15:40Britney Spears has an infamously rocky history
15:43with fame and the dangers that come with it.
15:45While she now says that she, quote,
15:47goes back and forth regarding her fame,
15:49there once was a time
15:50when she absolutely despised it.
15:52In the 2008 MTV documentary,
15:54she simply said, quote,
15:56I'm sad with tears in her eyes.
15:58And that image alone
16:00is startlingly effective and telling.
16:02She also had many run-ins
16:04with the paparazzi in the mid-2000s,
16:06which was a contributing factor,
16:08along with numerous personal issues,
16:10in her emotional breakdown in 2007.
16:13Today, Spears seems to be in a much better place.
16:15Dave Chappelle's show was undoubtedly
16:27a cultural milestone back in the 2000s,
16:29and Chappelle was seemingly set.
16:31That's why everyone was stunned
16:42when he simply walked away
16:44during production of season three
16:45and flew to South Africa for peace of mind.
16:48He later told Time
16:49that being in South Africa
16:50meant not having the distractions of fame.
16:53Later, Chappelle would say that fame
16:55is a, quote,
16:56horrifying concept when it's aimed at you.
16:58Unlike many celebrities,
16:59the comedian lives a reclusive life
17:01on a quiet farm in Ohio
17:03with his wife and children,
17:04well away from the hustle and bustle
17:06of Hollywood glamour.
17:07And on a farm?
17:08Uh, yeah.
17:09Yeah.
17:10Very obscure location.
17:12That's very cool.
17:13Obscure location.
17:14Yeah.
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17:31Number 1.
17:32Kristen Stewart.
17:33You could have been killed.
17:34You understand that?
17:35Yes.
17:36But I wasn't, so...
17:37Like her co-star Robert Pattinson,
17:40Stewart abhors the fame
17:41that came with starring
17:41in the Twilight series.
17:43Stewart seems like a reserved woman,
17:45so it's understandable
17:46that she would hate the attention
17:47that the spotlight
17:48and camera flashes bring.
17:50She initially wasn't prepared
17:51for the onslaught of attention
17:52that being in Twilight brought her,
17:54calling it a, quote,
17:55huge lifestyle shift
17:57that came with, quote,
17:58really heavy baggage.
18:00Although she didn't hate it.
18:02Yet.
18:03I was 17 or 18
18:04when it all kind of went down
18:05and that's like the most uncomfortable,
18:06terrible, weird...
18:07You're 17 years old
18:08and I'm like...
18:08She's since told Harper's Bizarre UK
18:11that Hollywood is, quote,
18:12disgustingly sexist
18:14and that, quote,
18:15fame is the worst thing in the world.
18:18Well, sounds like she hates it now.
18:20You want to end this?
18:22Yes.
18:23Do you think these celebs
18:24are justified in hating their fame?
18:26Let us know in the comments.
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