Would you want to be famous? Why would someone want to be?

I can’t not think of anything I would hate more than being famous.

Im so private and I hate anyone knowing my . Having my life splashed across the media is literally my worst nightmare

Yes, I think there is a difference between people who, because they have a talent or a skill they have worked hard at for years happen to become famous as a result and those who want fame for fame's sake, for example people who go on reality TV shows like Love Island but have no actual underlying talent that they have worked on. For the former I think in a lot of cases the fame is an unfortunate side effect of them being able to do the thing they love, but for the latter, I think they must have some kind of issues.A lot of people who were on Love Island and Big Brother etc have had problems. I wonder if that's because they saw 'fame' as being the ultimate goal, but once they have it, its just loads of sometimes negative attention, which they are always terrified of losing because they don't have any reason to be famous. I think these people are being exploited to an extent by TV companies, because they are clearly not mentally stable.

Like the drummer from Coldplay.

I would like to be one of the non-famous members of a successful band. So basically rich but would still have a life.

It would be a nightmare to be famous.

I wouldn't want to be famous.
I think a lot of famous people don't necessarily want fame as such either, but the career they pursue means they can end up famous (and rich) - musicians, actors, sportsmen and women etc.
I think some folk do want fame and would do anything to get it.

Not famous, but I wouldn't mind a tiny but loyal cult following.

This would be my nightmare. I don't do social media and I hate having my photo taken so being famous would likely push me over the edge.. Luckily it's not likely to happen😅

Most of them just want to make lots of money doing something they love, so acting, music, football.

Actually what most proper actors want is great roles, to do interesting work with wonderful directors, that audiences really enjoy.

That’s why so many actors who don’t need the money (because of films or long running tv) still return to theatre from time to time, where the pay is not good. Especially when you consider that they work evenings and weekends, 6 days a week, and can very very rarely take any time off.

(I know a lot of actors including those who have become wealthy).

Yeah, I don't know. I don't go on those things either. And I think still most people don't. It's a minority of people on, for example, Twitter, and then a vanishing minority of those actually post. And honestly a lot of them do seem to be a bit mad? I don't know if you've seen it, but when I've looked it's mainly been quite unstable people shouting at each other, like drunks out the back of a 24h Asda.

It's just that there's a lot of people in the world - billions of us - so even a small minority is actually millions of people. And you don't see the people not saying anything so availability bias can make it feel like it's a normal (by which I mean common) pursuit. I don't think it is that common really.

I think there's very few people who actively want to be famous. Most of them just want to make lots of money doing something they love, so acting, music, football. The great parties, people sending for freebies, that's a bonus as well.

The fame is the price they pay for these things, not the aim. The people who are famous because they're good at something - The Jack Nicholson's, the Coldplays, the Serena Williams, I doubt any of them enjoy their fame. They don't enjoy being mobbed in the street, having to hire bodyguards everywhere they go.

There's very few people who aim to be famous, and those that do are very rarely actually famous. No-one was mobbing Jade Goody in the street, I doubt Kerry Katona needed a bodyguard on a Sunday morning in Tesco's, and Joey Essex might get the occasional shag out of his fame, but most people couldn't pick him out of a lineup.

The Kardashian s are the only exception to the rule that I can think of. All they have is their fame, that's how they've built their empire. Their talent is fame itself, and that's how they make their billions.

Why would one seek the regard of absolute strangers?
You have just described social media where millions of people use.😉
I think many of us crave regard or validation. I know I do. Not to the extent of embarrassing myself on social media but certainly in a fantasy sort of way.

And what if like Judi Dench you are extremely talented, plus you work very hard in your job to do the best job you can do, and because of all that you have no choice but to be famous?

Fame for many talented , hard working people is an unfortunate by-product, even in contemporary times.

I think some people manage fame very well - they don't use social media, their PR do it, and they keep a very private life. But like PP's have said, you need a thick hide and to be able to be off duty.

Basically I would have liked to be Hilary Mantel without the health issues.

I'd hate it too.
Can't imagine much else worse

I would like to be a famous writer, scientist or theatre director. Not a famous actor or singer. So low key fame.

Well regarded, widely respected within my field - that would be lovely.

Actually famous? Hell no. I think those who chase fame are immature, lack imagination or are trying to make up for a lack in their lives.

I’d perhaps like to be a minor celebrity such as the star of a musical, or a backing singer/dancer or lesser known member of a band (not the lead singer) and get the buzz of performing to huge crowds but still live a relatively normal life and not have people recognise me on the street and have no social media presence.

I would love to have a talent and be really good at it and make a lot of money doing what I love, but not at the price of being famous.

So agree...
A friend of a friend is just hitting the big time as an actor and it's going to change their life so much.
Ordinary family life (2 small children) won't be the same, even if they pretend it is behind closed doors.

It’s not for me at all. I was very good at music as a child and teenager and a good singer. I got a place to study music at the royal academy but deep down I knew I wasn’t a performer (not even going as far as being famous). I went to Art School and became a painter instead much more anonymous.

No. I don't like people I don't know knowing "me", if you see what I mean? It actually makes me feel very unhappy and vulnerable. I had a brief brush with it years ago and recoiled viscerally from the whole thing - went full hermit. There's something absolutely psychologically brutalising about it that I can't really explain.

I tend to think people that pursue fame are damaged in some way. Maybe that's unkind. I don't mean to be unkind. But really, why would one seek the regard of absolute strangers? There's something broken about it. It's the one-way-ness of it that seems pathological. Like women who feel they must be attractive to all men, even men they would never want. I have a friend who feels this deeply and it really hurts her in her life. She's very clear eyed about it.

Yeah I could deal with brilliance, acclaim and respect in my field. 😁

I wouldn’t. I’d love to be famous within a professional field of excellence; like being a brilliant physician with publications regarded as the bible that field, or a classical musician, but I wouldn’t want to be recognisable to the general public.