It seems as if nearly everyone wants to be famous when they grow up. Fame for the sake of fame—and becoming a celebrity simply for being seen as a celebrity—is one of the unfortunate features of modern life. Back when mass media consisted of three channels on television and whatever radio stations covered a region, there was a natural filter that kept a lid on the number of celebrities.
But the internet and social media gave rise to “influencers,” where anyone can get famous for just about anything from filming their reactions to video games to adults-only content. A 2019 survey found that 86 percent of young Americans said they dreamed of becoming a celebrity online influencer.
Fame looks different on the inside, though, and some traditional movie stars have taken steps to back away from the spotlight. Hollywood actor Josh Hartnett seemed to be in every movie and every ad for years, but keen observers may have noticed they haven’t seen much of him and haven’t heard much news about him in recent years.
The reason for that is a conscious choice Hartnett made after realizing that the amount and kind of attention he was getting from fans was “borderline unhealthy.”
Hartnett started out with a small part in the 1999 movie The Virgin Suicides directed by Sofia Coppola. Within a few years he was headlining blockbusters like Pearl Harbor and Blackhawk Down. Even at the height of his fame, Hartnett said no to at least two roles in major superhero productions.
Over the years, Hartnett retreated even more from the public eye. In recent interviews he related that some fans turned into stalkers, showing up at his house, and engaging in other “incidents” for which he did not give details.
One incident shook him particularly. A man turned up at the premiere of one of Hartnett’s movies brandishing a gun and claiming to be Hartnett’s father. “He ended up in prison,” the actor said.
The actor married quietly in 2021, and has since left Los Angeles for a quieter life. After moving back to Minnesota for a while, he nows lives in England with his wife and four children. He recently told English media that he did not want his life to be “swallowed up” by being a Hollywood star.
