Top 20 Celebrities Who HATE Being Famous

Top 20 Celebrities Who HATE Being Famous

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for celebs who can’t stand the limelight.

#20: Daniel Radcliffe

At just eleven 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. From frequent fan encounters to increased public scrutiny, fame had a significant impact on Radcliffe’s adolescence and early adulthood. Now that he’s grown into a remarkably well-adjusted adult, Radcliffe has been candid about the difficulties of childhood fame. Though challenged by rude fans and aggressive paparazzi, acting is Radcliffe’s true passion. His love of his craft shines through in his talent, but also in some of the truly outrageous roles he’s taken post-Potter.

#19: Michelle Pfeiffer

Talented and beautiful, Michelle Pfeiffer has always had a star quality about her. Finding wider fame after her role in “Scarface,” Pfeiffer has admitted that her celebrity status is one of the most difficult aspects of her career. She is famously quoted as saying, “I act for free, but I demand a huge salary as compensation for all the annoyance of being a public personality.” Especially 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. Today, 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.

#18: Shailene Woodley

Though 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. From this young age, Woodley knew she was meant to be an actress. However, fame wasn’t something she always envisioned. In fact, she struggles with how her fame feels like it separates her from other people. Her discomfort with the spotlight is reflected in her non-professional life, which she works to keep private. Still, Woodley uses her platform for good through her philanthropy and nonprofit work.

#17: George Clooney

Among the most famous people in the world is actor George Clooney, whose breakthrough role on “ER” set him on the path to superstardom. He became one of Hollywood’s most sought-after leading men and one of the most discussed celebs in tabloids. This unfathomable notoriety has severely impacted his life, restricting Clooney’s freedom to exist in public in any capacity. He says, “I haven’t walked in Central Park for 15 years. I’d like to, you know?” Though it might be hard to feel sympathetic for someone with multiple mansions and a “Sexiest of All Time” title, there certainly seem to be some severe downsides to fame that Clooney has extensive experience with.

#16: Megan Fox

This actress, known for her roles in “Transformers,” “New Girl,” and “Jennifer’s Body” has earned a reputation for her intimidatingly good looks. With beauty, success, and fame, some might think Fox has it made, but she thinks otherwise. Fox likens fame to high school harassment, only on a global scale, describing life in the spotlight as a terrifying ordeal. As for life as a sex symbol, Fox has felt the focus on her appearance devalues her as a person, making her feel powerless. Shy in nature, fame is not something that comes easily to Fox, though she says the experience has given her greater strength in her sense of self.

#15: Jennifer Lawrence

This actress has a reputation for being down-to-earth and incredibly candid, which is why it’s unsurprising that Jennifer Lawrence has been open about her qualms with fame. Keenly aware of her luck and privilege as a star, Lawrence admittedly dislikes complaining about her situation. Still, she maintains that fame is something she will never get used to, and something she wishes she could escape at times. She even joked to Glamour that celebs should be allowed time off from their notoriety, though it wouldn’t be surprising if she truly meant it. From gross invasions of her privacy to the weight of constant public scrutiny, Jennifer Lawrence’s stardom has taken from her as much as it’s given.

#14: Jim Carrey

Though he made a career in Hollywood out of making people laugh, Jim Carrey’s experience with fame has, in recent years, cast a dark shadow over the comedian. Carrey has been an outspoken critic of Hollywood, characterizing the film industry as greedy and superficial. His stardom impacted his relationships and family, and he soon found himself burnt out and disillusioned with his career. Carrey even considered retirement in 2022, although he was persuaded to reprise his role as Ivo Robotnik in “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” in 2024. While Carrey’s outspoken nature regarding Hollywood and politics can be controversial, it’s clear he has a passion for the creative side of filmmaking and aims to see that creativity preserved in the industry.

#13: Johnny Depp

From his iconic blockbuster role as Captain Jack Sparrow to his many collaborations with director Tim Burton, Johnny Depp is an accomplished and beloved figure in Hollywood. Over his decades-long career, Depp has become a household name. Despite his celebrity status and all its benefits, Depp describes fame as an “occupational hazard.” From unwanted public attention as a young heartthrob to his more recent brush with cancel culture, fame hasn’t always been good to Depp. When it came to the infamous “Depp v. Heard” trial, Johnny Depp’s fame turned the defamation trial into a media frenzy where the whole world wanted to weigh in. For an apparently very private person, all that fame must be a challenge to deal with.

#12: Eminem

This influential rapper’s gift for lyricism has led to some comparing him to great poets like William Shakespeare. Eminem’s talent and dedication to his craft have landed him in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and garnered him millions of dedicated fans. However, keen listeners will notice many of his songs have a distinctly critical view of his fame and success. Hits like “Stan,” “The Monster,” and “The Real Slim Shady” discuss the intense reality of public scrutiny and fan idolization. For a talented introvert like Eminem, fame is one of the most challenging aspects of sharing his art with the world.

#11: Harrison Ford

Before “Star Wars” was even a twinkle in George Lucas’ eye, Harrison Ford already had a pretty good life. As an aspiring actor, Ford became a self-taught carpenter to support his family, working for clients like writer Joan Didion. Still, the silver screen called to Ford, and fame found him soon after. Like many other celebrities, Ford soon found himself mourning the sense of privacy he once enjoyed. For this reason, Ford rarely ventures out in view of the public eye, if he can help it. From interviews and fan interactions, Harrison Ford has become notoriously curmudgeonly, cynical about Hollywood, fame, and his iconic role as Han Solo. Still, his work has awed and inspired many generations of fans.

#10: Zach Galifianakis

As it turns out, this party animal from “The Hangover” may not be much of a party animal in real life. During a press conference for “Birdman” at the New York Film Festival, Zach really tore into his feelings about being famous, claiming it was “dumb” and not something he was interested in. He then went on to scathe the public’s inane interest in celebrities and their personal lives before attacking the industry itself, saying he finds “the way Hollywood congratulates itself” to be gross. Maybe that’s why he’s moved on to TV.

#9: Sia

Sia once worked behind the scenes in the music industry, co-writing songs like Rihanna’s “Diamonds” and Ne-Yo’s “Let Me Love You,” while making her own music. It wasn’t until 2011 when Sia’s name became mainstream with the release of David Guetta’s “Titanium”, and her fame hasn’t relented since. Unfortunately, she absolutely hates it, as evident by covering her face at public events with her signature wig – but even prior to this, she had already begun wearing a mask on stage. Sia has said that she doesn’t do these things for attention, but because she’s trying to “maintain some modicum of privacy” as she finds being famous challenges her sanity.

#8: Marilyn Monroe

You can see how becoming a sex symbol for an entire country could be detrimental to your mental well-being. Early in her career, Monroe was the sexy blonde bombshell to millions of people, and she initially loved the attention. However, she soon realized that she was being typecast, and desperately tried to be taken seriously. It was around this time It was around this time she became depressed and struggling with substance use disorder, from which she never recovered.Her mental health deteriorated, and she was placed in a mental institution shortly before dying by overdose. Former co-star Laurence Olivier later referred to Monroe as “the complete victim of ballyhoo and sensation.”

#7: Emma Watson

Emma Watson is one of the biggest movie stars in the world: not only has she starred in one of the most popular movie series’ of all time, but she’s also played the lead role in the live-action adaptation of one of the most popular Disney movies of all time. So, it’s safe to say that millions know her name. However, she has since grown quite uncomfortable with the fame, describing it as not easy to deal with. She also rarely poses for photos with fans, calling it “the difference between being able to have a life and not.” However, she doesn’t refuse children, so rest assured there.

#6: Daniel Day-Lewis

This three-time Academy Award-winning actor is one of the most respected performers of all time, and is known for his dedication to the craft. However, he hates the attention that comes with it. He was forced to move away from his hometown of London because he hated being in the public eye, and he now resides in a county in Ireland, calling his life a “lifelong study in evasion.” He also rarely gives interviews, and in 2017 declared himself to be retired. However, he did come out of retirement in 2025 to star in a film directed by his son, Ronan.

#5: Shia LaBeouf

For someone who hates being famous so much, LaBeouf's attempts to stay out of the limelight often backfire. He also seems to just as often find himself in the spotlight for the wrong reasons. In 2014, LaBeouf famously announced via Twitter that he was retiring from public life after he was caught plagiarizing a Dan Clowes comic, and his red carpet bag stunt is now the thing of legend. On top of that, LaBeouf has told Variety that he feels “enslaved” as a celebrity and that being one “robs you of your individuality.”

#4: Robert Pattinson

It’s a well-known fact that Robert Pattinson is not a fan of the “Twilight” franchise, the very series that made him a household name. That’s probably why he has spent so much time in the indie scene since the final “Twilight” film was released. Well, that and hating the fame that comes with starring in a blockbuster movie franchise. He told the Spanish edition of GQ that “you don’t have a normal life anymore” after becoming famous, and that “people don’t realize how lonely you are” once you become a household name. He probably wishes that he lived in the woods of Seattle right about now.

#3: Britney Spears

Britney Spears has an infamously rocky history with fame and the dangers that come with it. While she now says that she “goes back and forth” regarding her fame, there once was a time when she absolutely despised it. In the 2008 MTV documentary, she simply said, “I’m sad” with tears in her eyes, and that image alone is startlingly effective and telling. She also had many run-ins with the paparazzi in the mid 2000s, which was a contributing factor, along with numerous personal issues, in her emotional breakdown in 2007. Today, Spears seems to be in a much better place.

#2: Dave Chappelle

“Chappelle’s Show” was undoubtedly a cultural milestone back in the 2000s, and Chappelle was seemingly set. That is why everyone was stunned when he simply walked away during production of Season 3 and flew to South Africa for peace of mind. He later told Time being in South Africa meant not having the distractions of fame. Later, Chappelle would say that fame is a “horrifying concept when it's aimed at you”. Unlike many celebrities, the comedian lives a reclusive life, on a quiet farm in Ohio with his wife and children, well away from the hustle and bustle of Hollywood glamor.

#1: Kristen Stewart

Like her co-star Robert Pattinson, Stewart abhors the fame that came with starring in the “Twilight” series. Stewart seems like a reserved woman, so it’s understandable that she would hate the attention that the spotlight and camera flashes bring. She initially wasn’t prepared for the onslaught of attention that being in “Twilight” brought her, calling it a “huge lifestyle shift” that came with “really heavy baggage” - although she didn’t hate it. Yet. She has since told Harper’s Bazaar UK that Hollywood is “disgustingly sexist” and that “fame is the worst thing in the world.” Sounds like she hates it now.

Do you think these celebs are justified in hating their fame? Let us know in the comments!