celebrity profile

I have a friend who is a professional journalist.  He used to write celebrity profiles, but has stopped in order to focus on other subjects.  I asked him why the change and he said, “I can’t stand the LIE factor in writing these profiles.”  He said that at best the celebrities are boring, (occasionally stupid) or empty headed or simply don’t have much to say.  At worst they are arrogant, rude, pretentious, egomaniacs and just plain awful to deal with.  Either way his job was to make them all seem fascinating, friendly, accessible, glamorous and filled with depth and intelligence.  He said it was all a monumental task in creative writing to say the least. 


That’s why I find this profile of London Times profile of Gwyneth Paltrow by Janice Turner to be particularly interesting. 


You almost NEVER see a journalist (at least here in America) be this honest and blunt when writing about a celebrity in a legitimate outlet.  The tabloids are another story entirely.  This London Times story could almost be viewed as mean spirited.  The journalist says, “Certainly Paltrow, for all her beauty, class and talent, lacks a warmly loyal female fanbase. Perhaps because, unlike Ren?e Zellweger, say, she does not appear to need us. She seems too superior, too perfect… or at least is unwilling to reveal her flaws. Women admire her only as an upscale fashion plate. Moreover she gives the impression of entitlement, as if her golden career is something she was born to, but maybe it was. Certainly when she refers to herself as ‘an artist’ I muse that few British actors would use that lofty term. And when I ask if she dreams up her own projects, sees characters in books or history she’d love to play, she says, with supreme confidence that the world will offer up its prizes: ‘You know, I always believe that the right thing finds me.’”


This article is 180 degrees opposite the Vogue cover story written by Plum Sykes who seems to worship the ground Paltrow walks on. 


It is interesting how two different stories can represent two wildly opposite points of view about the same person.


I tend to agree with my friend though that a great deal of celebrity journalism is one great big lie.  Having worked in the industry, I have heard many stories and seen many of these people up close.  The truth is never what it appears to be.

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