From the outside, the film fraternity appears shiny and dreamy, a world filled with glitz, glamour, and perfection. But when you dive deeper, you realize it’s just like any other industry, complete with its own flaws, challenges, and quirks.
That’s why, when a Redditor asked, “People who have worked with celebrities, what don’t we know about them?” the replies started pouring in. Some were tacky, some shocking, and others downright hilarious. Keep reading to uncover more secrets of the glamour industry that might leave you surprised!
#1
I've met a fair number of musicians but probably the nicest was Weird Al. My daughter was shy but really wanted his autograph and he was so kind! I understood why the line (after a show) was so slow. He took time with each person, made a little personal connection, and left them feeling seen and heard. It was honestly amazing.
113points
#2
Replying on a throwaway account.
Worked for the first time with a major A-List talent many years ago when I was first starting out. They (trying to remain gender neutral as to not give too much away) have quite the reputation for being phenomenally talented but also rude, abrasive, and arrogant for a lack of better words.
Going in, I knew that I had to walk carefully tread around them because of their reputation but I was a little surprised by how "not rude" they were. But most people generally are around me as I'm quite tall, by most means conventionally attractive and ex-military (at a time when most people held the military in a higher regard compared to today).
Because they were rather friendly with me from the get-go, I didn't have to walk around egg shells while interacting with them and could be myself. Also, I'm generally not the kind of person who ever really asks for pictures, autographs etc so that helped.
Couple weeks in we had a quiet moment together and they broke down in front of me. At first, I thought to myself, "oh s**t, I'm f****d" but those were tears of joy as I was the first person in a long time to have treated them like a normal person and not as some diva or someone who should be placed on a pedestal.
They opened up about the fact that they enjoyed acting as an art form but hated much of pageantry and attention they got as a celebrity and much of their abrasive personality came from years of being exploited by people who they assumed to be friends and feeling like a "zoo animal" whenever they were out and about with people treating them like they were the latest attraction to see and forgetting that there was an actual person underneath.
Are there some genuinely horrible people in hollywood, entertainment etc? Absolutely. But it also taught me not to always judge a book by it's cover and a lot of times when people who are famous come across as abrasive, it's a bit of a defense mechanism.
Worked for the first time with a major A-List talent many years ago when I was first starting out. They (trying to remain gender neutral as to not give too much away) have quite the reputation for being phenomenally talented but also rude, abrasive, and arrogant for a lack of better words.
Going in, I knew that I had to walk carefully tread around them because of their reputation but I was a little surprised by how "not rude" they were. But most people generally are around me as I'm quite tall, by most means conventionally attractive and ex-military (at a time when most people held the military in a higher regard compared to today).
Because they were rather friendly with me from the get-go, I didn't have to walk around egg shells while interacting with them and could be myself. Also, I'm generally not the kind of person who ever really asks for pictures, autographs etc so that helped.
Couple weeks in we had a quiet moment together and they broke down in front of me. At first, I thought to myself, "oh s**t, I'm f****d" but those were tears of joy as I was the first person in a long time to have treated them like a normal person and not as some diva or someone who should be placed on a pedestal.
They opened up about the fact that they enjoyed acting as an art form but hated much of pageantry and attention they got as a celebrity and much of their abrasive personality came from years of being exploited by people who they assumed to be friends and feeling like a "zoo animal" whenever they were out and about with people treating them like they were the latest attraction to see and forgetting that there was an actual person underneath.
Are there some genuinely horrible people in hollywood, entertainment etc? Absolutely. But it also taught me not to always judge a book by it's cover and a lot of times when people who are famous come across as abrasive, it's a bit of a defense mechanism.
69points
#3
I’ve known a bunch of minor B-C list celebs. Musicians, Broadway, movies, all of it. One of my very best friends is a C-list working actor. 15-20 years ago in my younger years we’d go to parties around Hollywood and run into other C-listers. One of the things that sticks out to me, as a theatre kid myself, is that they are ALL the obnoxious annoying theatre kid that sang Sondheim in the hallways and had a lot of feelings. They all had that energy. The parties would sometimes get really weird. And deep down these are not the cool kids. I always remember that when people hold celebs up to these super high standards and take political and life advice from them. They’re just people. They’re the theatre kid from school and everyone needs to calm down.
48points
There's so much more to the movie industry than meets the eye. To get a better understanding of what goes on behind the scenes, we spoke to someone who’s been in the thick of it.
We had a chat with an assistant director and video editor in Bollywood, who shared some juicy secrets from his 10 years of experience in the industry. Choosing to stay anonymous to avoid unnecessary drama, he gave us a peek into the world of glitz and glamour.
#4
Owen Wilson is one of the most introverted people I’ve ever met. Turns it ON for the camera and then goes to his chair and totally keeps to himself. Not rude by any stretch, but just very very introverted and quiet.
48points
#5
They are all frozen at the age the become famous. Christina Aguilera was alway a 13 year old girl. Adam Levine is a horny 18 year old guy. Robin Williams was a hilarious and kind 25 year old. Etc…
I think after you are famous, the systems around you stop saying “no,” stop supporting/disciplining you like they probably should, and continuing to mature on the same path as normal people becomes harder.
I never had a “bad” experience with the celebs I worked with, and many I would say were friends, but my interactions were never totally in line with the “regular” folks I really spent my quality time with.
I think after you are famous, the systems around you stop saying “no,” stop supporting/disciplining you like they probably should, and continuing to mature on the same path as normal people becomes harder.
I never had a “bad” experience with the celebs I worked with, and many I would say were friends, but my interactions were never totally in line with the “regular” folks I really spent my quality time with.
46points
#6
People really need to stop pretending like celebrities are the personas they portray on red carpets, in interviews etc. Most of the actors I’ve worked with are noticeably different from how they behave in the public sphere, and it’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s normal to not want to share every part of yourself with the public. A lot of them are a lot more weird, introverted etc. than you would think based on their public appearances. I just hate when people see videos of their fave celeb and think they know them cause they were kooky on an episode of hot ones. The truth is they’re still usually playing a version of themselves.
42points
He started by saying, “Not all of it is bad. The industry is overall good, but it’s incredibly insecure.” He explained how the competitive nature of Bollywood makes actors and actresses constantly insecure—not just about their roles, but their appearance and even their personalities.
He revealed some eyebrow-raising moments, like when junior artists (background actors) look too good. “If a junior artist looks better than an actor, they’ll ask the director to change them,” he shared.
#7
Worked for one very long day on Batman Vs Superman. In between takes my friend and I had a few minutes to talk with Zach Snyder, thanking him for the invite to come be in the film (he’d called in to the sports radio station he was listening to locally while in town and offered extra roles to people at the station…I’m just the lucky friend of one). Wasn’t like we knew the guy or anything but for a few minutes we were just chopping it up with another guy about current sports…right after walking by the goddamned Batcave set!
In hindsight we both felt like maybe it wasn’t so acceptable for a couple of extras to just grab the director of a big budget movie during a night shoot and just attempt to chit chat with the guy but he never made us feel like we were out of line or bugging him. He seemed genuinely happy we’d taken him up on the offer…and I even made it in the movie for like 1.2 seconds.
In hindsight we both felt like maybe it wasn’t so acceptable for a couple of extras to just grab the director of a big budget movie during a night shoot and just attempt to chit chat with the guy but he never made us feel like we were out of line or bugging him. He seemed genuinely happy we’d taken him up on the offer…and I even made it in the movie for like 1.2 seconds.
40points
#8
A lot of them are *so* insecure. There’s one actor I worked with that is ADORED throughout their very fervent fandom. I met them at a season launch party, and while the party was ongoing this one actor was schmoozing and gregarious and putting on the charisma. As soon as the party ended, he dropped the big smile and kept voicing complaint after complaint to his entourage. He kept trying to smell his own breath and was deeply concerned the garlic in the Caesar salad he had eaten was giving him bad breath, so he started breathing in the faces of all the folks in his entourage and asking everyone if his breath smelled okay. Meanwhile everyone in his entourage were on the phones looking for the next spot to hit up because the actor kept complaining that the party sucked and he didn’t have any fun and that he wanted to actually do something worthwhile with his night. His whole attitude struck me as whiny, self conscious, and negative, and from the way he was interacting with his crew of yes men and women, it was clear he thirsted for and fed off their validation. It just felt desperate and so off-putting imo. I was invited to come along to the next location with them to hit up another party and I declined because the vibes were so off. My take away was “none of y’all are going to have fun no matter where you go because your attitudes are wack”.
When I’ve talked to people who are in the fandom for the show, I see them get goo goo eyed talking about the ~dreamy~ cast and how charismatic and adorable they are when they’ve met them at cons. I just shrug and say nothing while remembering Mr. Charisma breathing his garlic breath in everyone’s face and asking if it smelled okay.
When I’ve talked to people who are in the fandom for the show, I see them get goo goo eyed talking about the ~dreamy~ cast and how charismatic and adorable they are when they’ve met them at cons. I just shrug and say nothing while remembering Mr. Charisma breathing his garlic breath in everyone’s face and asking if it smelled okay.
36points
#9
These people I’m going to talk about are all pretty much dead but wth. In college and right after I worked at a famous sporting event that would attract a bunch of celebrities.
James Garner - a total charmer and had zero airs about him. Joked around a lot but also asked you questions. I think he was not really wealthy because any time people said they liked something he acted in, he’d joke that he should have asked for more money.
Florence Henderson - absolute pro and really easygoing and friendly. I remember someone bonked her on the head with a boom mic or something similar and she didn’t get mad, just rolled her eyes and smiled. Just a delightful person.
Regis Philbin - high strung and rude, complained a lot about things like the cue cards and the weather. One time I spent the morning before the event driving him and George Steinbrenner around in a golf cart on the grounds. People went nuts for Steinbrenner, yelling “mean” things and he just laughed and played along. Really polite with the “please” and “thank you” and took tons of pics with fans. He and Regis got along but I think Reg was jelly of all the attention Steinbrenner got.
Paul Newman - drove him in a golf cart to a shoot on the grounds and he was really quiet and kind of intimidating, not rude but zero small talk. Never cracked a smile but wasn’t being a jerk, just very self contained. It was just me and the camera guy in the room with him and he changed around all the lights and the camera shot before he did his video tribute which was fine, we didn’t make a peep. He complained a little about the teleprompter but I think it was because he didn’t want to wear his glasses for the video. He was in his 70s and small and gray haired but still handsome with those piercing eyes.
David Letterman - had resting cranky face and not interested in small talk but was on time and professional. He cracked a couple jokes at his own expense when he f-ed up a line. Not rude or demanding just did his sh*t and jetted.
D**k Clark - absolute professional and really friendly dude. His wife traveled with him and you could tell he adored her. At one point he asked me about my future plans and gave me the advice to “always be on time” to do something I loved.
I know there were more, I’m going to have to think about it.
James Garner - a total charmer and had zero airs about him. Joked around a lot but also asked you questions. I think he was not really wealthy because any time people said they liked something he acted in, he’d joke that he should have asked for more money.
Florence Henderson - absolute pro and really easygoing and friendly. I remember someone bonked her on the head with a boom mic or something similar and she didn’t get mad, just rolled her eyes and smiled. Just a delightful person.
Regis Philbin - high strung and rude, complained a lot about things like the cue cards and the weather. One time I spent the morning before the event driving him and George Steinbrenner around in a golf cart on the grounds. People went nuts for Steinbrenner, yelling “mean” things and he just laughed and played along. Really polite with the “please” and “thank you” and took tons of pics with fans. He and Regis got along but I think Reg was jelly of all the attention Steinbrenner got.
Paul Newman - drove him in a golf cart to a shoot on the grounds and he was really quiet and kind of intimidating, not rude but zero small talk. Never cracked a smile but wasn’t being a jerk, just very self contained. It was just me and the camera guy in the room with him and he changed around all the lights and the camera shot before he did his video tribute which was fine, we didn’t make a peep. He complained a little about the teleprompter but I think it was because he didn’t want to wear his glasses for the video. He was in his 70s and small and gray haired but still handsome with those piercing eyes.
David Letterman - had resting cranky face and not interested in small talk but was on time and professional. He cracked a couple jokes at his own expense when he f-ed up a line. Not rude or demanding just did his sh*t and jetted.
D**k Clark - absolute professional and really friendly dude. His wife traveled with him and you could tell he adored her. At one point he asked me about my future plans and gave me the advice to “always be on time” to do something I loved.
I know there were more, I’m going to have to think about it.
35points
He even recalled seeing a big-name actress demand the removal of a background dancer. “She felt the dancer was looking prettier than her. The dancer had to leave the set because of it,” he added.
It doesn’t stop there. Wardrobe choices also come under scrutiny. “If they think someone else’s outfit is outshining theirs, they’ll make sure it gets changed,” he said.
#10
I make movies and TV for a living. There are definitely differences between actors and "movie stars." Most actors are just normal every day humans that you wouldnt pick out of a crowd. Quirky as hell usually, and but just people. Movie stars tend to have a very specific charisma and a way about them that sets them apart. For example, my boss (who is a producer and has worked with tons of actors at all levels) went to George Clooney's for a meeting and said that it was hard not to feel starstruck because he made you feel like you had his full attention and you were the only one that mattered when he was speaking to you.
34points
#11
Not me, but a close friend of mine was a nanny for a celebrity - she told me that the celebrity woman was very lonely and didnt feel she could trust anyone. Once she trusted the nanny enough - she actually hired another nanny to take care of her kids and kept my friend as a "nanny" but really just to keep her around as a friend. Very sad.
33points
#12
One of my husband's best friends worked for Tommy Lee Jones on his cattle/polo ranch near San Saba. As I understand it Jones is known in Hollywood for being a bit of a jerk. Friend has said that TLJ is very reserved and private, and honestly pretty socially awkward. He doesn't like to talk about himself at all but will happily discuss cattle breeds or what kind of polo saddle is best. His opinion is TLJ's awkwardness is what's given him his reputation.
My parents used to work for one of the companies that supplies Super Bowl memorabilia and they got to meet Gisele Bundchen this way. She brought her kids to the booth where they were working before the game started so they could pick something out. The company's rep tried to give them everything but she insisted on paying. My dad said she was very sweet and soft-spoken until a reporter caught up to her and started grilling her about Tom Brady. Her security was trying to get him to leave without putting hands on him and he was being rude. She flipped a switch and yelled at him that Brady was just one person on an entire team, that he worked very hard, and they needed to stop expecting him to do everything. As soon as the security team hauled the reporter off she went back to sweet and kind person. My dad said it was like Jekyll and Hyde.
My parents used to work for one of the companies that supplies Super Bowl memorabilia and they got to meet Gisele Bundchen this way. She brought her kids to the booth where they were working before the game started so they could pick something out. The company's rep tried to give them everything but she insisted on paying. My dad said she was very sweet and soft-spoken until a reporter caught up to her and started grilling her about Tom Brady. Her security was trying to get him to leave without putting hands on him and he was being rude. She flipped a switch and yelled at him that Brady was just one person on an entire team, that he worked very hard, and they needed to stop expecting him to do everything. As soon as the security team hauled the reporter off she went back to sweet and kind person. My dad said it was like Jekyll and Hyde.
30points
The assistant director also shared a funny detail about how some male stars deal with their height. “There are big stars who are shorter, and during close-ups, they’ll stand on stools next to the heroine to look taller,” he said with a laugh.
He reminded us that the actors we see on screen aren’t always as polished as they appear. “Without makeup, their skin isn’t all that bright, and they’re just like regular people,” he said.
#13
You’d be surprised at the bad hygiene and bad teeth on a lot of celebs especially dudes. Also lots of filthy mansions with pets using the floor as pee pad. A lot of cars clothes and houses are borrowed from actual rich people that want proximity to celebrity. I can’t emphasize enough how filthy some of these people are, like no home training.
ETA: the professional athletes I know are OCD clean in both house and hygiene.
ETA: the professional athletes I know are OCD clean in both house and hygiene.
28points
#14
My friend worked with Billy Bob Thornton and said he was a total a*****e (huge surprise, I know) who berated young women because the antique furniture in his dressing room wasn't from the correct period. Literally threw s**t and SCREAMED at people. F**k that guy.
28points
#15
Had lunch with Martin Scorsese while in final auditions for Shutter Island. He’s actually really funny and down to earth, same goes for Kate Winslet. When I was on set with her for Little Children she’d play games and eat snacks with us between shooting.
26points
And it’s not just looks. Intelligence isn’t always part of the package either. “Some actors need a lot of help with speech and interviews,” he said. He also noted how they sometimes change the topic or throw tantrums to deflect attention when things get tricky.
He went on to share how the competition isn’t limited to just the big stars—it trickles down to every level of the industry. “From junior artists to makeup artists, everyone’s trying to prove they’re the best. It creates this environment where even the smallest details become a battle for attention,” he explained.
#16
The B/C listers are the worst to work with. The entourages/family are even worse than the B/C listers. No one is as wealthy as they seem.
25points
#17
I work in TV and I would just say in general that there is usually not any relationship between the character a person plays and how they actually are in real life. Sure, sometimes you get a writer-actor who is writing themselves, or maybe a really famous person who has a lot of control over the script, but that’s not common. In general, they are their own distinct personalities who get a script written by a completely different set of humans. I know it’s easy to feel like you know them, or understand their relationship with their castmates, but you just don’t. They are strangers you do not know.
24points
#18
Not me but a friend of mine worked on the set of Queen Charlotte (the Bridgerton series on Netflix). Had nothing but great things to say about the cast. She especially loved India (the lead actress). India was only about 20 I think while filming but she said she was so professional, kind, hardworking, and just an overall joy. My friend is in her late 20s. She said the thing she found super funny was that several of the male extras had the biggest crush on India and it was like she was oblivious to it lols. She was probably just so focused on her work and it was a lot of pressure leading a multimillion dollar production but I just found that funny. Stars…they can be clueless just like us.
24points
Another interesting tidbit he revealed was how much work goes into creating the “perfect” scenes. “Sometimes, a scene that looks effortless on screen takes an entire day to shoot because someone isn’t satisfied with their angle or lighting. It’s all about perfection, even if it means exhausting the entire crew,” he said.
#19
They're usually much shorter than you think.
23points
#20
So I worked in TV for 12 years. What most people are saying here is right... That most actors are nerdy weirdos who just happen to do a job that gets them recognized by the public.
But I'll add, in my experience, most actors are pretty nice in spite of this. Like they can be dramatic and difficult to direct when they don't understand the script. But on a human level, MOST actors are nice.
Now, having said that's... There's always at least one diva on a show, and it's almost always some B-C lister. Someone who is rude to crew, to other actors, and whom most people just hate.
But then once in a while there is a reason. For instance January Jones is very private and didn't interact with crew,m much, but she also literally had a stalker who kept sneaking onto the lot. We had an actual code phrase in place to say on the phone if this one guy ever showed up, that's how bad it was. So even if you hear that an actor is kinda weird, you might not understand the reasons why.
But I'll add, in my experience, most actors are pretty nice in spite of this. Like they can be dramatic and difficult to direct when they don't understand the script. But on a human level, MOST actors are nice.
Now, having said that's... There's always at least one diva on a show, and it's almost always some B-C lister. Someone who is rude to crew, to other actors, and whom most people just hate.
But then once in a while there is a reason. For instance January Jones is very private and didn't interact with crew,m much, but she also literally had a stalker who kept sneaking onto the lot. We had an actual code phrase in place to say on the phone if this one guy ever showed up, that's how bad it was. So even if you hear that an actor is kinda weird, you might not understand the reasons why.
23points