William Shatner Reveals All

In the past, celebrities like movie stars or sports heroes carefully constructed their public images. There was an aloofness, or otherness, about them which added to their mystique. But with the advent of social online media networks, many stars have become more open about sharing their own insecurities, fears, and failures. Fans want to hear more about the people behind the slick media spin, and many celebs comply by sharing their lives via Twitter, blogs, or just by being more open with their fans.

Recently William Shatner (better known as Captain Kirk from the original Star Trek series) shared his struggles publicly for the first time:

At 79, the Montreal-born Shatner remains a beloved and seemingly unstoppable force in Hollywood … But despite fame, fortune and wide-ranging creative opportunities, he revealed Tuesday night that it has been a difficult journey.

“My life was a series of pools of loneliness [from] which every so often I was able to emerge with some companionship, and subdue that dreadful feeling that had dogged me for much of my life,” he said. “And frequently even with the kudos I was receiving, I was not happy with the private part of my existence. But slowly I changed. The drill that life puts you through can make you or break you, and fortunately I became more comfortable with relationships and slowly evolved in reaching out to friends and family.” (Globe & Mail)

In some ways it’s easier for stars to expose themselves this way: They are already public figures, and they have audiences who are ready and willing to accept whatever they reveal and offer their support. It almost seems to come with the territory of being a celebrity that airing your dirty laundry publicly is accepted, and won’t hurt your career. For average people with families and employers to worry about, that isn’t usually an option.

If you are going through difficult struggles, and would like someone to speak with privately and confidentially who can sympathize with the challenges you face, please contact a mentor today to talk about it with a caring listener.

Upcoming online chats: Join us for daily online chats! One of our features will be “What Do I Base My Self-Worth On? ” on June 28 at 10:30 am EDT Please join us to discuss where you get your confidence from.

Tags: celebrities, counseling, Culture, darren hewer, Men, mentoring, privacy, star trek, william shatner, Women

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