Money, recognition, adulation, and exclusive invites – there’s plenty of appeal to being famous, but how to achieve that fame is relatively allusive. With talent, drive, and a good work ethic, though, you just might make it happen. Zendaya, Timothée Chalamet, and Florence Pugh all started somewhere, right? Kick-starting your career can’t be all about becoming famous, but it’s good to have goals and know how to achieve them. Let’s take a look at some common steps to earning fame.
1. Identify your niche.
Social media and reality TV have significantly broadened the potential for achieving fame, but behind every glittering career is a talent who has worked hard to get it. The keyword here is “talent.” What do you want to be known for? What is your brand? Are you a singer, an actor, a dancer, a model, or a comedian? Are you a quadruple threat or something else entirely? What makes you fresh? Ask yourself some tough questions, and then get the opinions of people you trust about where your true talents lie.
Once you’ve identified your niche, you need to hone your talents. Do an internet deep dive to find people who’ve gone before you. How did they get to where they are now? If you want to do this for a living, you have to get out there – whether it’s through taking classes, finding performance opportunities, or broadcasting your skills online.
2. Be persistent and consistent.
For a quick hit of fame, you could try to go viral. If you want to be famous in the long term, however, it takes a lot of hard work. As Debbie Allen’s character, Lydia, said in Fame (1980): “Fame costs, and right here is where you start paying – in sweat.”
Fame can come in myriad ways, but even those who appear to be overnight successes have usually put in the hours and the hustle. Take actor Owen Cooper, the teenage star of Netflix’s hit drama Adolescence. It may seem like he came from nowhere, but he actually had years of regular drama classes behind him before his breakout role.
Get out there and hustle. Take tiny roles, work on student films, check for open casting calls, and practise your craft – whatever it may be. Rejections and knockbacks are standard in the creative industries, so imagine them as chat show anecdotes for the future. Be resilient, keep it real, and, most of all, keep going. Thinking about fame won’t make you famous, but hard work might.
3. Be authentic.
Authenticity – staying true to yourself – can be a pathway to success. Look at Jennifer Lawrence’s trip-up to Oscars glory, Amy Schumer’s hilariously natural Instagram page, or Jennifer Garner’s relatable posts. All those performers offer fans part (but not all) of their true personalities – just enough to make themselves relatable and likeable.
4. Stay professional.
For real success, it’s also important to be professional. That means treating people courteously, whoever they are. The runner fetching coffee today could be your boss tomorrow. Be on time, listen, and take constructive feedback. Remember that no one likes a diva, so cultivate a reputation for being a great person to work with from day one.
Professionalism also entails some admin. You may not need them once you’re truly famous, but while you’re on your way ensure that your CV, showreel, comp card, headshots, or whatever materials your industry demands are ready so you can grab opportunities with both hands when they arise.
5. Think about your socials.
Social media is a great way to get noticed, meet like-minded creatives, and ensure that you’re in the room where it happens. Many famous faces have made a name for themselves on social media. Consider whether becoming an influencer may align with your goals – or at least be a step in the right direction.
6. Keep your head on your shoulders.
While you’re planning your ascent to Mount Very Famous, you’ll likely need to take care of all-important things such as earning money and paying rent. That’s why it’s good to have an in-the-meantime job or side hustle that can be flexible enough to support you while you pursue your quest for fame.
Plenty of very famous people had noncreative jobs while they plotted their success. Sydney Sweeney worked as a Universal Studios tour guide, Harry Styles did time as a bakery assistant, and Margot Robbie made sandwiches at Subway.
As that celebrity roll call proves, you never know who you’ll meet making sarnies or waiting tables. Plus, they may be a vital part of your future network.
7. Build your network.
For most creative pursuits, you need collaborators. Connect with people who, like you, are looking to make noise in your industry. Go to events like film festivals, and take drama classes. The more people you know, the more opportunities you’ll hear about. Don’t think of it as befriending the competition, think of it as widening your creative circle and finding your tribe. It worked for Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, who met as unknowns while taking an improv class. It also worked for Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, who grew up in the same neighbourhood.
8. Consider the negatives.
With all the glitz and glamour, it can be hard to remember that fame also has downsides. Many celebrities talk about the loss of privacy and the effect of fame on their mental health. Just imagine being stared at all the time or not knowing who you can trust.
Billie Eilish told the BBC’s Miss You podcast about her own troubled relationship with fame. “I lost all of my friends when I got famous. I suddenly was famous, and I couldn’t relate to anybody. It was tough. It was really hard,” Eilish said. “And then it was my 20th birthday, and I remember looking around the room and it was only people that I employed. All 15 years or more older than me. And that made me realise, like, ‘Oh, wait, this is a job. If they left me, they would never see me again.’”
Psychologist Dr. Donna Rockwell has studied the psychology of fame and celebrity. “Fame sits on the table between you like a bloated cod,” one celebrity told her. “Sometimes friends leave, and you have to understand why they leave, because you’re special and they’re not.’”
“There’s a funny thing about fame,” George Clooney told Esquire. “The truth is you run as fast as you can toward it because it’s everything you want. Not just the fame, but what it represents – meaning work, meaning opportunity. And then you get there, and it’s shocking how immediately you become enveloped in this world that is incredibly restricting.”
For every fabulous success story, there are plenty of much sadder tales. Reality shows that offer instant fame, like Love Island, have ended up with tragic outcomes for some contestants. Celebrities have to deal with stalkers and obsessive fans. Fame may look like 24/7 fun, but you should consider that it may not be what it’s cracked up to be.
Still, being recognised for what you do well can be an amazing privilege. Maybe being famous shouldn’t be your end goal, but a fabulous byproduct of doing what you love.