Fame is a tricky beast, especially for TV and film stars. Because having a certain level of notoriety makes you a box office draw, actors usually pine for fame, and therefore success in their career. But there are downsides to fame, as being recognizable can stop celebrities from living "normal" lives, unable to pick up a coffee without paparazzi and fans ruining their evening. And one actor who has been on both sides of the equation in recent years in Chris Pratt. Pratt went from supporting TV actor in Parks and Recreation to bonafide movie star, leading to quite a lifestyle change.
Chris Pratt and Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn recently spoke to this change while being interviewed for Cigar Aficionado. Pratt revealed that his main issue with fame is not being able to truly meet people for the first time. He said,
It's tough sometimes, the amount of management you need to do on things you used to do spontaneously. What I really miss is sitting down and talking to strangers who don't know me, so we can discover each other. I'd say the majority of people I meet have an idea about me before they meet me. There's something nice to being able to surprise somebody.
This makes a great deal of sense. Fans can often project their perception of their favorite actor onto the person, and the two are very rarely identical. That's why you should never meet your idols- they're likely to disappoint you. And because Chris Pratt is so delightful in interviews and seem so down to earth, I'm sure fans expect him to be as charming and hilarious as they've seen him on screen upon first meeting. But he's an actual person, not just a mixture of Andy Dwyer and Peter Quill.
The downside of celebrity can also hinder actors in a less existential way. Because while meeting people for the first time can be difficult now, it can also be hard to just grab a bite of dinner. In the same interview, James Gunn recounted one of these moments with Chris Pratt, saying:
I miss being able to go out to dinner with you. Do you remember that dinner in Atlanta [where they shot Vol. 2] where a woman came and sat down at our table? Neither of us knew her and we were having a conversation, but she just started having a conversation with you.
If you've successfully pissed of James Gunn, you know you messed up. The man is constantly interacting with fans through his social media accounts, so that lady must have been seriously annoying if Gunn has kept this interaction with him since filming Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.
Speaking of which, you can catch Chris Pratt in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 on May 5th, 2017. Check out our full 2017 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.
