Celebrity
Status UK that survives performance pressure
BRAVE
OR FOOLISH? Celebrities
willing to endure hardship and humiliation for charity and the cameras.
In
England, Big Brother is followed by other versions in countries around
the world. Thousands apply for the opportunity to be on the programme
and 2003 is no different.
In
Australia there is a game show where British celebrities go into the
jungle for two weeks to raise money for charity called “I am a
celebrity - Get me out of here”. They endure hunger to the point
of starvation and face their fears with snakes and other wild creepy
crawlies. In 2003 the atmosphere is more friendly without anyone being
outwardly hateful of anyone else. There seems to be a more united desire
to confront issues that involve the whole group. Lack of food is the
biggest difficulty followed by cigarettes for the smokers. One celebrity
has faced drug addiction withdrawal and rehabilitation.
How
much more pressure can there be than to perform in front of millions.
What does someone have to be like to survive public pressure?
Stars
like Sir Elton John and Sir Cliff Richard have shown that star status
can also be long lived. There is a sense of timelessness. A song that
touched the hearts across the world. Princess Diana's funeral is as
fresh a memory to many as it was on the day. Elton John described how
he managed to keep composed; by concentrating on the job as a professional
performer and putting aside emotion. What happens to the emotion?
Facing
a task with extreme courage and the ability to perform such a task is
the mark of a true performer under pressure. Other stars have the same
ability to cope when the performance matters. However the effect can
take a toll on health and
long term effects are well documented.
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