Gossip in magazines or newspapers is part and parcel of being a celebrity. Reading the latest scandal on the way to work is light entertainment for most of us but have you ever considered how this type of information gets leaked?
Working for the famous is probably considered a glamorous and sought-after job yet most of the leaks come from the inside and even from the celebrities’ personal assistants. So what’s it really like to work for a celebrity? Is it really as glamorous as it seems? Is the person really how their public persona portrays them to be?
Here’s some insight from people who have experience first-hand as a PA and tell us how working in a celebrity’s world really measures up.
Lifehack: What’s it really like being an assistant to a celebrity?
“Let’s just say I have a special ringtone for her, and when it rings, even if it’s a “thank you” text, my heart stops. She’s reprimanded me in the past, and it hasn’t been fun. Plus, as a personal assistant to a celebrity, you’re working for someone who’s accustomed to getting what they want when they want it. And if you get in the way of that, then you become the enemy. She can be an extremely kind and gracious woman, but not when her (high) expectations aren’t met. If I’m not quick enough, articulate enough, demanding enough, I’m not doing a good enough job. It’s just very up and down. I live in perpetual intimidation of her, for sure.”
Lifehack: Is the job as glamorous as it seems?
“Here’s the thing: sometimes celebrities are eccentric and what you may consider an emergency they might not. One of my bosses was renting an estate that he was not familiar with. I was sleeping in another part of it and he called me at 3am because he couldn’t find the light and wanted me to turn the light. To him, it was an emergency.”
Lifehack: Are all famous people as they seem in the public eye?
“Some may have the delightful reputation of George Clooney, but others are emotional wrecks who treat their assistants like s***. You will not be able to parse this on the initial interview, or possibly even during your first few weeks of work. They’re actors. They’re good at acting normal.”
“Assistants have to be aware that a person’s public persona is quite different than their real life personality. More often than not a lot of assistants because disenchanted with their new role which is why I encourage the client and the assistant to be as forthright as possible during the job interview.”
Lifehack: Would you consider it a normal job?
“While being a celebrity assistant may mean you get to travel to glamorous destinations and meet interesting people, it also means being at the beck and call of your celebrity at all times. You may need to fly somewhere in the middle of the night, or leave your best friend’s party to fetch laundry at a moment’s notice. And forget dating — you’re in a committed relationship with your celebrity.”
Lifehack: What do your friends and family think about you being a celebrity personal assistant?
“I’d say both parties were both really excited by the prospect of the job. But once it started to affect my anxiety levels, their enthusiasm waned. And now they’re encouraging me to quit.”
Lifehack: Would you recommend becoming a PA to a celebrity?
“You need to be tough – a lot of people conceptually believe they would love to work for a celebrity. But you have to have a very, very thick skin and you cannot cry easily. It’s not for someone who is faint of heart. Getting the job is much easier than keeping the job. It is very easy to be fired if you don’t keep your wits about you.”
All that glitz and glamour?
So it seems life as a celebrity PA isn’t as glamorous as it’s cracked up to be. Entering into the world of the rich and famous seems an exciting prospect but while it can mean attending big parties and flying to exotic places, it’s a 24/7 job. One that can be full of unworldly demands but also one that gives a wonderful insight into the real gritty life of the famous.
Featured photo credit: Fernanda Latronico via pexels.com
