Been there, learned that

Brooke Shields

Last week, in the course of researching an article on Brooke Shields’ recent and current activities, we were struck by the advice she gave a young starlet on how to succeed in the acting biz—and in life in general:

She sagely counseled, “Surround yourself with people you trust, not just people who say yes!”—How true!

What about other celebrities—what “been there, learned that” insights do they have to share with new talents, so that, forearmed and forewarned, they will have an easier time making it in the biz?
Other words of wisdom from stellar voices of experience in the often-bruising business of show:

Jimmy Durante: “Be nice to the people you meet on the way up—you may meet them on the way down!”

Drew Barrymore: “In the end, some of your greatest pains become your greatest strengths.”

George Clooney: “I don’t believe in happy endings, but I do believe in happy travels.”

Johnny Depp: “Take it from me—it’s OK to be different!”

Dax Shepard: “Success is just a war of attrition. Sure, talent counts—but if you just stick around long enough, eventually something will happen.”

Cornel West: “You gotta keep moving.”

Morgan Freeman: “Anytime the phone rings, I’m ready to go. So, I’ve never retired. I don’t even know what it means!”

Padma Lakshmi: “Beauty is no accomplishment on its own. It’s what you do with it!”

Malcolm Gladwell: “There is no such thing as an overnight success. Rising to the top requires an enormous amount of dedication, focus, drive and talent!”

Sean Hannity: “If nobody is criticizing you, that means you’re not doing your work effectively.”

Kevin Kline: “People ask, ‘What’s the best role you’ve ever played?’ My answer: ‘The next one!’”

Michael Douglas: “It’s important to save your money. You’ll need it for the long haul.”

Ashley Judd: “Daily meditation keeps me sane.”

Michael J. Fox: “My happiness grows in direct proportion to my acceptance—and in inverse proportion to my expectations!”

Clint Eastwood: “To stay young at heart, the brain has to be exercised like the rest of the body.”

Denzel Washington: “For me, success is inner peace.”

Kevin Costner: “We’re at a point in history where everyone needs to pay attention to politics.”

Justin Timberlake: “To succeed in this biz, you’ve got to work your ass off.”

William Shatner: “I’m supposed to be a successful star, but I’ve mostly blundered my way through life and my career. The things we call success are actually non-accomplishments.

Valerie Harper: “When I was younger, I’d keep berating myself—‘You’re fat, you’re not a good dancer’—but I don’t sweat those stuff anymore. Now, every day is a miracle!”

Tim Allen: “You’ve got to face up to who you really are. I used to live an isolated existence, even in relationships. Not anymore—and I feel much better!”

Chris Pine: “Ignore the naysayers. Just focus on ‘the job.’”

Robert De Niro: “In the acting biz, there’s no right or wrong, there’s only good and bad. And ‘bad’ often happens when you’re trying too hard to do it ‘right!’”