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Josh Hartnett says Vanity Fair article set him up to fail, led to his retreat from Hollywood

posted 4 years ago by TMC-4 (19446)
6 replies | jump to latest

https://www.lipstickalley.com/threads/josh-hartnett-says-vanity-fair-article-set-him-up-to-fail-led-to-his-retreat-from-hollywood.4036442/

Twenty years ago, an over-the-top Vanity Fair story completely changed Josh Hartnett's views on Hollywood—and his own career.

The 22-year-old rising star had landed enviable roles in The Virgin Suicides, Pearl Harbor and Black Hawk Down, but this 2001 magazine interview had him shuttering about his future.

Hartnett, now 42 and living with his wife Tamsin Egerton in Surrey, England, reflected on the moment that made him resentful toward Hollywood in an interview with The Guardian on Friday, Oct. 23.

"Oh, that was an awful piece," he said. "Was there even a quote from me in it, or was it just everyone talking about how hot I was? People got a chip on their shoulder about me after that. They genuinely thought I'd been thrust on them. It was a very weird time."

He was shocked that he was being compared to Tom Cruise and Julia Roberts, saying, "That's insane. It was a set-up-to-fail moment."

Hartnett explained, "It's just that it happened at a time when I wasn't that famous, and it seemed to already be asking whether I should be or not. I felt like: ‘Oh my God! I'm not the tallest poppy yet—don't cut me down!'"

The article vowed that Pearl Harbor (which co-stars Ben Affleck and Kate Beckinsale) "will virtually overnight make an international movie star out of a comparative unknown," AKA Hartnett. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer was quoted as saying, "It will change your life." It was a lot to live up to for the young star.

The actor said that around that time, he began to plan his escape from the spotlight as Hollywood insiders changed their perception of him.

"They looked at me as someone who had bitten the hand that fed me," Hartnett continued. "It wasn't that. I wasn't doing it to be recalcitrant or a rebel. People wanted to create a brand around me that was going to be accessible and well-liked, but I didn't respond to the idea of playing the same character over and over, so I branched out."

He retreated, trying to find smaller films to be a part of. "In the process, I burned my bridges at the studios because I wasn't participating," Hartnett said, noting that their goals "weren't the same."

https://www.eonline.com/news/1201518/josh-hartnett-recalls-the-set-up-to-fail-moment-that-made-him-resent-hollywood

[–] cj3333 (1046) 4 years ago

First world problems. Yawn.

[–] acidraindrop (3055) 2 years ago

Hadn't known about all of this. I definitely thought he was always a talented actor, and wondered why he didn't do more. Interesting.

[–] DoctorThirteen (10393) 2 years ago

People wanted to create a brand around me that was going to be accessible and well-liked

Hollywood has been about that since the year dot. It's what keeps the wheels turning and the money coming in. Movie stars are a commodity. Although the superhero boom has been credited with leading a shift from actors to characters.

[–] emori (3097) 2 years ago

Ok, I read the article. And its just so bad that its almost offensive to readers. Whole time author (and to my surprise it was a man named Bruce Handy) just admires how pretty Josh Hartnett is. And its non stop. Every other paragraph he keeps saying how pretty and handsome he is. I’m not surprised that Josh was traumatized by it ))) I just cant believe that magazine could run so badly written article.

And its funny that Josh Hartnet was never that much pretty )))) I remember his glory young days. There was something missing in him to be A-list superstar. Like he was fine and cute but not Brad Pitt - Tom Cruise handsome. Basically he was "it boy of the moment" that Hollywood tried to make happen by suddenly casting him in big roles. And then it didnt go anywhere. He turned out to be rather Taylor Kitch then DiCaprio and Tom Cruise. Movie goers would not rush to see big budget movie just because he was in it. That was the reason his career as A-list ended and not because he quit.

Big movie can make you visible and hot for a moment, But then you have to follow up with new superhits to trully become A-List. And Josh couldnt. The Black Dahlia had 50 millions budget and many starts but flopped with 22 millions. Hollywood Homicide had 75 millions budget but flopped with 30 millions. That was after Pearl Harbor and he was lead.

Whatever he may say how every studio was chasing him and he said no but reality is that he was never A-list material and didnt get that mush offers. He probably went to auditions but other actors got big roles.

[–] emori (3097) 2 years ago

And its hilarious how article was written before Pearl Harbor came out. And author thought that it will be mega hit that will make superstar out of every actor. But in reality Pearl Harbor came and was rather disappointment. I remember people didnt like it that mush, it was too long and quite boring. And it was quickly forgotten. They dont even show it on tv every time like they do with Armageddon, Harry Potter, Titanic, The Rock and other. It did not become popcorn-classic.

And money wise it had a monstrous budget of 140 millions. But made only 198 millions in USA and overall worldwide was 450 millions. It ended as number 7 in 2001 domestic box-office losing to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Shrek, Monsters, Rush Hour 2, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Mummy Returns. They hoped for a much-much better box-office. Pearl Harbor didnt deliver.

And being in popular blockbuster doesnt make you A-list star. All that fame fades away few months after move. Orlando Bloom vanished after last Pirats movie, Josh Hutcherson makes small movies after Hunger Games ended, Taylor Lautner went into D-lister right after last Twilight movie, Elija Wood was forgotten after last Lord of the Rings movie came.

Author of the article was very bad at knowing how showbiz works. And his constant telling poor Josh that he will now be superstar when Pearl Harbor will come out was just wrong and stupid. I imagine it was weird when everyone were saying to Josh that that he will become teen idol DiCarpio style in a second and Tom Cruise famous and then Pearl Harbor came out and no one cared. He was still at the level of small teen-heartthrob from those teen movies. He was at the level of Teen magazine cowers (occasionally) and big serious magazines like Vanity Fair quickly forgot about him.

[–] [deleted] 2 years ago

Gee whiz Borat, that reply was longer than Josh’s career.