But behind the scenes lurks depression, substance abuse, and emotional turmoil. In many cases, they only come to light when there's an embarrassing photo or meltdown for the media to focus on.
Believe it or not, some of the people hardest hit by these issues are our most entertaining funny men and women, our most famous politicians, athletes, and most inspiring performers. Depression, and the accompanying symptoms and problems - such as addiction - are just as common among the glitterati as they are the rest of the population. As more and more public figures are coming forward with their own struggles with depression and substance abuse, the stigma that has enshrouded mental illness is beginning to diminish.
The pressures of public life and high-profile presences thrust these struggles to the limelight. And while large salaries may make certain aspects of recovery more accesible (such as being able to afford expensive treatments), celebrities are just as susceptible to mental illness as the other 19 million Americans who battle depression each year.
Take a look at some high-profile depression sufferers - and learn how they’ve coped with and overcome their illnesses:
Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey is one of Hollywood’s most famous comedians, and he has made his name legendary for his outlandish slapstick roles. Yet, his troubles are nothing to laugh about. Carrey says his career stemmed from a desperate childhood. When the actor was 15, he dropped out of school so that he could work to support his family, which included a chronically ill mother and an unemployed father; his family spent time living in a van. His first job was as a janitor. According to Mental Health Daily, he was quoted as saying, “I’d have a baseball bat on my janitor cart because I was so angry I just wanted to beat the heck out of something.” Carrey was also diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).