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).
The first step toward overcoming his depression, he has said, was acceptance. He has stated in interviews that accepting his life, which includes the challenges that arise, was a step toward coping. He avoided drugs and alcohol, channeled his negative feelings into acting, and kept himself busy and focused on work. He also has been quoted as saying that a spiritual experience has led him to rely on his beliefs and spiritual connections to overcome his depression.
Ashley Judd
Judd once described herself as “absolutely certifiably crazy.” In fact, she suffers from bipolar disorder. The actress, in her biography, All That Is Bitter And Sweet, blamed her depression on a childhood that was rife with abuse and loneliness, considering suicide as early as the sixth grade, and battling her disease throughout her life. In 2006, Judd spent 42 days in a clinic for depression, and credited the stint with saving her life, according to a 2011 People interview. In 2012, she told ABC News, “I’m so tired of holding up all this pain, I’m so glad to come to treatment.”
For Judd, some of her treatment came in the form of her psychological support dog, Shug, who she keeps at her side. Other interviews have acknowledged that reconciling with her estranged family, her charity work, and seeking treatment for her depression are all factors that have led her to a fulfilling life with a loving husband and successful acting career.
Buzz Aldrin
Depression, it seems, isn’t just an Earthly battle. For the second man to walk on the moon, fame that followed him off the planet did little to ease his own battle with depression. Upon his return from the historic flight, Aldrin faced a tattered marriage, a struggle with alcoholism, and a bright media spotlight that only worsened his battles with depression. Furthering these troubles was his own difficult family history, with a tense relationship with his father and a mother. According to The Telegraph, Aldrin's mom committed suicide shortly before the lunar mission to avoid the spotlight of her son’s newfound fame. Aldrin hit rock bottom shortly after breaking down his girlfriend’s apartment door in a drunken rage, an episode that forced him to realize that he needed to regain control of his life.
In 1978, Aldrin joined Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) while simultaneously seeking therapy for the depression that was his root illness. He has been sober for nearly 40 years, and happily married for a third time, after finding a way to cope with his demons.
Owen Wilson
Owen Wilson is best known for being the happy-go-lucky, laid back member of Hollywood's Frat Pack. However, in 2007, the actor revealed his internal turmoil when the media caught wind of a suicide attempt - overdosing on pills while simultaneously slitting his wrists. While by most accounts the news was shocking, there were a number of factors that are said to have contributed to his attempt. They include alcohol and drug abuse, a recent breakup with actress girlfriend Kate Hudson, who had just begun a new relationship, major depression, and a combination of other life issues.
In late 2007, Wilson did an interview with People Magazine where he claimed that his recovery from depression was due in large part to stepping back and spending time with a close group of friends and family that offered him a support system.
Gwyneth Paltrow
When Gwyneth Paltrow’s daughter Apple was born, she went through the period of happiness that many women experience with new motherhood. So, when she was planning for the birth of her son, Moses, two years later, she expected to feel the same joy. Instead, she said in a GOOP newsletter, she felt nothing.
"When my son, Moses, came into the world in 2006, I expected to have another period of euphoria following his birth, much the way I had when my daughter was born two years earlier," Paltrow explained. "Instead I was confronted with one of the darkest and most painfully debilitating chapters of my life.” Paltrow told Good Housekeeping that her debilitating postpartum depression left her feeling like a zombie, but because it didn’t come with the crying and emotional overload she had associated with the disease, she didn’t suspect it to be the cause of her condition until it was suggested to her by her husband.
Paltrow sought treatment from psychologist Dr. Karen Binder-Bynes, who told CNN that “the most important steps a woman can take, besides professional help…is to not be isolated; try to find a supportive network; ask for help from a partner or friends and family when feeling overwhelmed.”
Paltrow joins a long list of celebrity moms who have come forward about their battles with postpartum depression, including Twilight actress Bryce Dallas Howard, J.K. Rowling, and Brooke Shields.
Catherine Zeta-Jones
Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones revealed in 2011 that she suffers from bipolar II disorder, which leads to severe depressive states. Unlike bipolar I, patients with bipolar II often don’t have the extreme manic phases often associated with the disorder.
This private actress stunned fans with the announcement, and the announcement that she would be seeking inpatient treatment for the condition. She has been praised by fans and fellow celebrities for her decision to go public with her disease.
Robin Williams
Sadly, not all of the celebrities who struggle with depression are able to overcome their demons. In some instances, they succumb to suicidal thoughts or drug overdoses. In August 2014, beloved comedic legend Robin Williams made the decision to take his life, silencing a more than 40-year career that brought joy and laughter to millions. Williams had been battling major depression and was beginning to feel the effects of Parkinson’s disease, which he had been diagnosed with in recent months. It was a tragedy that Hollywood never saw coming.
If you or someone you love is struggling with depression, or if you are having suicidal thoughts, the National Suicide Prevention hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 1-800-273-8255.