by When young actors arrive in Hollywood full of hopes and dreams, the glittering lights and glamour can be blinding. The excitement of hobnobbing with celebrities and potentially landing that big break is intoxicating. However, behind the scenes, there are major pitfalls – especially for those not prepared for the reality of the cutthroat entertainment industry. Temptations lurk around every corner, eager to trip up unwary newcomers.
Chris Hemsworth understands these hazards all too well. Although he hails from Australia, he quickly became enmeshed in Hollywood after shooting to fame playing the God of Thunder in Marvel’s Thor films. In a recent interview, Hemsworth revealed the best advice he ever received about surviving Hollywood’s treacherous waters – and it came from none other than Academy Award winner Matt Damon.
A Priceless Gem of Wisdom
When quizzed about the most valuable counsel he had ever been given, Chris confessed it was Matt’s insight to “always be yourself and never try to be someone you’re not.” At first blush, this may sound simplistic and obvious. However, as Hemsworth clarified, “It’s so easy to get caught up in the Hollywood machine and to try to be someone you think people want you to be.” How right he is.
Tinseltown has crushed many a promising career by coercing newcomers to compromise their principles and personality in exchange for fame and wealth. The conveyor belt of fresh young talent has kept spinning for a century in Hollywood. Bright young ingenues arrive full of vitality and conviction only to check their real selves at the door. Some even lose themselves completely.
Staying Centered amid the Maelstrom
In such an environment, Matt Damon’s advice to Chris Hemsworth is priceless. By always staying true to one’s values and convictions, it’s possible to retain integrity even while becoming successful the entertainment capital of the world. Rather than becoming swept up in the maelstrom and surrendering one’s identity to expediency, Damon counseled his friend to plant himself firmly in his sense of self no matter what.
There’s an old saying that begins: “To thine own self be true.” This is precisely what Matt Damon meant. He was urging Chris to withstand the hurricane force winds that can blow through Hollywood, bending and twisting people out of shape in the process. The only way to avoid such a fate is having an unshakable set of core beliefs and principles that provide a rooted foundation.
An Enduring Bond of Friendship
Chris Hemsworth took Matt Damon’s advice deeply to heart precisely because he regards Damon as a genuine friend and mentor. Their association stretches back over a decade to 2013 when they first met on the set of Thor: The Dark World. Since then, as Hemsworth tells it, Damon has always been available with friendship and support.
You see, in the artificial world of movies and celebrity, it’s hard to know who to trust. Back stabbers and fair weather friends abound. That’s why Hemsworth so appreciates Damon – their bond is authentic. But Damon’s Hollywood career likewise illustrates the wisdom of his counsel to Chris. By never compromising his values or losing sight of his identity, Damon has remained grounded during his rise to the apex of moviedom.
What Does It Take to Keep It Real?
But what does it actually take to follow Matt Damon’s advice to “be yourself” and “never try to be someone you’re not” in the midst of the Hollywood pressure cooker? After all, hundreds of entertainment industry hopefuls arrive in Tinseltown every week. All of them likely believe they’ll stay true to themselves no matter what temptations and inducements they’re offered. Sadly, the streets of Hollywood are littered with the broken dreams of such naïve aspirations.
Clearly, more concrete self-awareness and self-discipline are required. Simply having good intentions isn’t nearly enough. So for anyone considering a career in the spotlight, what practical measures can help you become properly grounded? How can you keep it real in the surreal fantasy land of cinema and celebrity?
The Formula for Staying True to Yourself
While by no means comprehensive, here is a short checklist of attitudes and actions necessary for staying genuine amid the faux glitter of Hollywood:
Know Thyself – Make an honest and thorough assessment of your principles, beliefs, personality traits, strengths, weaknesses, goals and deal breakers. Understanding these core components of identity makes it less likely you’ll be swayed.
Establish Your Deal Breakers – Determine ahead of time what compromises you simply won’t make under any circumstances, no matter how alluring the payoff. These might involve behaviors, substances, sexual acts, lies, crimes or associating with certain people.
Surround Yourself with Support – Keep close at hand friends and family who know the real you. Make sure they’re committed to being sounding boards and providing reality checks whenever you may start losing yourself.
Limit Exposure to Toxic Situations – Avoid people, places and activities especially prone to eroding your boundaries or seducing you to become someone you’re not.
Cultivate Good Habits – Practice self-care, mindfulness, reflection, healthy living and skill building on a regular basis. Good habits reinforce integrity.
Give Back – Volunteering, contributing to charity, and helping the less fortunate prevents getting trapped in the Hollywood bubble and losing perspective.
Keep Perspective – Be clear on why you wanted to enter the entertainment industry in the first place and what originally mattered to you. Revisit these motivations whenever you feel them slipping away.
No doubt these are challenging disciplines to follow for anyone enveloped by Hollywood’s ambient vanity and venality. But for any prospective star sincere about “making it” without losing themselves, rules like these could make all the difference. They form the foundation to stand upon when the fickle winds of popularity and fame begin blowing hard.
An Interesting Choice of Advisors
There is some irony in Chris Hemsworth receiving counsel about remaining down-to-earth and grounded from Matt Damon. After all, as a bona fide A-list celebrity and renowned actor/screenwriter, Damon is an odd choice for leveling with someone aspiring to fame about not losing one’s way. Yet this paradox actually testifies to Damon’s qualification for mentoring on the subject.
Unlike so many who get caught up in the whirlwind of Hollywood adulation, parties, perks and praise, Damon himself never surrendered to the temptations or distractions. In any given roomful of celebrities, he comes across as perhaps the most unaffected, humble and “ordinary” person there. He first arrived in Hollywood as a wide-eyed 18 year old from Boston. But throughout years of expanding renown, magazine covers, blockbuster leads, and award nominations, he steadfastly fended off collateral damage to his psyche. Quite impressive considering the emotional carnage the movie industry frequently leaves in its wake.
Staying Grounded When You’re a Mega Star
How exactly has Matt Damon succeeded in dodging the usual landmines and remaining so grounded while ascending to the very peak of Hollywood superstardom? There seem to be a few key anchors keeping him remarkably centered and sincere.
First, Damon intentionally keeps fame in perspective by maintaining it isn’t the most significant aspect of life. Your basic humanity, personal relationships, and service to others count far more. He lives in Europe to escape the U.S. celebrity bubble.
And despite commanding $20 million per movie, he doesn’t live extravagantly or flaunt his wealth and success. He seeks out relatively modest accommodations abroad, rides public transportation, and frequents low-key pubs and neighborhood restaurants.
Additionally, his long-term marriage provides stability, while also giving back to worthwhile causes keeps him focused outwardly. “I realised early on that fame is very anesthetizing,” Damon reflects, “and amnestic. You lose track of people because you’re just really thinking about saving yourself all the time.”
A Master Class on the Real Meaning of Integrity
So while still relatively new to the whole fame game, Chris Hemsworth has received top tier tutelage on handling Hollywood pressures with grace and ethics intact. Matt Damon is the perfect mentor on the subject of retaining one’s core humanity amidst the hurricane of adulation, greed and excess swirling through Tinseltown.
Hemsworth has repeatedly professed how Damon keeps it “real” by remaining grounded and approachable even as an elite A-Lister. For any performer likewise seeking longevity in the spotlight without losing themselves, Damon provides a master class on the real meaning of integrity and why it matters. That makes the advice he gave his Australian protégé to simply “be yourself” and “never try to be someone you’re not” extraordinarily practical and potent counsel indeed.
