Why celebrities smoke

Rosamund · November 11th, 2006, 04:01 PM

November 11, 2006

Why celebrities smoke or the 'Sunset Boulevard' syndrome

There's absolutely no doubt that celebrities have an impact on the rest of us and there's a hot debate currently on whether the influence that fame brings should also demand a certain amount of responsibility.

We're all affected by images of Hollywood stars, models and A-list celebrities smoking - off-duty or otherwise. Whether that means that individual celebrities have a moral responsibility to us all to shun smoking in their working and private lives is another matter. What is arguably more interesting than any of that is why on earth celebrities choose to smoke at all?

Hollywood stardom and celebrity status is a superficial world almost entirely based on looks and image. As such, it's truly astounding to see so many celebrities smoking. Surely we all know by now just how great an impact cigarette smoke has on our skin. Even if, by some strange twist of fate, celebrities themselves manage to remain ignorant of the effects of smoking on skin aging, don't they have armies of advisors and image consultants to keep them on track? Surely someone in the inner circle tells them about the results of recent research - how smoking dehydrates the skin, destroys vitamin C, damages collagen, accelerates wrinkling and produces the classic 'smokers face'.

Its impossible to believe that highly paid, news-savvy and reasonably intelligent people can remain ignorant of these essential facts. They must know that smoking will damage their looks and prematurely age them and they choose to carry on - all the while spending small fortunes on personal trainers, nutritionists, cosmetic surgeons and anti-aging creams and lotions.
Could it be that the stars themselves have been influenced by the glamour that was once associated with cigarettes? Perhaps if you spend long enough in the fantasy world of film you start to believe in the celluloid image. Just like Gloria Swanson in 'Sunset Boulevard' you lose touch with reality.
After all, it's not so long ago that everybody who was a somebody in Hollywood smoked and was proud of it. Cigarette smoking was glamorous and sophisticated. Just think of the iconic image of Audrey Hepburn in 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' as Holly Golightly posing elegantly with her long cigarette holder, upswept chignon and little black dress.

What's not so elegant of course is the way Audrey Hepburn succumbed to the smoking habit herself. Ignoring her mother's 'beauty tip' to: "keep to six cigarettes a day only", Hepburn managed two or three packs at her worst times - even smoking in her nun's habit on the set of 'The Nun's Story' and chain smoking her way through 'My Fair Lady'. Unsurprisingly, she suffered from asthma for most of her life and died of cancer at only 63 - looking frail and old for her years. Not the kind of ending we like to imagine for the sublime Holly Golightly.

There's no doubt that the very nature of the movie business has caused many a celebrity to start treading the nicotine path. Smoking is as common in movies today as it was back in the 1950's although overall smoking in the population at large (the Western half anyway) has reduced. Could it be that a cigarette has become the film prop of choice for actors looking for an easy way to inhabit another skin?

For some celebrities - tired of the constant criticism and the ciggy shots splashed across the tabloids - a kind of smoking defiance has crept in. As Gwyneth Paltrow once said, "I smoke and I'm not going to stop!" Paltrow - famous for getting through a pack of Camel Lights a day in her teens and twenties - has only very recently quit smoking (apparently). Perhaps she started to wonder how her fine, fair skin and ethereal beauty would cope with the collagen depletion in her fourties and fifties.

Some celebrities keep going with the smoking habit whatever the consequences and even if it impacts on their relationships. It's well known that smoking was a bone of contention between Brad Pitt and Jennifer Anniston during their marriage. Brad Pitt is on record as saying how much he hated his ex-wife's chain smoking. His disapproval didn't cut much ice with Jennifer though - as recent paparazzi photos show. You have to ask why one of the worlds most loved and naturally attractive women would do this to themselves?

Similarly, iconic top model Kate Moss is regularly photographed with her cigarette, a lighter and a mobile phone as her only fashion accessory. As a supreme super model its probably not surprising that Moss still manages to appear effortlessly elegant and beautiful however she's photographed - at least for now. She certainly shows no signs of wanting to quit smoking any time soon. Perhaps like so many in her world - she associates smoking with thinness. Or perhaps, for her, it's the least troubling of her addictions. Pete Doherty probably being the worst.

When celebrities do chose to quit its fascinating that the reasons given are so often not about looks. Catherine Zeta-Jones for instance, quit smoking - so she said - because she didn't want her children to start asking questions. Not as you might have thought - because beauty is her personal trademark and smoking would kick-start skin aging and undermine her potential to earn huge sums of money.

Whatever the reasons celebrities have for smoking or for deciding to quit - the truth about skin damage and smoking very rarely features as a major factor in the debate. Well - we think it should. So our advice to all you celebrity smokers out there - carry on smoking if you want but don't expect your fickle public not to notice the effect on your looks. And when you hit a deluded (or regretful) middle age you may still be able to say, like Gloria Swanson in 'Sunset Boulevard': "I'm ready for my close-up now Mr de Mille" - but only if it's filmed in heavy soft-focus, expertly back-lit and then extensively re-touched afterwards.

http://www.simplyantiaging.com/36/wh...vard-syndrome/

DitaPage* · November 11th, 2006, 05:06 PM

I think smoking is a personal choice and people who only do it because they see celebrities do it so it must be cool are pathetic.

buttmunch · November 11th, 2006, 05:09 PM

Well, we all know smoking is bad for you although some people are more effected looks-wise than others. My mother smoked ALOT (old school non filtered) and she looked about 30 3 days before she died--she was 73 at the time. Then again, her sister quit quite young and looked like a hag before she was 50. I don't know, I used to smoke, still succumb when I'm drunk and you know what? I really love a cigarette. It's great and I miss smoking. I quit for a variety of reasons but mainly for my kids. If I didn't have them, I'm pretty sure I'd still be happily puffing away.

ediebrooks · November 11th, 2006, 05:11 PM

I think celebrities smoke because they are under so much pressure to stay thin.

HWBL · November 11th, 2006, 05:15 PM

Smoking is disgusting, bad for one's health and dumb. I mean, you PAY money to ruin your health, can't get any dumber. Besides, the smell is appalling. I have a friend who quit after 25 years. She's a nurse and when she still smoked, I always wondered about the poor patients lying all sick in their beds at the hospital. They'd see a nurse approach and think "Yay, help is on its way!" and then she'd turn out to be a stinking cancerstick addict!

Also my friend is only 9 months older than me, but could pass for a person old enough to be my mother. I wonder if the skin damage is, to some degree, reparable after a smoker quits......

LynnieD · November 11th, 2006, 05:19 PM

Yea, it's to keep thin and to calm their nerves (if smoking actually does that).

buttmunch · November 11th, 2006, 05:20 PM

Probably not. I haven't any damage at all as far as I can tell. I look much younger than my age and haven't any signs that I smoked like a chimney for years. I think some of it has to do with genes. My mother didn't die from smoking, nor did my great grandfather, who smoked 3 packs a day, washed down with a bottle of whiskey. He looked much younger than his 101 years and ended up being hit by a bus (probably too drunk to get the hell out of the way...or else he was looking for his lighter).

KrisNine · November 13th, 2006, 02:49 PM

I quit smoking three years ago and still want to smoke. It's not as bad as it once was, but I still get the urge to smoke. Especially in social settings, or if I get stressed out. To me, nothing calms my nerves better than a cigarette. I will still succumb to one if my nerves get too out of whack. I'm like you Butt...I look about 10 years younger than I am so I think it's all individual. My mom is the same way. She quit smoking when she was my age (36). It's funny because smoking was my worst habit. I don't drink to excess (ever), I don't do any drugs (at all) and I eat really well. Maybe all of those things have helped me out. Immediately upon quitting smoking, I gained 5 pounds. Suddenly, I craved junk food and couldn't get full. It was bizarre. Had to start working out to lose the weight.

WickedHo · November 13th, 2006, 02:53 PM

There really is no mystery. Celebrities are people, too, and just like regular folk, they make unhealthy choices.

pacific breeze · November 13th, 2006, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ediebrooks

I think celebrities smoke because they are under so much pressure to stay thin.

Agreed, and it's endemic in certain industries like show business, journalism, advertising, writing etc. Less so than before, but still fairly wide-spread. A lot of creative people smoke.

I'm a bit like Buttmunch was-- I never smoke except when I've got a few drinks in me. Then I'll bum one or two cigs and don't want another one for a long time. I currently have a pack of cigs in my freezer that a friend left here at Easter -- it's still 3/4 full. I know I should chuck it, but it's like a security blanket knowing it's there if I ever have time to get high again.

sprynkles · November 13th, 2006, 08:47 PM

I used to hang out with ballet dancers. It totally blew me away that most of them smoked. It was to keep their weight down.
I love that Ellen came out of the smokers closet and is quitting!

buttmunch · November 14th, 2006, 03:21 AM

Quote:

It's funny because smoking was my worst habit. I don't drink to excess (ever), I don't do any drugs (at all) and I eat really well. Maybe all of those things have helped me out. Immediately upon quitting smoking, I gained 5 pounds. Suddenly, I craved junk food and couldn't get full. It was bizarre. Had to start working out to lose the weight.

Oh, I hear you, sister! I gained weight as well but havenow managed to drop most of it. I do think the eating right and lack of other vices helps. Alot of people end up drinking and smoking to excess and that's what does the damage. If I can remember back to my college days, when I drank and we were able to smoke in bars, I would go through god knows how many cigs in a night. Something about being drunk made me chain smoke like crazy.

I do have to confess I had a cig the other day while having a glass of wine with a friend. It was delightful but now I feel guilty.

KrisNine · November 14th, 2006, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buttmunch

Oh, I hear you, sister! I gained weight as well but havenow managed to drop most of it. I do think the eating right and lack of other vices helps. Alot of people end up drinking and smoking to excess and that's what does the damage. If I can remember back to my college days, when I drank and we were able to smoke in bars, I would go through god knows how many cigs in a night. Something about being drunk made me chain smoke like crazy.

I do have to confess I had a cig the other day while having a glass of wine with a friend. It was delightful but now I feel guilty.

Remember the days of smoking in bars and nightclubs? I would buy two packs of cigs and thats all I could fit in my little purse, except for my keys, license, cash, lipstick and gum! Everyone became a smoker when they were drinking.

Funny thing is, I had a couple of cigs this weekend too. I was at a birthday party for my friend and had a couple of drinks and a couple of smokes. I didn't go out and buy a pack and start smoking again, so it's kind of weird. I also will crave cigs bad when we go to Vegas. It's like a huge ashtray there. The second hand smoke alone in Vegas is like smoking a pack a day

Mel1973 · November 14th, 2006, 01:26 PM

Butt/Kris,
We can still smoke in the bars here - for now. It's supposed to change in about a year or so.....

Goose · November 14th, 2006, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mel1973

Butt/Kris,
We can still smoke in the bars here - for now. It's supposed to change in about a year or so.....

Yup - all dependent on the state that you live in. Smoking in a bar is allowed where I live, however it's banned in the city thats 25 miles away from me. A lot of states I think have gone to state-wide bans, where others are going city by city.