My opinion:

There are stars who are celebrities first and actors second (in the public's mind and perhaps in their own.) Then, there are actors who happen to have a moment or more of celebrity.

Celebrities seem to get a ton more press coverage than actors. A star can be viewed more as an actor if he/she avoids the spotlight, but accepts it with good humor. An actor can use celebrity for their own purposes, but has to be careful to appear as "normal" as possible.

In my opinion, the most down-to-earth, non-"celebrity" star out there today has got to be teen actress Evan Rachel Wood. She literally personifies the meaning of anti-diva. (As one publication recently put it, she's the 'anti-Lohan'.) When was the last time you saw Miss Wood featured in a tabloid magazine with reports of her dancing naked on tables at clubs, jumping on the-drugs, eating disorder, get in a car crash and be followed around by paparazzi everywhere, showing off a pesky, miniature, yappy mutt, going on a $10,000/day shopping spree to acquire the latest fashions or 'must-have' accessories--just so they can exclaim "Hey, look at me, everybody! I have absolutely no talent whatsoever, yet I make more money in a day than you do in a year by doing nothing but standing around waiting to get my picture taken because I have a stupid grin on my face and I look good so I can help sell trashy magazines to the gullible public whose lives are so empty and meaningless that they need a "celeb fix" to feel alive"-bandwagon? Huh? This young woman INTENTIONALLY goes out of her way to:
1. Be a true talent to the industry, and
2. Not say or do anything to bring shame upon herself,
which is why a majority of the so-called 'garbage media' don't bother with her. And anytime she is talked about, it is for something positive! I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if I found out that one of the best kept secrets in Hollywood today is that she has more fans than Lindsay, Hilary, Paris, and Britney combined!!
It would be such a cool experience if I one day got the chance to meet her. We could sit down over a coffee or soda and have a real intelligent conversation, that isn't filled with superficial fluff! I have dreams of getting discovered by the entertainment industry myself, (but not as a performer). I am an aspiring writer, and would love to get one of my stories/ideas produced/turned into a script. But if and when I do make it, I'll be damned if I'm going to prance around like an idiot for attention just so I can get my picture taken for a magazine! Sorry, people, but I have too much dignity and brains for that!
I welcome anyone at all to contact me if you have questions or comments regarding this.

Scott Gould
hello@atlanticity.ws

<< Also, Tom Selleck.>>

I disagree.

Selleck is one of the more polarising celebs, what with his NRA links and all.

I thought he was a scumbag many years ago, when he appeared on Tom Snyder's show, and claimed that second hand cigarette smoke was harmless.

R.B.