Fame pays the bills and makes your face recognizable across the world. But it also comes with its fair share of bad stuff: anxiety, personal space violations, and sometimes even physical danger. When people see you at some bar, they want to take a selfie; your every action is being judged in the comment section by the most brain-dead people on the planet, and you’re always one negative headline away from a career crash.

And if you grew up in the spotlight, the fallout hits you even harder with fuzzy boundaries, tons of pressure, and wondering what “normal” is. These stories aren’t complaints; they represent the intricate details of the Hollywood contract.

1. Cole Sprouse

Cole’s kept a low profile for a reason. Growing up on sets was quite traumatic. He’s said child stardom can mess you up, and he’s protective of the young women who were hypersexualized way earlier than he and his brother were. Not every kid chooses the job, either. Sometimes it’s about paying bills for the parents. He’s navigated Disney and adulthood without imploding, but fame left its marks, and everyone heals differently.

2. Chris Evans

Captain America almost didn’t happen. In his late 20s, Chris started feeling anxious on sets and promo tours, wondering if Hollywood was pulling him away from who he really was. The upside of the Marvel deal was family security. The downside was losing control and being very unhappy with fame. He took the leap and did a 10/10 landing, but that inner tug-of-war is exactly the kind of thing you don’t see on red carpets.

3. Margot Robbie

Margot learned the hard way that “making it” changes your safety plan. Death threats necessitated hiring security and conducting background checks before she could feel safe again. That cost becomes part of your life, which means you can’t just pick passion projects forever, you need jobs that can bankroll your safety. She wishes someone had told her this early so she’d know what she was really signing up for.