The path to stardom isn't a straight road. You may have one big project and then fail to get any traction for years.
That's been the case with Heather Matarazzo, the actress best known for her work in The Princess Diaries and Welcome to the Dollhouse. Recently, she opened up about how she's "struggling to survive." Thankfully, fans rallied together to give her the hope she needed.
After small roles here and there, it was the quirky film, Welcome to the Dollhouse, by Todd Solondz that really thrust her into the spotlight.
From there, she has worked on several other high-profile films over the years.
But it was after Hostel: Part II in 2007 that she basically vanished from Hollywood. She wouldn't return until 2015 when she had a role in Sisters, starring Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.
“I don’t know if I took a step back from Hollywood, or Hollywood took a step back from me," the actress said in a 2017 interview with The Guardian.
“I had difficulties dealing with my own insecurities and identity when I was in my late teens,” she said. Eventually, the characters she played as a young adult started to haunt her.
"I started to get a firm grasp on how other people saw me, and I took other people’s views of me as absolute truths.”
This caused the actress to consider suicide. “I was like, what kind of sick and twisted universe is this? The fact that I’m still here is a miracle in itself,” she said.
She revealed this recently in a series of cryptic tweets, where she vented about her stagnant career in Hollywood.
She began by expressing how she has "hit her limit with Life today."
In a since-deleted tweet, she also wrote, "I've given my life to acting for over 30 years." Then, she declared something that few are honest about in Hollywood: "And am done struggling just to survive."
She got some form of this in the positive support she received from fans on Twitter.
"Hold on Heather. Keep venting, sharing how you feel. It's healthy and will help," one wrote.
Sure, we here a lot about people in Hollywood making all kinds of money and living lavish lifestyles, but that isn't necessarily the case for every actor and actress. There's a reason why a lot of parents are nervous when their kids tell them that they want to be a Hollywood star.
It isn't easy, and facing rejection over and over again would take a toll on anyone. It's not all lights, camera, and action for every person who chases the dream.
All kinds of Twitter users backed Heather up and made sure that she felt some love and joy in the replies of the tweet.
"I think you’re awesome. I completely empathize with you. I hope you feel better soon. But here’s my dog, he always makes me feel better," they wrote.
"I’m over 50 and still trying to get my first film made," a user named Amy shared. "I hit my limit 20 years ago but just kept going and still haven’t gotten where I want."
And remember, just because someone is a celebrity, no matter how big or small, doesn't mean they don't experience the same human struggles as the rest of us.
Be well, be kind!
