The Fame Game

It’s unusual to spot celebrities in New York this time of year, but since I got back, I’ve seen them everywhere.

Celebs in New York wear their fame really well. They slope around the streets keeping it low key and no fuss. The only celebrity I’ve ever seen being followed around with an entourage, paparazzi and a whole lot of kerfuffle was Paris Hilton… and she’s so D-list she’s not even really a celebrity. A-listers, on the other hand, just keep their heads down, hats and glasses on and get on with it – and their fellow New Yorkers do too.

Over the years I’ve seen Naomi Watts, Ethan Hawke, Muhummad Ali, Boy George (one of my favourite sightings ever), Mickey Rourke (what a mess), supermodel Amber Valletta, Tyra Banks, Liam Neeson, Emily Mortimer, Ashton and Demi (when they were still together), Sarah Jessica Parker, and loads of others that I can’t remember because I’m now 40 and my memory is absolutely shot to pieces.

This does not happen in New York.

And in just the past week, I’ve seen heaps too: Elizabeth Moss from “Mad Men” (weirdly, I’d just finished watching an episode of the latest season, then popped down to SoHo to meet friends and she was the first person I saw when I got off the subway), Amy Poehler (filming a movie just up the street from my temporary home), Woody Harrelson, Peter Gallagher, and Jessica Chastain. And, even thought I’m not that jazzed about celebrity culture in general, I’ve loved it. It’s something I definitely couldn’t do in New Zealand (because there are no real celebrities). And it totally feeds into the nosey neighbour side of me.