Hollywood stars appear to have it all: money, fame, awards – and attention from adoring fans all over the world.
However, a closer look into the lives of A-Listers suggests that beneath the surface, they are actually lacking something considered essential in life: close and trustworthy friendships.
In fact, Hollywood itself seems to be a barrier to its stars making solid connections, as celebrities are too busy with hectic work schedules and many claim they find it hard to trust other people.
Celebrities including Angelina Jolie and Billie Eilish have previously opened up about not having many friends, with the Changeling actress claiming her closest friends are her children while the No Time To Die singer said the biggest difference her life since she found fame is that she now has ‘no friends’.
A Hollywood producer previously told The Hollywood Reporter: ‘People come together for short periods, making a particular piece of content and then moving on to the next.
‘It’s not the same for people who work in a law firm or the construction business and stay there for 30 years.’
Here, FEMAIL takes a look at stars from the big and small screens who have admitted their social circles are smaller than you’d think as they shine a light on the lonely existence of fame…
Victoria Beckham
Spice Girl Victoria Beckham has publicly spoken out about not having ‘a lot of friends’
Spice Girl Victoria Beckham, 50, has admitted she doesn’t ‘have a lot of friends’ but says in spite of this she never feels alone.
In a cover interview with ELLE Magazine, she said: ‘I am never, ever lonely. I don’t have a lot of friends, but I’m surrounded by people I genuinely like to be with.’
She also revealed that she has only remained in contact with five people from her childhood – and that she barely has time to see them.
Posh Spice continued: ‘I’m very close to my sister and a friend I went to school with, and then three or four others.
‘I think a true friend understands that you can’t see them as much as you might want, because they’re busy as well. Everyone I’m friends with has a career and a family.’
Despite not having many close friends, Victoria has a big family with whom she often socialises – including husband David, four children Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz and Harper and Brooklyn’s wife, Nicola Peltz.
She is even still close to her former Spice Girls, as Emma Bunton and Mel C were quick to kick off messages for her 50th birthday on Wednesday.
Baby Spice was the first to post a gushing Instagram tribute to her Posh pal, sharing a highlights video of their years together set to the tune of their band’s hit Say You’ll Be There.
Mia Regan, Romeo, Cruz, Harper, David, Victoria Beckham, Brooklyn Peltz Beckham and Nicola Peltz Beckham
Victoria is clearly still close to her former Spice Girls. Pictured: Emma and her husband Jade larking around with Victoria and David
Victoria admitted that while her daughter Harper (pictured) finds it easy to make friends, she struggled to
‘Happy birthday @victoriabeckham! 50 and bossing it!’ Emma, 48, wrote. ‘Your beautiful family are a credit to you and I’m sure you’ll be spoilt rotten. We love you to bits.’
Sporty Spice Mel C, 50, posted her own memories, as she asked on Instagram: ‘How did we get here? 50 bloody years old!’
For anti-bullying week in November, Victoria revealed that she was ‘bullied a lot’ in school and found it hard to make friends.
She explained: ‘I was bullied a lot. I often talk to Harper about that. I say, you know, if there’s a little girl on her own in the playground that little girl was mummy and that hurts.
‘She finds making friends very very easy. I never did. Go and talk to that little girl.’
Victoria and David are among those who are considered to have been ‘Markled’ – the term used for when the Duchess of Sus𝑠e𝑥 ditches her close friends.
Meghan and Harry accused the Beckhams of leaking stories about them. However, more recently, the celebrity couple seem to have gathered a new A-list friendship group, including the likes of Kim Kardashian, Serena Williams, Lebron James and Lionel Messi.
Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish, 22, says her life is the same as it was before fame – except that she ‘doesn’t have any friends’
Billie is known for being close with her brother, Finneas O’Connell (pictured at the Oscars)
In 2022, Billie told V Magazine that her life ‘felt the same’ as it did before fame – except for the fact she ‘doesn’t have any friends’.
Billie, 22, achieved fame when her debut single Ocean Eyes went viral in 2015.
She said: ‘I have to remind myself what my life actually is to the outside world, because I just forget sometimes.
‘My life really, honestly feels the same as it did when I was a child. Except that I don’t have any friends.
‘I mean, besides the people that I work with, who are absolutely my friends — they’re actually my best friends.’
Billie is known for being close with her brother, Finneas O’Connell, with whom she writes all her songs.
Last month the duo made history as Billie picked up the Best Original Song Oscar with Finneas, 26. They also won Best Original Song in 2022 for James Bond theme tune, No Time To Die.
As a result, Billie became the youngest person ever to win more than one Academy Award, with Finneas second-youngest.
Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie says her children are her ‘close friends’. Pictured with Zahara and Vivienne
‘My children have always been my close friends,’ Angelina Jolie said in an interview in 2021.
And in December she told WSJ magazine she doesn’t ‘really have… a social life’.
Angelina is mother to Maddox, Zahara, Pax, Shiloh, and twins Knox and Vivienne.
The mother -of-six said: ‘They are the closest people to me and my life, and they’re my close friends. We’re seven very different people, which is our strength.’
However, Angelina does seem to have formed a close friendship with her fellow A-lister Salma Hayek after they bonded while starring in the 2021 film, Marvel: The Eternals.
Salma told Entertainment Tonight: ‘She’s been very, very enriching in my life, in so many ways – as mothers, you know. Most of all, as artists.’
The actress also told the outlet that she and Jolie have continued to get ‘closer and closer’ over time. ‘And it’s just natural. It’s just something that flows,’ Hayek added.
In an interview back in 2011, Jolie revealed that the one thing that was missing from her star-studded Hollywood lifestyle was female friends.
Angelina Jolie has accused ex Brad Pitt of trying to ‘control and financially drain her’ throughout their ongoing legal battle since their 2016 split, new filings reveal
Friends of the actor claim Pitt has been doing his part to support his ex-wife and their kids financially, despite their acrimonious legal battle
In an interview with US Marie Claire, she spoke frankly to the magazine about her lack of female confidantes.
‘It was nice for me to play with other girls; I don’t really have girlfriends in movies, if you’ve noticed, ‘ she said.
‘Well, I have a few girlfriends, I just… I stay at home a lot. I’m just not very social. I don’t do a lot with them, and I’m very homebound.’
And it seems Angelina will need any friends around her in the months ahead, as her bitter legal dispute with ex Brad Pitt rumbles on.
Martin Kemp
According to his son Roman, Martin Kemp has ‘no friends’ and his ‘favourite person’ is his wife, Shirlie
Roman dished the dirt on his dad’s social circle during an appearance on Capital Radio
Heyday: L-R Spandau Ballet’s Martin Kemp, John Keeble, Tony Hadley, Steve Norman, Gary Kemp pictured in 1983
Martin Kemp’s son Roman confessed on his behalf that he doesn’t have any friends.
Capital Radio star Roman, 30, is the son of Spandau Ballet and Eastenders star Martin and Shirlie Kemp.
Speaking on the Radio Times podcast, Roman said: ‘My dad does not have one friend.
‘He lives his life like that because he’s had so many people in his life that he thought he could trust, then realised he couldn’t.
‘My dad’s favourite person is my mum!’
However last year Martin revealed that he and Shirlie have always seen their own children as their friends.
Speaking on the NetMums podcast he said: ‘I wanted us four to become like a gang.
‘I think it was more from the fact that Shirlie and I grew up from the age of like 17/18 as being famous within bands. And so I think what happens is, when you’re famous, you want to pull the walls up.’
Spandau Ballet originally went on a break in 1990 to pursue solo careers but it became permanent after reports of feuds within the band.
Selena Gomez
Selena Gomez is known for her close friendship with Taylor Swift, but keeps a small circle
Despite being the most-followed woman on Instagram in the world, with over 420 million fans, Selena Gomez has revealed she doesn’t keep many close friends – but it’s by choice.
The singer, 31, is known for her long-term close friendship with Taylor Swift and has even appeared in her music videos.
Selena was originally a Disney Channel star, which she has called ‘the biggest high school in the world’ – and you would think this was the perfect opportunity to make friends.
But speaking to Business of Fashion in 2017, Selena confessed she actually keeps a very small social circle.
She said: ‘You have to figure out the people that are in your circle. I feel like I know everybody but have no friends.
‘I have like three good friends that I can tell everything to, but I know everyone, I go anywhere and I’m like, “Hey guys, how’s it going?” And it feels great to be connected to people, but having boundaries is so important.
‘You have to have those few people that respect you, want the best for you and you want the best for them. It sounds cheesy, but it’s hard.’
Meanwhile MailOnline previously revealed that Taylor’s two best friends – Selena and Blake Lively – could even have ‘bad blood’ between them.
Taylor has been best friends with Selena, 31, since 2008, and Blake, 36, since 2015 – but they have never been pictured as a group, despite spending a lot of time with the Blank Space singer.
Selena appears to be friends with Francia Raisa again after not speaking ‘much’ since 2017 (pictured in November 2017)
Suspicions were raised when football fan Selena, 31, was missing from Taylor’s A-list squad at this year’s Super Bowl final, which saw Lana Del Rey, Ashley Avignone, Kaleigh Sperry and Blake cheering on Travis Kelce as the Kansas City Chiefs romped to victory.
Insiders have claimed the pair are reportedly not friends, don’t ‘mix’ and choose to spend time with the pop superstar, 34, separately.
‘This is the reason neither of them are ever with Taylor at the same time and are constantly avoiding run-ins with each other,’ a source told DailyMail.com exclusively.
However, Selena and Francia Raísa – who donated her kidney to the Lupus sufferer – are friends again, despite not ‘speaking much in six years’.
Ekin-Su Culculoglu
Love Islander turned Big Brother star Ekin-Su Culculoglu admitted that she had ‘no friends left’ after becoming famous
Love Islander turned Big Brother star Ekin-Su Culculoglu admitted that she had ‘no friends left’ after becoming famous.
Ekin rose to fame on season eight of the ITV reality show in 2022, going on to be crowned the winner with Davide Saclimenti, from whom she has since split.
And despite forming close friendships with her co-stars, including Gemma Owen, her post-villa life seems to have been a lonely one.
In May last year she spoke candidly to Cosmopolitan about her struggles with personal relationships.
She admitted that since finding fame, people don’t ‘want’ to be her friend because of her ‘status’.
The star even revealed that close friends, such as one she has known for over 10 years, even went on to sell stories about her.
Despite reflecting that she has ‘no friends left’, Ekin-Su insisted that she is ‘much ‘happier this way’ and was forced to ‘delete’ people out of her life.
She told the publication: ‘I’ve lost every friend I had. I don’t have any friends. I have one friend and that’s it.
‘Unfortunately, with the fame, you see people’s true colours. People just want to be your friend because of your status, and it’s a hard industry to trust.
‘No, I don’t actually have friends left. People I’d known for 10 years who were in my life…Selling stories is not very nice. I wouldn’t do that to someone. If they were happy, I would support them.’
