# Celebrities Who You Know Nothing About, Yet Still Have Preconceptions About What They Are Like **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 28, 2011, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-you-know-nothing-about-yet-still-have-preconceptions-about-what-they-are-like/594421 "2011-08-28T21:46:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2011, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-you-know-nothing-about-yet-still-have-preconceptions-about-what-they-are-like/594421/1 "2011-08-28T21:46:55Z")
Are there any famous people out there that you have never heard anything (or very little) substantial about, either good or bad, yet you still have a mental image of what kind of person they probably are? ## This isn’t about someone that you have a valid, real life reason (or think you have a valid reason) to like or dislike them, so no “Mel Gibson is a jerk because he apparently hates Jews” or “Paul Newman was clearly a great guy for the work he did on behalf of charity” but instead “I bet that Pierce Brosnan comes from a really wealthy family, because he is so convincing in the suave, sophisticated roles that he plays.” I ask because I recently re-watched “The Pelican Brief” and found myself thinking about what a huge, nasty, egotistical bitch Julia Roberts must be like in real life; Then I paused and asked myself what I could possibly be basing that on. I know almost nothing about her as a person (I remember she was married/hooked up with Lyle Lovett for a while) and have only seen a handful of her movies over the years. I suppose I have seen an interview or two with her (Letterman, Leno, Conan, etc.) but nothing really sticks out. I have no idea what makes me think she is such a smug, full-of-herself person, but that is my assumption of what she must be like… Any of you ever judge someone when you have no basis to do so? Is “Judging a book by it’s cover” always a mistake? (I am trying to think back if I once knew someone who reminded me of Julia Roberts or if I maybe heard or read something unflattering about her, but I am drawing a total blank. Maybe it’s something as simple as not liking her physical appearance, although there are plenty of people who I don’t care for their looks and yet I don’t don’t go around assuming are rotten people) ---
**Author:** ![Gil-Martin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Gil-Martin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gil-Martin)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2011, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-you-know-nothing-about-yet-still-have-preconceptions-about-what-they-are-like/594421/2 "2011-08-28T22:05:53Z")
Forest Whitaker and LeVar Burton both must be really nice guys. I base this solely upon their television shows and movies. I don’t think I’ve ever watched an interview with either man or even heard anecdotes about them. They just seem nice. My conclusion about them rests upon . . . almost nothing. It’s just the way they come across to me. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2011, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-you-know-nothing-about-yet-still-have-preconceptions-about-what-they-are-like/594421/3 "2011-08-28T22:26:54Z")
I have the impression that **Jennifer Aniston** is a very nice, down-to-earth gal who would make a terrific pal, for absolutely no reason whatsoever. Conversely, something about **Ryan Reynolds** ’ smug face makes me want to bitch-slap him into the middle of next week, when for all I know he might be the soul of charm. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2011, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-you-know-nothing-about-yet-still-have-preconceptions-about-what-they-are-like/594421/4 "2011-08-28T22:32:29Z")
**Amy Winehouse** was a talentless flash-in-the-pan folk/bluegrass singer who was more famous for her silly pandering to the press and addictions than for any sort of real music talent. Then she died, and I actually listened to some of her music. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-you-know-nothing-about-yet-still-have-preconceptions-about-what-they-are-like/594421/5 "2011-08-29T01:10:48Z")
I’d be so sad if Cat Deely (host for So You Think You Can Dance) was a bitch in real life. She seems so sweet and nice on tv. ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-you-know-nothing-about-yet-still-have-preconceptions-about-what-they-are-like/594421/6 "2011-08-29T02:21:19Z")
I’ve always thought of Jennifer Aniston to be a stuck-up cheerleader. When Brad Pitt divorced her, everyone was saying she was the wholesome All-American girl next door dumped for the edgy Angelina. Ever since then I’ve thought of her as being a snob and only liking jocks and pretty people. I think it’s rooted in my geekiness, being snubbed by the popular girls in high school, whereas Angelina Jolie seems like the kind of person who dismissed the cheerleaders and went for the alternative crowd, which I admire more. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-you-know-nothing-about-yet-still-have-preconceptions-about-what-they-are-like/594421/7 "2011-08-29T02:23:48Z")
> [@kushiel](#): > > I’ve always thought of Jennifer Aniston to be a stuck-up cheerleader. When Brad Pitt divorced her, everyone was saying she was the wholesome All-American girl next door dumped for the edgy Angelina. Ever since then I’ve thought of her as being a snob and only liking jocks and pretty people. I think it’s rooted in my geekiness, being snubbed by the popular girls in high school, whereas Angelina Jolie seems like the kind of person who dismissed the cheerleaders and went for the alternative crowd, which I admire more. I liked Jennifer more after I found out that she has a really good sense of humor- she was just about to join the cast of _SNL_ when she got\* Friends\*. Something tells me Angie’s just not that funny. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-you-know-nothing-about-yet-still-have-preconceptions-about-what-they-are-like/594421/8 "2011-08-29T02:31:12Z")
I always thought Johnny Knoxville seems like a genuine nice guy. A guy that laughs at his own misfortune (every second of Jackass) must have a good heart. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-you-know-nothing-about-yet-still-have-preconceptions-about-what-they-are-like/594421/9 "2011-08-29T04:18:51Z")
> [@kushiel](#): > > I’ve always thought of Jennifer Aniston to be a stuck-up cheerleader. When Brad Pitt divorced her, everyone was saying she was the wholesome All-American girl next door dumped for the edgy Angelina. Ever since then I’ve thought of her as being a snob and only liking jocks and pretty people. I think it’s rooted in my geekiness, being snubbed by the popular girls in high school, whereas Angelina Jolie seems like the kind of person who dismissed the cheerleaders and went for the alternative crowd, which I admire more. Though I don’t agree with your entire analysis, I second Anniston being a raging spolied BEYOTCH! ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-you-know-nothing-about-yet-still-have-preconceptions-about-what-they-are-like/594421/10 "2011-08-29T07:46:38Z")
I’m not sure what answer I can give but ALL of them. I have no idea if what I “know” about a celebrity is real or some kind of spin generated by their publicist or by some other publicist hired by someone else to damage them. And while I sometimes find these stories entertaining, I don’t particularly care if they’re true or not. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-you-know-nothing-about-yet-still-have-preconceptions-about-what-they-are-like/594421/11 "2011-08-29T08:03:22Z")
Lisa Kudrow is much smarter than her Daphne character but just as endearingly goofy & fun, and is absolutely fantastic in bed. Alan Rickman at a party would seem aloof & scowling at first but once he thawed out, would be a totally charming & witty raconteur. Matt Damon is more likely to be a friendly outgoing guy while Ben Affleck is more likely to be smug & self-centered. (This is kinda based on recent comments I’ve heard about…) Kevin Smith WAS an affable goofy guy totally aware of how fortunate he’s been in life & a devoted family man. He’s now getting so self-absorbed he’s heading for a crash, alienating former business allies & eventually friends & family. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-you-know-nothing-about-yet-still-have-preconceptions-about-what-they-are-like/594421/12 "2011-08-29T15:18:04Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > Lisa Kudrow is much smarter than her Daphne character but just as endearingly goofy & fun, and is absolutely fantastic in bed. I agree with you, except that her character’s name was Phoebe. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-you-know-nothing-about-yet-still-have-preconceptions-about-what-they-are-like/594421/13 "2011-08-29T17:04:56Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > I agree with you, except that her character’s name was Phoebe. 🙂 When she wasn’t Ursula. I always knew Woody Allen was a skivvy asshole. So much I would not learn anything about him. I was proven right on that one. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-you-know-nothing-about-yet-still-have-preconceptions-about-what-they-are-like/594421/14 "2011-08-29T17:11:57Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > Lisa Kudrow is much smarter than her Daphne character but just as endearingly goofy & fun, and is absolutely fantastic in bed. Didn’t Lisa Kudrow say she stayed a virgin until her wedding night? (If it wasn’t her it was the actress who played Dharma from TV’s “Dharma & Greg”) ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-you-know-nothing-about-yet-still-have-preconceptions-about-what-they-are-like/594421/15 "2011-08-29T17:22:20Z")
Nathan Fillion is a really nice guy, and good to have in an emergency. HE will know what to do, though it probably be unconventional. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-you-know-nothing-about-yet-still-have-preconceptions-about-what-they-are-like/594421/16 "2011-08-29T17:25:00Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > Lisa Kudrow is much smarter than her Daphne character but just as endearingly goofy & fun, and is absolutely fantastic in bed. You misspelled [Karen Gillan](http://forbiddenplanet.com/61122-doctor-who-poster-amy-pond/?affid=mrobber), but yeah, this. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-you-know-nothing-about-yet-still-have-preconceptions-about-what-they-are-like/594421/17 "2011-08-29T18:29:21Z")
> [@Gil-Martin](#): > > Forest Whitaker and LeVar Burton both must be really nice guys. I base this solely upon their television shows and movies. I don’t think I’ve ever watched an interview with either man or even heard anecdotes about them. They just seem nice. My conclusion about them rests upon . . . almost nothing. It’s just the way they come across to me. Yes, this. ---
**Author:** ![Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunshine_and_Smiles)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-you-know-nothing-about-yet-still-have-preconceptions-about-what-they-are-like/594421/18 "2011-08-29T23:57:29Z")
I could totally see myself sharing a spliff and some brews with **Joseph Gordon-Levitt** while talking about really cool music. I don’t know where I get this from. ---
**Author:** ![StuffLikeThatThere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@StuffLikeThatThere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StuffLikeThatThere)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-you-know-nothing-about-yet-still-have-preconceptions-about-what-they-are-like/594421/19 "2011-08-30T00:37:06Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > Lisa Kudrow is much smarter than her Daphne character but just as endearingly goofy & fun, and is absolutely fantastic in bed. I heard a Lisa Kudrow interview on NPR, and all of that was true, except the last bit, about which I have no information. She was very witty and goofy and endearing and fun. After hearing it, I wished she was my friend, and I don’t usually get like that about celebrities. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-you-know-nothing-about-yet-still-have-preconceptions-about-what-they-are-like/594421/20 "2011-08-30T00:47:29Z")
I think John Malkovich spends all his time at museums and wine tastings and poetry readings. He strikes me as the sort. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-you-know-nothing-about-yet-still-have-preconceptions-about-what-they-are-like/594421.md?page=2)