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Josh Hartnett Just Shared An Absolutely Terrifying Anecdote That Led To Him Rejecting The Spotlight After Becoming A Teen Heartthrob In The ‘90s

By Stephanie Soteriou,

6 hours ago

People of a certain age will be well-acquainted with the ‘90s heartthrob Josh Hartnett , who steadily dominated both our screens and teen magazines until he suddenly disappeared from the limelight in the mid-2000s.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0arjOX_0ugdv6P200 — For context, Josh arguably first entered mainstream consciousness at age 19 when he starred in the 1998 movie *The Faculty.*
A year later, he was the leading man in Sofia Coppola ’s *The Virgin Suicides* , and his career continued to flourish with movies such as *Pearl Harbor* and *40 Days and 40 Nights* in the years that followed.
Steve Granitz / WireImage

But as his star power grew, Josh began to turn down big Hollywood blockbusters in favor of smaller indie projects. Most notably, the star rejected the role of Superman twice as he instead opted to work on little-known films that allowed him to steer clear of media attention and fanfare.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1NhL1E_0ugdv6P200 — He also left Los Angeles and returned to his home state of Minnesota. Later, Josh permanently relocated to a small town in England, where he currently lives with his wife and kids.
Speaking on Australian TV show *The Project* in 2021, Josh said of his decision to choose a quiet life over the glitz and glamor of Hollywood: “I really enjoy making films, but the industry itself was overwhelming for a 21-year-old kid. The press was a little bit different back then; there was paparazzi around every corner — you couldn't really go anywhere without being sort of harassed."
"I decided I didn't need that in my life, and I was able to still make films and live outside of it," he added. "I'm still able to work with great people and make good films, and I don't have to deal with all the stuff. So, it's kind of best of both worlds for me."
John Sciulli / WireImage

And Josh elaborated on this in a new interview with the Guardian's Observer magazine — where he also shared a worrying anecdote from the height of his fame.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0c6qTe_0ugdv6P200 — Explaining why he ultimately ended up turning down the heartthrob roles that he was offered once he'd found mainstream success, Josh said: “I just didn’t want my life to be swallowed up by my work. And there was a notion at that time you just kind of give it all up.”
“You saw what happened to some people back then,” he added. “They got obliterated by it. I didn’t want that for myself.”
Josh also struggled with the fan attention that came with being one of the most in-demand stars in the industry, sharing: “People’s attention to me at the time was borderline unhealthy.”
Cindy Ord / WireImage

He then detailed a terrifying incident when a random man showed up to one of his movie premieres with a gun and claimed to be his father. Josh was 27 years old at the time.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0SPtzz_0ugdv6P200 — Insisting that he didn’t want to give this particular story “a lot of weight,” Josh highlighted it as one of the many reasons why he decided to step away from it all.
“People showed up at my house. People that were stalking me,” he told the publication. “A guy showed up at one of my premieres with a gun, claiming to be my father. He ended up in prison.”
“There were lots of things,” Josh reiterated. “It was a weird time. And I wasn’t going to be grist for the mill.”
Patrick Mcmullan / Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

In recent years, Josh has opted to appear in more prominent movies in order to work with esteemed directors, which is why he agreed to a small role in Christopher Nolan ’s blockbuster Oppenheimer , which was released last year.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1dCc1X_0ugdv6P200 — Recalling the moment he received the call from Christopher, Josh said: “The implication was: ‘I’d better take it.’ You only get so many opportunities with Chris Nolan.”
“I recognize the missed opportunity to work with a guy like Chris,” he added. “And I’ve figured out that as much as you’re worried about curating your career to things you’re interested in, I don’t believe that’s the most important thing anymore.”
Gareth Cattermole / Gareth Cattermole / Getty Images

And this is why he also took on the leading role in M. Night Shyamalan’s upcoming movie, Trap , with Josh admitting that he’d hoped to work with the director since their first meeting way back in 2004.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2T3RWo_0ugdv6P200 — “He’s got this reputation as being the sort of king of twists,” he explained. “But I have always looked at him in a different way personally — he’s someone who takes on lots of different genres and just enters those genres from a different perspective.”
*Trap* will be released in movie theaters across the US on Aug. 2, and in the UK on Aug. 9.
Ian West - Pa Images / PA Images via Getty Images

More on this

Josh Hartnett Explained Why He Stepped Away From Big Hollywood Films And Said That Early Fame Was "Overwhelming" Larry Fitzmaurice · Dec. 9, 2021
Josh Hartnett Explained Why He Turned Down "Brokeback Mountain" And Who Was Going To Star In It With Him Larry Fitzmaurice · Dec. 13, 2021
'90s Heartthrobs Just Hit Different — Which One Do You Belong With? superanita84 · Oct. 7, 2021
I Rewatched "The Faculty" As An Adult And Was Still Pretty Scared TBH Jenna Guillaume · Aug. 19, 2018

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