Celeb Spouses Who Hate Being In The Spotlight

There are only two ways you get fame in this world — either you chase after it, or it ends up finding you. And for those who stumble upon fame, the adjustment from anonymity to life in the spotlight can be a tough adjustment. The transition is even more difficult, however, when it stems from a romantic connection. Although some people might think securing fame through a relationship is a fairytale scenario, it's definitely not the ideal situation for countless celeb spouses who are uncomfortable with being in the spotlight. And what about the situations in which one member of a celebrity power couple suddenly gets fed up with fame? 

Yep, there are plenty of celebrities out there who are itching to ditch the spotlight while their partner is still lusting after notoriety. It's a tricky dance, to say the least, because it's not easy choosing between your privacy and the person you love. So, which celeb spouses are grappling with the realities of fame? The names might surprise you.

You don't need to be a particularly observant person to pick up on the fact that President Donald Trump's wife, First Lady Melania Trump, doesn't seem to like the spotlight despite her many years as a celeb spouse. Although it might be confusing that someone as private as Melania would marry an extroverted and fame-loving guy like Trump, it pans out when you consider their lives together pre-White House. For years, Melania enjoyed a quiet life in New York City while Trump hobnobbed with A-listers and chased after television fame á la Celebrity Apprentice. And following the birth of the couple's son, Barron Trump, in March 2006, Melania became even more of a recluse as she acclimated to her life as a mom. The dynamic worked out perfectly because each party got what it wanted: fame for Trump and privacy for Melania. 

Of course, this all changed when Trump was sworn in as president in January 2017. "What's happening is exactly what she didn't want to happen," a source said about Melania's predicament, according to People. "They've literally become like the Kardashians: scandals, divorces, headlines. [...] No one was paying attention to her two years ago. Now it's a 24/7 tornado. She hates it."

Adding fuel to the theory that Melania hates the spotlight is a telling statement she made in December 2016. "I would spend my holidays on a deserted island, a tropical island. With my family," Melania said about her ideal Christmas plans, according to The Daily Beast. A girl can dream.

Although many people view Amal Clooney as George Clooney's wife, others know her as a respected international human rights lawyer first and foremost. From drawing awareness to human rights violations at the United Nations to defending government leaders, Clooney's career is no joke. But as difficult as Clooney's distinguished career might sound, she reportedly finds the fame that comes with being a celeb spouse to be much more challenging. 

"Amal has a stressful career; the cases she works on are hugely important — but it's actually the less meaningful things that are really making life a challenge for her right now," a supposed source explained in April 2015 (via The Independent).  "She says she can handle the job stress because that's what she knows, but this whole celebrity thing, it's just much harder."

George, who is used to living in the spotlight, is understanding of Clooney's internal struggle. "It's a little like being in a parade, and it's not easy — particularly for [Amal] — because, in general, we live a very private life," he told The Hollywood Reporter in September 2017.

Clooney, to her credit, also tries to find the good in her celebrity. "I think if there are more people who now understand what's happening about the Yazidis and ISIS, and if there can be some action that results from that, that can help those clients, then I think it's a really good thing to give that case the extra publicity that it may get," Clooney reasoned, according to BBC News.

After Julia Roberts got hitched to cinematographer Danny Moder In July 2002, she seemed to disappear from the spotlight. And given the timing of Roberts' sudden need for privacy, it's reasonable to theorize that Moder, who never attempted to court fame, might be to responsible for this shift. Roberts never was shy about enjoying her celebrity status, after all.

Well, there's a good chance that Moder did encourage Roberts to leave the public eye, because it sounds like she would do anything to make him happy. "I was my priority, a selfish little brat running around making films, according to Harper's Bazaar. "It was meeting Danny...finding my person. When I think about what makes my life my life, and makes sense and just shine inside of me, it's him. Everything has come from that for me."

And by the looks of it, keeping Moder pleased entails avoiding red carpet events and staying off of social media. Moder is so private, in fact, that each time he makes a public appearance it generates headlines. Not to mention, Moder has never given a interview to the press — a surefire sign that he enjoys the private life. The only time Moder has spoken out publicly is when he teamed up with Roberts for a PSA about protecting the environment. 

During Gossip Girl's five-year run, actor Penn Badgley's face was just about everywhere. Things changed, however, when Badgley started dating doula and musician Domino Kirke in 2014. Kirke, whose sister is Jemima Kirke of Girls fame, isn't interested in the high-profile lifestyle of a celeb spouse because of the party atmosphere it attracts. For Kirke, staying sober is one of her top priorities, and she doesn't want to jinx it by courting the spotlight. 

"I never really was a big partier, but it kind of caused me to be in these melancholy, depressive states that were more of the problem," Kirke said about giving up partying, according to Girlboss. "It wasn't the actual going out at night and being crazy, it was more the way I was feeling in-between. So, I chose to take it out of my life [...] I have a really strong meditation and prayer practice, and I just feel like I'm awake for the first time since I was a child, really." Kirke also admitted that "partying with famous artists [...] kind of scared [her] off" from pursuing a life as a celebrity. Makes sense. 

Plus, Kirke is all about keeping things in her life as normal as possible. From enjoying life with her son, Cassius, to building her doula business, Kirke has no interest in taking advantage of Badgley's famous name. 

If you're wondering where Freddie Prinze Jr. has been these past few years, there's a good chance you're not alone. But don't worry about whether Prinze is doing okay — the truth is privacy is what makes him happy. Yep, Prinze is not a fan of the spotlight these days, and he's not afraid to tell people what he really thinks about the concept of celebrity. 

"Over a decade ago, probably in the '90s, when a lot of the Brits came over and started editing our magazines we didn't have a royal family, and our president and his kids weren't exciting so they turned Hollywood into the royal family and started commenting on their personal lives as if it was news and not entertainment," Prinze explained, according to CBS News. "And that's all it is. At this point, actors and musicians and athletes get dehumanized to the point where they're stalked and hunted like wild game."

And if you're thinking about calling Prinze and his celeb spouse, Sarah Michelle Gellar, a "power couple" — don't. "Everyone has these tags and terms and people don't realize what they're doing. Even with personal lives, people want to be entertained, but I've never committed to that. When people say things like 'power couple,' my brain mutes it," Prinze added, according to CBS News. "She's my wife. I'm her husband. We're trying to raise two kids and do what we do best to make a living and provide a future for our family."