Being Seen: When Celebrities Remind Us We're All Just Human
Inspired by Anne Heche
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:13-14 NIV
“I have met many interesting people in the more than 30 years I have been in the entertainment industry. I have worked alongside fascinating and talented actors like Harrison Ford, Johnny Depp, Sharon Stone, and Robert De Niro. But I must say, I am particularly inspired by the stories of the people I have met on my podcast. And that is how I got to know Randy and his incredible life story.” –Anne Heche, from the foreword of WHY: A Memoir
The Draw…
There’s a strange and powerful draw in being noticed by someone the world already knows. A celebrity’s acknowledgement or words can feel like a validation—an affirmation that you matter. But when you strip away the cameras, the headlines, and the myth of fame, being “seen” by a celebrity isn’t fundamentally different from being seen by anyone else—at least, not when the exchange is honest. Anne Heche, in her tumultuous and beautifully raw way, reminded us of this.
Anne Heche was never a conventional Hollywood figure. She lived with vulnerability on her sleeve—openly confronting trauma, speaking her truth often without polish, and refusing to shrink herself for public comfort. In that honesty, she made room for others. She didn’t hide behind her status. If she engaged with you, she was present. The person mattered, not the performance.
Being “seen” in this way—truly acknowledged, not as a fan, not as an audience member, but as a full human being—cuts deeper than fame ever could. When a celebrity like Anne sees you without condescension or distance, it levels the playing field. It dissolves the illusion that we’re different species separated by red carpets. It reminds us that connection isn’t measured by the name or the platform of the person offering it, but by the sincerity of their attention.
Fame doesn't change the human experience of empathy, recognition, or authenticity. It may distort it for some, but in moments of clarity—like those Anne Heche gave—celebrity becomes irrelevant. What’s left is a human seeing another human. And that’s the only kind of recognition that ever really matters.
To wrap up…
The double bind of choosing to hold on to bitterness and live in a gilded cage of learned helplessness, or be something someone else determines for us, is a no win. When we are not allowed to love and exist the way we know we need to for our own growth and healing is not life-giving or loving to anyone.
While being mentioned in the same paragraph with some of my very favorite actors is not on my life bucket-list, they don’t outshine the truth. From our brief friendship, I know Anne was and is a beautiful soul who lifted up and called out the same in others.
Thank you for the sparrows, Anne.
Anne’s fatal crash was three years ago this coming Tuesday. It is my hope this post will honor her and her legacy.
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