Brad Renfro Dead at Age 25

[Steve]

---  Sharon Hayes <s.hayes at ...> wrote:
>
> 
> Steve:
> It is my deepest, most heartfelt, and fondest hope that none
> of the Potter crew follow this path.
> 
> Sharon:
> That is so sad. The HP actors seem to be so confident, and 
> considering their longstanding contracts, surely their lives
> won't be as wobbly. (snip example of good behavior)- -hardly
> the kind of teen anst that would lead to early death. Emma 
> Watson is still talking about university. Apparently she is,
> like Hermione, a bit of a brain. Stiil, you never know.
>

bboyminn:

Yes, but it is easy to be 'hot' when you are 'hot' but what
happens when you're not so hot. There was a time for both
Brad and Jonathan when they were so popular that they needed
teams of guards to hold back the screaming crowds. But when
the 'child' acting roles fade, and so did the crowds. 

You need real stamina and stability to make the transition
to adult actor. Look at Patric Dempsey, now on Grey's Anatomy,
he went through some pretty lean years before he re-emerged
as an adult actor. Many child stars never emerge as adult
actors and they have to have and be satisfied with a normal
life out of the limelight. Some simply can't do that; they
get there self-worth from the adoring crowds.

Though I'm no Britney Spears fan, I see her heading in this
direction. There are already very bad signs as can be seen
in this news article -

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/showbiz/article-23432372-details/Britney's+suicide+note:+'It+would+be+better+if+I+was+dead'/article.do

I think the one HUGE advantage is that the Potter crew are
NOT in Hollywood where your total self-worth hangs on your
last picture. 

It's very tragic. I don't think Brad or Jonathan had anyone 
there to guide them and lend them perspective on what was 
happening to them. Fortunately, and most hopefully, the 
Potter crew does have that. Though at some point, they have
to make it in life on their own merit and their own decisions.

Tragic, very tragic to see such talent snuffed out. 

Steve/bboyminn