8 Celebrities Who Grow With the Help of Other Celebrities, Proving That No One Triumphs Alone

We love stories about men and women who managed to achieve success on their own. But often, behind every successful person, there is someone who helped them early in their careers. Someone who inspired them, encouraged them to reach their potential, making a positive impact in their lives.

we, from awesome.clubwe meet some famous people who have extended their generosity to their peers, helping them to become who they are today.

Boseman attended Howard University, where he was recruited to play basketball, but preferred the arts. He was mentored by famous actress Phylicia Rashad. One day, a group of students were accepted into the British American Drama Academy’s Midsummer program. They got the invitation to audition, but they just couldn’t afford it. So Rashad called a friend for help.

Turns out that friend was Denzel Washington. He simply said, “Okay, I have this money.” And Boseman never forgot that generous gesture. During the American Film Institute’s 2019 Lifetime Achievement Awards, he gratefully shared this story during a tribute speech. “As fate would have it, I was one of the students he paid for,” Boseman said. And he added: “There is no Black Panther without Denzel Washington. And not just for my sake, but for the entire cast — this generation — is on your shoulders.”

Washington was deeply touched. Tears welled in his eyes and he gave Boseman a standing ovation after his speech.

Oprah Winfrey was a big fan of the book I Know Why the Bird Sings in the Cage, written by poet and writer Maya Angelou. The two met in the 1970s, early in Oprah’s career. And since then, Angelou has become her precious mentor and more than that. “She calls me baby girl, and I call her my mother-sister-friend. She was always there, guiding me through some of the most important years of my life.”

In May 2013, Oprah did an interview with Angelou. In a preamble, she wrote: “Over the years, she has taught me some of the most profound lessons of my life: that when we know more, we do better; that to love someone is to set him free, not to possess him; that negative words have the power to infiltrate furniture and our skin; that we should be grateful, even for our trials.”

Angelou has truly inspired, challenged and guided Oprah all these years. And she works hard to give back, serving as a source of inspiration to many others.

It’s hard to imagine today that Meryl Streep needed any kind of guidance or help. But actually there was someone who guided her early in her career. And that person was a Hollywood icon, Jane Fonda, though she declined any claim to the title. In an interview with Good Morning America, Fonda said, “I didn’t see myself as a mentor, but a lot of other people tell me that, so I guess I am.”

Anyway, in the same interview, Fonda admitted that there was an actress who asked her “endless questions”. And it was then-young Meryl Streep. In her speech at the 2014 Lifetime Achievement Awards ceremony, she thanked Fonda for her advice and guidance. “All the young actors I worked with later, in the years that followed, I thank you too, because that lesson and kindness was passed on,” she said. “And it goes on like this.”

Meryl Streep and Viola Davis met while filming Doubt in 2008. The two women only shared an eight-minute scene in the film. But Davis won the hearts of everyone on set and really impressed his co-stars and producers with his talent. The two actresses became close friends after that. In an interview with ELLE, Davis mentioned how Streep helped her by giving some advice about her career and life.

Streep has really been helpful in giving him lessons in self-confidence, being a great role model and inspiration. “I think she does it in a way that she doesn’t even understand or think she’s doing it,” Davis said. In another interview with Entertainment Tonight, Davis was more specific about how Streep has supported her since they became friends. “I never feel like the words she has for me are random. I feel like they’re very specific and well thought out and that makes me feel good. It makes me feel like she really is a friend, that she really welcomes me.”

Alan Rickman, the beloved Severus Snape from the Harry Potter films, has also taken some actors under his wing. One of them was Colin Firth. He wrote for the Hollywood Reporter that Rickman had a “gut for people who needed some kind of guidance.” Maybe because people like that also needed help one day and someone helped them.

After his graduation from drama school, Firth was still an insecure young actor. That’s when the two men met. They soon became friends, and Firth found the strength to seek some advice from a more experienced actor. As he himself put it, this guidance has always been more of “personal wisdom, not actor advice”. They were close friends for 30 years, until Rickman’s passing in 2016. We can’t wait to find out who Firth will guide in gratitude to his mentor’s memory.

Without a doubt, the main person in Iggy Pop’s life was David Bowie. Pop just stated as simply as possible in an interview with MTV that “David Bowie saved my life.” The story of their friendship begins in 1971. When he was going through hard times, Pop really needed some kind of benefactor and protector. “This guy’s friendship was basically what saved me from some professional and maybe personal annihilation — simple as that,” Pop said much later.

Bowie also managed to convince Pop to take a three-year break, during which he overcame his drug addiction and took some acting lessons. After Pop’s band The Stooges finally disintegrated in 1974, he suffered a nervous breakdown and ended up in a psychiatric hospital. David Bowie was the only visitor to support his friend. No wonder Pop called the icon “the light of my life”.

The story begins when the future comedian attended one of Jonathan Winters’ performances with his father. Normally, it was very difficult to make the veteran Williams laugh. So his son was really surprised when his father got completely lost that day. “Seeing my dad laugh like that made me think, ‘Who is this guy and what is he doing?’” Williams wrote in 2013.

Later, Robin Williams claimed that Winters was the reason he became a comedian. Winters was a true pioneer at the time. And it made Williams realize “that anything is possible, that everything is funny.” Giving a speech at the 2008 TV Land Awards, the actor said: “I once called Jonathan my mentor and he immediately corrected me by saying, ‘Please, I prefer idol’.”

Idol or not, he was indeed a true guiding star for Williams.

Eminem and Elton John met at the 2001 Grammy Awards, where they played Stan together. After that, they became close friends. And John even supported Eminem during his addiction recovery. In the past, John had survived well from a history of substance dependence. “So when I wanted to get sober, I called him,” Eminem said, “because he’s someone in the business who can relate to lifestyle and situations that can get hectic.”

Elton John became Eminem’s mentor during this period. He called Eminem once a week to check on him. Asking for help was a difficult decision for Eminem. But somehow he managed to swallow his pride and admit his weakness. And that’s what really works in these situations. “I’m there if people want my help,” John said. “If they ask for help, you can tell them where to go, but it’s no use advising someone if they don’t want to.”

Eminem has been sober since April 20, 2008🇧🇷

Have you ever had a mentor or close friend who totally changed your life? Has anyone ever helped you shape your path or given you some guidance that you really appreciate? Please share your stories in the comments.