Our list of the top 10 most crippling phobias was a hugely popular. With that in mind, here are 10 well-known celebrities and famous historic figures who have had or currently have their own phobias.
10. Johnny Depp – Clourophobia, fear or clowns
“Something about the painted face, the fake smile,” Depp told reporters once. “There always seemed to be a darkness lurking just under the surface, a potential for real evil.”
9. Sigmund Freud – Siderodromophobia, fear of train travel
On the trip from Freiberg the train passed through Breslau, where Freud saw gas jets for the first time; they made him think of souls burning in hell.
8. Howard Hughes – Mysophobia, fear of germs
Toward the end of his life, he lay naked in bed in darkened hotel rooms in what he considered a germ-free zone. He wore tissue boxes on his feet to protect them.
7. Marilyn Monroe – Agoraphobia, fear of public or open places
Very odd that a actress would suffer from this, but another famous blond does as well, Kim Basinger.
6. Billie Bob Thorton – Panophobia, fear of antique furniture
“Maybe it’s a past-life thing and I got beat to death with some old chair,” Thornton told Oprah Winfrey. “I don’t really know. But anyway … I’m totally serious. And I can’t eat around antiques.”
5. Alfred Hitchcock – Ovophobia, fear of eggs.
While filming the Birds, actress Susan Pleshette was chatised by Hitchcock’s assistant. “She said, ‘Don’t put your cigarette out in your eggs,’ ” Pleshette said. “‘He hates eggs, he hates cigarettes, and frankly, he hates you.’ ”
4. Natalie Wood – Aquaphobia, fear of water. She died by drowning.
Natalie’s mother may have also caused her lifelong fear of water. It began when her mother lied to her about a bridge she had to cross in a movie scene. She said it was safe, but the truth is, it was rigged to collapse.
3. John Madden – Aerophobia, fear of flying
Mr. Madden travels by bus for all of his job as a sports announcer.
2. Christina Ricci – Botanophobia, fear of indoor houseplants
Ricci swears she’s afraid of houseplants. “They are dirty,” she said. “If I have to touch one, after already being repulsed by the fact that there is a plant indoors, then it just freaks me out.”
1. Madonna – Brontophobia, fear of thunder
Many dogs share with Madonna an irrational fear of thunder.
10 Comments
Panophobia is the fear of everything, while the fear of antiques is Altussessiophobia (I think)
Nice list, I think it’s acurate but Madonna has another phobia. It’s Gerontophobia and that’s why her video-clips make her always look like a teenager.
Read up on Marcel Proust and his phobias. It will blow your mind !!
You may want to retract your correction on hydrophobia. Hydrophobia is a symptom associated with rabies. Here is a quote from the Science Dictionary:
“The name hydrophobia comes from the fact that animals and people with rabies get spasms in their throat muscles that are so painful that they cannot eat or drink, and so will refuse water in spite of being very thirsty.”
And from the Merriam Webster dictionary, hydrophobia is defined as rabies or a morbid fear of water.
what about Oprah and Bublegum?
Btw, Hydrophobia is the fear of rabies, not water. Aquaphobia is the fear of water. I should know, I have it. Plus, Hydrphobia is referenced in the musical Chicago when Kitty tries to bite Billy Flynn.
Thank you, Sarah. I have made the correction.
Great info on Mr. Andersen and his phobias.
Hans Christian Andersen was scared of pork (he must have feared trichinosis) and being late. And whenever he was in a hotel room he always carried a coil of rope in case he had to exit through the window when a fire broke out!
Great info on Mr. Andersen and his phobias. Thanks for visiting, Terry. Your site is great fun too: http://www.funtrivia.com