Research:

The initial impetus for this project came from the website celebrityEmail.com. I was very struck by the strangeness of this group. Below is a selection of messages posted to the site which I think demonstrate some of the aspects of this group which I found most interesting.

The selections below are extracts from the material I gathered relating to fans of female celebrities. My comments are in grey underneath the names of the celebrities who are being mailed to.

This snapshot of the celebrity fans was made during January 2000.

Jennifer Love Hewitt

There were (and doubtless still are) many messages trying to impress upon the recipient a sense of the author's devotion.

From : Nick
Message : Jennifer I am one of your biggest fans and i would die for you to send me 1 or 2 autgraphed pictures whenever your on tv i stop to watch your commercials you do and have watched all of your movies!

From : Shannon
Message : ...My dream is to meet you one day and be the happiest girl on the planet! I love you so much and wish the very best of everything for you always and forever, ...I will be waiting for you........ your number 1 fan in the whole world, love always, Shannon .210

Alicia Silverstone

Some messages simply did not make sense, such as the message from Christian here.

From : RICKY
Message : ALICIA, BIG FAN OF YOURS. SEEN ALL YOUR MOVIES. I THINK YOU ARE VERY BEAUTIFUL AND A GREAT ACTRESS. PLEASE SEND AUTOGRAPHED PICTURE. AND PLEASE EMAIL ME BACK IF IT IS REALLY YOU. RICKY

From : Christian
Message : Dear Mrs Silverstone, I`m a great fan of MICROSOFT. I would therefore be happy if you could send me a handwritten picture of you. I would be very pleased if you could fulfill my wishes....

From : SEAN
Message : HI, I Just wanted to let you know that you are the most beautiful women ever!!!!!!!!!!! You are also a brilliant actress and i wish you all the best LOVE always your BIGGEST FAN SEAN

Sarah Michelle Geller

The idea of how to make, "my letter may stand out from the other millions" became a central concern.

From : Mike
Message : Sarah, I am not sure why for any reason my letter may stand out from the other millions that you recieve daily, but I want you to know that I think you ar an amazingly beautiful girl and a wonderful actress....

From : Marcy
Message : ...Your show is my favorite and also Angel too I think you too should be a Couple in real life I think of you as my role Model too I read you books alot also Ask David if he got my letter I sent him e-mail me soon you number 1#fan Marcy Todd Bye .

Gillian Anderson

Many wanted to stress their normality, but in fact emphasise their oddness. The line "dont worry im not mental or anything" could come straight from The Idiot's Guide to Stalking.

 

From : Connors
Message : This is Greg Connolly all the way from England. I have never sent an e mail before and I thought who better to send one to than the most beautiful woman in the world. Dont worry im not mental or anything and i'm not really that interested in computers. I prefer the real world.

From : Denise
Message : Hi,my nane is Denise and I am one of your biggest fans I have seen all of your shows and I just wanted you to know that your the best. I am curious, is it possible to meet you? Please let me know. That would be so great!!!!

Drew Barrymore

Several of the fans wanted to impress just how deranged they really were, MARK makes use of capitals to emphasise his derangement.

From : Kim
Message : ...My favorite movie of yours is Ever After. I have seen it 43 times since it came out!! I know I am not your biggest fan but I am close to it. I am not a stalker, I just think of you as great role model for young people like me...

From : MARK
Message : HEY DREW, I WOULD JUST LOVE TO BE YOUR SLAVE (FOR REAL). I WOULD LOVE TO WORSHIP YOU IN THE WORST WAY. I KNOW I'M DERANGED, BUT WHAT THE HELL. YOU ONLY GET ONE CHANCE IN LIFE SO WHY NOT TAKE A CHANCE AT WHAT YOU WANT...