Why Mary-Kate Won't Smile

(AP)  You see a tabloid shot of Mary-Kate Olsen and think, "Why does she look so depressed?" Well, there's a reason for that.

"I don't want my picture taken," the 21-year-old actress tells Entertainment Weekly magazine. "The only time I think it's OK is at a red-carpet event or a photo shoot.

"So every time I see paparazzi, I cover my face so they don't get a picture, and I'm just 'the mean person who doesn't smile.' "

Olsen, whose waiflike figure has made her a target of media scrutiny, avoids public displays of attention.

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Photos: The Olsen Twins

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"I would love to be able to swim in the ocean in Malibu," she says. "But that is asking for a bikini shot. That's inviting something that I don't want to happen. I don't need to be on a 'Who's Skinny, Who's Fat, Who's Looking Healthy, Who's Not Eating?' list."

After a hiatus from acting, Olsen -- who rose to fame on TV's "Full House" in a shared role with twin sister Ashley -- will portray an alluring Christian girl on Showtime's "Weeds." Her 10-episode arc begins Sept. 17.

She also returns to the big screen in "The Wackness," co-starring Ben Kingsley. The film is slated for release next year.

"There's definitely been times in my life when I just turned to people and said, 'I'm done, this is too much for me, this is too overwhelming,' " Olsen says.

She's in a healthy frame of mind these days.

"Mentally, physically, I feel pretty on top of my game right now," Olsen says. "Talk to me next week, I don't know. Today, I feel good."

[keithle1]

You want privacy on your terms, Mr/Ms Celebrity?
Dream on. You can''t pick & choose. When you''re godawful movie comes out, you''re the world''s biggest attention/publicity ***. Twirling around endlessly in your dress at the premiere.
But then when you sunbathe topless on your yacht in the Mediterranean, the paparazzi are supposed
to keep a respectful distance with no cameras anywhere. Puh-leeeeeze.

Jack Nicholson sitting courtside at a Lakers game. Does he think that he can sit there & not be noticed? Not be the center of attention? If
some old lady said "Chinatown" was her favorite
movie & asked for his autograph, do you think Jack would bite her head off & shout "F- off!"

Fame & celebrity has its advantages & disadvantages. Best table in any restaurant
worldwide, groupies willing to sleep with you at the drop of a hat, doing something you like to do and, we hope, are good at & being paid a ridiculous sum for it.

Where would the Olsen twins be without their time on the sitcom "Full House"? Quit your whining. You wanna swim. Get an indoor pool.

GET OVER YOURSELF. APPARENTLY YOU DON''T KNOW HOW GOOD YOU HAVE IT. WHY DON''T YOU GO UNDERCOVER/IN DISGUISE FOR A YEAR & WORK AT WAL-MART. THEN COME BACK TO LA LA LAND. MAYBE THEN YOU''LL APPRECIATE IT & SHUT YOUR LITTLE YAP.

Sincerely,

One of the little people

[ratmonkeyx]

I agree with mswolfestock, paparazzi are some of the lowest vermin of our society. They way they treat people is appalling and I hope that they all have the opportunity to "realize who they are and what they have done" in their lifetimes. I also hope that something happens one day to protect celebrities from activities that as far as I''m concerned should be illegal.
Comparing them to ambulance chasing attorneys is flattering. At least the attorneys has to put forth some effort to go to school. Paparazzi are just really, really low life scum.

[rushman71]

I think she''s doing the right thing. At least she isn''t following around in the Paris Hilton style,"Look at me!!! I''m Hot, your not!!!"

But, Mary-Kate, one thing you need to focus on is putting on a few pounds. Looking like a skeleton covered in skin does look a little frightening!!!

[jetlizhan]

i agree with mary kate and countless other celebrities - leave them the hel.l alone!!!!!!!!!!!

[toldyouso21]

When did we decide because we pay for movies or music or watch a game, that people became our property? We pay for the salaries of postal workers, garbage men, gas and electric employees, cops and firemen, school teachers and politicians etc. also.....but rarely is a camera and a group of hounding photographers and groupies seen chasing them every single day of their lives--going through their trash and auctioning whatever is found on ebay.

We do NOT have a right to demean or hound people and NO the fact we pay to watch them is more our problem than theirs. OF all the groups we hound and scrutinize, the ones who we really should watch carefully and analyze bit by bit are the ones who send our kids to war, make or destroy our laws and will ultimately affect whether we remain a super power or fall like Rome did.

In short everyone in the high positions of the Fed. Gov including Judges and Watch dog officials should be our focus. but no, like kids given the choice between reading an insightful book and watching tv--we choose the tv--the distraction.

Never wonder why we are going down hill--it is not the gov. it is the employer of this gov.--that would be us. Mary Kate, Paris Hilton, et. al--may use the media--but they deserve some privacy too.

[keithle1]

Scratch a swastika on to your forehead like Charles Manson.

Celebs can''t pick & choose when you''ll have your photo taken. Dream on. Who are you kidding. You''re in showbiz. Don''t like it? Move to Easter Island.

If you''re a female celeb, it''s important for the public to know if you look like the Pillsbury Doughboy in your bikini or like a concentration camp victim. Paparazzi are dying to get a photo of your thunder thighs heading to Baskin Robbins.

[blackbug99]

It''s kind of a hipocracy that people making their money on their Image don''t want their picture taken...Still, everyone in America, at least, should be able to have a family day or quiet day. And, if it''s the image that gets the paparazi money, then shouldn''t it be like a Beatles song? Royalties should apply.

[likeitis5050]

Maybe they should copyright their public image so every time a photog snaps a pic they have to pay a royality. Something needs to be done. It''s obviously not important to them that the celebrity be cooperative or even aim for the ''best'' shot...they provoke them to the point they lose it and that''s the pic the rags and entertainment news shows spend thousands and thousands of dollars to get, which fuels the photogs to snap even more. I quit even buying the rags years ago because they have no ethics in what they print.

[misssuzq]

It is OK by me.

Why should she smile every time her privacy is invaded?

Those camera jockeys are so in celeb''s faces, I am surprised more cameras have not been broken.

Or noses.