In a recent episode of the Podcrushed podcast, Kevin Bacon openly discussed his initial reluctance to embrace fame after rising to prominence with his role in the 1984 classic movie, Footloose. During the conversation with hosts Penn Badgley, Nava Kavelin, and Sophie Ansari, Bacon shared his aspirations of becoming a respected actor in the vein of luminaries such as Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep, John Cazale, and Robert De Niro.
Bacon’s portrayal of Ren McCormack in Footloose propelled him into the spotlight, but despite initially relishing the idea of public attention, he revealed that the reality of fame brought unexpected self-doubt and anxiety.
During this period, the popular game Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon emerged, intensifying Bacon’s insecurities and causing him considerable distress. At first, Bacon interpreted the game as a demeaning comparison between himself and revered actors like Streep, undermining his own worth and talent.
However, as time passed, Bacon’s perspective gradually shifted, and he began to embrace the game that had inadvertently linked his name to an intriguing concept. This transformation was so profound that Bacon eventually founded a nonprofit organization called Six Degrees and launched a new podcast titled Six Degrees with Kevin Bacon, fully embracing and capitalizing on the idea that initially arose from a casual game. Source
