In the Media

Hollywood’s Dirtiest Little Secret: Nannies

Kiri Blakeley, 08.05.10, 03:40 PM EDT

Ah, celebrity babies. Who doesn’t love them? They’re so cute, so stylish and so plentiful.

The media fetishizes celebrity motherhood to the extent that it’s practically become pornography. Who could blame women for being awestruck at these celebrity moms who, somehow, manage to keep their children clean, well-behaved and fashionable, while they also maintain glamorous careers, travel the world, always look fabulous and well-toned, and, oh yeah, still keep a hot, successful husband (Brad Pitt! Tom Cruise!) happy?

While celebrities often promote their stylists or trainers (or they promote themselves), nannies are classified information, locked into strict confidentiality contracts. Yes, occasionally they do break the code of silence and blab, or even sue, as did the nannies of Heather Mills McCartney and Rob Lowe. But a blabbing nanny is an unemployed nanny. “They won’t work in this town again,” says Beth Torre, spokeswoman for Celebrities Staffing Services, which supplies a steady stream of nannies to the rich and famous. “Or even the next town.”

As Jennifer Senior wrote in New York magazine’s recent ode to miserable parents, nothing will make a parent feel more like a wretched failure than unrealistic expectations of parental perfection. And what could more fuel the fantasy of motherhood being glamorous and stress-free than celebrities with multiple children acting like they do it all themselves–and work and look amazing and have a sexy marriage?

“Nobody can do the amount of work they do, and all of the traveling they do, and all of the social activity they do, without nannies,” says Torre. “But celebrities like to look hands-on and that kind of thing.” She says she does see the occasional celebrity who makes do with a part-time nanny on a need-to basis, but notes those celebs usually have family members who help. But when asked how many celebrities have either a full- or part-time nanny, Torre says, “All of them.”

“For over 10 years this agency has been placing top-notch nannies mannies, housekeepers, butlers, chefs, personal assistants, house managers and other household staff to work in the estates and homes of royalty, celebrities, top executives, and professional families across the U.S. and internationally. Thorough background checks are conducted on all candidates including reference verification, criminal background checks, DMV, sex offender, and drug testing. A high premium is placed on client confidentiality and all candidates are required to sign gag orders.”

Wienerin, an Austrian women’s magazine writes in an article “Very Important Personnel” about Celebrities Staffing Services and its online institute, www.celebrity-institute.com, which provide the best personnel to work with the likes of celebrities such as Naomi Campbell, Christina Ricci, P. Diddy, Janet Jackson and many others.

“Pauline Guy is the owner of Celebrities Staffing Services, a household staffing agency that specializes in the placement of professional nannies, governesses, housekeepers, etc., to work in the mansions and estates of royalty, celebrities, top executives and other families looking for the best. She is also the founder of nanny-online.com. She took her knowledge of children with the feedback that she got from the nannies and the children under their care, and The Alphabet Rocks was born. She has written several children’s books.”

HOLLYWOOD’S LATEST CRAZE—“MALE NANNIES”

BRITNEY SPEARS hired one of them – “A MANNY”

Perry Taylor, AKA “Perry Poppins”, is one of the most popular celebrity mannies in Hollywood. Not only are they GREAT NANNIES, but they can also cook macaroni and cheese and make some MEAN FISH STICKS!!!! THEY ALSO DO HOUSEKEEPING!

According to Access Hollywood, the best celebrity mannies can be found at Celebrities Staffing Services.

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…But it’s not just muscle-bound he-men who join the profession. Women bodyguards are increasingly popular, and Glenda Ross, reservations manager for New York’s Celebrities and Executives Domestic Services agency, has one woman on her books who’s such a hit with clients she commands $3,000 a day. “People don’t really expect a bodyguard to look like a model … so she’s got a built-in element of surprise working to her advantage.”…Like the rest of the agency’s bodyguards, she’s required to have Secret Service, Police or State Department training, know how to use a gun and be skilled in all manner of personal protective techniques and evasive driving. “Fees begin at around $1,000 a day for two bodyguards … to around $10,000 … Hourly rates … start around $100. And if it’s round-the-clock full-time protection you’re looking for, you can fork over as much as $300,000 a year.”