For many political leaders, moving from public service to private life is both challenging and liberating. While some remain in policy advocacy or consultancy, others venture into entertainment, a shift that, while surprising, is worth exploring. Let’s see how and why some politicians find themselves on the silver screen or behind the microphone after their political careers.
The appeal of entertainment
The temptation of entertainment for former politicians is undeniable. It offers a platform where they can continue to engage with the public but in a different capacity. Instead of addressing legislative issues or campaigning for votes, they can entertain, inspire, and influence through storytelling, acting, or hosting. Not to mention, it also many times offers an opportunity for them to find some sort of a public redemption after their political past – like former President George W. Bush, who became quite a regular guest at liberal talk shows in recent years.
Entertainment also provides a break from the intense scrutiny and demands of political life. It allows them to explore different facets of their personalities and talents, often in a more relaxed and creative environment.
Transferable skills from politics to entertainment
People might find themselves wondering at first: what skills can a politician bring to the entertainment industry? Surprisingly, there are several transferable skills that can make this transition smoother:
- Public speaking: Politicians are (ideally) used to communicating with large audiences, whether it’s delivering speeches or participating in debates. This skill translates well to hosting, acting, or even stand-up comedy.
- Story telling: Effective politicians know how to craft compelling narratives to connect with voters. This storytelling ability can be invaluable in writing scripts or developing characters.
- Media savvy: Politicians are trained to handle interviews and hold press conferences. This experience can be beneficial when navigating the entertainment industry’s media landscape.
- Networking: Building relationships and networking are crucial in both politics and entertainment. A politician’s extensive network can open doors to opportunities in the entertainment world.
- Separating one’s personal life from the public one: A skill that many public personas learn sometimes too late in life – which parts of their private lives should be kept private, and what is okay to be shown to the public eye.
The bidirectional path
The transition between politics and entertainment is not one-sided. Just as politicians may find themselves pursuing careers in entertainment, entertainers may also enter the political arena. This crossover illustrates the interconnectedness of these two worlds and the potential for individuals to leverage their fame and influence for social or political change. Many leaders come from the world of media. Many would immediately name Arnold Schwarzenegger, former governor of California, or Ronald Reagan, Donald Trump and even Vladimir Zelenisky.
Stepping into the world of entertainment doesn’t necessarily have to mean that politicians would become mega stars after their time in office. Some even choose just to simply collect their thoughts and reflect on their time, and present a point of view directly through their own eyes – as most US Presidents do with funding libraries named after them.
Most politicians end up writing books, and biographies and these memoirs offer insights into their time in office, the decisions they made, and the lessons learned along the way – such as Tony Blair or Condolezza Rice. Additionally, politicians may explore other avenues such as public speaking engagements (Hillary Clinton, and most former Western leaders) or teaching at universities (Jerzy Hausner or Geza Jeszenszky from Poland and Hungary), or philanthropy (Michael Bloomberg, ex-Mayor of New York) as they embark on their post-political careers.
Maintaining authenticity
While venturing into entertainment or other endeavors, it’s essential for former politicians to maintain authenticity and integrity. Regardless of the path they choose, staying true to their original image and values is paramount. Deviating too far from their political persona can risk alienating their base and eroding trust with the public. It can also cast a negative image on their achievements – even retrospectively.
Although one may argue that currently Rudy Giuliani, former mayor of New York City, is not a media persona, but his current public engagements, mostly associated with former President Trump make many reevaluate their support for him during his time in office – although arguably at the time he was a very successful mayor, serving the city at a very pivotal moment of its history.
Success stories
The entertainment industry is competitive and success is never guaranteed. Former politicians may find themselves starting from scratch, facing rejection, or struggling to find roles that resonate with audiences.
But some have successfully made the leap to entertainment, carving out new careers and leaving their political personas behind. Here are some who managed to successfully venture into entertainment, after their political career:
Barack Obama
After his two-term presidential career, Obama took some time to withdraw from public life, even keeping the tradition of very rarely commenting publicly about his successor’s policies (i.e. Donald Trump). However, after some years, Netflix started a partnership with the Obamas’ Higher Ground Productions film company, launching movies of all kinds of genres (from documentary to animated).
Nadine Dorries
Former MP of the Conservative party in the UK, Nadine took part in the hit reality show, “I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!”. Her brief stunt in entertainment was not particularly welcome by her peers and came under a lot of scrutiny. After being voted off the show in the first round, she was temporarily suspended, but later on reinstated and became Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in Boris Johnson’s government.
Ann Widdecombe
Another British example, former Home Office minister, Ann appeared in multiple British television shows, such as Strictly Come Dancing, as well as Big Brother UK, where she even reached second position.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex
Although not strictly speaking a politician, after publicly “quitting” the British royal family, Harry wrote a book, started a podcast, and even released his own Netflix series – all of them with huge success, even if with a lot of controversy.
Final thoughts
Even from the examples, it is clear that although we can find many cases of entertainers joining politics, going to other directions happens mostly in Anglo-Saxon countries where media already has a more prominent role in society.
Life after politics doesn’t have to be limited to policy papers and boardrooms. For some politicians, the many ways of the world of media and entertainment may offer a new path filled with creativity, excitement, and opportunities to connect with the public in a different way. One just has to stay true to oneself. But that is something that applies not only to politicians but to anyone wanting to try themselves in a new terrain.