Access Investigates: The Life Of Hollywood Assistants

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (July 26, 2007) – A bevy of celebrity assistants have found themselves in the Hollywood spotlight lately.

From Britney’s impromptu dip in the ocean with new assistant Shannon Funk (who was reportedly fired on Thursday) to Lindsay’s late night escapade allegedly chasing the mother of her assistant Tarin, Access Hollywood takes a closer look at the ups and downs of being so close to a star.

For Britney, before Shannon, there was her cousin Alli Sims, her former assistant who is now reportedly helping Kevin Federline gain sole custody of the kids. But before Alli, there was Felicia Culotta, Britney’s assistant for ten years, who is featured in ABC’s special “In The Zone.”

In fact, Felicia was one of the first people to voice concern over Brit’s post-Federline partying ways. In a letter posted on a gossip blog in 2007, Felicia said she was “crushed, saddened, heart sick by the way her life is unfolding? I don’t dare want to be an enabler.”

But from scoring drugs, to babysitting your partying boss, celeb assistant expert and author of “Where’s My F***ing Latte?” Mark Yoshimoto Nemcoff said it’s all part of a day’s work.

“You know there are a lot of assistants who pick up party favors for their bosses, be it recreational narcotics or companionship,” Mark revealed to Access.

And sometimes the assistant can parlay the gig into their own stardom.

Such is the case with Jessica Simpson’s former helper Cacee Cobb, who took her exposure from “Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica” and ran with it.

She’s now living the LA story and is dating “Scrubs” star Donald Faison.

For Matt Damon, hunting down the bad guys as Jason Bourne might be a one-man gig, but off-screen, even Damon needs a hand.

“What do you look for in an assistant?” Access’ Billy Bush asked Matt at Wednesday’s Hollywood premiere of “The Bourne Ultimatum.”

“Somebody who basically enables my reckless lifestyle – an enabler,” Matt laughed.

He’s kidding of course, but Matt did once find love through his best friend Ben Affleck’s assistant Odessa Whitmire. The couple dated for two years.

But of course, not all assistants find love on the job. In fact, some find trouble – and so do their stars.

In 2000, David Spade’s assistant broke into his house and actually attacked the comedian with a stun gun.

Then there’s supermodel Naomi Campbell who pled guilty to assaulting her assistant.

But just like any job (and for the most part, even more so), there are perks. Trips around the world. Designer duds. Luxury cars.

But surprisingly, a lot of assistants are paid as low as $300 a week.

“What you learn in one year as an assistant will be the most amazing experience of your life, but you will suffer for it,” Mark Yoshimoto Nemcoff added. “Fifteen grand a year to basically go pick up lunch and dry cleaning and have stuff thrown at you and be yelled at.”

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