I saw how brightly stars like Russell Brand could shine, but there is darkness in the shadows | Sophie Heawood

After years of celebrity interviews, I have learned not to be fooled by the allure of fame. We never really know them – we know what they want us to know As I sat in Southwark crown court, listening to the final day of Russell Brand’s trial, there was one subject that came up repeatedly, invoked as often by his defence as the prosecution. I don’t mean sex or coercion, but fame. It ran through every victim impact statement and loomed so large in the courtroom that it felt as if it was almost on