Celebrities busy entertaining us and themselves in coronavirus isolation

While the bright lights of the stage, the allure of the red carpet premieres and the adulation of packed audiences might have been curtailed - at least in the short-term - by the global pandemic, the fame game lives on.

In recent weeks, celebrities from Hollywood A-listers down to Z-grade reality TV left-overs have been flocking to their social media platforms providing the world with content.

Some like New Zealand actor Sam Neill have surprised by performing songs like Radiohead's Creep on ukulele.

While the Jurassic Park and The Piano star is hardly the strongest singer, there's a certain charm to his unpretentious performances as he attempts to lift the spirits of his followers and encourage them to continue self-isolating.

"I'm just butchering another song to encourage people to stay home and find something creative to do, even if it means ruining a Radiohead song," Neill says. "I love Radiohead so much.

"And I love that song. It's for all the people who weren't in the first 15 [rugby team] or the cheerleader squad.

"We just wanted to be special."

Others have taken a more professional approach to entertaining their audience through the COVID-19 crisis.

Since March 18 Canadian-American singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright has performed a song every morning through Instagram for his 78,000 followers from his Laurel Canyon home in Los Angeles.

Always dressed in his extensive collection of bed robes, it's an intimate insight into a Wainwright's family lifestyle.

"It's very important for me to count my blessings and put everything in perspective and utilise this time to better myself on several fronts," Wainwright tells Weekender this week.

Wainwright, who is the son of musicians Loudon Wainwright III and the late Kate McGarrigle and the older brother of folk star Martha Wainwright, has been postings his "robe recitals" for the past year sporadically on social media.

However, the COVID-19 isolation convinced Wainwright to perform regularly for fans. It also doesn't hurt he'll release a new album Unfollow The Rules in July.

"It was a natural progression from the robe recitals I've been doing for about a year," he says. "It made sense to codify it and offer something up every day of substance to the public.

"I've enjoyed it tremendously. I'm gearing at some point to do maybe some more bizarre material, maybe do some new songs, or maybe do ones that haven't been heard for a while."

Of course humour is often a scarce resource in times of crisis, but undoubtedly essential as the isolation becomes more and more mundane.

We're not sure if the isolation has already driven English rock star Liam Gallagher mad or if the years of drugs and booze are beginning to take their toll on the former Oasis frontman, but his recent Instagram videos have provided ample comic relief.

In what could be described as a far more entertaining coronavirus safety message than anything Prime Minister Scott Morrison has delivered in his regular media addresses, Gallagher urges fans to wash their hands to the tune of Oasis hits like Wonderwall, Supersonic and Champagne Supernova.

"By now you should have somehow realised what you gotta to do/ Wash your hands, scrub your toes, scratch your arse and pick your nose," Gallagher sings to his 1.2 million followers while washing his hands in his kitchen sink.

Gallagher's trademark parka, bucket hat, sunglasses and new unkempt beard only adds to the video's comic madness.

Another musician seemingly enjoying the isolation is pop star Justin Bieber.

The Canadian gave his 131 million Instagram followers a virtual tour of his palatial house while he played "the floor is lava" game.

It involved Bieber climbing over his lounge and his dining chairs before skateboarding to a exercise roller and jumping onto a second skateboard, all the while not touching the ground. However, the Yummy hit-maker came unstuck when he fell short in his final leap to his bed. An epic fail that was viewed 9.6 million times.

Some celebrities are, of course, entertaining in more constructive ways.

Australian Hollywood actress Margot Robbie took to Instagram recently to promote Save With Stories, a charity that helps feed disadvantaged children at school.

"As you know the schools here in the US are closed at the moment, but what you might not know is that 30 million kids rely on school for food," Robbie tells her 20 million followers.

The I Tonya, Suicide Squad and Bombshell star then reads the book, A Sick Day For Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead.

If Robbie's film career ever slows down, there's a job on Play School beckoning.

For a completely different vibe, the Hunter Valley's own William Crighton has been reading Philip K. Dick's science fiction classic novel Dr Futurity for 30 minutes every night over social media.

Legendary Queen guitarist Brian May is another celebrity using his fame and time in isolation for good.

The 72-year-old has written and co-produced a song Get Up with all-female rock band Kings Daughters encouraging people who are self-isolating to bust the coronavirus blues by remaining active. A percentage of funds raised from Get Up will be donated to mental health charity Mind.

To kick the campaign along May even posted a video on himself dancing. Let's just say, it's obvious why Freddie Mercury was Queen's frontman.

The need for celebrities to interact directly with fans in the era of coronavirus shutdowns is also providing opportunities for the general public to learn more about their favourite stars.

Actor and former professional wrestler Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson - who is the third most followed person on Instagram with 177 million fans - has been taking questions about his life and career after his daily gym work outs.

Johnson has discussed everything from his exercise regime to his concerns about the health crisis unfolding in the US to his epic wrestling feud with Stone Cold Steve Austin at the height of the WWE's popularity in the late '90s.

What's apparent from watching the videos is the importance of the fan interaction in maintaining Johnson's mental health during this unprecedented crisis.

"You've been thanking me for doing these Q&As and answering these questions and sharing my anecdotes, my life lessons and dumb shit I've done in the past, that has no doubt informed me on how to be a better man," Johnson says.

"You should know this is a two-way dance. What I get out of this thing staying connected to you guys, especially at this time of incredible stress and uncertainly, is invaluable as well."

No doubt what's become increasingly clear as the COVID-19 isolation continues on indefinitely, celebrities - even with their heaving bank accounts and mansions - are just as bored as the rest of us.