Reluctant Star Philip Seymour Hoffman

Philip Seymour Hoffman is one of Hollywood’s most reluctant leading men -- he just wanted to be a thespian who could cycle to work. The Oscar winner admits he has been struggling to come to terms with life as a famous actor for years, and still can't handle awkward moments when he’s recognised. He says, “Somebody stares at you in a restaurant and you think they don’t like you or they want to fight you or you know them and you forgot their name. Then you realise they saw your movie and they know you and that’s shocking. It’s like losing your left arm. You don’t understand that.

Even reluctant stars have to dress up sometimes.

“You walk along life anonymous and then suddenly you’re not anonymous. It just happens because you’re following the work but you don’t think you’re going to be a famous person. You think you might make a movie, you might do some plays but you don’t ever think you’ll be famous. I’m sure there’s a group of actors that want to be in the movies, and want to be movie stars but there’s a whole bunch of us that got into acting because we went to our regional theatres and saw (the play) All My Sons or wanted to do off-Broadway and ride a bike to the theatre. That’s what I thought was going to be my life. I had no idea I was going to be on a screen.”



Well, Philip, you may be a shy guy but the good thing about fame is that you get offered more roles and therefore you have more choices. And the money would certainly be better. And even if you don’t go for the Hollywood trappings, you can always use your fame for doing some good. Like I said earlier, there are just more doors open to you and more choices. Stop being paranoid. You are in a profession that begs attention. Still, it’s nice knowing that there are some actors who are in it for the work and not just the glamour or perks.