James Ellroy Quotes

I've never been able to control my public image.

I do a lot of sexy publicity, but I have yet to have any bad experiences regarding jealousy.

Barry seems to be more flamboyant merely because he gets more interviews to talk about it.

Never believe people in this business who say they don't read what's written about them.

As an actor, we always want people to write about us and talk about us. And when they are actually writing, then we say, 'Don't write about this.' I am an actor; I am a public property. I don't own myself; public owns me.

I genuinely don't feel that anything that's been written or said about me has overshadowed my music, and that's the most important thing as far as I'm concerned.

I don't have anything to hide but what happens is the media tend to beat up what I say.

I don't keep a press agent because I think people need to have a break from you.

Even to this day, I rarely read any articles on myself. I won't watch anything on television on myself.

People want to get to know you. I don't think America got a chance to know me in that short time.

It's never gone so far as me wishing I'd never done 'Quadrophenia,' but there was a time when I wouldn't talk about it because I wanted people to be interested in me for other things as well.

Many a public figure has come to imitate the journalism which describes him.

If everything in my career has to be made into an autobiography, then there will be people who might think that I am trying to make a statement. But I don't want to do that.

My image is the creation of media.

Since I am an artist, I know the media can pick you apart.

It's very easy to get caught up in the world of press and maintaining an image and maintaining this highlight reel that the world expects.

When you're an artist, you're expected to describe yourself in interviews every day in five words.

I haven't talked to the press much. That's why I've gotten kind of a bad reputation. They look at me and think I don't give a damn. But I'm not comfortable with the attention.

It doesn't matter what is true; it only matters what people believe is true... You are what the media define you to be. [Greenpeace] became a myth and a myth-generating machine.

I do enjoy doing the TV work, but I try to be careful not to do too much. Otherwise, you end up being recognised just for being on television rather than for your own stuff.

I think you can overthink dealing with fame. To an extent, you've got to put yourself out there, but I feel like your work should really speak for itself, and I don't feel the need to go and make everyone like me because, to be honest, I'm not looking to be friends with the world. I'd much rather people watch the things that I'm in.

It has become a routine for the media to link me with all the stars I work with.

I pick and choose when I want to be in spotlight, which is only connected to my work and when I need to use the media.

As an artist, sometimes you'd rather not do the interview. You might feel the interviewer isn't educated on you... or what you're about.

Jesse Jackson is a master of the old expression that it doesn't matter what someone says about you as long as they spell your name right.