Matt Lauer Quotes

Everybody wants to be known. Everybody's a Kardashian.

Everybody wants to be on the front cover of 'People' and 'Rolling Stone.'

It isn't always simple when America discovers you at 11 years old. Suddenly, it's not just homework that you're responsible for. Your name becomes a hashtag, and if you're lucky, you might even get invited on 'Ellen.'

I have no sense of being famous - you're just working. And then you'll have a random day in London when you'll do some press and it creeps into your awareness that this goes out - that what you do every day goes out to televisions right across the country.

You know, one of the biggest thrills I have is when famous people recognize me from Taxi.

It's hard to bury your head in Los Angeles. People come up to you and say, 'Hey, I saw your picture on a bus.' It's tricky: You're excited by the possibilities, but you don't want to get too crazy.

I just hate the idea of being well known. I know that is almost impossible if you're an actor who has done okay, but I've always fought against it.

I don't think I'm ever going to get to the point where people run across a freeway to take a picture of me. I really don't see it getting to that level of hysteria unless I have an affair with the Queen of Sweden or something like that.

I don't think I could do a reality show, no.

You get the part, sign the contract and start to realize millions of people follow this guy and know more about your character than you do.

I know that everyone wants to know about 'Downton Abbey,' but the truth is that it was only a few days out of my life. Still, you play a distinctive part on a hit series, and everyone suddenly knows who you are. Isn't it crazy how this business works?

If you're a baby about the media, as I was, you can't imagine what it's like when the great approval machine shines its beam on you, when every time you cross the street someone comes out of a manhole to talk about your haircut.

I didn't get into this for fame, I genuinely didn't. I love acting, and I know that's a cliche, but I didn't, really, I was very naive when it came to the whole being recognized thing.

I didn't set out to be famous; if I'd wanted that, I would have gone on 'Big Brother.'

Having your picture taken in the street and put in a magazine won't change your life.

I'm doing my sit-ups and watching CNBC. Suddenly, somebody starts talking about me on television... The business has gone into a weird zone of visibility. For those of us who have done it for a long time, it's strange.

My filthy little secret is that I've always wanted to be famous and I don't get nervous being on TV.

I mean look, everyone wants to do the story on the rising star, and when the star is up, they all want to be the one to bring it down because that's what people care about, right? They only care about the rise and the fall, so it's extreme positivity and extreme negativity.

It thrills me to get the chance to have my face on 'Inside Edition.'

I'm not a movie star, but I still get my photograph taken when I walk down the street, hundreds of times. I never say no.

I want to be famous.

When you're in L.A., you have a different platform than playing anywhere else. Brighter lights. Bigger media.

It's crazy. Even doing that one episode of 'Catfish,' I get people recognizing me for it who didn't even know my music.

Once you become an actor, you have to say goodbye to your personal life.

The thing is, if one person recognises you and takes a picture, then four other people who don't even know you want to do the same.