Phil Hellmuth Quotes

I didn't have that thing that Michael Bolton did; my star power - my charisma - was not a match to my writing ability.

Some people are better at handling the limelight than others.

Bruce was famous, but not 'Elvis famous.' He was confident and lighthearted. Comfortable in his own skin. Or so it seemed.

The heartthrob thing came in the late 1960s, and to be honest, it was fun! But I was very aware that well-known actors are two people - who you are and who other people think you are. Life only gets tricky if you confuse the two.

I never, ever worry about anybody recognizing me.

I've never really been America's sweetheart, but for a minute I think that's what they wanted me to be.

I'm not a big fan of trying to be a sex symbol or any of that stuff because I really like the music to speak for itself.

I'm not really interested in the celebrity themselves. I'm interested in the perception of the celebrity.

I think the world needs to see more of my face.

I'm passionate about being an actor, but I'm definitely not passionate about being a sex symbol.

Television, in particular, doesn't look for talent; it looks for personas. You have a great persona? You can be a TV star.

You know I was a shy guy and people didn't know that and still don't know it today. I'm sure basketball brought my shyness out because of the fact that you have to do interviews, and that people are always talking to you in terms of the fans and everything.

I felt like people only knew me as a singer who dated pretty girls.

I read all the time that people think I'm arrogant. They say I am cocky, a bad character. I had that from a young age. But when they meet me, they say, 'That image doesn't fit you.'

I'm more than an actor. I'm an icon, an industry.

I will take a back seat when I know my fame is dipping. I'm not delusional.

I don't think there's a problem with being a teen idol, if that happens to me, I'll be happy to deal with it.

When you become a public figure, you still think, 'That's really not me; there's more to me than that.'

That's why you find a lot of entertainers are insecure, because it's the perfect camouflage for insecurity.

The degree of notoriety I have is fine and easy. There's nothing hysterical about it.

There's this perception sometimes around here that I'm this Hollywood guy.

I know I walk a fine line between being a respected actor and being what they call a sex symbol.

I never cultivated a personality. Almost everyone who is really famous has cultivated a personality.

There's so many misconceptions about me and my personality. People think I'm not a nice person, you know, or maybe a diva; not just about me, but the misconceptions of other models as well, or supermodels.

I think politicians and movie actors … are similar in more ways than they’re different. There is an egocentric quality about both; there is a very sensitive awareness of the public attitude, because you live or die on public favor or disfavor. There is the desire for publicity and for acclaim, because, again, that’s part of your life... And in a strange and bizarre way, when movie actors come to Washington, they’re absolutely fascinated by the politicians. And when the politicians go to Hollywood, they’re absolutely fascinated by the movie stars. It’s a kind of reciprocity of affection by people who both recognize in a sense they’re in the same racket.