Gore Vidal Quotes

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.

Because I don't go to showbiz parties, I don't have the right image. The media decides who's in and who's out.

My desire for fame is insatiable.

I don't care about being on television.

Hollywood is a lot like high school. Everyone was interested in what the head cheerleader was doing and what the captain of the football team was doing and if they were dating each other.

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

Somebody can become a celebrity for being stupid. That is what it's turned into.

To most people who have a point of view, merely being on TV is an intrinsic good.

Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some hire public relations officers.

In terms of publicity and interviews, well, it's really hard in this modern world to keep a sense of mystery.

I never miss a chance to have sex or appear on television.

I wanted to be famous. I wanted people to talk about me.

You get to that age where you're watching a lot of television, and who doesn't want to be on television?

I became an actor, and because I had success as an actor, I became famous. I was acting for quite a while before I got famous; television made me famous. I guess that it's television that is responsible for everybody's desire to be famous.

I have no ego investment in being on the air. I don't knock others for whom that kind of attention is like oxygen, but I don't miss anything about it.

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

Police blog or entertainment news, it's just good to see your name in print.

I can't get sucked into that celebrity thing, because I think it's just crass.

Everywhere I go now, people are like, 'That's the guy from 'Dancing With the Stars!' It's pretty good that you're not just a football player but you're in the entertainment world.

I never understood why anyone would do magazines. Like, why would someone put their face out there so much? It's because those people reading magazines will go see the movie, so you do it.

All I do is give interviews and spend time being photographed.

Some actors learn the habit of promoting themselves as a brand - by dressing in a certain way, by going out with a certain person - it gives them what they obviously want, which is to keep a level of fame. I'm not putting it down.

It is all about marketing; that is where the real craft comes in. The best actors do not necessarily become the biggest stars. And vice versa.

My friends that are snobs think its cool I did a movie with Albert Brooks.

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?