From his time as a champion bodybuilder to his stint as one of the most popular action stars in Hollywood in the ’80s and ’90s to his two terms as the Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger has been living an incredibly visible life for nearly five decades—and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
In an original interview with Men’s Health, Schwarzenegger opened up about how it feels to be such a recognizable public figure, and revealed that he loves it when fans approach him.
“I don’t feel like I want to have a moment by myself when I go to the gym, or when I go to the restaurant, or when I go out,” he said. “I have my moment alone when I’m at home. When I’m with the animals, or when I’m sitting in front of my fireplace, when I read or watch TV or smoke a Stogey or get in the jacuzzi. I have plenty of time for myself.”
In fact, unlike many other celebrities who might swerve fans or paparazzi, Schwarzenegger doesn’t quite understand why a famous person would expect to be left alone while out and about in the world.
“‘Oh, I want to have privacy…’ Fuck the privacy! What are we talking about here?” he continued. “You’re a public person. You have to expect people to come up to you and ask for a photograph or a question, or say ‘Hey, I just read this thing about you, it’s really great or it sucked.’ I mean, you have to expect that. Otherwise, don’t go out.”
He continues, “I don’t think you can have it both ways. Be famous and have everyone come to your movies and buy your stuff, but at the same time not [have] anyone talk to you. It’s not gonna work like that. That’s the way it is.”
Philip Ellis is a freelance writer and journalist from the United Kingdom covering pop culture, relationships and LGBTQ+ issues. His work has appeared in GQ, Teen Vogue, Man Repeller and MTV.
Comments are closed.