Nicolas Cage discusses being 'an outsider' in rare interview

LONDON, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Nicolas Cage opened up about his film choices and career in a rare interview with The London Times.

The 50-year-old actor has starred in a wide range of films, from the acclaimed Leaving Las Vegas (1996) to the panned remake of The Wicker Man (2006). Cage often signs on to roles that leave fans and critics puzzled, but the star said he is "proud" of the chances he has taken in film.

"They haven't all worked, but I had a concept and I've pushed for it," the actor shared. "It's probably annoyed a lot of critics and a lot of people who didn't get in step with it, but I'm proud I did it. [Leo] Tolstoy said something to the effect of, 'It doesn't matter whether the response you get is love or hatred, because you've created an effect.'"

"Sometimes I feel like an outsider," he revealed. "When you're endowed with an original way of thinking, or with a highly active imagination, you can quickly become ostracized. You can feel isolated and misunderstood."

Cage is the nephew of director Francis Ford Coppola, and has starred in dozens of films since 1981. Despite his exposure to fame and decades-long career, the star admitted criticism is not always easy to handle.

"I care about what people think of me," he shared. "Some of the snarky comments people make can get under my skin. I can be a bit of a broken record at home when I read the things that are said about me. But I have to just stop belaboring these things and let it go, rather than complaining to my wife [Alice Kim] all the time."

"There used to be a mystique and romance surrounding actors, but now people are more interested in their lives than their performances," he bemoaned. "It's not about what they do on camera, but what I would describe as their dirty laundry. I've had my share of that."

Cage declared he never wants his acting to "look fake," even if he is involved in a movie with a supernatural plot line. He approaches all of his roles with the same "commitment" and "quest for authenticity," and acknowledged the performance "may look ridiculous" as a result.

"But, to me, what's important is that I didn't fake it," he concluded.

Cage is scheduled to appear in a number of upcoming films, including Dying of the Light, The Runner and Pay the Ghost.