‘I was doing tricks to impress people’: Derren Brown admits he was ‘pretty insufferable’ in the early days of his career
Derren Brown has admitted that he was ‘pretty insufferable’ in the early days of his career.
The star, 49, who has had a screen career spanning two decades, has since become Britain’s best-loved magician, but admitted he originally only wanted to impress people with his magic skills.
However the master illusionist insisted he just ‘likes being liked’ and that has been ‘good enough’ for him despite his award-winning success.
Icon: Psychological illusionist Derren Brown, 49, has revealed how all he has ever wanted is to be liked and said he was ‘pretty insufferable’ trying to impress in his early 20s
Speaking to The Mirror, Derren said many people go into magic in order to ‘impress’ and because they are ‘insecure’ which he said does not make someone ‘likeable’.
He added: ‘We don’t like people who are trying to impress us. I think I was pretty insufferable in my early 20s, just wanting to do tricks all the time to impress people.’
‘Getting a bit known made that easier for me,’ he said. ‘I just like being liked, and that has been good for me.’
Star: Brown said he cannot watch himself back on TV in the early days with his ‘deep voice’ that he described as ‘odd’ and ‘weird’
And the star said he cannot watch himself back on TV in the early days with his ‘deep voice’ that he described as ‘odd’ and ‘weird’.
He said: ‘I find anything I’ve done or said more than 10 minutes ago embarrassing. With the TV generally.’
Brown has been famous since his 2000 series Mind Control for Channel 4. But it was a controversial on-air game of Russian roulette in 2003 that made him a household name.
Quiet: Brown said his natural shyness can appear to others as ‘arrogant’ said it is ‘disconcerting’ when he becomes a target of another’s fantasy
He has hypnotised people to rob a security van, ‘assassinate’ Stephen Fry and made front page news for predicting the National Lottery results in 2009.
Brown said his natural shyness can appear to others as ‘arrogant’ said it is ‘disconcerting’ when he becomes a target of another’s fantasy.
However he also revealed that he has made friends over the years by recognising people in the audience and talking about the show afterwards.
South London-born Brown studied at Bristol University where his fascination with magic began.
During his student days he attended a show by Martin Taylor which inspired him to start performing tricks in bars and restaurants where he put on his first show in 1992.
Magician Jerry Sadowitz, who Brown met at the International Magic Shop in London, put him in touch with a production company which led to the hit Channel 4 show.
His show, 20 Years of Mind Control Live, airs on Channel 4 on Sunday.
Younger years: He revealed that he has made friends over the years by recognising people in the audience and talking about the show afterwards