The films disappeared before audiences could discover the man critics were calling the next Brad Pitt. Almost Famous, opening Friday. What disappoints me is that after my six years as a professional actor, I'm still being asked whether I feel I'm a star or whether I want to be a star. That has never been a concern for me. I just want to be an actor.
Celebrity is actually a hindrance to such a goal.
I prefer to remain anonymous. The more audiences know about me, the harder I have to work to make my characters believable. It was Crudup's anonymity that got him the role in Almost Famous. Crowe originally talked to Tom Cruise about playing the rock star and eventually cast Pitt. At the last moment, Pitt dropped out of the project and Crowe turned to Crudup.