Robert De Niro: 'Obscurity is important'

Robert De Niro has claimed that it is important for stars to have a period of being unknown before they become famous.

The Raging Bull actor told Parade that his early years out of the spotlight helped to keep him grounded.

De Niro said: "I think it's important to have had at least a few years of obscurity, where people treat you like everybody else.

"Then it goes crazy, and all of a sudden people behave differently toward you, they're agreeing with you all the time, they're not telling you no. I had some regular life behind me. It anchored me going into the future."

He added: "I didn't have a Plan B. I never quite got to the point of needing one. I did one thing, then the next. I was able to sustain myself.

"My kids aren't too impressed with me. They don't say very much about my career. Sometimes they Google me, though. And who knows what their friends say?"