If you were a successful actor (but not an A list celebrity) would you want to stay out of the limelight and live in a small town?

I would. Some place more exotic than Kansas, maybe, but cozy and personal.
John Grisham lives on Amelia Island, where my Dad and his wife lived, until he died. My dad’s wife still lives there. She sees him now and again.

For the record, @Dutchess_III, John Grisham is not an actor. The Q specified actors.

If I already knew lots of people there, probably, so there wouldn’t be an issue with normal life. I grew up with a few people that then became semi-famous actors, they seem to have stayed close to home.

When I read about Jeff Daniels, I feel a bit envious how he’s arranged his life.

He lives in his home town of Chelsea, Michigan (pop. 4,000), and he’s built a theater company, with an integral mission of giving young actors and writers opportunities for development.

I would enjoy that more than living among people with lots of money but little community involvement.

I’m pretty sure I would just go cozy and comfortable and private. My cousin is building a giant house, probably, 5000 sq feet, right on the shores of a lake. It’s in Washington State, so it’s going to be be beautiful anywhere you build, but she also has neighbors with the same huge houses just a stone’s throw on either side.
I don’t think I’d do that. I think I’d buy some land, 20 acres maybe, build a comfortable home, with a large guest house to host family get togethers, and a barn. I’d spend my money on all that cool outside stuff, like swimming pools that transform in to patios, waterfalls, a nature trails, caves, creeks. Secluded, no matter how rich or famous.

@Dutchess_III Is your cousin an actor?

No. Just a recent millionaire.

Is she easily recognizable? Does she have celebrity status?

I think it’s hard to answer this question without knowing whether or not the actor (or actress) wants to become more popular or is happy with the way they are now.

Maybe they are told that they should live in the middle of the limelight in order to have photographers snapping their photos now and then. Maybe they don’t care about being more popular and so they’re happy in a serene place.

The example above of an author is different, because an author maybe needs peace in order to do their writing.

Maybe, just speculating.

I agree. It just depends on the person. Some thrive on the limelight, like the Kardasians. Others appreciate their fame, and work hard at it, but want some of their own time, some place to escape.

So do people in the town go out of their way to help protect his privacy @rockfan? Do they treat him just like the next guy?

@Dutchess_III

I just recently found about him living in my city, haven’t had a chance to ask anyone yet.

I would build a castle in the forest. Complete with a moat and draw bridge.

Small town? No, god no. I find small towns stifling.

I don’t know that I’d want to live in a small town, but I would want to live away from the limelight. I think you can maintain a quiet existence in a bigger city. I would say many actors do manage to do that. They’re just careful not to go to places where the paparazzi hang out. They just keep a low-profile.

I’ve seen well-known actors out and about here. Nobody bothers them. I saw Michael Bolton (singer) at Circular Quay in Sydney. He was trying to get a table at a restaurant, but they didn’t recognise him and said no. I’ve seen other more local, but well-known actors in restaurants and walking through the streets. Nobody bothers them. They just go about their business.

Have you seen them pull rank when they were denied when they wouldn’t have been had they known who they were?

@Dutchess_III

Your question is a little confusing lol, it’s just the wording though

I think @Dutchess_III is referring to the “do you know who I am!?” syndrome.

Right @Darth_Algar.