Samuel L. Jackson admits that his legendary status "disturbs" him.
The 71-year-old boasts quite the résumé thanks to his long career in Hollywood, including collaborations with Quentin Tarantino and Stephen Spielberg, while the role of Nick Fury has cemented him as a Marvel Cinematic Universe favourite.
Having received this year's Legend of Cinema Award at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival, Jackson spoke to Entertainment Weekly about the implications.
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"Legends are people who accomplish things that can't be accomplished by other people, or did something that's super extraordinary. I just persevered through hard work and doggedness to get where I am," he explained.
Discussing his international fame, the actor went on to recall being in Tokyo when he first noticed it (thanks to 1995 actioner Die Hard with a Vengeance).
"You don't understand it until you're out there in the world and you're in a place where you don't expect people to know who you are.
"I kind of needed it, wanted it and relished it in another kind of way because that's what movie stardom is."
Related: Samuel L Jackson returning to Marvel Cinematic Universe for Nick Fury series on Disney+
Meanwhile, Jackson also revealed that he still likes to go and see his own work on the big screen.
"I love movies. I don't have that bullshit thing of, 'Oh my god, I can't stand to watch myself on screen!' Well, get another job, because that's what it is, it's a look-at-me business."
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Reporter, Digital Spy
Dan is a freelance entertainment journalist. Beginning his writing career in 2014, Dan's work first graced the pages of cult publications Starburst magazine and Little White Lies before moving onto Total Film, Digital Spy, NME and Yahoo Entertainment.
In the film and TV universe, he kneels at the altar of Jim Carrey, Daniel Plainview, Mike Ehrmantraut and Paulie Walnuts.
