AUTHOR Alexander McCall Smith has revealed his distaste for celebrity culture, hitting out at film stars by saying ‘mechanics are far worthier than thespians.’
The Edinburgh-based writer took to Twitter to inform his fans of his views on people ‘swooning’ over film stars.
The 63-year-old voiced his opinion after a visit to the National Galleries in London where he overheard a visitor boasting of their connection to a painter.
He also told of his visit to Essex Literary Festival, where he said the region had an ‘unfortunate and undeserved reputation.’
He told his 6,000 fans on Twitter today: “On a visit to the National Gallery in London, I overhead this: “That was painted, you know, my my great-grandfather’s sister’s aunt.”
“Robert Garioch’s poem, Glisk of the Great, captures it so well – that feeling that some of it (greatness) rubs of on us, hence our delight in seeing some well-kent heid-yin (as they say in Scotland – trans: some well known high-up). “I saw …” we say, as if it mattered.””
He continued: “Yet I have never understood the excitement felt over actors and film-stars. People swoon, but why?
“Mechanics are far worthier than thespians.”
He Tweeted after a visit to the Essex Book Festival, where he gave a well-received talk in how he manages to write so many books a year.
After airing his views on celebrities, the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency writer Tweeted: “Tour over. Did literary lunch at Norwich Football Club – home of Delia, great cook.
“Then Essex Literary Festival where they bemoaned their unfortunate and undeserved reputation. Essex has charming villages, nice people; not all like the stereotypes.”
His views on actors were well echoed by his fans, with 24-year-old student Natalie Rowan saying: “To me, “celebs” are just people, just other humans, with different talents to me. No reason for extra attention!””
