Nicolas Cage [Photo/Agencies]

 

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Nicolas Cage says reading internet criticism is like "listening to an abusive father".

The 49-year-old actor does not pay attention to either negative or positive remarks made about him because the former will not help him progress while the latter will make him "lazy" and complacent.

Cage believes for him to succeed he needs to feel "uncomfortable".

Speaking to the Metro newspaper, he said: "I don't take criticism seriously and I don't take praise seriously, both would be a mistake. If you buy into the negative that is the internet today, or the cynical critic, it's not unlike listening to an abusive father that's trying to cave you in and you can't function. If you buy into praise, to people who adore you, you might get lazy and say, 'Well, I'll just keep doing that.' You have to stay uncomfortable."

The 'Joe' star learnt this philosophy from music legend David Bowie who insists the reinvention he has achieved throughout his six decade spanning career is down to never getting "comfortable".

Cage explained: "I learned that from David Bowie. I said, 'How do you do it? How do you keep reinventing yourself?' He said, 'I just never got comfortable with anything I was doing.' I knew those were words of wisdom from a great artist and I took those words seriously."