Derren Brown used magic to deflect 'deep shame' about being gay

Derren Brown "deflected" his "deep shame" about being gay with magic.

The 49-year-old illusionist came out as homosexual in 2007 and admitted he\'s grown more comfortable with who he is as a result, having previously hidden his "awkward" feelings behind the "dazzling surface" of his work.

He told The Times newspaper\'s Saturday Review: "There\'s the old-fashioned cliché we have of the gay man being the hairdresser or the interior decorator.

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"They still resonate, though, because if you\'re feeling deep shame about who you are you deflect with those sort of dazzling surfaces.

"Magic is a quick route to impressing and therefore deflecting. It creates a strong aura of untouchability, which is very helpful if you\'re feeling awkward about the stuff inside."

But Derren found that once he stopped keeping his sexuality a secret, most people didn\'t care.

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He added: "And then you realise that anything else you\'re worried about is even less of a thing.

"There\'s a line I use in my show that\'s attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt, \'You wouldn\'t worry so much about what others think of you if you realised how seldom they do.\' Coming out was a very good way of realising that."

The \'Apocalypse\' star - who lives with his partner Justin - admitted he likes to stress the psychological impact of his shows because magicians\' acts can become "insulting" to their audiences if they just rely on an air of mystery.

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He explained: "After those early days I\'ve always tried to make it about something else because I think the thing that wears people out is the way magicians posture and try to make themselves mysterious.

"That\'s great for a bit, but it can be a bit insulting after a while."

And as he approaches 50, the star is keen to lead a quiet life in the countryside.

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He said: "It would be nice to go to somewhere a bit leafier. Go somewhere a bit remote. I think everyone is trying to do that now. I don\'t know if that makes it easier or harder."