Ed Westwick: ‘Getting stopped in the street is weird – but stars shouldn’t complain about fame’

Ed Westwick has insisted that stars shouldn’t moan about the attention that fame brings, although getting stopped in the street can be “weird”.

The British actor, 29, was thrust into the spotlight as a teenager on hit US show Gossip Girl but has a more relaxed approach to being a celebrity these days.

“It’s all my decisions that have led to where I am so it’s all good,” he told the Standard. “I’m not in any way moaning about that.

“Some people who are quote unquote famous and have some sort of attention can moan sometimes, but I don’t think anyone should moan about it. I live a very nice life and I’m happy about that.”

Westwick said he still thinks it’s “weird” that people recognise him in the street, but doesn’t find it too annoying: “No one’s trying to kill me, they just want a photo.”

While he cares “less and less” about getting attention these days, he admitted to still being “confused” about how much of himself to make public.

“I look at someone like Cillian Murphy and think that he’s the f****** man – incredibly private. But then that said, I’m hardly private… I’m f****** on Instagram.”

Since Gossip Girl wrapped in 2012, Westwick has starred in films including The Crash and Billionaire Ransom and on the small screen in Snatch and Wicked City.

He’s currently starring in new BBC comedy White Gold, directed by Inbetweeners creator Damon Beesley, having picked up a script on a visit to London.

Now living in the capital for the first time in his life, after six years in New York, Westwick is taking every opportunity as it comes.

“I don’t really have a clear plan,” he said. “I think I just look at each moment as it is and if it feels like the right step then you just jump into it.

“I’ve never been one for planning too far off into the distance because you just don’t know what’s going to happen. Life takes twists and turns and that can lead to disappointment.”

White Gold will air on BBC Two on May 24.