Tim Burton, the 65-year-old filmmaker, has always felt like a foreigner in the US, despite being born and raised there. However, he now feels more comfortable in the UK, which he considers his adopted home.
In an interview with The Independent, Tim Burton revealed, “Where I came from, I felt like a foreigner. Growing up, I always felt like a foreigner.” He further added, “When I went to London… it was very strange. I felt it was foreign but I felt comfortable there. People were more eccentric. I don’t know, there was something about it.”
Nevertheless, Tim acknowledges that his character and success have been influenced by his experiences in Burbank, California, the city of his birth. He explained, “Those experiences, living there and growing up there, shaped who I am. When I talked negatively, it was only from one side of my psyche. The other side is that I am from there, and if I hadn’t been from Burbank, I don’t think I would have been who I am. It definitely is a part of me, even though I don’t live there anymore. It’s like anything. Nothing is only positive in your life.”
Reflecting on his journey in the movie business, Tim, known for directing films like ‘Beetlejuice’ and ‘Edward Scissorhands,’ admitted that it has been “very, very strange”. When asked about thriving in such a cutthroat environment, he responded, “Honestly, I don’t really know because I am really not that good at talking or speaking or trying to sell something, so to speak. Looking back, it’s a very, very strange journey that I can’t quite explain.”