"I don't want people to know what I'm actually like. It's not good for an actor"

Jack Nicholson's quote speaks with the concept of preserving a particular degree of mystery in order to be successful as an actor. By not allowing people to understand what he is actually like, Nicholson is able to develop a personality that is more appealing to the general public. This identity can be made use of to develop a personality that is extra relatable and believable to an audience. Nicholson is recommending that by keeping his real self concealed, he can create a character that is much more successful as well as attractive to the public. This quote also speaks to the idea of preserving a certain level of personal privacy in order to be successful in the show business. By not allowing individuals to understand too much about him, Nicholson has the ability to maintain a certain degree of secret that can be utilized to develop a much more effective personality.