Kevin Bacon may be a familiar face on most days, but during his daily subway commute he likes to take on the role of unidentifiable mass transit rider. According to many sources, including United Press International on Feb. 5, the actor plays down this part by playing down his very identifiable good looks in a sometimes vain attempt at looking like anyone but himself.
When riding the New York City subway, the star of "The Following" pulls a cap down over his ears, wears black-out sunglasses, and keeps to himself.
One way that this well-known thespian and musician distracts others as well as himself while passing the time as he goes from point A to point B on the subway is to play games. Lots of games. In fact, his favorites are reportedly solitaire, Angry Birds, and backgammon, all of which he plays on his cell phone.
Bacon weighs in on why he does what he does when he rides these rails. He admits that thing called fame is "very much a double-edged sword." He also admits that the reason he once even tried a "prosthetic disguise" is very simple: He just don't want to be singled out. He didn't want "to be recognized."
Kevin adds that when he did go to such great lengths as to wear something on his face that totally transformed him in order to make himself virtually invisible, he "didn’t like it very much." The star said that other mass transit riders weren't nice to him, a typical situation for many who take on the City that Never Sleep's underground system. While in this elaborate disguise that now has been discarded, Bacon admitted, "People didn’t bother me, but they also looked right through me."
Being a household name, and more importantly, a household face, can have its drawbacks but Bacon has figured out a way to get away with his subway activities without too much hassle. After all, his kinship with the other people who ride the NYC underground is probably a very evident one that makes this form of transportation a level playing field for those who want to get around Manhattan in short order.
As Kevin Bacon himself put it regarding his subway experiences in the Big Apple, "It’s the fastest way to get around the city." No arguing with that.
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