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.
"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.
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.
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.
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."