Washington, October 9 (ANI): Actor/director Robert Redford has decided not to enter politics because he feels that his celebrity status may be too distracting for him to be taken seriously.

The 'All the President's Men' actor says that he has already witnessed that he can attract a large crowd simply because he was a Hollywood star, while following Democrat candidate George McGovern's US presidential campaign in 1972.

"Every film about politics I've made makes the point that politics compromises you. Your hands are tied, and I would never want to be in that position," Contactmusic quoted Redford as telling Playboy magazine.

"I lost all interest in going into politics around the time the Watergate break-in occurred. I was promoting 'The Candidate', and I did a whistle-stop train tour with George MCGovern and some other candidates," he added.

He says that people would be happy to have him on the podium, even when he did not have anything to say.

"I wanted to make the point that I could draw more people just by standing on the back of the train. And that's what happened. They would draw 300 or 400 people, then I would go out and get 3,000 or 4,000," he said.

"I would tell the crowds, 'Thank you all for coming. My fellow Americans, I just want you to know I have absolutely nothing important to say.' And they would cheer," he added. (ANI)