Eddie Murphy claims he has never had a problem with film reviews, insisting they don’t affect him in any way. Despite avoiding them, the actor says he hasn’t bothered to follow a critic’s word in over 20 years.

He told the Los Angeles Times: “Oh, they [reviews] have no effect on me at all. I haven’t read a review in, easily, 20, 25 years. I used to. I remember when ‘Coming to America‘ came out, Siskel and Ebert gave it two thumbs way down, saying it sucked.

Then 10, 15 years later, I remember seeing them do a retrospective and they were both, ‘The classic ‘Coming to America’ blah blah blah.’ The shelf life of movies changes over the years.”

And Murphy, 55 – who has nine children from five different relationships – would like to return as a stand-up comic as he is “curious” to see how his new material would be received.

The actor/comedian also explained the reasons for taking a break from films, as anyone can “get sick” of seeing the same face after a while.

“A few years back, I took a break from grinding out movies. I stepped back, took a breath and gave the audience a break, too. After 35 years in movies, I don’t care who you are, people get sick of looking at you. But I’m always writing – a script, a song.

One day I’ll go full circle and do [stand up]. I’m curious to see what will come out of me. I’m so different. I stopped doing stand up when I was a kid. I was 28 years old.”

He further added: “That’s another lifetime. Times have changed. I’m not edgy – at all. And I don’t want to be one of those middle-aged comics who go out and say, ‘We had this and you guys have that.'”