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Quotes about acting

55 quotes from 35 people

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The thing about performance, even if it’s only an illusion, is that it is a celebration of the fact that we do contain within ourselves infinite possibilities.
Daniel Day-Lewisborn 1957Rolling Stone interview, 8 February 1990
I didn’t have a problem with rejection, because when you go into an audition, you’re rejected already. There are hundreds of other actors. You’re behind the eight ball when you go in there.
Robert De Niroborn 1943“What I’ve Learned”, Esquire
I find characters with a little evil in them much more interesting to play than the good guy. I’d rather play Doc Holliday than Wyatt Earp.
Kirk Douglas1916–2020Interview by Ron Miller (1984)
- Good & Evil
As actors it is easy for us to play the hero. We get to fight the bad guys and stand up for justice. In real life, the choices are not always so clear.
Kirk Douglas1916–2020“Kirk Douglas On Trumbo: ‘I Was Threatened That Using A Blacklisted Writer Would End My Career’” by Pete Hammond, Deadline (19 November 2015)
- Decisions
I haven’t had an orthodox career, and I’ve wanted more than anything to have your respect. The first time I didn’t feel it, but this time I feel it, and I can’t deny the fact that you like me, right now, you like me!
Sally Fieldborn 1946Said during Field’s Oscar acceptance speech for Best Actress in 1984’s Places in the Heart
I found a calling. A life in storytelling. An identity in pretending to be other people.
Harrison Fordborn 1942Life Achievement Award acceptance speech, The Actor Awards (1 March 2026)
Ours is a tough business to get into. In my case, it’s been a tough business to get out of, thank God.
Harrison Fordborn 1942Life Achievement Award acceptance speech, The Actor Awards (1 March 2026)
- Comedy
Actresses can only play women. I’m an actor, I can play anything.
Whoopi Goldbergborn 1955Speaking on The Today Show on January 13, 1986; as quoted in Whoopi Goldberg on Stage and Screen (2013) by Lisa Pertillar Brevard, p. 18.
- Women
You have to be fierce as an actor. It’s not the actor’s job to be interesting; that’s the script’s job. It’s our job to be truthful and brave.
Mia Gothborn 1993“Mia Goth”. Interview Magazine. 20 September 2015.
Man is a make-believe animal — he is never so truly himself as when he is acting a part.
William Hazlitt1778–1830Notes of a Journey through France and Italy (1824), ch. XVI
- Character
As an actor, I’m thankful I have lived not one life, but many.
Charlton Heston1923–2008Video farewell (2002)
- Life & Death
His [David Garrick’s] death has eclipsed the gaiety of nations, and impoverished the public stock of harmless pleasure.
Samuel Johnson1709–1784Lives of the English Poets (1779–81)
I was very lucky in my career and I loved it. But I don’t think I was accomplished enough as an actor to be remembered particularly. No, I’d like to be remembered as a decent human being, and a caring one.
Grace Kelly1929–1982Interview with Pierre Salinger, June 22, 1982
- Character
Although human beings are incapable of talking about themselves with total honesty, it is much harder to avoid the truth while pretending to be other people.
Akira Kurosawa1910–1998Something Like an Autobiography (1981)
- Truth & Lies
The theater is so endlessly fascinating because it’s so accidental. It’s so much like life.
Arthur Miller1915–2005The New York Times (May 9, 1984)
- Entertainment