Acting Quotes | Beyond Motive 9/10

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Acting Quotes

"I did a film once that I was killed in. It was a painful, horrifying day. It was a wonderful day from the standpoint of acting, but I was a wreck otherwise."

"I did a film once that I was killed in. It was a painful, horrifying day. It was a wonderful day from the standpoint of acting, but I was a wreck otherwise."

Leslie Easterbrook, American Actress

Acting, Day, Film

34

"My point here is I think international pressures of our acting unilaterally again are going to be such that the administration will say, well, we just can't take this on now."

"My point here is I think international pressures of our acting unilaterally again are going to be such that the administration will say, well, we just can't take this on now."

Lawrence Eagleburger, American Diplomat

Acting, Now, Will

34

"Acting isn't a singular profession, it is a collaborate profession."

"Acting isn't a singular profession, it is a collaborate profession."

Edie McClurg, American Actress

Acting, Profession

33

"When it's working, what acting is really about is getting into the essence of a moment in a creative, joyous way - through whatever frees you up."

"When it's working, what acting is really about is getting into the essence of a moment in a creative, joyous way - through whatever frees you up."

Lili Taylor, American Actress

33

"When I got to college, acting suddenly seemed like a very risky proposition and all my friends were going to law school or med school or Wall Street."

"When I got to college, acting suddenly seemed like a very risky proposition and all my friends were going to law school or med school or Wall Street."

Wentworth Miller, English Actor

Acting, College, Friends, Law

33

"When in doubt, make a fool of yourself. There is a microscopically thin line between being brilliantly creative and acting like the most gigantic idiot on earth. So what the hell, leap."

"When in doubt, make a fool of yourself. There is a microscopically thin line between being brilliantly creative and acting like the most gigantic idiot on earth. So what the hell, leap."

Cynthia Heimel, American Writer

Acting, Being, Doubt, Earth

33

"I see my job as an actor to be as good a channel as I can be. Acting is a gift, and I have respect for it."

"I see my job as an actor to be as good a channel as I can be. Acting is a gift, and I have respect for it."

Lili Taylor, American Actress

Acting, Actor, Job, Respect

33

"Acting doesn't bring anything to a text. On the contrary, it detracts from it."

"Acting doesn't bring anything to a text. On the contrary, it detracts from it."

Elaine Dundy, American Novelist

33

"So when I told my parents I wanted to go into acting because I was flunking out of my first year of junior college, they were relieved that I had picked something other than joining the army. But I can't imagine how they had high hopes for me."

"So when I told my parents I wanted to go into acting because I was flunking out of my first year of junior college, they were relieved that I had picked something other than joining the army. But I can't imagine how they had high hopes for me."

Dustin Hoffman, American Actor

Acting, Army, College, First

33

"One of the joys about acting is researching."

"One of the joys about acting is researching."

William Sanderson, American Actor

33

"Acting has been very useful to me."

"Acting has been very useful to me."

Jane Asher, British Actress

33

"I think if I were to go back on stage I might be in great danger of acting."

"I think if I were to go back on stage I might be in great danger of acting."

Ben Kingsley, English Actor

32

"I was able to support myself by acting alone about six years ago. Until then, I was just scraping by."

"I was able to support myself by acting alone about six years ago. Until then, I was just scraping by."

Edie Falco, American Actress

Acting, Support, Years

32

"The political machine triumphs because it is a united minority acting against a divided majority."

"The political machine triumphs because it is a united minority acting against a divided majority."

Will Durant, American Historian

Acting, Machine, Majority, Minority

32

"Well, acting is cheap; I knew all these actors who weren't in the Screen Actors Guild yet, and it happened that they were all just about thirty years old."

"Well, acting is cheap; I knew all these actors who weren't in the Screen Actors Guild yet, and it happened that they were all just about thirty years old."

John Sayles, American Director

Acting, Actors, Old, Years

32

"As a measure of acting skills, film can be very deceptive."

"As a measure of acting skills, film can be very deceptive."

Mary Mastrantonio, American Actress

Acting, Film, Measure

32

"It's tough when take 1 is technically okay and take 2 has better acting. Out here (Hollywood) they print the first one. That's the one where we all hit the mark on the floor and who cares about the acting."

"It's tough when take 1 is technically okay and take 2 has better acting. Out here (Hollywood) they print the first one. That's the one where we all hit the mark on the floor and who cares about the acting."

Judy Holliday, American Actress

32

"When actors are being defensive and defending their position, that is when you get less than good acting."

"When actors are being defensive and defending their position, that is when you get less than good acting."

John Boorman, British Director

Acting, Actors, Being

32

"I think, by and large, the level of acting is mediocre. When I go to the theatre, I get so angry. I don't go."

"I think, by and large, the level of acting is mediocre. When I go to the theatre, I get so angry. I don't go."

Uta Hagen, German Actress

Acting, Theatre

32

"It is precisely as though I were possessed by some other spirit when I enter on a new task of acting, as though something within me presses a switch and my own consciousness merges into some other, greater, more vital being."

"It is precisely as though I were possessed by some other spirit when I enter on a new task of acting, as though something within me presses a switch and my own consciousness merges into some other, greater, more vital being."

Conrad Veidt, German Actor

Acting, Being, Consciousness, Spirit

31

"I took a route of acting, rather than starmaking, so it cost me a lot financially."

"I took a route of acting, rather than starmaking, so it cost me a lot financially."

Vincent D'Onofrio, American Actor

31

"I like soap opera acting. If it's done really well, there's nothing better. It's old school. It's like what those melodramas in the '30s and '40s were like."

"I like soap opera acting. If it's done really well, there's nothing better. It's old school. It's like what those melodramas in the '30s and '40s were like."

Parker Posey, American Actress

Acting, Nothing, Old, Opera

31

"One of the cruelest judgments sustained against me is that I have spoken out as a recovered alcoholic to stimulate my acting career."

"One of the cruelest judgments sustained against me is that I have spoken out as a recovered alcoholic to stimulate my acting career."

Mercedes McCambridge, American Actress

31

"If we ever do end up acting just like rats or Pavlov's dogs, it will be largely because behaviorism has conditioned us to do so."

"If we ever do end up acting just like rats or Pavlov's dogs, it will be largely because behaviorism has conditioned us to do so."

Richard Rosen, American Author

Acting, Dogs, End, Will

31

"My parents felt that acting was far too insecure. Don't ask me what made them think that painting would be more secure."

"My parents felt that acting was far too insecure. Don't ask me what made them think that painting would be more secure."

John Hurt, British Actor

Acting, Painting, Parents

31

"When I started in films, it never really occurred to me that I could make a career out of acting."

"When I started in films, it never really occurred to me that I could make a career out of acting."

Sam Neill, Irish Actor

30

"Acting is like roller skating. Once you know how to do it, it is neither stimulating nor exciting."

"Acting is like roller skating. Once you know how to do it, it is neither stimulating nor exciting."

George Sanders, American Actor

30

"I'm now learning how to distinguish when I'm acting and when I'm not acting - offstage as well as onstage."

"I'm now learning how to distinguish when I'm acting and when I'm not acting - offstage as well as onstage."

Micky Dolenz, American Actor

Acting, Learning, Now

30

"It was in high school that I first became interested in acting. We put on lots of plays."

"It was in high school that I first became interested in acting. We put on lots of plays."

Blythe Danner, American Actress

Acting, First, School

30

"I'm not as focused on my acting career as I have been in the past."

"I'm not as focused on my acting career as I have been in the past."

Harry Hamlin, American Actor

Acting, Career, Past

30

"Acting is happy agony."

"Acting is happy agony."

Jean-Paul Sartre, French Philosopher

29

"I am only an actress when they say, 'action' and I stop being an actress when they say, 'cut'. I am a normal person outside of acting."

"I am only an actress when they say, 'action' and I stop being an actress when they say, 'cut'. I am a normal person outside of acting."

Paz Vega, Spanish Actress

29

"It's not subtle or restrained. It's not any of the things you like to think apply to your acting."

"It's not subtle or restrained. It's not any of the things you like to think apply to your acting."

Margaret Hamilton, American Actress

29

"Acting is like going to the gym. You have to keep yourself in shape and concentrate on your core."

"Acting is like going to the gym. You have to keep yourself in shape and concentrate on your core."

Anthony Rapp, American Actor

28

"Be where the acting is. I live in Houston. Dallas is 4 1/2 hours away. I let them know there's no difference."

"Be where the acting is. I live in Houston. Dallas is 4 1/2 hours away. I let them know there's no difference."

Vic Mignogna, American Actor

Acting, Difference, Houston

28

"It is indeed hard for the strong to be just to the weak, but acting justly always has its rewards."

"It is indeed hard for the strong to be just to the weak, but acting justly always has its rewards."

Eamon de Valera, Irish Statesman

27

"You need to become a good listener. As you're working, you hear someone else's lines and how you absorb them becomes your acting."

"You need to become a good listener. As you're working, you hear someone else's lines and how you absorb them becomes your acting."

Jacqueline Bisset, English Actress

27

"Acting is really not what I'm interested in. I'm not an aspiring actor and you should be able to tell."

"Acting is really not what I'm interested in. I'm not an aspiring actor and you should be able to tell."

Keith Hernandez, American Athlete

27

"Acting is the physical representation of a mental picture and the projection of an emotional concept."

"Acting is the physical representation of a mental picture and the projection of an emotional concept."

Laurette Taylor, American Actress

27

"Because modeling is lucrative, I'm able to save up and be more particular about the acting roles I take."

"Because modeling is lucrative, I'm able to save up and be more particular about the acting roles I take."

Kathy Ireland, American Model

27

"Louis B. Mayer once looked at me and said, 'You will never get the girl at the end'. So I worked on my acting."

"Louis B. Mayer once looked at me and said, 'You will never get the girl at the end'. So I worked on my acting."

Van Heflin, American Actor

Acting, End, Will

26

"In some ways, I've always approached singing as acting, and the voice is just like a way of carrying the song."

"In some ways, I've always approached singing as acting, and the voice is just like a way of carrying the song."

Petula Clark, British Musician

Acting, Singing, Song, Voice

26

"There is no acting in a serial. You simply race through the reels."

"There is no acting in a serial. You simply race through the reels."

Pearl White, American Musician

25

"I like to say that I didn't choose acting - acting chose me."

"I like to say that I didn't choose acting - acting chose me."

Ving Rhames, American Actor

24

"I am acquainted with no immaterial sensuality so delightful as good acting."

"I am acquainted with no immaterial sensuality so delightful as good acting."

Lord Byron, British Poet

Acting, Sensuality

20

"Never get caught acting."

"Never get caught acting."

Lillian Gish, American Entertainer

20

"My approach to acting is that I am totally intuitive. I read the script and I get it. If I don't get it, I can't do it."

"My approach to acting is that I am totally intuitive. I read the script and I get it. If I don't get it, I can't do it."

Morgan Freeman, American Actor

17

"Acting is something different to everybody. I just know that if you watch an actor or actress getting better and better, I think that's them just understanding themselves better and better."

"Acting is something different to everybody. I just know that if you watch an actor or actress getting better and better, I think that's them just understanding themselves better and better."

Cameron Diaz, American Actress

Acting, Actor, Understanding

16

"Man is a make-believe animal: he is never so truly himself as when he is acting a part."

"Man is a make-believe animal: he is never so truly himself as when he is acting a part."

William Hazlitt, English Critic

16

"I would rather miss the mark acting well than win the day acting basely."

"I would rather miss the mark acting well than win the day acting basely."

Sophocles, Greek Poet

12

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