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Actor Quotes

The craft, nerves, and quiet discipline of acting.

These actor quotes capture the appeal of the work itself over the discomfort of interviews, the rehearsal room as the real proving ground, and the personal risk of choosing acting as a career in the first place. See Character for more on building a role.

I'm an actor; I'm not a director.

Quotes by Max von Sydow

When I started as an actor, I kind of started with a couple features. I've been waiting for the opening.

Quotes by Max Martini

My father quite honestly played no role in my decision to become an actor.

Quotes by Max Minghella

I don't want to be jack of all, master of none. I want to focus completely and excel as an actor with every project.

Quotes by Mawra Hocane

Whenever any actor comes into a producer session, they have so many questions, and we still can't really tell them that much until they get the job.

Quotes by Maurissa Tancharoen

No actor ever forgets a role, so I should have realized something was wrong.

Quotes by Maureen Reagan

I just loved the whole idea of being an actor.

Quotes by Matthew Macfadyen

It's a privilege to be an actor, as it's not work - it's a job.

Quotes by Matthew Nable

As an actor, being on autopilot is the worst thing possible.

Quotes by Matthew Perry

Any actor worth his salt has a responsibility to reinvent himself from part to part.

Quotes by Matt Smith

I grew up in suburban Brisbane, so to say you wanted to be an actor was a ridiculous concept.

Quotes by Matt Passmore

I got a rent-stabilized apartment in 1977, and that has made my life as an actor possible.

Quotes by Marylouise Burke

I trained as an actor with Lee Strasberg, Elia Kazan, and Harold Clurman, and those guys set a very high bar.

Quotes by Martin Landau

I was never a celebrity - just a working actor.

Quotes by Martin Milner

I don't think it was a surprise that I ended up as an actor, and it was anything but a disappointment.

Quotes by Martin Freeman

The writer of 'The Red Road,' Aaron Guzikowski, deserves the credit. The fact that the dialogue is so understated is what makes this show so appealing, especially as an actor.

Quotes by Martin Henderson

Directing a film was something I always wanted to do, something that seemed an inevitability in my development as an actor.

Quotes by Martin Donovan

An actor is at most a poet and at least an entertainer.

Quotes by Marlon Brando

The only thing an actor owes his public is not to bore them.

Quotes by Marlon Brando

I became an actor so I didn't have to be myself.

Quotes by Mark Ruffalo

Frequently Asked Questions

What do these quotes reveal about the life of an actor?
They touch on the simple joy of the work itself, the contrast between acting and being interviewed, the importance of rehearsal, and how big a personal shift becoming an actor can be. For more reflections on identity, see our Being quotes.
Is there a quote about enjoying the work of acting itself?
Yes — it says, "One of the things I enjoyed the most is just working as an actor."
Does one quote compare acting to being interviewed?
Yes. It says, "I believe it's easier to be an actor. Somehow, interviewing seems to be intrusive on people's lives." For more on the craft of acting, check out our Character quotes.
Is there a quote about the importance of rehearsal?
Yes — it states, "The rehearsal is where it all happens for an actor." If you enjoy quotes about dedication to a craft, our Always quotes are worth a look.
Does one quote describe becoming an actor as a big life change?
Yes, it says, "My becoming an actor was a massive shift for me, and a terrifying one." For more on embracing big life changes, see our Good quotes.

Browse Being or Good for more perspectives on performance and identity.