--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If your endgame as an actor is that you…" description: "\"If your endgame as an actor is that you want as many people as possible to look at you then that's fine, go do your thing. But we have a greater role -..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/adrian-lester-6198_actor_if-your-endgame-as-an-actor-is-that-you_1203097.jpg" --- # If your endgame as an actor is that you want as many… ![“If your endgame as an actor is that you want as many people as possible to look at you then that's fine, go do your thing. But we have a greater role - every musician, dancer, singer and actor - and that is to hold a mirror up to society.” quote by Adrian Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/adrian-lester-6198_actor_if-your-endgame-as-an-actor-is-that-you_1203097.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/adrian-lester-6198_actor_if-your-endgame-as-an-actor-is-that-you_1203097.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/adrian-lester-6198_actor_if-your-endgame-as-an-actor-is-that-you_1203097.jpg) > “If your endgame as an actor is that you want as many people as possible to look at you then that's fine, go do your thing. But we have a greater role - every musician, dancer, singer and actor - and that is to hold a mirror up to society.” [Adrian Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-lester/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker asserts that artists should reflect society, holding a mirror to its values and issues, rather than seeking mere attention. **In simple terms:** Artists must reflect society, not just seek fame. Key Takeaway Use art to critique and illuminate society. Themes art society reflection responsibility culture Mood thoughtful critical Type cultural educational When to use this quote - theatre productions - public performances - educational workshops - community outreach Key Concepts media studies philosophy social commentary Questions to Reflect On - How can art provoke constructive dialogue? - What responsibilities do creators have to their audiences? A Different Perspective Audience may resist uncomfortable truths presented. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Mirror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirror/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [The best kind of art or writing holds up a mirror to society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-cunningham/the-best-kind-of-art-or-writing-holds-up-a-mirror-to-society/) [Liam Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-cunningham/) > [Stars play a greater role in America. They're taken so much more seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-farian/stars-play-a-greater-role-in-america-they-re-taken-so-much-more/) [Frank Farian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-farian/) > [There's an opportunity for the pharmacist to play a much greater role in health care, especially with what we have going on in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-wasson/there-s-an-opportunity-for-the-pharmacist-to-play-a-much-greater-role/) [Gregory Wasson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-wasson/) > [It's one of my government's ambitions to secure a seat for Ireland on the U.N. Security Council so that we can play an even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-varadkar/it-s-one-of-my-government-s-ambitions-to-secure-a-seat-for-ireland-on/) [Leo Varadkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-varadkar/) > [The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The part is greater than its role in the whole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-atlee/the-whole-is-greater-than-the-sum-of-its-parts-the-part-is-greater/) Tom Atlee > [International carriers need to be given greater role in our skies on all routes like several other large countries to make our aviation industry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-patnaik/international-carriers-need-to-be-given-greater-role-in-our-skies-on/) [Naveen Patnaik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-patnaik/) > [Fertilizer played a greater role in this case than computers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-godwin/fertilizer-played-a-greater-role-in-this-case-than-computers/) [Mike Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-godwin/) > [I want people to take me seriously as an actor. I want to be a star; I won't deny that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kriti-kharbanda/i-want-people-to-take-me-seriously-as-an-actor-i-want-to-be-a-star-i/) [Kriti Kharbanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kriti-kharbanda/) > [What motivates me is the chance to improve the world in my own special way; to contribute to the fight that all artists are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jinkx-monsoon/what-motivates-me-is-the-chance-to-improve-the-world-in-my-own/) [Jinkx Monsoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jinkx-monsoon/) > [All the science fiction I loved as a kid was holding up a mirror to society and warning us about the need for course…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laeta-kalogridis/all-the-science-fiction-i-loved-as-a-kid-was-holding-up-a-mirror-to/) [Laeta Kalogridis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laeta-kalogridis/) > [Like the way we get to know about the society of Korea, Iran, and other countries through their films, people will get to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nawazuddin-siddiqui/like-the-way-we-get-to-know-about-the-society-of-korea-iran-and-other/) [Nawazuddin Siddiqui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nawazuddin-siddiqui/) > [Cyberspace is the funhouse mirror of our own society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/cyberspace-is-the-funhouse-mirror-of-our-own-society/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [I think it's important to hold a mirror up to society and yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-think-it-s-important-to-hold-a-mirror-up-to-society-and-yourself/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [Film is just a mirror of the society we live in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-loren/film-is-just-a-mirror-of-the-society-we-live-in/) [Sophia Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-loren/) > [At the end of the day, films mirror our society. It will take time for everybody to open up to this and accept it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiara-advani/at-the-end-of-the-day-films-mirror-our-society-it-will-take-time-for/) [Kiara Advani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiara-advani/) ## More by Adrian Lester > [Doctor Who' is a great part and I grew up with the series, but I've never done anything more than express my admiration for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-lester/doctor-who-is-a-great-part-and-i-grew-up-with-the-series-but-i-ve/) [Adrian Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-lester/) > [There's always a subtle shift that happens in any play I've done that's come to New York, or that's toured, even. The audiences pick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-lester/there-s-always-a-subtle-shift-that-happens-in-any-play-i-ve-done-that/) [Adrian Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-lester/) > [Never mind that British history is liberally dotted with ethnic minorities; to most scriptwriters they simply don't exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-lester/never-mind-that-british-history-is-liberally-dotted-with-ethnic/) [Adrian Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-lester/) > [It's interesting, now we have these huge TVs with wonderful sound and so on at home, we're awash with wonderful dramas from so many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-lester/it-s-interesting-now-we-have-these-huge-tvs-with-wonderful-sound-and/) [Adrian Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-lester/) > [What's been crucial to 'Hustle's' success is the sense that the gang could survive in prison or on the streets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-lester/what-s-been-crucial-to-hustle-s-success-is-the-sense-that-the-gang/) [Adrian Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-lester/) > [There are certain actors who, when they appear in a drama, you know exactly what you're going to get. That's not me - if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-lester/there-are-certain-actors-who-when-they-appear-in-a-drama-you-know/) [Adrian Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-lester/) > [Every time I've played a role - every time - I've been hit by the same response of 'Oh goodness, that's interesting.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-lester/every-time-i-ve-played-a-role-every-time-i-ve-been-hit-by-the-same/) [Adrian Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-lester/) > [I am brilliant at not doing paperwork. I could teach a degree in procrastination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-lester/i-am-brilliant-at-not-doing-paperwork-i-could-teach-a-degree-in/) [Adrian Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-lester/) > [At heart, I'm analogue. I'm one of those people who has to buy something if they walk past a stationery shop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-lester/at-heart-i-m-analogue-i-m-one-of-those-people-who-has-to-buy/) [Adrian Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-lester/) > [The Undeclared War' is one of those series that points at something that should concern us all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-lester/the-undeclared-war-is-one-of-those-series-that-points-at-something/) [Adrian Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-lester/) > [I try to be as healthy as I can, but I fail in so many ways. Haagen-Dazs strawberry cheesecake ice cream is one downfall;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-lester/i-try-to-be-as-healthy-as-i-can-but-i-fail-in-so-many-ways-haagen/) [Adrian Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-lester/) > [When cosmetic surgery is used to hold back the passage of time I think it's a bit dodgy. I've been at the odd party…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-lester/when-cosmetic-surgery-is-used-to-hold-back-the-passage-of-time-i/) [Adrian Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-lester/) > [I'm not the kind of actor who's going to fit well with a long-running series unless that series offers me the chance to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-lester/i-m-not-the-kind-of-actor-who-s-going-to-fit-well-with-a-long-running/) [Adrian Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-lester/) > [I think the best characters are people you're not sure of, that you keep on going: 'God, I hate that person,' but you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-lester/i-think-the-best-characters-are-people-you-re-not-sure-of-that-you/) [Adrian Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-lester/) > [The arts safeguard our culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-lester/the-arts-safeguard-our-culture/) [Adrian Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-lester/) [Explore all 99 Adrian Lester quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-lester/) ## More Actor quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! 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I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If your endgame as an actor is that you want as many people as possible to look at you then that's fine, go do your thing. 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