--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What's interesting about the process of…" description: "\"What's interesting about the process of acting is how often you don't know what you're doing.\" — Alan Rickman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/477/alan-rickman-4156_acting_what-s-interesting-about-the-process-of_3034464.jpg" --- # What's interesting about the process of acting is how… ![“What's interesting about the process of acting is how often you don't know what you're doing.” quote by Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/477/alan-rickman-4156_acting_what-s-interesting-about-the-process-of_3034464.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/477/alan-rickman-4156_acting_what-s-interesting-about-the-process-of_3034464.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/477/alan-rickman-4156_acting_what-s-interesting-about-the-process-of_3034464.jpg) > “What's interesting about the process of acting is how often you don't know what you're doing.” [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting often involves uncertainty, learning through improvisation and discovery. **In simple terms:** Acting is about not always knowing your next move. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty and stay adaptable. Themes creativity uncertainty learning improvisation Mood curious inquisitive Type instructional reflective When to use this quote - theatre rehearsals - film sets - improv workshops - career development Key Concepts process self‑discovery Questions to Reflect On - What strategies help navigate unknowns? A Different Perspective Can uncertainty hinder confidence? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [For me, it doesn't matter what kind of role I am doing. I just enjoy the process of acting and filmmaking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshaye-khanna/for-me-it-doesn-t-matter-what-kind-of-role-i-am-doing-i-just-enjoy/) [Akshaye Khanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshaye-khanna/) > [I hate acting when I see it. I don't want to feel it, I don't want to see it, I want to be taken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-hauer/i-hate-acting-when-i-see-it-i-don-t-want-to-feel-it-i-don-t-want-to/) [Rutger Hauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-hauer/) > [I don't like to intellectualize about my acting. I don't sit around and study the pages of a script over and over again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genevieve-bujold/i-don-t-like-to-intellectualize-about-my-acting-i-don-t-sit-around/) [Genevieve Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genevieve-bujold/) > [I just have no interest in the industry of acting, I don't want anything to do with it. But I respect the craft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kano/i-just-have-no-interest-in-the-industry-of-acting-i-don-t-want/) [Kano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kano/) > [It is an interesting process to revisit a previously essayed role and hit new notes and dimensions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-mathur/it-is-an-interesting-process-to-revisit-a-previously-essayed-role-and/) [Arjun Mathur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-mathur/) > [I played in couple of movies and tried to do this as good as I could. Someone liked it, the others didn't. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrei-arlovski/i-played-in-couple-of-movies-and-tried-to-do-this-as-good-as-i-could/) [Andrei Arlovski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrei-arlovski/) > [Producing a dark Christmas album in the middle of the summer is a very interesting process, especially if you are doing it by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarja-turunen/producing-a-dark-christmas-album-in-the-middle-of-the-summer-is-a/) [Tarja Turunen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarja-turunen/) > [The interesting part of the process is developing the character, you know, why did he become that? Why is the guy a murderer, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brion-james/the-interesting-part-of-the-process-is-developing-the-character-you/) [Brion James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brion-james/) > [My opinion of Xavi as a coach is that he is fine, he is in an interesting process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-laporta/my-opinion-of-xavi-as-a-coach-is-that-he-is-fine-he-is-in-an/) [Joan Laporta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-laporta/) > [So it's an interesting process just going through and seeing what works and what doesn't work, and what's the best version of it. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-burk/so-it-s-an-interesting-process-just-going-through-and-seeing-what/) [Bryan Burk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-burk/) > [It is very interesting to see how the process works in 'Big Boss.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshara-haasan/it-is-very-interesting-to-see-how-the-process-works-in-big-boss/) [Akshara Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshara-haasan/) > [Acting and the navy seem to balance each other out - I've not surrendered over to the complete process of the navy, nor have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hadlow/acting-and-the-navy-seem-to-balance-each-other-out-i-ve-not/) [Mark Hadlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hadlow/) > [The day the process of acting becomes something that I dread is the end. Obviously, why would you do something that you hate? I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailene-woodley/the-day-the-process-of-acting-becomes-something-that-i-dread-is-the/) [Shailene Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailene-woodley/) > [The whole process of acting is transformation. What is your power, quality and level of transformation, define you as an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neeraj-kabi/the-whole-process-of-acting-is-transformation-what-is-your-power/) [Neeraj Kabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neeraj-kabi/) > [Maybe down the road, I can see myself being part of the creative process, but acting is definitely my first and true love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-gubelmann/maybe-down-the-road-i-can-see-myself-being-part-of-the-creative/) [Fiona Gubelmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-gubelmann/) ## More by Alan Rickman > [Every so often you read a play and a character just speaks to you - almost seems to speak through you, in fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/every-so-often-you-read-a-play-and-a-character-just-speaks-to-you/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [My definition of palatable might be slightly different from yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/my-definition-of-palatable-might-be-slightly-different-from-yours/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [Three children have become adults since a phone call with Jo Rowling, containing one small clue, persuaded me that there was more to Snape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/three-children-have-become-adults-since-a-phone-call-with-jo-rowling/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [I do feel more myself in America. I can regress there, and they have roller-coaster parks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/i-do-feel-more-myself-in-america-i-can-regress-there-and-they-have/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [I have a love-hate relationship with white silk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/i-have-a-love-hate-relationship-with-white-silk/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [Unless we tell stories about ourselves, which is all that theater is, we're in deep trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/unless-we-tell-stories-about-ourselves-which-is-all-that-theater-is/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [I was 7, and I remember being given a part in a play and thinking, This is exciting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/i-was-7-and-i-remember-being-given-a-part-in-a-play-and-thinking-this/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [The difference between being an actor and a director is simple. The director has to hide his panic; the actor doesn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/the-difference-between-being-an-actor-and-a-director-is-simple-the/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [Do you know that moment when you paint a landscape as a child and, when you’re maybe under seven or something, the sky is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/do-you-know-that-moment-when-you-paint-a-landscape-as-a-child-and/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [Who I am gets in the way of people looking innocently at the parts I play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/who-i-am-gets-in-the-way-of-people-looking-innocently-at-the-parts-i/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [I don't think it's right that everybody knows everything about me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/i-don-t-think-it-s-right-that-everybody-knows-everything-about-me/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [One thing I will say - my job gets harder and harder. The more you understand about what you are capable of, the less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/one-thing-i-will-say-my-job-gets-harder-and-harder-the-more-you/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [On the screen were some flashback shots of Daniel, Emma and Rupert from ten years ago. They were 12. I have also recently returned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/on-the-screen-were-some-flashback-shots-of-daniel-emma-and-rupert/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [I was coming from a very cerebral, dark, difficult, layered play by Christopher Hampton and doing an action movie in Hollywood (Die Hard) with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/i-was-coming-from-a-very-cerebral-dark-difficult-layered-play-by/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [I don't play villains, I play very interesting people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/i-don-t-play-villains-i-play-very-interesting-people/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) [Explore all 115 Alan Rickman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) ## More Acting 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/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [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/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) Ryan Newman > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What's interesting about the process of acting is how often you don't know what you're doing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alan Rickman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/what-s-interesting-about-the-process-of-acting-is-how-often-you-don-t/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/what-s-interesting-about-the-process-of-acting-is-how-often-you-don-t/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/477/alan-rickman-4156_acting_what-s-interesting-about-the-process-of_3034464.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/477/alan-rickman-4156_acting_what-s-interesting-about-the-process-of_3034464.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/477/alan-rickman-4156_acting_what-s-interesting-about-the-process-of_3034464.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What's interesting about the process of acting is how often you don't know what you're doing.” — Alan Rickman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alan Rickman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What's interesting about the process of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/what-s-interesting-about-the-process-of-acting-is-how-often-you-don-t/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/what-s-interesting-about-the-process-of-acting-is-how-often-you-don-t/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```