--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've learned by watching films that…" description: "\"I've learned by watching films that inspired me and people who inspired me like Robert Redford and Paul Newman. I love old school acting. I love subtle..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c02/alex-pettyfer-11816_acting_i-ve-learned-by-watching-films-that-insp_1306938.png" --- # I've learned by watching films that inspired me and people… ![“I've learned by watching films that inspired me and people who inspired me like Robert Redford and Paul Newman. I love old school acting. I love subtlety, and I also love being spontaneous, and that's really what works for me.” quote by Alex Pettyfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c02/alex-pettyfer-11816_acting_i-ve-learned-by-watching-films-that-insp_1306938.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c02/alex-pettyfer-11816_acting_i-ve-learned-by-watching-films-that-insp_1306938.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c02/alex-pettyfer-11816_acting_i-ve-learned-by-watching-films-that-insp_1306938.png) > “I've learned by watching films that inspired me and people who inspired me like Robert Redford and Paul Newman. I love old school acting. I love subtlety, and I also love being spontaneous, and that's really what works for me.” [Alex Pettyfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-pettyfer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Studying classic cinema and its actors teaches subtlety and spontaneity, enriching one's own acting style. **In simple terms:** Old films inspire subtle and spontaneous acting. Key Takeaway Blend classic techniques with personal spontaneity. Themes acting inspiration creativity Mood reflective enthusiastic Type artistic educational When to use this quote - theatre rehearsals - film workshops - creative brainstorming Key Concepts method acting spontaneity Questions to Reflect On - Which classic performance resonates most with you? - How can you balance subtlety and spontaneity? A Different Perspective Overreliance on nostalgia may hinder original expression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Films](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/films/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Old school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-school/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Who Inspire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-who-inspire/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Spontaneous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spontaneous/) ## Related quotes > [I love the subtlety and tonal range of the acoustic guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-fogelberg/i-love-the-subtlety-and-tonal-range-of-the-acoustic-guitar/) [Dan Fogelberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-fogelberg/) > [Where's our Paul Newmans? Where's our Robert Redfords? We've got Jason Statham, who is great... blue collar and cool, which is fantastic. And we've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/where-s-our-paul-newmans-where-s-our-robert-redfords-we-ve-got-jason/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [I always related most to Steve McQueen because he was more of an outcast than Robert Redford or Paul Newman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-fugit/i-always-related-most-to-steve-mcqueen-because-he-was-more-of-an/) [Patrick Fugit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-fugit/) > [If you look at any of the greats, from people like Paul Newman and Robert Redford to, you know, Brad Pitt - to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/channing-tatum/if-you-look-at-any-of-the-greats-from-people-like-paul-newman-and/) [Channing Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/channing-tatum/) > [When I was younger I saw a movie called 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid' with Paul Newman and Robert Redford. Those two actors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-facinelli/when-i-was-younger-i-saw-a-movie-called-butch-cassidy-and-the/) [Peter Facinelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-facinelli/) > [Where are the Robert Redfords and Paul Newmans of my age group? I love James Franco, but where's the next James Franco? Where are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lawrence/where-are-the-robert-redfords-and-paul-newmans-of-my-age-group-i-love/) [Jennifer Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lawrence/) > [Acting is such an insecure business, mainly because your career is always in somebody else's hands unless you're Robert Redford, Steve McQueen or Paul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-connors/acting-is-such-an-insecure-business-mainly-because-your-career-is/) [Mike Connors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-connors/) > [My dad's one of my biggest heroes. I also think Paul Newman's an inspiration. I know a lot of people say that, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-pettyfer/my-dad-s-one-of-my-biggest-heroes-i-also-think-paul-newman-s-an/) [Alex Pettyfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-pettyfer/) > [I had no aspirations to be part of American cinema... I was really a Europe-based person, and those were the films I was inspired…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-bisset/i-had-no-aspirations-to-be-part-of-american-cinema-i-was-really-a/) [Jacqueline Bisset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-bisset/) > [When 'American Pie' happened, I was so lucky to get that opportunity and I just tried to do a good job in that genre.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-american-pie-happened-i-was-so-lucky-to-get-that-opportunity-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [So many of Spielberg's films inspired my imagination growing up. And then there are British films like 'The Full Monty' and 'Waking Ned Devine'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/so-many-of-spielberg-s-films-inspired-my-imagination-growing-up-and/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [Most of the romance in my films has been inspired by my father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautham-menon/most-of-the-romance-in-my-films-has-been-inspired-by-my-father/) [Gautham Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautham-menon/) > [When I was a young boy, those 'Rocky' movies were my favorite, especially the wild and exciting endings. I loved those films; they inspired…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennady-golovkin/when-i-was-a-young-boy-those-rocky-movies-were-my-favorite-especially/) [Gennady Golovkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennady-golovkin/) > [When you watch the films that I'm inspired by - from the '60s and '70s - it's not about the special effects: it's about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pilou-asbaek/when-you-watch-the-films-that-i-m-inspired-by-from-the-60s-and-70s-it/) [Pilou Asbaek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pilou-asbaek/) > [I didn't get into acting to have a moment, I got into it because of people who've inspired me, like Judi Dench, Holly Hunter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-adams/i-didn-t-get-into-acting-to-have-a-moment-i-got-into-it-because-of/) [Amy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-adams/) ## More by Alex Pettyfer > [When you fall in love for the first time, you're naive to every feeling that you're feeling, and you're almost obsessed with or addicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-pettyfer/when-you-fall-in-love-for-the-first-time-you-re-naive-to-every/) [Alex Pettyfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-pettyfer/) > [I truly believe in love, and I think that every relationship should start the way that our relationship started with our first love when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-pettyfer/i-truly-believe-in-love-and-i-think-that-every-relationship-should/) [Alex Pettyfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-pettyfer/) > [I'm very ambitious. I live in reality but I have dreams I want to fulfill - I want to be a director, and I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-pettyfer/i-m-very-ambitious-i-live-in-reality-but-i-have-dreams-i-want-to/) [Alex Pettyfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-pettyfer/) > [ I like movies that interest me and stories that interest me, I don't think about how much money it's gonna \[cost\] to make the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-pettyfer/i-like-movies-that-interest-me-and-stories-that-interest-me-i-don-t/) [Alex Pettyfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-pettyfer/) > [There are not many places in the world where you can get to the beach in an hour, the desert in two hours and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-pettyfer/there-are-not-many-places-in-the-world-where-you-can-get-to-the-beach/) [Alex Pettyfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-pettyfer/) > [I've really actually grown with my girlfriends and the people that they've introduced me to and the way that I've been welcomed in by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-pettyfer/i-ve-really-actually-grown-with-my-girlfriends-and-the-people-that/) [Alex Pettyfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-pettyfer/) > [I think most actors are insecure and scared of rejection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-pettyfer/i-think-most-actors-are-insecure-and-scared-of-rejection/) [Alex Pettyfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-pettyfer/) > [Look, every actor has a different way of preparing or creating a character and yeah, we all are from different backgrounds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-pettyfer/look-every-actor-has-a-different-way-of-preparing-or-creating-a/) [Alex Pettyfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-pettyfer/) > [I jumped off a cliff backwards for 'I Am Number Four,' which was pretty cool. I'd never done that before. It took seven takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-pettyfer/i-jumped-off-a-cliff-backwards-for-i-am-number-four-which-was-pretty/) [Alex Pettyfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-pettyfer/) > [I think your emotion changes from person to person. As you get older, a lot of people become cynical because of the experiences they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-pettyfer/i-think-your-emotion-changes-from-person-to-person-as-you-get-older-a/) [Alex Pettyfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-pettyfer/) > [I don't really look for a script and go, 'I need to do a thriller, so I'm going to do this.' I just read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-pettyfer/i-don-t-really-look-for-a-script-and-go-i-need-to-do-a-thriller-so-i/) [Alex Pettyfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-pettyfer/) > [I play a man who is obsessed with his own beauty, so it's perfect casting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-pettyfer/i-play-a-man-who-is-obsessed-with-his-own-beauty-so-it-s-perfect/) [Alex Pettyfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-pettyfer/) > [I Am Number Four is an action-packed adventure entwined with a romantic story. I play the role of John Smith. John wants to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-pettyfer/i-am-number-four-is-an-action-packed-adventure-entwined-with-a/) [Alex Pettyfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-pettyfer/) > [I don't categorize movies. I just look for great stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-pettyfer/i-don-t-categorize-movies-i-just-look-for-great-stories/) [Alex Pettyfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-pettyfer/) > [I think you have to be very secure as an actor to escape yourself - to revisit someones past, whether youre portraying another person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-pettyfer/i-think-you-have-to-be-very-secure-as-an-actor-to-escape-yourself-to/) [Alex Pettyfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-pettyfer/) [Explore all 57 Alex Pettyfer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-pettyfer/) ## 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": "I've learned by watching films that inspired me and people who inspired me like Robert Redford and Paul Newman. I love old school acting. 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