--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you're playing Shakespeare, it…" description: "\"When you're playing Shakespeare, it forces you to think and feel and speak all at the same time, which really is what acting is. It expands your imagin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00e/andre-holland-10514_acting_when-you-re-playing-shakespeare-it-force_569418.jpg" --- # When you're playing Shakespeare, it forces you to think… ![“When you're playing Shakespeare, it forces you to think and feel and speak all at the same time, which really is what acting is. It expands your imagination and expands your size of thinking.” quote by Andre Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00e/andre-holland-10514_acting_when-you-re-playing-shakespeare-it-force_569418.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00e/andre-holland-10514_acting_when-you-re-playing-shakespeare-it-force_569418.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00e/andre-holland-10514_acting_when-you-re-playing-shakespeare-it-force_569418.jpg) > “When you're playing Shakespeare, it forces you to think and feel and speak all at the same time, which really is what acting is. It expands your imagination and expands your size of thinking.” [Andre Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-holland/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting Shakespeare demands simultaneous thinking, feeling, and speaking, expanding imagination and mental capacity. **In simple terms:** Shakespeare acting stretches mind and emotions. Key Takeaway Practice multitasking in performance. Themes theatre creativity cognition Mood reflective enthusiastic Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - stage rehearsals - improv workshops - script study - public speaking Key Concepts method acting literary analysis cognitive flexibility Questions to Reflect On - How does Shakespeare challenge your perception? - What techniques help manage multiple demands? A Different Perspective Balancing all elements can be mentally exhausting. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shakespeare/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Playing Shakespeare requires technique. You don't play a Bach toccata by getting in the mood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kline/playing-shakespeare-requires-technique-you-don-t-play-a-bach-toccata/) [Kevin Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kline/) > [I went from an unemployed actor's life to doing stand-up comedy, and that was fortuitous. It's not the usual way the crow flies, going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-tate/i-went-from-an-unemployed-actor-s-life-to-doing-stand-up-comedy-and/) [Catherine Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-tate/) > [Classical plays require more imagination and more general training to be able to do. That's why I like playing Shakespeare better than anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivien-leigh/classical-plays-require-more-imagination-and-more-general-training-to/) [Vivien Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivien-leigh/) > [There is some mysterious thing that goes on whereby, in the process of playing Shakespeare continuously, actors are surprised by the way the language…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-branagh/there-is-some-mysterious-thing-that-goes-on-whereby-in-the-process-of/) [Kenneth Branagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-branagh/) > [Playing Shakespeare is really tiring. You never get to sit down, unless you're the king.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-hull/playing-shakespeare-is-really-tiring-you-never-get-to-sit-down-unless/) Josephine Hull > [I spent six years touring the world playing Shakespeare, Molire, Shaw, Goldsmith... But I slowly came to realise that the people you are working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mangan/i-spent-six-years-touring-the-world-playing-shakespeare-molire-shaw/) [Stephen Mangan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mangan/) > [I didn't really get into acting until halfway through college. Once I graduated I pursued it professionally, but it wasn't like I was always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-rohrbach/i-didn-t-really-get-into-acting-until-halfway-through-college-once-i/) [Kelly Rohrbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-rohrbach/) > [ I had to go in and do the work of toning \[invented "historical" bits\] down in order to make them fit \[in Lincoln in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-had-to-go-in-and-do-the-work-of-toning-invented-historical-bits/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [When beautiful movie stars allow themselves to look terrible, people think they're really acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wyler/when-beautiful-movie-stars-allow-themselves-to-look-terrible-people/) [William Wyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wyler/) > [It's really up to the acting community to be willing to be educated about what performance capture is in order to fully appreciate it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/it-s-really-up-to-the-acting-community-to-be-willing-to-be-educated/) [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) > [I wasn't really serious about acting - I was serious about baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-russell/i-wasn-t-really-serious-about-acting-i-was-serious-about-baseball/) [Kurt Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-russell/) > [I really take acting seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corbett/i-really-take-acting-seriously/) [John Corbett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corbett/) > [I've always been a history buff. It was one of the few subjects at school that really, really caught me. I think you'll find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-mison/i-ve-always-been-a-history-buff-it-was-one-of-the-few-subjects-at/) [Tom Mison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-mison/) > [I've never really done acting before, 'cause dancing was my first love. And then, I sort of fell into it from a talent competition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maisie-williams/i-ve-never-really-done-acting-before-cause-dancing-was-my-first-love/) [Maisie Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maisie-williams/) > [I think some people in their 20s really get it, that acting is about creativity and the work. They get their maturity from their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-badler/i-think-some-people-in-their-20s-really-get-it-that-acting-is-about/) [Jane Badler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-badler/) ## More by Andre Holland > [All the craft skills that I have, I feel like I developed and honed in drama school. It's the most important thing for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-holland/all-the-craft-skills-that-i-have-i-feel-like-i-developed-and-honed-in/) [Andre Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-holland/) > [I studied acting in NYU's graduate program, in which we covered everything from Ibsen and Chekov to August Wilson and David Mamet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-holland/i-studied-acting-in-nyu-s-graduate-program-in-which-we-covered/) [Andre Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-holland/) > [I love to sing. I'm definitely not a very good singer, but when I'm in my shower I get down for sure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-holland/i-love-to-sing-i-m-definitely-not-a-very-good-singer-but-when-i-m-in/) [Andre Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-holland/) > [Everybody gathered at my Aunt Hannah's house, and we sat around and talked, ate, drank and told lies. That's what people do, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-holland/everybody-gathered-at-my-aunt-hannah-s-house-and-we-sat-around-and/) [Andre Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-holland/) > [I think working on Shakespeare was a big part of my time at drama school. I'm so glad that I got to know Shakespeare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-holland/i-think-working-on-shakespeare-was-a-big-part-of-my-time-at-drama/) [Andre Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-holland/) > [ \[Theater\] has always been a big focus. I have been away from it for the past few years. I want to get back to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-holland/theater-has-always-been-a-big-focus-i-have-been-away-from-it-for-the/) [Andre Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-holland/) > [ The way people are responding to \[Moonlight movie\] is something we never anticipated. We knew it was good but it is so diverse. The… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-holland/the-way-people-are-responding-to-moonlight-movie-is-something-we/) [Andre Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-holland/) > [I read a lot of W.E.B. Du Bois, who wrote 'The Souls of Black Folk.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-holland/i-read-a-lot-of-w-e-b-du-bois-who-wrote-the-souls-of-black-folk/) [Andre Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-holland/) > [Politically, nowadays, as we know and feel, we are similarly underrepresented and not heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-holland/politically-nowadays-as-we-know-and-feel-we-are-similarly/) [Andre Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-holland/) > [I started out doing a lot of theater, a lot of Shakespeare, classic plays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-holland/i-started-out-doing-a-lot-of-theater-a-lot-of-shakespeare-classic/) [Andre Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-holland/) > [I just want to play interesting characters, and I want to work with the best directors I can work with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-holland/i-just-want-to-play-interesting-characters-and-i-want-to-work-with/) [Andre Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-holland/) > [When you live in an environment where you aren't allowed to be fully who you are, you aren't taken seriously, and you aren't respected.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-holland/when-you-live-in-an-environment-where-you-aren-t-allowed-to-be-fully/) [Andre Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-holland/) > [In '42,' it's like the '40s where racial equality had come into the consciousness of a lot of people, whereas in the 1900s it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-holland/in-42-it-s-like-the-40s-where-racial-equality-had-come-into-the/) [Andre Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-holland/) > [Whenever I have a play or opening or anything going on in my career, my parents always come up and see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-holland/whenever-i-have-a-play-or-opening-or-anything-going-on-in-my-career/) [Andre Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-holland/) > [ It \[Moonlight movie\] deals with drug addiction, drug dealing, and single parenthood, but they are three dimensional characters. You understand where they are from… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-holland/it-moonlight-movie-deals-with-drug-addiction-drug-dealing-and-single/) [Andre Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-holland/) [Explore all 65 Andre Holland quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-holland/) ## 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": "When you're playing Shakespeare, it forces you to think and feel and speak all at the same time, which really is what acting is. It expands your imagination and expands your size of thinking.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Andre Holland" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-holland/when-you-re-playing-shakespeare-it-forces-you-to-think-and-feel-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-holland/when-you-re-playing-shakespeare-it-forces-you-to-think-and-feel-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00e/andre-holland-10514_acting_when-you-re-playing-shakespeare-it-force_569418.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00e/andre-holland-10514_acting_when-you-re-playing-shakespeare-it-force_569418.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00e/andre-holland-10514_acting_when-you-re-playing-shakespeare-it-force_569418.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When you're playing Shakespeare, it forces you to think and feel and speak all at the same time, which…” — Andre Holland", "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": "Andre Holland", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-holland/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When you're playing Shakespeare, it forces...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-holland/when-you-re-playing-shakespeare-it-forces-you-to-think-and-feel-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-holland/when-you-re-playing-shakespeare-it-forces-you-to-think-and-feel-and/#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 } } ] } ```