--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always used to pretend to be different…" description: "\"I always used to pretend to be different characters - cowboys, that sort of thing. I used to think that the Indians lived over the mountains that I cou..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e65/aneurin-barnard-12075_about_i-always-used-to-pretend-to-be-different_1444416.jpg" --- # I always used to pretend to be different characters… ![“I always used to pretend to be different characters - cowboys, that sort of thing. I used to think that the Indians lived over the mountains that I could see out of my bedroom. As I grew up, I started to understand that acting was actually a craft, and there was no question about it, that was…” quote by Aneurin Barnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e65/aneurin-barnard-12075_about_i-always-used-to-pretend-to-be-different_1444416.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e65/aneurin-barnard-12075_about_i-always-used-to-pretend-to-be-different_1444416.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e65/aneurin-barnard-12075_about_i-always-used-to-pretend-to-be-different_1444416.jpg) > “I always used to pretend to be different characters - cowboys, that sort of thing. I used to think that the Indians lived over the mountains that I could see out of my bedroom. As I grew up, I started to understand that acting was actually a craft, and there was no question about it, that was exactly what I was going to do.” [Aneurin Barnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aneurin-barnard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting is a craft learned through practice, not imagination alone; understanding the craft leads to purposeful career choices. **In simple terms:** Acting requires skill, not just fantasy. Key Takeaway Pursue disciplined training. Themes career craft learning identity creativity Mood determined inspired Type practical motivational When to use this quote - career planning - artistic pursuits - education - personal growth Key Concepts skill acquisition professional development self‑discovery Questions to Reflect On - What steps will you take to master your craft? - How does understanding a craft change your goals? A Different Perspective Skill alone may not guarantee success without opportunity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters/) [Cowboys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowboys/) [Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/craft/) [Different characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-characters/) [Indians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indians/) [Mountains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mountains/) ## Related quotes > [I love doing roles and movies that are different from each other. That's kind of why I like to be an actor because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hutcherson/i-love-doing-roles-and-movies-that-are-different-from-each-other-that/) [Josh Hutcherson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hutcherson/) > [I don't pretend to be any different just because I win tennis matches, so hopefully brands appreciate my approach and my likeability, because it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petra-kvitova/i-don-t-pretend-to-be-any-different-just-because-i-win-tennis-matches/) [Petra Kvitova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petra-kvitova/) > [People are valuable regardless of the color of their skin. You can be open about it and talk about it. You don't have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-c-mullen/people-are-valuable-regardless-of-the-color-of-their-skin-you-can-be/) Nicole C. Mullen > [If I pretend to myself that I'm different from the way I truly am, I'm going to make choices that won't make me happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/if-i-pretend-to-myself-that-i-m-different-from-the-way-i-truly-am-i-m/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [Roblox is less a game than a 3-D social platform where you and your friends can pretend to be in different places. You can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baszucki/roblox-is-less-a-game-than-a-3-d-social-platform-where-you-and-your/) [David Baszucki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-baszucki/) > [Most actors don't understand acting. I think it's an art form that craft is out the window. I don't think people get it at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/most-actors-don-t-understand-acting-i-think-it-s-an-art-form-that/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [The music industry is something that I'm still trying to understand. With acting, I've been doing it for so long that I understand every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keke-palmer/the-music-industry-is-something-that-i-m-still-trying-to-understand/) [Keke Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keke-palmer/) > [I understand acting and I understand actors. I don't really understand the world of celebrity. That's just bizarre. Those sorts of elements I'm at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-neill/i-understand-acting-and-i-understand-actors-i-don-t-really-understand/) [Sam Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-neill/) > [I don't think most people understand acting, even the people who call themselves savvy, even actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-don-t-think-most-people-understand-acting-even-the-people-who-call/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I think acting really helps as a director. It's just no question, because you totally understand the acting process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/i-think-acting-really-helps-as-a-director-it-s-just-no-question/) [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) > [I can't even tell anyone how it feels when I'm acting, I don't mean to say that I don't have to try. But there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keke-palmer/i-can-t-even-tell-anyone-how-it-feels-when-i-m-acting-i-don-t-mean-to/) [Keke Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keke-palmer/) > [I have no problem doing the same type of roles. But those who understand acting technique, and watched me in 'Mardaani 2,' might have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vishal-jethwa/i-have-no-problem-doing-the-same-type-of-roles-but-those-who/) [Vishal Jethwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vishal-jethwa/) > [At the end of drama school, I made a contract with myself: I'd try acting for five years. I was 26. I had already…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/at-the-end-of-drama-school-i-made-a-contract-with-myself-i-d-try/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [Acting is actually private.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-chen/acting-is-actually-private/) [Joan Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-chen/) > [People assume that displaying your own personal ego on screen is called acting, which is actually not what acting is about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-kay-menon/people-assume-that-displaying-your-own-personal-ego-on-screen-is/) [Kay Kay Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-kay-menon/) ## More by Aneurin Barnard > [When I was a kid, I used to pretend to be Bond; I used to make up scenarios and irritate my sister and annoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneurin-barnard/when-i-was-a-kid-i-used-to-pretend-to-be-bond-i-used-to-make-up/) [Aneurin Barnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aneurin-barnard/) > [If I played Bond, my dad probably wouldn't know what to do with himself. He'd probably put his shoes on the wrong way for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneurin-barnard/if-i-played-bond-my-dad-probably-wouldn-t-know-what-to-do-with/) [Aneurin Barnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aneurin-barnard/) > [Award ceremonies are strange because you're sitting next to someone you've never met; you're celebrating with a total stranger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneurin-barnard/award-ceremonies-are-strange-because-you-re-sitting-next-to-someone/) [Aneurin Barnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aneurin-barnard/) > [Every job I've done so far, every character has been completely different, and that's really important to me because I don't want to fall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneurin-barnard/every-job-i-ve-done-so-far-every-character-has-been-completely/) [Aneurin Barnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aneurin-barnard/) > [I'm a big believer in playing truth and not doing things for effect. It's not about whether you look pretty or glamorous. It's about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneurin-barnard/i-m-a-big-believer-in-playing-truth-and-not-doing-things-for-effect/) [Aneurin Barnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aneurin-barnard/) > [As long as I'm enjoying what I'm doing, then that's fine. That's what I want. I want to enjoy life. We're only here for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneurin-barnard/as-long-as-i-m-enjoying-what-i-m-doing-then-that-s-fine-that-s-what-i/) [Aneurin Barnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aneurin-barnard/) > [I love doing my own stunts. I'd love to do a full-on period sword-fighting piece where I get to show off with fighting and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneurin-barnard/i-love-doing-my-own-stunts-i-d-love-to-do-a-full-on-period-sword/) [Aneurin Barnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aneurin-barnard/) > [The biggest thing about me, as an actor, is I'm never a finished product, you know? I always want to try something or be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneurin-barnard/the-biggest-thing-about-me-as-an-actor-is-i-m-never-a-finished/) [Aneurin Barnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aneurin-barnard/) > [I try to be respectful and talk to any fan and sign anything that anyone wants. Without the fans, you're not much. You need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneurin-barnard/i-try-to-be-respectful-and-talk-to-any-fan-and-sign-anything-that/) [Aneurin Barnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aneurin-barnard/) > [Would still love to do something with the 'Doctor Who' franchise at some point because I know they have a lot of fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneurin-barnard/would-still-love-to-do-something-with-the-doctor-who-franchise-at/) [Aneurin Barnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aneurin-barnard/) > [For me, the key is always trying to find the connection between the audience and the character I'm playing. That's important to me, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneurin-barnard/for-me-the-key-is-always-trying-to-find-the-connection-between-the/) [Aneurin Barnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aneurin-barnard/) > [A friend of mine once, when I was 11 years old, mentioned that there was a youth theater, a local amateur youth theater nearby…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneurin-barnard/a-friend-of-mine-once-when-i-was-11-years-old-mentioned-that-there/) [Aneurin Barnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aneurin-barnard/) > [A good actor knows exactly what the camera wants, what the sound wants, where to find the light and how to tell a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneurin-barnard/a-good-actor-knows-exactly-what-the-camera-wants-what-the-sound-wants/) [Aneurin Barnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aneurin-barnard/) > [Of course, every actor has their box and you have to respect and play for it, but I do love challenging myself. I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneurin-barnard/of-course-every-actor-has-their-box-and-you-have-to-respect-and-play/) [Aneurin Barnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aneurin-barnard/) > [I do my own stunts; that's something I'm very passionate about. I spent a lot of time on boats as a kid, so it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneurin-barnard/i-do-my-own-stunts-that-s-something-i-m-very-passionate-about-i-spent/) [Aneurin Barnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aneurin-barnard/) [Explore all 56 Aneurin Barnard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aneurin-barnard/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) Browse all 26,122 About quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I always used to pretend to be different characters - cowboys, that sort of thing. I used to think that the Indians lived over the mountains that I could see out of my bedroom. As I grew up, I started to understand that acting was actually a craft, and there was no question about it, that was exactly what I was going to do.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Aneurin Barnard" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneurin-barnard/i-always-used-to-pretend-to-be-different-characters-cowboys-that-sort/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "About" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneurin-barnard/i-always-used-to-pretend-to-be-different-characters-cowboys-that-sort/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e65/aneurin-barnard-12075_about_i-always-used-to-pretend-to-be-different_1444416.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e65/aneurin-barnard-12075_about_i-always-used-to-pretend-to-be-different_1444416.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e65/aneurin-barnard-12075_about_i-always-used-to-pretend-to-be-different_1444416.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I always used to pretend to be different characters - cowboys, that sort of thing. I used to think that the…” — Aneurin Barnard", "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": "Aneurin Barnard", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aneurin-barnard/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I always used to pretend to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneurin-barnard/i-always-used-to-pretend-to-be-different-characters-cowboys-that-sort/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneurin-barnard/i-always-used-to-pretend-to-be-different-characters-cowboys-that-sort/#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 } } ] } ```