--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most young actors, that's all they're…" description: "\"Most young actors, that's all they're trying to do: Get better at acting and be able to keep doing it. And that doesn't work out for most people.\" — Be..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac4/ben-mendelsohn-7532_acting_most-young-actors-that-s-all-they-re-try_2519709.jpg" --- # Most young actors, that's all they're trying to do: Get… ![“Most young actors, that's all they're trying to do: Get better at acting and be able to keep doing it. And that doesn't work out for most people.” quote by Ben Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac4/ben-mendelsohn-7532_acting_most-young-actors-that-s-all-they-re-try_2519709.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac4/ben-mendelsohn-7532_acting_most-young-actors-that-s-all-they-re-try_2519709.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac4/ben-mendelsohn-7532_acting_most-young-actors-that-s-all-they-re-try_2519709.jpg) > “Most young actors, that's all they're trying to do: Get better at acting and be able to keep doing it. And that doesn't work out for most people.” [Ben Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mendelsohn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Actors aim to improve constantly, but many fail to sustain success. **In simple terms:** Actors strive to improve, yet many falter. Key Takeaway Focus on continual skill development. Themes career growth artistry Mood realistic encouraging Type career motivational When to use this quote - acting auditions - career planning - skill workshops Key Concepts skill mastery industry volatility Questions to Reflect On - What supports long‑term growth? - How can actors adapt to industry changes? A Different Perspective Success depends on external factors too. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Young actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-actors/) ## Related quotes > [The better the acting is, the harder it is to see what the process is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/the-better-the-acting-is-the-harder-it-is-to-see-what-the-process-is/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [The important thing in acting is to be able to laugh and cry. If I have to cry, I think of my sex life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenda-jackson/the-important-thing-in-acting-is-to-be-able-to-laugh-and-cry-if-i/) [Glenda Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenda-jackson/) > [The joy of acting for me is to be able to experience emotions in a safe environment. You can't scream and cry in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-eisenberg/the-joy-of-acting-for-me-is-to-be-able-to-experience-emotions-in-a/) [Jesse Eisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-eisenberg/) > [Great acting is being able to create a character. Great character is being able to be yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-leguizamo/great-acting-is-being-able-to-create-a-character-great-character-is/) [John Leguizamo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-leguizamo/) > [The more often he feels without acting, the less he will be able ever to act, and, in the long run, the less he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-more-often-he-feels-without-acting-the-less-he-will-be-able-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What I love most about acting is being able to play different types of personalities without being considered crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-james-williams/what-i-love-most-about-acting-is-being-able-to-play-different-types/) [Tyler James Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-james-williams/) > [The whole reason I did a bodybuilding show was to see how far I could push my own discipline. It was the hardest thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mcgorry/the-whole-reason-i-did-a-bodybuilding-show-was-to-see-how-far-i-could/) [Matt McGorry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mcgorry/) > [A really special part of acting to me is to be able to make an audience feel, and for you not to be affected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-ackie/a-really-special-part-of-acting-to-me-is-to-be-able-to-make-an/) [Naomi Ackie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-ackie/) > [I love acting. I'm able to express myself and not get made fun of for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adi-shankar/i-love-acting-i-m-able-to-express-myself-and-not-get-made-fun-of-for/) [Adi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adi-shankar/) > [You spend enough time on set as an actor and it's great when a director was at some point an actor or understands acting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-somerhalder/you-spend-enough-time-on-set-as-an-actor-and-it-s-great-when-a/) [Ian Somerhalder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-somerhalder/) > [The thing I like about acting is being able to lose yourself completely in someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-page/the-thing-i-like-about-acting-is-being-able-to-lose-yourself/) [Ellen Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-page/) > [For me, as an actor, just to keep acting and to keep being able to work and to do different roles and challenging roles,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hunter/for-me-as-an-actor-just-to-keep-acting-and-to-keep-being-able-to-work/) [Stephen Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hunter/) > [I love just about every aspect of the filmmaking except acting. I would never be able to do that, but the rest I really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fede-alvarez/i-love-just-about-every-aspect-of-the-filmmaking-except-acting-i/) [Fede Alvarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fede-alvarez/) > [The important thing in acting is to be able to laugh and cry. If I have to laugh, I think of my sex life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenda-jackson/the-important-thing-in-acting-is-to-be-able-to-laugh-and-cry-if-i-2/) [Glenda Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenda-jackson/) > [It's tough when take 1 is technically okay and take 2 has better acting. Out here (Hollywood) they print the first one. That's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-holliday/it-s-tough-when-take-1-is-technically-okay-and-take-2-has-better/) [Judy Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-holliday/) ## More by Ben Mendelsohn > ['The Outlaw Josey Wales' is one I watched again and again and again in the early days of VHS.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mendelsohn/the-outlaw-josey-wales-is-one-i-watched-again-and-again-and-again-in/) [Ben Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mendelsohn/) > [One of my earlier films is 'Quigley Down Under.' That was early on in my career, and that was horsey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mendelsohn/one-of-my-earlier-films-is-quigley-down-under-that-was-early-on-in-my/) [Ben Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mendelsohn/) > [I'm very interested in the history of Christianity, and what I can say for sure is that the Catholics and the Jesuits and stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mendelsohn/i-m-very-interested-in-the-history-of-christianity-and-what-i-can-say/) [Ben Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mendelsohn/) > [Let me give you a little Mendelsohn 101: I came up in television in the early- to mid- 1980s in Australia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mendelsohn/let-me-give-you-a-little-mendelsohn-101-i-came-up-in-television-in/) [Ben Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mendelsohn/) > [If you're a 'character actor,' you get hired to play baddies a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mendelsohn/if-you-re-a-character-actor-you-get-hired-to-play-baddies-a-lot/) [Ben Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mendelsohn/) > [I think some of my favorite Australian films were shot by people that are not Australian. And I think when Dean Semler did 'Dances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mendelsohn/i-think-some-of-my-favorite-australian-films-were-shot-by-people-that/) [Ben Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mendelsohn/) > [From my point of view, things don't have to change to get better. Things are fantastic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mendelsohn/from-my-point-of-view-things-don-t-have-to-change-to-get-better/) [Ben Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mendelsohn/) > [People don't know who I am, and that's not a bad thing at all from my end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mendelsohn/people-don-t-know-who-i-am-and-that-s-not-a-bad-thing-at-all-from-my/) [Ben Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mendelsohn/) > [The people that impress me are Bob Dylan. The ones who keep working, year in and year out, and keep coming up with stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mendelsohn/the-people-that-impress-me-are-bob-dylan-the-ones-who-keep-working/) [Ben Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mendelsohn/) > [I'm very well known in the industry and relatively well known by people who are aficionados and what not, but outside of that -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mendelsohn/i-m-very-well-known-in-the-industry-and-relatively-well-known-by/) [Ben Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mendelsohn/) > [I think difficult characters are very rewarding to do. They often have facets to them and this and that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mendelsohn/i-think-difficult-characters-are-very-rewarding-to-do-they-often-have/) [Ben Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mendelsohn/) > [As an actor who has spent twenty years trying to crack America, the day I reached the 'Bloodline' set and found my name on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mendelsohn/as-an-actor-who-has-spent-twenty-years-trying-to-crack-america-the/) [Ben Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mendelsohn/) > [Once upon a time, they thought I was a sweet, wide-eyed boy that was just trying to figure out how to kiss the girl.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mendelsohn/once-upon-a-time-they-thought-i-was-a-sweet-wide-eyed-boy-that-was/) [Ben Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mendelsohn/) > [In Australia, even the darkest subject matter has a little pinch of humor. A little sweet to make the sour go down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mendelsohn/in-australia-even-the-darkest-subject-matter-has-a-little-pinch-of/) [Ben Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mendelsohn/) > [I don't know that it exists, the perfect family. It's always complicated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mendelsohn/i-don-t-know-that-it-exists-the-perfect-family-it-s-always-complicated/) [Ben Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mendelsohn/) [Explore all 90 Ben Mendelsohn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mendelsohn/) ## 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": "Most young actors, that's all they're trying to do: Get better at acting and be able to keep doing it. 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