--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The way that actors talk about acting is…" description: "\"The way that actors talk about acting is generally quite punishing, and I think actors want to put forward the idea that they do all of this work becau..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f03/ben-mendelsohn-7532_acting_the-way-that-actors-talk-about-acting-is_1695106.jpg" --- # The way that actors talk about acting is generally quite… ![“The way that actors talk about acting is generally quite punishing, and I think actors want to put forward the idea that they do all of this work because, you know, it's a post-De Niro world, when, largely, in fact, it's almost never true.” quote by Ben Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f03/ben-mendelsohn-7532_acting_the-way-that-actors-talk-about-acting-is_1695106.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f03/ben-mendelsohn-7532_acting_the-way-that-actors-talk-about-acting-is_1695106.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f03/ben-mendelsohn-7532_acting_the-way-that-actors-talk-about-acting-is_1695106.jpg) > “The way that actors talk about acting is generally quite punishing, and I think actors want to put forward the idea that they do all of this work because, you know, it's a post-De Niro world, when, largely, in fact, it's almost never true.” [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 often claim they work for artistic integrity, but the reality is that many motivations are commercial and self‑preserving. **In simple terms:** Actors claim noble motives but often act for profit. Key Takeaway Recognize and balance artistic and practical motivations. Themes artistic integrity commercial pressure self‑preservation Mood candid critical Type industry professional When to use this quote - casting decisions - script selection - career planning Key Concepts industry reality career sustainability Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconcile artistic passion with financial needs? - What compromises are acceptable? A Different Perspective Idealism can clash with market demands. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors Talk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors-talk-235608/) [Actors Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors-want/) [Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forward/) [Talk Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talk-acting-599939/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Think Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-actors/) [True](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I think there's a lot of mythos about what's required in acting. The way that actors talk about acting is generally quite punishing, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mendelsohn/i-think-there-s-a-lot-of-mythos-about-what-s-required-in-acting-the/) [Ben Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mendelsohn/) > [There's nothing more boring than unintelligent actors, because all they have to talk about is themselves and acting. There have to be other things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-robbins/there-s-nothing-more-boring-than-unintelligent-actors-because-all/) [Tim Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-robbins/) > [I really like to hear actors talk about acting, but I don't really like hearing myself talk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-keaton/i-really-like-to-hear-actors-talk-about-acting-but-i-don-t-really/) [Michael Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-keaton/) > [I always think that when we actors talk about the films that we've done we run the risk of destroying everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-anaya/i-always-think-that-when-we-actors-talk-about-the-films-that-we-ve/) [Elena Anaya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-anaya/) > [The comic is today's western, so many movies, and I think that if actors want to optimize their longevity, it's important for them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-gray/the-comic-is-today-s-western-so-many-movies-and-i-think-that-if/) [Erin Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-gray/) > [I think all actors want to change. When you do something many times, over and over, you want to do something fresh. But movie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jet-li/i-think-all-actors-want-to-change-when-you-do-something-many-times/) [Jet Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jet-li/) > [It's fatal to talk about acting. It sounds faintly ridiculous if you start analysing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-broadbent/it-s-fatal-to-talk-about-acting-it-sounds-faintly-ridiculous-if-you/) [Jim Broadbent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-broadbent/) > [These kids only want to talk about acting method and motivation. in my day all we talked about was screwing and overtime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mitchum/these-kids-only-want-to-talk-about-acting-method-and-motivation-in-my/) [Robert Mitchum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mitchum/) > [The minute I start to talk about acting, I realize that I can't. You know, it's an abstract thing, a little bit mysterious even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-walken/the-minute-i-start-to-talk-about-acting-i-realize-that-i-can-t-you/) [Christopher Walken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-walken/) > [I talk about acting to students making the transition from high school to UCLA. Kids going into this profession really need to know the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loni-anderson/i-talk-about-acting-to-students-making-the-transition-from-high/) [Loni Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loni-anderson/) > [It's funny, when you become an actor and you're successful, they don't want to talk about acting any more. 'Hey let's talk about that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-brendon/it-s-funny-when-you-become-an-actor-and-you-re-successful-they-don-t/) [Nicholas Brendon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-brendon/) > [A lot of people think I'm cynical when I talk about acting. The truth of the matter is, I just don't want someone to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-tamblyn/a-lot-of-people-think-i-m-cynical-when-i-talk-about-acting-the-truth/) [Amber Tamblyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-tamblyn/) > [It's nice to have my mother as someone I can talk to about acting. My dad's a director, so when he comes to watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoey-deutch/it-s-nice-to-have-my-mother-as-someone-i-can-talk-to-about-acting-my/) [Zoey Deutch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoey-deutch/) > [It's hard to talk about acting because I don't think it's quite as explicit as a lot of people might think. And that's probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/it-s-hard-to-talk-about-acting-because-i-don-t-think-it-s-quite-as/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [The thing is, if I try to talk about acting, I come off as moaning. But I'm privileged. I think it's all about control.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-considine/the-thing-is-if-i-try-to-talk-about-acting-i-come-off-as-moaning-but/) [Paddy Considine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-considine/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "The way that actors talk about acting is generally quite punishing, and I think actors want to put forward the idea that they do all of this work because, you know, it's a post-De Niro world, when, largely, in fact, it's almost never true.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ben Mendelsohn" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mendelsohn/the-way-that-actors-talk-about-acting-is-generally-quite-punishing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mendelsohn/the-way-that-actors-talk-about-acting-is-generally-quite-punishing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f03/ben-mendelsohn-7532_acting_the-way-that-actors-talk-about-acting-is_1695106.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f03/ben-mendelsohn-7532_acting_the-way-that-actors-talk-about-acting-is_1695106.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f03/ben-mendelsohn-7532_acting_the-way-that-actors-talk-about-acting-is_1695106.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The way that actors talk about acting is generally quite punishing, and I think actors want to put forward…” — Ben Mendelsohn", "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": "Ben Mendelsohn", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mendelsohn/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The way that actors talk about...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mendelsohn/the-way-that-actors-talk-about-acting-is-generally-quite-punishing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mendelsohn/the-way-that-actors-talk-about-acting-is-generally-quite-punishing/#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 } } ] } ```