--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't consider an actor a star if he's…" description: "\"I don't consider an actor a star if he's paid $20 million and grimaces in front of the camera and has a stunt man stand in for him. They may be fine ac..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c89/ben-stein-2703_actors_i-don-t-consider-an-actor-a-star-if-he-s_1591044.jpg" --- # I don't consider an actor a star if he's paid $20 million… ![“I don't consider an actor a star if he's paid $20 million and grimaces in front of the camera and has a stunt man stand in for him. They may be fine actors, but they're not role models. The real stars are wearing body armor in 130-degree heat . . . They're getting shot at and they don't have any…” quote by Ben Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c89/ben-stein-2703_actors_i-don-t-consider-an-actor-a-star-if-he-s_1591044.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c89/ben-stein-2703_actors_i-don-t-consider-an-actor-a-star-if-he-s_1591044.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c89/ben-stein-2703_actors_i-don-t-consider-an-actor-a-star-if-he-s_1591044.jpg) > “I don't consider an actor a star if he's paid $20 million and grimaces in front of the camera and has a stunt man stand in for him. They may be fine actors, but they're not role models. The real stars are wearing body armor in 130-degree heat . . . They're getting shot at and they don't have any stunt doubles standing in for them.” [Ben Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True heroes are those who face danger directly, not those who hide behind substitutes. **In simple terms:** Real heroes act, not hide behind doubles. Key Takeaway Value authenticity over safety nets. Themes heroism authenticity risk role models Mood critical thoughtful Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - military service - emergency responders - stunt performers - film industry Key Concepts courage integrity public perception Questions to Reflect On - What defines a role model for you? - When is it appropriate to use a substitute? A Different Perspective Public may misinterpret bravery as recklessness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Cameras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cameras/) [Grimace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grimace/) [Heat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heat/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Role models](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/role-models/) [Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars/) ## Related quotes > [Every morning, I get up, get out of bed, and get on my knees and thank God for waking up in America ... (She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stein/every-morning-i-get-up-get-out-of-bed-and-get-on-my-knees-and-thank/) [Ben Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stein/) > [The top stars like Angelina, Cameron (Diaz), Sandra Bullock and probably now Jennifer Lawrence probably gets paid the same as their male counterparts. 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I hear about actors who become the role and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-gosling/all-my-characters-are-me-i-m-not-a-good-enough-actor-to-become-a/) [Ryan Gosling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-gosling/) > [TV is a medium with a wide reach and viewers consider actors role models. Hence, one must realize the responsibility of portraying a certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manini-mishra/tv-is-a-medium-with-a-wide-reach-and-viewers-consider-actors-role/) [Manini Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manini-mishra/) > [I don't particularly consider myself an actor. I have no training. I love doing it, but I would never consider myself to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rakoff/i-don-t-particularly-consider-myself-an-actor-i-have-no-training-i/) [David Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rakoff/) > [I realized that being an actor was something I never owned up to, in a weird way. I would be a hostess or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-realized-that-being-an-actor-was-something-i-never-owned-up-to-in-a/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) > [It's a weird profession, as I don't really consider myself an actor. I did at one point, and I went and started doing auditions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barratt/it-s-a-weird-profession-as-i-don-t-really-consider-myself-an-actor-i/) [Julian Barratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barratt/) ## More by Ben Stein > [I think, there are many people who are much smarter than I am, and many, many, many who are much harder-working than I am,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stein/i-think-there-are-many-people-who-are-much-smarter-than-i-am-and-many/) [Ben Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stein/) > [Emperor Sid Caesar is gone to eternity himself now. 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We all have pricks and cunts, or are you different from the rest of us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/american-actors-are-coy-we-all-have-pricks-and-cunts-or-are-you/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) [Browse all 11,394 Actors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't consider an actor a star if he's paid $20 million and grimaces in front of the camera and has a stunt man stand in for him. They may be fine actors, but they're not role models. The real stars are wearing body armor in 130-degree heat . . . 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