--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can't say that I haven't done some bad…" description: "\"I can't say that I haven't done some bad acting in my time. I have. Usually that involves what we actors call 'indicating,' when you twirl your mustach..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8c/billy-campbell-16046_acting_i-can-t-say-that-i-haven-t-done-some-bad_3117018.png" --- # I can't say that I haven't done some bad acting in my… ![“I can't say that I haven't done some bad acting in my time. I have. Usually that involves what we actors call 'indicating,' when you twirl your mustache.” quote by Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8c/billy-campbell-16046_acting_i-can-t-say-that-i-haven-t-done-some-bad_3117018.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8c/billy-campbell-16046_acting_i-can-t-say-that-i-haven-t-done-some-bad_3117018.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8c/billy-campbell-16046_acting_i-can-t-say-that-i-haven-t-done-some-bad_3117018.png) > “I can't say that I haven't done some bad acting in my time. I have. Usually that involves what we actors call 'indicating,' when you twirl your mustache.” [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acknowledges personal past mistakes in acting, using a specific term for a flamboyant gesture **In simple terms:** Admits past acting flaws and mentions a theatrical gesture Key Takeaway Own your mistakes and learn from them Themes self-awareness humor acting growth Mood reflective lighthearted Type anecdotal self-reflective When to use this quote - audition prep - stage performance - film set - acting workshops Key Concepts performance self-critique theatrical devices Questions to Reflect On - What does "indicating" reveal about acting styles? - How can acknowledging flaws improve future performances? A Different Perspective Humor may downplay seriousness of professional accountability ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Bad acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-acting/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [It was like a bad movie except he didn’t actually twirl his mustache.” -Jace to Maryse about Valentine, pg.122-](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/it-was-like-a-bad-movie-except-he-didn-t-actually-twirl-his-mustache/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [It's very juicy to twirl your mustache and figure out why people do the horrible things that they do. It's not just because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeljko-ivanek/it-s-very-juicy-to-twirl-your-mustache-and-figure-out-why-people-do/) [Zeljko Ivanek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeljko-ivanek/) > [Anthony Hopkins says you just keep acting. Do it all the time and eventually it will happen. He got his break, after all, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-e-grant/anthony-hopkins-says-you-just-keep-acting-do-it-all-the-time-and/) [Richard E. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-e-grant/) > [I'm probably more personal when I'm acting than at any other time. More open, more direct. Because it allows me to be something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-seymour-hoffman/i-m-probably-more-personal-when-i-m-acting-than-at-any-other-time/) [Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/) > [Acting is a full-time job for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-heflin/acting-is-a-full-time-job-for-me/) [Van Heflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-heflin/) > [Actually, the year anniversary of what you just heard, my son Grahame and I are going to be in a play together, and I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-lesh/actually-the-year-anniversary-of-what-you-just-heard-my-son-grahame/) [Phil Lesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-lesh/) > [Getting all dressed up and putting on fancy clothes - all of that's a great thing, but oddly, it doesn't really have a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/getting-all-dressed-up-and-putting-on-fancy-clothes-all-of-that-s-a/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [Acting is the only time when I truly maintain the spontaneity that I want to be present at all times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/acting-is-the-only-time-when-i-truly-maintain-the-spontaneity-that-i/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [The greatest gift an actor can have is not revealing who he is but through the parts he plays. Unfortunately, we live in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jude-law/the-greatest-gift-an-actor-can-have-is-not-revealing-who-he-is-but/) [Jude Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jude-law/) > [Acting time is like flight time: You can work on a simulator, you can rehearse, but unless you're really in front of the camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kapelos/acting-time-is-like-flight-time-you-can-work-on-a-simulator-you-can/) [John Kapelos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kapelos/) > [I think when I started acting, the whole time I was working towards one day coming to America. Hollywood, in particular, is seen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-hemsworth/i-think-when-i-started-acting-the-whole-time-i-was-working-towards/) [Liam Hemsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-hemsworth/) > [Ryerson helped me because I was around acting all the time. It was pretty much all I thought about, even if I didn't really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mena-massoud/ryerson-helped-me-because-i-was-around-acting-all-the-time-it-was/) [Mena Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/) > [Not only is acting more than a part-time job, it's more than a full-time job. It's a full-time obsession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/not-only-is-acting-more-than-a-part-time-job-it-s-more-than-a-full/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [I think when I started acting it was the first time I got the freedom of expression. I was able to express certain emotions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-beach/i-think-when-i-started-acting-it-was-the-first-time-i-got-the-freedom/) [Adam Beach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-beach/) > [I do both music and acting at the same time. To me they are both really important parts of how I express myself and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksa-palladino/i-do-both-music-and-acting-at-the-same-time-to-me-they-are-both/) [Aleksa Palladino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksa-palladino/) ## More by Billy Campbell > [Oh, I'm nerdy about science fiction and fantasy and graphic novels and reading, and I'm nerdy about board games. My favorite board game is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/oh-i-m-nerdy-about-science-fiction-and-fantasy-and-graphic-novels-and/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [The South Downs of England reminded me a bit of my Old Virginia homeland.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/the-south-downs-of-england-reminded-me-a-bit-of-my-old-virginia/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [Aside from what it teaches you, there is simply the indescribable degree of peace that can be achieved on a sailing vessel at sea.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/aside-from-what-it-teaches-you-there-is-simply-the-indescribable/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [I'm not a big fan of CGI. I'm not a fan at all, unless they use it in a way that doesn't call attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/i-m-not-a-big-fan-of-cgi-i-m-not-a-fan-at-all-unless-they-use-it-in-a/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [To me, the AMC brand is great storytelling - they call it slow-burn storytelling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/to-me-the-amc-brand-is-great-storytelling-they-call-it-slow-burn/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [Most sailing ships take what they call trainees, who pay to be part of the crew. The Picton Castle takes people who are absolutely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/most-sailing-ships-take-what-they-call-trainees-who-pay-to-be-part-of/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [On land, you can walk away from people, from unpleasant situations. But when you're on a ship for 14 months with 49 other people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/on-land-you-can-walk-away-from-people-from-unpleasant-situations-but/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [To me, if I'm reading a fantastic story or I go on a nice first date and I have a wonderful time, I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/to-me-if-i-m-reading-a-fantastic-story-or-i-go-on-a-nice-first-date/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [I've done some things that have been quite interesting, but as grateful as I am for having been on 'Dynasty,' it was just so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/i-ve-done-some-things-that-have-been-quite-interesting-but-as/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [I grew up 60 minutes way from Richmond, in Charlottesville, Virginia and, as a child, I was obsessed with the Civil War. I used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/i-grew-up-60-minutes-way-from-richmond-in-charlottesville-virginia/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [I would love to see a sequel to 'The Rocketeer.' I'd love to see that! I don't know that I would be in it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/i-would-love-to-see-a-sequel-to-the-rocketeer-i-d-love-to-see-that-i/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [So many movies are so formulaic because you've got to get it done in an hour and a half. On a TV series, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/so-many-movies-are-so-formulaic-because-you-ve-got-to-get-it-done-in/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [When I first came to Hollywood, I used to dream of doing films and escaping television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/when-i-first-came-to-hollywood-i-used-to-dream-of-doing-films-and/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [Some of the best auditions I've ever had have been when my agent called and said, "They want you 20 minutes ago, in an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/some-of-the-best-auditions-i-ve-ever-had-have-been-when-my-agent/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) > [Some of the best auditions I've ever had have been when my agent called and said, 'They want you 20 minutes ago, in an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-campbell/some-of-the-best-auditions-i-ve-ever-had-have-been-when-my-agent-2/) [Billy Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) [Explore all 41 Billy Campbell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-campbell/) ## 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. 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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. 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