--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've always been an actor, even when I…" description: "\"I've always been an actor, even when I was doing improv and my own version of stand up.\" — Brett Gelman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d9/brett-gelman-8521_actor_i-ve-always-been-an-actor-even-when-i-wa_2092773.jpg" --- # I've always been an actor, even when I was doing improv… ![“I've always been an actor, even when I was doing improv and my own version of stand up.” quote by Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d9/brett-gelman-8521_actor_i-ve-always-been-an-actor-even-when-i-wa_2092773.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d9/brett-gelman-8521_actor_i-ve-always-been-an-actor-even-when-i-wa_2092773.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d9/brett-gelman-8521_actor_i-ve-always-been-an-actor-even-when-i-wa_2092773.jpg) > “I've always been an actor, even when I was doing improv and my own version of stand up.” [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He sees acting as a lifelong identity, persisting across different performance forms. **In simple terms:** Acting is a core identity. Key Takeaway Embrace your true calling. Themes identity performance career Mood introspective motivational Type personal career When to use this quote - theatre auditions - improv workshops - career coaching - personal branding Key Concepts self‑concept artistic continuity Questions to Reflect On - What defines your professional identity? - How do you balance multiple creative roles? A Different Perspective May conflate role‑playing with personal authenticity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [I've always been an actor. I've always approached all my comedy as an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-ve-always-been-an-actor-i-ve-always-approached-all-my-comedy-as-an/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [I have Janicza solely to thank for my growth as an actor because she saw in me something that other people just weren't seeing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-have-janicza-solely-to-thank-for-my-growth-as-an-actor-because-she/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [I think the education I've had as an actor I would never have had at university.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-kreuk/i-think-the-education-i-ve-had-as-an-actor-i-would-never-have-had-at/) [Kristin Kreuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-kreuk/) > [I've become an actor rather than trying to be one, if that makes sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/callum-turner/i-ve-become-an-actor-rather-than-trying-to-be-one-if-that-makes-sense/) [Callum Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/callum-turner/) > [I've been an actor since I was a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-magyar/i-ve-been-an-actor-since-i-was-a-kid/) [Derek Magyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-magyar/) > [I've been an actor since the age of seventeen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parvathy/i-ve-been-an-actor-since-the-age-of-seventeen/) [Parvathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parvathy/) > [I've been an actor all of my life, but not professionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scatman-crothers/i-ve-been-an-actor-all-of-my-life-but-not-professionally/) [Scatman Crothers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scatman-crothers/) > [I'm a musician. Anything I've done as an actor has come from that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-connick-jr/i-m-a-musician-anything-i-ve-done-as-an-actor-has-come-from-that/) [Harry Connick, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-connick-jr/) > [I've always been an actor. That's my job — I can be anything you want me to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-jessica-parker/i-ve-always-been-an-actor-that-s-my-job-i-can-be-anything-you-want-me/) [Sarah Jessica Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-jessica-parker/) > [I've never been the actor who did one job, and everyone went, 'Wow!'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-fichtner/i-ve-never-been-the-actor-who-did-one-job-and-everyone-went-wow/) [William Fichtner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-fichtner/) > [I feel like I've always been an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/i-feel-like-i-ve-always-been-an-actor/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [I've never been the actor that's waiting for a job. I always have 15,000 other things going on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malik-yoba/i-ve-never-been-the-actor-that-s-waiting-for-a-job-i-always-have-15/) [Malik Yoba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malik-yoba/) > [I've always been an actor who works in every medium - I've worked in theater and film and television - I've never seen any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cillian-murphy/i-ve-always-been-an-actor-who-works-in-every-medium-i-ve-worked-in/) [Cillian Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cillian-murphy/) > [Kevin Feige said to me: "I don't think we've ever put an actor through quite as much as this, physically and mentally." I'll wear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/kevin-feige-said-to-me-i-don-t-think-we-ve-ever-put-an-actor-through/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [Maybe it's because I've been an actor for such a long time, but I think, unless you're a big star, you don't really have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/maybe-it-s-because-i-ve-been-an-actor-for-such-a-long-time-but-i/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) ## More by Brett Gelman > [I think that's something that people don't realize enough about when they get into comedy - it's not just about sitting back and observing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-think-that-s-something-that-people-don-t-realize-enough-about-when/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [Dinner is often a very celebratory environment, a very safe place, a time to reflect and let the day go and enjoy good food…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/dinner-is-often-a-very-celebratory-environment-a-very-safe-place-a/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [I honestly don't see how anyone can view the GOP and the Right as anything but evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-honestly-don-t-see-how-anyone-can-view-the-gop-and-the-right-as/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [Deeper things, heavier things happen to you as you get older and makes you more open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/deeper-things-heavier-things-happen-to-you-as-you-get-older-and-makes/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [What a great way to make some money is just fine somebody $300 if their phone rings in the theatre. That'll make them remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/what-a-great-way-to-make-some-money-is-just-fine-somebody-300-if/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [I think that all the Mel Brooks' company of actors is just tremendous. It was a crazy group of genius people. All of them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-think-that-all-the-mel-brooks-company-of-actors-is-just-tremendous/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [I've definitely had my hard partying moments. I've definitely had the long stretches of time in my personal life where I've felt an intense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-ve-definitely-had-my-hard-partying-moments-i-ve-definitely-had-the/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [I love 'Seinfeld.' That was not alternative. You can't get more in mainstream than that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-love-seinfeld-that-was-not-alternative-you-can-t-get-more-in/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [I'm not a stranger to depression and desperation. I can be kind of tortured but I do like to have a lot of fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-m-not-a-stranger-to-depression-and-desperation-i-can-be-kind-of/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [As far as making people feel less depressed, that, in and of itself, is a political act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/as-far-as-making-people-feel-less-depressed-that-in-and-of-itself-is/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [I'm an obvious example of how everyone is spiraling out of control on the show and just trying to live life the best they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-m-an-obvious-example-of-how-everyone-is-spiraling-out-of-control-on/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [At the end of the day, stand-up comedy is like acting when the audience are the other characters that I'm acting with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/at-the-end-of-the-day-stand-up-comedy-is-like-acting-when-the/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [I've wanted to be a comedian since I was a kid, and my parents were very supportive of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-ve-wanted-to-be-a-comedian-since-i-was-a-kid-and-my-parents-were/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [I really am not that hairy on my body. It's weird.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-really-am-not-that-hairy-on-my-body-it-s-weird/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [I get to live a privileged existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-get-to-live-a-privileged-existence/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) [Explore all 80 Brett Gelman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) ## More Actor 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/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [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/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [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/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've always been an actor, even when I was doing improv and my own version of stand up.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Brett Gelman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-ve-always-been-an-actor-even-when-i-was-doing-improv-and-my-own/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-ve-always-been-an-actor-even-when-i-was-doing-improv-and-my-own/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d9/brett-gelman-8521_actor_i-ve-always-been-an-actor-even-when-i-wa_2092773.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d9/brett-gelman-8521_actor_i-ve-always-been-an-actor-even-when-i-wa_2092773.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d9/brett-gelman-8521_actor_i-ve-always-been-an-actor-even-when-i-wa_2092773.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I've always been an actor, even when I was doing improv and my own version of stand up.” — Brett Gelman", "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": "Brett Gelman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I've always been an actor, even...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-ve-always-been-an-actor-even-when-i-was-doing-improv-and-my-own/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-ve-always-been-an-actor-even-when-i-was-doing-improv-and-my-own/#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 } } ] } ```