--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think that's all you can hope for as an…" description: "\"I think that's all you can hope for as an actor when you read a script; that after the first thirty pages it has some meaning to it.\" — Cary Elwes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/cary-elwes-18146_actors_i-think-that-s-all-you-can-hope-for-as-a_3058063.png" --- # I think that's all you can hope for as an actor when you… ![“I think that's all you can hope for as an actor when you read a script; that after the first thirty pages it has some meaning to it.” quote by Cary Elwes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/cary-elwes-18146_actors_i-think-that-s-all-you-can-hope-for-as-a_3058063.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/cary-elwes-18146_actors_i-think-that-s-all-you-can-hope-for-as-a_3058063.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/cary-elwes-18146_actors_i-think-that-s-all-you-can-hope-for-as-a_3058063.png) > “I think that's all you can hope for as an actor when you read a script; that after the first thirty pages it has some meaning to it.” [Cary Elwes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-elwes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Actors seek meaning in scripts early; the first thirty pages set expectations for the story’s depth. **In simple terms:** Early script pages matter for meaning. Key Takeaway Read scripts thoroughly early on. Themes acting script analysis career development storytelling Mood thoughtful professional Type career creative When to use this quote - auditions - script selection - career planning Key Concepts narrative structure character arcs Questions to Reflect On - How do you assess a script’s potential? - What cues indicate deeper meaning early? A Different Perspective Early pages may not reflect final product. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-read-543982/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Pages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pages/) [Read Script](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read-script/) [Script](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/script/) [Script Thirty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/script-thirty-5117923/) [Scripts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scripts/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thirty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thirty/) [Thirty Pages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thirty-pages-1961113/) ## Related quotes > [“The last thing Farinoush did on several nights just before she went to bed was to rummage through her cardboard box of old things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-sen/the-last-thing-farinoush-did-on-several-nights-just-before-she-went/) [Kunal Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-sen/) > [I liked to think I had written 'scripts' when I was in high school, but looking back at them, they were about thirty pages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorene-scafaria/i-liked-to-think-i-had-written-scripts-when-i-was-in-high-school-but/) [Lorene Scafaria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorene-scafaria/) > [Short stories have no net. The writer cannot take a leisurely sixty pages to get things moving, or make a side trip onto a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-bloom/short-stories-have-no-net-the-writer-cannot-take-a-leisurely-sixty/) [Amy Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-bloom/) > [When I read biographies, I skip the first thirty pages about the childhood because it doesn't seem interesting to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/when-i-read-biographies-i-skip-the-first-thirty-pages-about-the/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [“I'm recapitulating...condensing...it's the Readers Digest style...people only have time to read thirty pages...apparently!...maximum!...that's all they have time for! they horse around for sixteen hours…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/i-m-recapitulating-condensing-it-s-the-readers-digest-style-people/) [Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [I think you will agree that I am alive in every part of this book; turn back twenty, thirty, one hundred pages - I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-patchen/i-think-you-will-agree-that-i-am-alive-in-every-part-of-this-book/) [Kenneth Patchen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-patchen/) > [Sitting down for the actor read when you first get together, it's like the Last Supper because you don't know who will be there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-otto/sitting-down-for-the-actor-read-when-you-first-get-together-it-s-like/) [Miranda Otto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-otto/) > [An actor must read a lot. Books not only make one a good actor but also a better human being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pankaj-tripathi/an-actor-must-read-a-lot-books-not-only-make-one-a-good-actor-but/) [Pankaj Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pankaj-tripathi/) > [You're not actually being a good actor all the time. But people refer to me as a good actor because they read it someplace,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-siddig/you-re-not-actually-being-a-good-actor-all-the-time-but-people-refer/) [Alexander Siddig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-siddig/) > [You know you don't have to be an actor when you read a book to a child. All you need is to simply love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/you-know-you-don-t-have-to-be-an-actor-when-you-read-a-book-to-a/) [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) > [I'd rather a young black actor read about success as opposed to how tough it was. I get these roles because I can act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-elba/i-d-rather-a-young-black-actor-read-about-success-as-opposed-to-how/) [Idris Elba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idris-elba/) > [It's weird how an actor can read a script and think 'it's really good, it's really funny, that's going to be really dramatic...' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-bell/it-s-weird-how-an-actor-can-read-a-script-and-think-it-s-really-good/) [Jamie Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-bell/) > [I barely read. I'm not a good reader at all. Rather than reading, I used to sit in front of the TV and watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-poulter/i-barely-read-i-m-not-a-good-reader-at-all-rather-than-reading-i-used/) [Will Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-poulter/) > [I think there's something fun about television where, as an actor, when you read the script each week, it's like how the audience experiences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-barr/i-think-there-s-something-fun-about-television-where-as-an-actor-when/) [Matt Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-barr/) > [I don't read the script a zillion times, I don't like to analyze things and my mind can go there very easily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittany-murphy/i-don-t-read-the-script-a-zillion-times-i-don-t-like-to-analyze/) [Brittany Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittany-murphy/) ## More by Cary Elwes > [The experience you have making the movie is all you have; when the movie's finished, that's for other people. But while you're doing it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-elwes/the-experience-you-have-making-the-movie-is-all-you-have-when-the/) [Cary Elwes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-elwes/) > [I'll explain and I'll use small words so that you'll be sure to understand, you warthog faced buffoon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-elwes/i-ll-explain-and-i-ll-use-small-words-so-that-you-ll-be-sure-to/) [Cary Elwes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-elwes/) > [I'm something of a history buff. It's deliberate that a lot of my films have been period pieces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-elwes/i-m-something-of-a-history-buff-it-s-deliberate-that-a-lot-of-my/) [Cary Elwes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-elwes/) > [The visceral experience of seeing a movie in three dimensions, coming at you in the theater, is obviously here to stay, because it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-elwes/the-visceral-experience-of-seeing-a-movie-in-three-dimensions-coming/) [Cary Elwes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-elwes/) > [If you get into the area of judging the character you're playing you're getting into a sticky area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-elwes/if-you-get-into-the-area-of-judging-the-character-you-re-playing-you/) [Cary Elwes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-elwes/) > [When I work, I live in a fantasy world. It's great. I get to play different characters who inspire me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-elwes/when-i-work-i-live-in-a-fantasy-world-it-s-great-i-get-to-play/) [Cary Elwes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-elwes/) > [The things that you know intellectually when you're young become internalized as you get older. You realize all those clichés.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-elwes/the-things-that-you-know-intellectually-when-you-re-young-become/) [Cary Elwes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-elwes/) > [I grew up in the art world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-elwes/i-grew-up-in-the-art-world/) [Cary Elwes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-elwes/) > [Life will teach you, but you have to live long enough to get those lessons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-elwes/life-will-teach-you-but-you-have-to-live-long-enough-to-get-those/) [Cary Elwes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-elwes/) > [I feel like if a film is well-written, then the character's arc is complete. There really is very little room to expand on that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-elwes/i-feel-like-if-a-film-is-well-written-then-the-character-s-arc-is/) [Cary Elwes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-elwes/) > [There's a myth about actors saying, 'Oh no, that's not me on screen at all. I'm just acting.' OK, if I were to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-elwes/there-s-a-myth-about-actors-saying-oh-no-that-s-not-me-on-screen-at/) [Cary Elwes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-elwes/) > [I used to sit in school and dream about getting into films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-elwes/i-used-to-sit-in-school-and-dream-about-getting-into-films/) [Cary Elwes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-elwes/) > [Any actor should be grateful if he's remembered for one movie in their lifetime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-elwes/any-actor-should-be-grateful-if-he-s-remembered-for-one-movie-in/) [Cary Elwes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-elwes/) > [Truly, you have a dizzying intellect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-elwes/truly-you-have-a-dizzying-intellect/) [Cary Elwes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-elwes/) > [I like to have a good experience. That's all you have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-elwes/i-like-to-have-a-good-experience-that-s-all-you-have/) [Cary Elwes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-elwes/) [Explore all 35 Cary Elwes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-elwes/) ## More Actors quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/) [Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [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/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [When we watch a film as actors, you have to understand that we always see much more than what's on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/when-we-watch-a-film-as-actors-you-have-to-understand-that-we-always/) [Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/) > [As actors, you become an expert at starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-actors-you-become-an-expert-at-starting-over/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [A rapper is about being completely true to yourself. Being an actor is about changing who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/a-rapper-is-about-being-completely-true-to-yourself-being-an-actor-is/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [I've been a professional actor for almost 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-been-a-professional-actor-for-almost-40-years/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [American actors are coy. 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 think that's all you can hope for as an actor when you read a script; that after the first thirty pages it has some meaning to it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Cary Elwes" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-elwes/i-think-that-s-all-you-can-hope-for-as-an-actor-when-you-read-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actors" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-elwes/i-think-that-s-all-you-can-hope-for-as-an-actor-when-you-read-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/cary-elwes-18146_actors_i-think-that-s-all-you-can-hope-for-as-a_3058063.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/cary-elwes-18146_actors_i-think-that-s-all-you-can-hope-for-as-a_3058063.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/cary-elwes-18146_actors_i-think-that-s-all-you-can-hope-for-as-a_3058063.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think that's all you can hope for as an actor when you read a script; that after the first thirty pages it…” — Cary Elwes", "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": "Cary Elwes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-elwes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think that's all you can...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-elwes/i-think-that-s-all-you-can-hope-for-as-an-actor-when-you-read-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-elwes/i-think-that-s-all-you-can-hope-for-as-an-actor-when-you-read-a/#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 } } ] } ```