--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's a myth about actors saying, 'Oh…" description: "\"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 to you that's not me, that's fine. A..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/126/cary-elwes-18146_acting_there-s-a-myth-about-actors-saying-oh-no_1208856.jpg" --- # There's a myth about actors saying, 'Oh no, that's not me… ![“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 to you that's not me, that's fine. And I would tell you that I don't behave like a villain everyday, and that's true, I don't. But to say there's absolutely none of me in there is…” quote by Cary Elwes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/126/cary-elwes-18146_acting_there-s-a-myth-about-actors-saying-oh-no_1208856.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/126/cary-elwes-18146_acting_there-s-a-myth-about-actors-saying-oh-no_1208856.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/126/cary-elwes-18146_acting_there-s-a-myth-about-actors-saying-oh-no_1208856.jpg) > “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 to you that's not me, that's fine. And I would tell you that I don't behave like a villain everyday, and that's true, I don't. But to say there's absolutely none of me in there is ridiculous.” [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 acknowledge that personal traits and fictional roles intertwine, but they can separate identity from performance. **In simple terms:** Actors blend self and role but can distinguish them. Key Takeaway Recognize the overlap but keep personal values separate. Themes identity performance self-awareness Mood reflective thoughtful Type analytical insightful When to use this quote - theatre rehearsals - film sets - public interviews - media appearances Key Concepts role immersion public perception Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain personal integrity when portraying morally ambiguous characters? - What boundaries help you separate self from role? A Different Perspective Audience may conflate character with actor, causing misinterpretation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Everyday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everyday/) [Myth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myth/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Villain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/villain/) ## Related quotes > [Then they started pulling me in and I was very resistant. All the other actors would be saying write more, more dialogue for me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-berg/then-they-started-pulling-me-in-and-i-was-very-resistant-all-the/) [Peter Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-berg/) > [I've never had sex with boxers on and it's an odd thing to watch actors do. That's not saying I haven't tried... I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-gyllenhaal/i-ve-never-had-sex-with-boxers-on-and-it-s-an-odd-thing-to-watch/) [Jake Gyllenhaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-gyllenhaal/) > [I've heard other actors saying they don't want to play a character with an accent at all. To me, that's kind of an insult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-o-yang/i-ve-heard-other-actors-saying-they-don-t-want-to-play-a-character/) [Jimmy O. Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-o-yang/) > [I would say that maybe directors who act as well are easier with actors. I'm not saying that all directors have this, but sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-hall/i-would-say-that-maybe-directors-who-act-as-well-are-easier-with/) [Rebecca Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-hall/) > [There was a time when all the actors were saying, 'We should get residuals on videogames.' I just kept going, 'You don't have any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-north/there-was-a-time-when-all-the-actors-were-saying-we-should-get/) [Nolan North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-north/) > [I think that as actresses - and I've definitely gone through this in a really bizarre way, because I worked so much and was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/i-think-that-as-actresses-and-i-ve-definitely-gone-through-this-in-a/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [I don't think I'd want to concentrate on just acting because I love music, and things are going really well, so I think I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-thomas/i-don-t-think-i-d-want-to-concentrate-on-just-acting-because-i-love/) [Ashley Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-thomas/) > [As an actor, you want to be open to the unexpected. So in order to be open to that, you do have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/as-an-actor-you-want-to-be-open-to-the-unexpected-so-in-order-to-be/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [I constantly find myself changing my mind all the time. One day, I want to do just acting and just that. One day I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selena-gomez/i-constantly-find-myself-changing-my-mind-all-the-time-one-day-i-want/) [Selena Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selena-gomez/) > [As an actor, there is so much more than just acting in the film. A lot of other things like networking and marketing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neha-sharma/as-an-actor-there-is-so-much-more-than-just-acting-in-the-film-a-lot/) [Neha Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neha-sharma/) > [I couldn't direct traffic. It's hard enough just acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-rourke/i-couldn-t-direct-traffic-it-s-hard-enough-just-acting/) [Mickey Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-rourke/) > [I'd prefer to go under the radar and just do the acting without being famous for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-reilly/i-d-prefer-to-go-under-the-radar-and-just-do-the-acting-without-being/) [Kelly Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-reilly/) > [“You just go around acting like you’re saving other people so you don’t have to deal with your own problems.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-tharp/you-just-go-around-acting-like-you-re-saving-other-people-so-you-don/) [Tim Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-tharp/) > [“You say you're just acting, but you're fracturing yourself into a thousand pieces, and every time I see another piece, you're gone again. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-mejia/you-say-you-re-just-acting-but-you-re-fracturing-yourself-into-a/) Mindy Mejia > [With any part you play, there is a certain amount of yourself in it. There has to be, otherwise it's just not acting. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/with-any-part-you-play-there-is-a-certain-amount-of-yourself-in-it/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) ## 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/) > [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/) > [I do not envy the headache you will have when you awake. In the meantime, dream of large women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-elwes/i-do-not-envy-the-headache-you-will-have-when-you-awake-in-the/) [Cary Elwes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-elwes/) [Explore all 35 Cary Elwes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-elwes/) ## 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 > [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": "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 to you that's not me, that's fine. And I would tell you that I don't behave like a villain everyday, and that's true, I don't. 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