--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Acting is about giving yourself away…" description: "\"Acting is about giving yourself away, like the U2 song 'With or Without You.' You just don't stay behind a character and make people laugh or cry. At s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/catherine-hicks-29294_about_acting-is-about-giving-yourself-away-lik_176946.jpg" --- # Acting is about giving yourself away, like the U2 song… ![“Acting is about giving yourself away, like the U2 song 'With or Without You.' You just don't stay behind a character and make people laugh or cry. At some point you have to take off that mask, and when you do, you're a human being, not just an actor. After all, I'm Catherine the person first. You…” quote by Catherine Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/catherine-hicks-29294_about_acting-is-about-giving-yourself-away-lik_176946.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/catherine-hicks-29294_about_acting-is-about-giving-yourself-away-lik_176946.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/catherine-hicks-29294_about_acting-is-about-giving-yourself-away-lik_176946.jpg) > “Acting is about giving yourself away, like the U2 song 'With or Without You.' You just don't stay behind a character and make people laugh or cry. At some point you have to take off that mask, and when you do, you're a human being, not just an actor. After all, I'm Catherine the person first. You share that.” [Catherine Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-hicks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting requires shedding the persona to reveal authentic humanity, reminding us that personal identity precedes performance. **In simple terms:** Actors must drop the mask to be truly human. Key Takeaway Prioritize authenticity over role. Themes authenticity identity performance humanity Mood reflective inspired Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - theatre - personal growth - public speaking Key Concepts self-awareness vulnerability presence Questions to Reflect On - How does shedding a role affect personal relationships? - What practices help maintain authenticity? A Different Perspective Authenticity can be compromised by audience expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Cry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cry/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Human being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-being/) [Laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laugh/) [Mask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mask/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [Acting, for me, is giving to your co-actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajkummar-rao/acting-for-me-is-giving-to-your-co-actors/) [Rajkummar Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajkummar-rao/) > [It's not all about acting. It's about giving an art of entertainment to humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-berdy/it-s-not-all-about-acting-it-s-about-giving-an-art-of-entertainment/) [Sean Berdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-berdy/) > [Acting is about giving something away, handing yourself over to whatever role you are asked to play. I'm not hiding or escaping or seeking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/acting-is-about-giving-something-away-handing-yourself-over-to/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [For me, when I'm making a movie I like to stay in character throughout the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hayden-christensen/for-me-when-i-m-making-a-movie-i-like-to-stay-in-character-throughout/) [Hayden Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hayden-christensen/) > [I needed to stay in the character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pitt/i-needed-to-stay-in-the-character/) [Michael Pitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pitt/) > [I've heard of actors like De Niro and Streep who stay in character all day long. And Daniel Day-Lewis did it for 'My Left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-bates/i-ve-heard-of-actors-like-de-niro-and-streep-who-stay-in-character/) [Kathy Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-bates/) > [This is what I would say to my pupil: 'You have become only your fame and left behind most of who you were. How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-jones/this-is-what-i-would-say-to-my-pupil-you-have-become-only-your-fame/) [Grace Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-jones/) > [Every once in a while I go off to do a movie or a television series and I take my art with me. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-seymour/every-once-in-a-while-i-go-off-to-do-a-movie-or-a-television-series/) [Jane Seymour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-seymour/) > [I tend to stay in character between scenes... to be rather serious on set, but here's why, and I think people will find it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-bale/i-tend-to-stay-in-character-between-scenes-to-be-rather-serious-on/) [Christian Bale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-bale/) > [I spent lunchtime in a grave during the filming of 'Bloody Mama.' When you're younger, you feel that's what you need to do to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/i-spent-lunchtime-in-a-grave-during-the-filming-of-bloody-mama-when/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) > [Jesus is the only character who I would hope to stay in character as all the time. But some people want a spiritual encounter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-roumie/jesus-is-the-only-character-who-i-would-hope-to-stay-in-character-as/) [Jonathan Roumie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-roumie/) > [I suppose the underlying current for me is the idea of not doing something I've done before. I call myself a character actor and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/i-suppose-the-underlying-current-for-me-is-the-idea-of-not-doing/) [Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/) > [A good undercover agent stays as close to the truth as possible, as close to your own personality and your own values as possible.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-d-pistone/a-good-undercover-agent-stays-as-close-to-the-truth-as-possible-as/) [Joseph D. Pistone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-d-pistone/) > [Certain people do need to stay in character the whole time, and that's just what they require as a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-angarano/certain-people-do-need-to-stay-in-character-the-whole-time-and-that-s/) [Michael Angarano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-angarano/) > [For me to have the opportunity to stay with one character for, God willing, a long period of time, is really exciting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-linney/for-me-to-have-the-opportunity-to-stay-with-one-character-for-god/) [Laura Linney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-linney/) ## More by Catherine Hicks > [There's this great fear, and I find, lack of knowledge of Catholicism, just like I'm ignorant of other things. I think we should all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-hicks/there-s-this-great-fear-and-i-find-lack-of-knowledge-of-catholicism/) [Catherine Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-hicks/) > [We dont know Gods plan, but we do know were pretty blessed and God expects us to do something with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-hicks/we-dont-know-gods-plan-but-we-do-know-were-pretty-blessed-and-god/) [Catherine Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-hicks/) > [At Cornell, my acting teacher said you cannot be religious and be an artist. I sort of got it, because faith is a comfort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-hicks/at-cornell-my-acting-teacher-said-you-cannot-be-religious-and-be-an/) [Catherine Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-hicks/) > [There's a oneness to showing yourself to an audience. They feel that. It's healthy. That's what acting is all about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-hicks/there-s-a-oneness-to-showing-yourself-to-an-audience-they-feel-that/) [Catherine Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-hicks/) > [Before we took down the tree each year, Dad would always say a prayer that we would be together the next Christmas. I cling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-hicks/before-we-took-down-the-tree-each-year-dad-would-always-say-a-prayer/) [Catherine Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-hicks/) > [I noticed the drama majors on campus when I was at Notre Dame. They just seemed to be freer spirits than the rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-hicks/i-noticed-the-drama-majors-on-campus-when-i-was-at-notre-dame-they/) [Catherine Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-hicks/) > [The image I gravitate towards are spunky women, women who talk back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-hicks/the-image-i-gravitate-towards-are-spunky-women-women-who-talk-back/) [Catherine Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-hicks/) > [One of the reasons you take a role is because it's something you always wanted to do, from going to the movies as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-hicks/one-of-the-reasons-you-take-a-role-is-because-it-s-something-you/) [Catherine Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-hicks/) > [My parents were part of the Christian Family Movement, where we would have Masses said in our home and rotate with other families. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-hicks/my-parents-were-part-of-the-christian-family-movement-where-we-would/) [Catherine Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-hicks/) > [I just think that humans were created to look upward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-hicks/i-just-think-that-humans-were-created-to-look-upward/) [Catherine Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-hicks/) > [I am a Russell Brand fan. I'm one of the few people who think he did a cracker-jack job in 'Arthur.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-hicks/i-am-a-russell-brand-fan-i-m-one-of-the-few-people-who-think-he-did-a/) [Catherine Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-hicks/) > [As an only child, I embrace loneliness. Hollywood loneliness helped to understand Marilyn Monroe in a real way. I was able to portray her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-hicks/as-an-only-child-i-embrace-loneliness-hollywood-loneliness-helped-to/) [Catherine Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-hicks/) > [I'm a happy member of the church. I'm proud of it and defend it. It makes me bold and gives me confidence. I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-hicks/i-m-a-happy-member-of-the-church-i-m-proud-of-it-and-defend-it-it/) [Catherine Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-hicks/) > [People always want you to look pretty. I would like to live in the Midwest in a small town and never put makeup on.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-hicks/people-always-want-you-to-look-pretty-i-would-like-to-live-in-the/) [Catherine Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-hicks/) > [The soul is a muscle, and it needs to be exercised a little every day. Say a morning prayer just to say something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-hicks/the-soul-is-a-muscle-and-it-needs-to-be-exercised-a-little-every-day/) [Catherine Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-hicks/) [Explore all 18 Catherine Hicks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-hicks/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. 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That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' 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It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. 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