--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You have to be selfish to be an actor." description: "\"You have to be selfish to be an actor.\" — Charles Dance" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/567/charles-dance-10952_actor_you-have-to-be-selfish-to-be-an-actor-22_2276240.jpg" --- # You have to be selfish to be an actor. ![“You have to be selfish to be an actor.” quote by Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/567/charles-dance-10952_actor_you-have-to-be-selfish-to-be-an-actor-22_2276240.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/567/charles-dance-10952_actor_you-have-to-be-selfish-to-be-an-actor-22_2276240.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/567/charles-dance-10952_actor_you-have-to-be-selfish-to-be-an-actor-22_2276240.jpg) > “You have to be selfish to be an actor.” [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Actors must prioritize self‑care and personal boundaries to sustain their craft. **In simple terms:** Actors need selfishness to protect their art. Key Takeaway Set clear personal limits. Themes self‑care career boundaries creativity Mood thoughtful pragmatic Type advice motivational When to use this quote - audition prep - role immersion - career planning - mental health - industry networking Key Concepts ego sustainability professionalism Questions to Reflect On - What boundaries protect your creativity? - How can selfishness be balanced with collaboration? A Different Perspective Selfishness can be misinterpreted as narcissism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Selfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish/) [Selfish Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish-actor-5135016/) [Selfishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfishness/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [I'm not a selfish actor. I believe that it's a team effort. You're not in a scene by yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taraji-p-henson/i-m-not-a-selfish-actor-i-believe-that-it-s-a-team-effort-you-re-not/) [Taraji P. Henson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taraji-p-henson/) > [I am a greedy, selfish actor, and for me, my role is important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swara-bhaskar/i-am-a-greedy-selfish-actor-and-for-me-my-role-is-important/) [Swara Bhaskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swara-bhaskar/) > [Spoiling yourself is what you call being selfish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/spoiling-yourself-is-what-you-call-being-selfish/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Be selfless, not selfish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rev-run/be-selfless-not-selfish/) [Rev. Run](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rev-run/) > [I'm not selfish. I just like things my way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-selfish-i-just-like-things-my-way/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Some of our friends are our friends only because we used to be friends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/some-of-our-friends-are-our-friends-only-because-we-used-to-be-friends/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Selfish hedonism is not a pejorative. It is a description - an exactly accurate description of what is involved in homosexual relations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-keyes/selfish-hedonism-is-not-a-pejorative-it-is-a-description-an-exactly/) [Alan Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-keyes/) > [“Selfish act is very tempting but it leaves a permanent dent on your character.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saru-singhal/selfish-act-is-very-tempting-but-it-leaves-a-permanent-dent-on-your/) [Saru Singhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saru-singhal/) > [And is it selfish of me to crave victory, or is it brave?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/and-is-it-selfish-of-me-to-crave-victory-or-is-it-brave/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I will no longer surround myself around selfish people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-will-no-longer-surround-myself-around-selfish-people/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not a selfish guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romelu-lukaku/i-m-not-a-selfish-guy/) [Romelu Lukaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romelu-lukaku/) > [Selfish people make me sick to my stomach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/selfish-people-make-me-sick-to-my-stomach/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THE UNFORGIVEN Tell me if you've ever had to deal with these kinds of people: The kind who take and don't give. The kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/the-unforgiven-tell-me-if-you-ve-ever-had-to-deal-with-these-kinds-of/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [“I now know that deep within the human concept is something dark, selfish, and completely willing to do whatever is necessary to support the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-west/i-now-know-that-deep-within-the-human-concept-is-something-dark/) [Melissa West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-west/) > [“ever day Maureen is Selfish To her friend and Family One she get mad at her friend and family and She need to Grad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-andeson/ever-day-maureen-is-selfish-to-her-friend-and-family-one-she-get-mad/) [Maureen Andeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-andeson/) ## More by Charles Dance > [I was a window dresser for Burton's once. What really put me off was the area manager coming round and saying, Charles, I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/i-was-a-window-dresser-for-burton-s-once-what-really-put-me-off-was/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) > [The quality of writing attracts me to films, also who the other actors are, who the director is, where it's being shot. Any or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/the-quality-of-writing-attracts-me-to-films-also-who-the-other-actors/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) > [You have to attempt to be objective about yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/you-have-to-attempt-to-be-objective-about-yourself/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) > [If you get a bad script, then you start expending energy trying to make a silk purse of a sow's ear. When the script's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/if-you-get-a-bad-script-then-you-start-expending-energy-trying-to/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) > [I phoned this number and said, Please, sir, I want to be an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/i-phoned-this-number-and-said-please-sir-i-want-to-be-an-actor/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) > [Most feature films are 35-40 shooting days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/most-feature-films-are-35-40-shooting-days/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) > [My face lends itself to austere characters, and unless they're two-dimensional, I will do them. Any actor will tell you that an interesting villain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/my-face-lends-itself-to-austere-characters-and-unless-they-re-two/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) > [When you have a label stuck on you, people tend to believe it. If someone calls you suave and debonair, you only get offered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/when-you-have-a-label-stuck-on-you-people-tend-to-believe-it-if/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) > [I would have liked to have worked with Ralph Richardson and Paul Scofield, but they're dead now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/i-would-have-liked-to-have-worked-with-ralph-richardson-and-paul/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) > [If I was to put a little flag in everywhere I've been in the world, there'd be a lot of little flags.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/if-i-was-to-put-a-little-flag-in-everywhere-i-ve-been-in-the-world/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) > [When you get to a certain age, the work begins to thin out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/when-you-get-to-a-certain-age-the-work-begins-to-thin-out/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) > [Actors can't retire. If actors retired, there would be nobody left to play old, wrinkly people. You have to keep going, darling - don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/actors-can-t-retire-if-actors-retired-there-would-be-nobody-left-to/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) > [ Because \[writers\] Dan Weiss and David Benioff have done such a great job in adapting them, that's what we work with. It serves no… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/because-writers-dan-weiss-and-david-benioff-have-done-such-a-great/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) > [There is a huge fan base; they're very knowledgeable and very loyal. I was astonished - before I started working on the series, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/there-is-a-huge-fan-base-they-re-very-knowledgeable-and-very-loyal-i/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) > [We have to take risks in British television. It has to stop playing to the lowest common denominator and patronising people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/we-have-to-take-risks-in-british-television-it-has-to-stop-playing-to/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) [Explore all 62 Charles Dance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) ## 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": "You have to be selfish to be an actor.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charles Dance" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/you-have-to-be-selfish-to-be-an-actor/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/you-have-to-be-selfish-to-be-an-actor/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/567/charles-dance-10952_actor_you-have-to-be-selfish-to-be-an-actor-22_2276240.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/567/charles-dance-10952_actor_you-have-to-be-selfish-to-be-an-actor-22_2276240.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/567/charles-dance-10952_actor_you-have-to-be-selfish-to-be-an-actor-22_2276240.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You have to be selfish to be an actor.” — Charles Dance", "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": "Charles Dance", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You have to be selfish to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/you-have-to-be-selfish-to-be-an-actor/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/you-have-to-be-selfish-to-be-an-actor/#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 } } ] } ```