--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I like actors - I used to be one." description: "\"I like actors - I used to be one.\" — Charlie Kaufman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c6/charlie-kaufman-2409_actors_i-like-actors-i-used-to-be-one-1127288_1127288.jpg" --- # I like actors - I used to be one. ![“I like actors - I used to be one.” quote by Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c6/charlie-kaufman-2409_actors_i-like-actors-i-used-to-be-one-1127288_1127288.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c6/charlie-kaufman-2409_actors_i-like-actors-i-used-to-be-one-1127288_1127288.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c6/charlie-kaufman-2409_actors_i-like-actors-i-used-to-be-one-1127288_1127288.jpg) > “I like actors - I used to be one.” [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He reflects on his past as an actor while now working behind the scenes. **In simple terms:** He used to act, now he writes. Key Takeaway Embrace career evolution. Themes identity career art selfreflection Mood reflective nostalgic Type personal artistic When to use this quote - acting - screenwriting - career change - creative industries Key Concepts selfawareness roletransition Questions to Reflect On - How does past experience shape current work? - What value does acting bring to writing? A Different Perspective May overlook ongoing acting skills. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Actors Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors-used-465360/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Like Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-actors/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) ## Related quotes > [I have a background in theater, so I have experience with actors. I like actors - I used to be one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/i-have-a-background-in-theater-so-i-have-experience-with-actors-i/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) > [Personally, I like all actors who are mysterious and don't have social media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karan-soni/personally-i-like-all-actors-who-are-mysterious-and-don-t-have-social/) [Karan Soni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karan-soni/) > [People have a different idea of how movies are made than they really are. On a certain level, everyone throws ideas into the hopper.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/people-have-a-different-idea-of-how-movies-are-made-than-they-really/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [British actors used to be scared of the multi-year options that U.S. TV shows demand. That has changed, because the same is now happening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-bamber/british-actors-used-to-be-scared-of-the-multi-year-options-that-u-s/) [Jamie Bamber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-bamber/) > [Acting is not a genteel profession. Actors used to be buried at a crossroads with a stake through the heart. Those people's performances so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/acting-is-not-a-genteel-profession-actors-used-to-be-buried-at-a/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [Actors like Pran Sahab, Jagdeep, Asrani established their identities by doing specialized roles but today acting is more general. Actors used to be image…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raza-murad/actors-like-pran-sahab-jagdeep-asrani-established-their-identities-by/) [Raza Murad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raza-murad/) > [Where I think the American actor is slightly at a disadvantage is in vocal technique. I don't think that words are their friend in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-margolyes/where-i-think-the-american-actor-is-slightly-at-a-disadvantage-is-in/) [Miriam Margolyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-margolyes/) > [He wouldn't talk to me for two months. I was like, 'What an ass\*\*le.' Actors are used to getting their way and to treating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lopez/he-wouldn-t-talk-to-me-for-two-months-i-was-like-what-an-ass-le/) [Jennifer Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lopez/) > [Actors used to concentrate on acting, but today they are businessmen, too, and think about the numbers game as well. They multi-task very well.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/actors-used-to-concentrate-on-acting-but-today-they-are-businessmen/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [Actors used to carry films because people would have to actually go to the movies to see them. It was the only place. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-mendes/actors-used-to-carry-films-because-people-would-have-to-actually-go/) [Eva Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-mendes/) > [I am pretty sure that all young human beings have, at one time or another in their growing-up, been actors. They have used their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyne-daly/i-am-pretty-sure-that-all-young-human-beings-have-at-one-time-or/) [Tyne Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyne-daly/) > [Actors are used to staring at the walls waiting for the phone to ring. It's not unchartered territory for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-bonnar/actors-are-used-to-staring-at-the-walls-waiting-for-the-phone-to-ring/) [Mark Bonnar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-bonnar/) > [When I started studying acting, I was enamoured of actors who used movement to enhance the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-berkoff/when-i-started-studying-acting-i-was-enamoured-of-actors-who-used/) [Steven Berkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-berkoff/) > [Maybe the actors that used to turn down William Goldman's scripts - where he wanted them to stretch and grow, and he was mad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-grant/maybe-the-actors-that-used-to-turn-down-william-goldman-s-scripts/) [Beth Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-grant/) > [Every single time when you act in a film, and there's a different director, which of course as actors we're used to experiencing that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/famke-janssen/every-single-time-when-you-act-in-a-film-and-there-s-a-different/) [Famke Janssen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/famke-janssen/) ## More by Charlie Kaufman > [I think if something resonates, even if it's surreal, it's because it is relatable and I think that that's a core issue for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/i-think-if-something-resonates-even-if-it-s-surreal-it-s-because-it/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) > [And then to see the whole movie, you're pretty much waiting until the end of production. And the major lifting in terms of editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/and-then-to-see-the-whole-movie-you-re-pretty-much-waiting-until-the/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) > [Seriously, I don't consider myself a writer. I don't think I have writing talent. But I will continue to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/seriously-i-don-t-consider-myself-a-writer-i-don-t-think-i-have/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) > [I spend a lot of time in preproduction working with authors, and a lot of time in postproduction.: editing, music, all that sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/i-spend-a-lot-of-time-in-preproduction-working-with-authors-and-a-lot/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) > [There's a point I can get to where I start writing character and then through the dialogue, after all of this preparation, the thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/there-s-a-point-i-can-get-to-where-i-start-writing-character-and-then/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) > [Sand is overrated. It's just tiny little rocks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/sand-is-overrated-it-s-just-tiny-little-rocks/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) > [Directing is a more pragmatic experience, where you have to deal with the restrictions of time and money that force you to make certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/directing-is-a-more-pragmatic-experience-where-you-have-to-deal-with/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) > [I feel like I want to keep moving toward idiosyncracy. Personal, personal, personal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/i-feel-like-i-want-to-keep-moving-toward-idiosyncracy-personal/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) > [I actually think I'm probably more interested in structure than most people who write screenplays, because I think about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/i-actually-think-i-m-probably-more-interested-in-structure-than-most/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) > [Yeah, once we decided to use that replacement animation, and the seams are a function of that animation, and other movies paint those out,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/yeah-once-we-decided-to-use-that-replacement-animation-and-the-seams/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) > [I just try to be honest, because I think that's part of my job description as a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/i-just-try-to-be-honest-because-i-think-that-s-part-of-my-job/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) > [I love working with actors. I love visual things. I always intended to be a writer who directs and a director who writes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/i-love-working-with-actors-i-love-visual-things-i-always-intended-to/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) > [“Why didn't I go in? I'm such a chicken. I'm such an idiot. I should have kissed her. I've blown it. I should just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/why-didn-t-i-go-in-i-m-such-a-chicken-i-m-such-an-idiot-i-should-have/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) > [I try when I'm writing to leave enough "space" for people to have their own interpretation, and not to direct it toward one conclusion.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/i-try-when-i-m-writing-to-leave-enough-space-for-people-to-have-their/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) > [I don't have a style. I wouldn't say I have a style as a writer, either. I know people have said "This is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/i-don-t-have-a-style-i-wouldn-t-say-i-have-a-style-as-a-writer-either/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) [Explore all 168 Charlie Kaufman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) ## 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 like actors - I used to be one.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charlie Kaufman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/i-like-actors-i-used-to-be-one/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actors" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/i-like-actors-i-used-to-be-one/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c6/charlie-kaufman-2409_actors_i-like-actors-i-used-to-be-one-1127288_1127288.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c6/charlie-kaufman-2409_actors_i-like-actors-i-used-to-be-one-1127288_1127288.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c6/charlie-kaufman-2409_actors_i-like-actors-i-used-to-be-one-1127288_1127288.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I like actors - I used to be one.” — Charlie Kaufman", "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": "Charlie Kaufman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I like actors - I used...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/i-like-actors-i-used-to-be-one/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/i-like-actors-i-used-to-be-one/#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 } } ] } ```