--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Actors - we're selfish, but we can't…" description: "\"Actors - we're selfish, but we can't think about the work in that kind of selfish manner. I think that you have to step away from yourself, if you're g..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab8/charlize-theron-1430_actors_actors-we-re-selfish-but-we-can-t-think_1804764.jpg" --- # Actors - we're selfish, but we can't think about the work… ![“Actors - we're selfish, but we can't think about the work in that kind of selfish manner. I think that you have to step away from yourself, if you're going to do it. Otherwise don't do it; otherwise why do it?” quote by Charlize Theron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab8/charlize-theron-1430_actors_actors-we-re-selfish-but-we-can-t-think_1804764.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab8/charlize-theron-1430_actors_actors-we-re-selfish-but-we-can-t-think_1804764.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab8/charlize-theron-1430_actors_actors-we-re-selfish-but-we-can-t-think_1804764.jpg) > “Actors - we're selfish, but we can't think about the work in that kind of selfish manner. I think that you have to step away from yourself, if you're going to do it. Otherwise don't do it; otherwise why do it?” [Charlize Theron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlize-theron/) ## 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 detach personal ego to serve the craft, focusing on the work rather than self‑interest. **In simple terms:** Put the art before yourself. Key Takeaway Step back, prioritize the work. Themes selflessness craft ego discipline Mood reflective serious Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - film set - theatre rehearsal - creative collaboration Key Concepts artistic integrity empathy professionalism Questions to Reflect On - How can you recognize ego in your process? - What practices keep you focused on the work? A Different Perspective Self‑interest can still influence decisions despite intention. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Actors Selfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors-selfish-2063034/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Kind Selfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind-selfish-629889/) [Selfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish/) [Selfish Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish-man/) [Selfish Manner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish-manner-2063035/) [Selfish men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish-men/) [Selfish Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish-think-307378/) [Selfishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfishness/) [Steps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/steps/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [It occurred to me that actors are selfish, and they think that the world revolves around them. For one year, I quit, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-sarbh/it-occurred-to-me-that-actors-are-selfish-and-they-think-that-the/) [Jim Sarbh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-sarbh/) > [No man is more cheated than the selfish man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/no-man-is-more-cheated-than-the-selfish-man/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Neither fear nor self-interest can convert the soul. They may change the appearance, perhaps even the conduct, but never the object of supreme desire...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/neither-fear-nor-self-interest-can-convert-the-soul-they-may-change/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To love is to value. 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Do not waste your tears. You made your decision. And this is mine. Sacrifice seems to be my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-de-la-cruz/do-not-cry-for-me-azrael-do-not-waste-your-tears-you-made-your/) [Melissa de la Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-de-la-cruz/) > [The selfish man cuts away the sand from under his own feet, he digs his own grave; and every time, from the beginning of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-henry-fowler/the-selfish-man-cuts-away-the-sand-from-under-his-own-feet-he-digs/) [Charles Henry Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-henry-fowler/) > [Remember that the best and greatest among mankind are those who do themselves no worldly good. Every successful man is more or less a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/remember-that-the-best-and-greatest-among-mankind-are-those-who-do/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [As actors, we are selfish. When listening to a story, we think of the significance of our character in that story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neha-sharma/as-actors-we-are-selfish-when-listening-to-a-story-we-think-of-the/) [Neha Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neha-sharma/) > [Why do you think people cheat?," I asked. "Because they're bored? Because they can? Because they're selfish and think they're entitled to anything they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mlynowski/why-do-you-think-people-cheat-i-asked-because-they-re-bored-because/) [Sarah Mlynowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mlynowski/) > [“That's not love. That's not how love is supposed to feel. But there is someone out there who will show me what real, honest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-collins/that-s-not-love-that-s-not-how-love-is-supposed-to-feel-but-there-is/) [Lily Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-collins/) > [My friends are so fucking selfish. They think of no one but themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-friends-are-so-fucking-selfish-they-think-of-no-one-but-themselves/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Charlize Theron > [I have been working a lot, and I like it. And you know, it's hard for me not to. I guess I've been working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlize-theron/i-have-been-working-a-lot-and-i-like-it-and-you-know-it-s-hard-for-me/) [Charlize Theron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlize-theron/) > [I met a woman in Albuquerque and she came and hung out with me in the trailer. It was really just more to kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlize-theron/i-met-a-woman-in-albuquerque-and-she-came-and-hung-out-with-me-in-the/) [Charlize Theron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlize-theron/) > [ I love the idea of longevity in this career. 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It may get you in the door, but there’s always somebody younger, somebody prettier. You have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlize-theron/looks-alone-won-t-get-you-that-far-it-may-get-you-in-the-door-but/) [Charlize Theron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlize-theron/) > [I hate actors who come and quote Nietzsche.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlize-theron/i-hate-actors-who-come-and-quote-nietzsche/) [Charlize Theron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlize-theron/) > [Of course you want your son, your children, to be proud of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlize-theron/of-course-you-want-your-son-your-children-to-be-proud-of-you/) [Charlize Theron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlize-theron/) > [I don't really watch a lot of television, and I would watch mindless, mindless television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlize-theron/i-don-t-really-watch-a-lot-of-television-and-i-would-watch-mindless/) [Charlize Theron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlize-theron/) > [My thoughts and love go out to the Mandela family. 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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. 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