---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you really get it right in acting…"
description: "\"When you really get it right in acting, it's an act of empathy. You feel less distant from others, and that is really exciting.\" — Claire Danes"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f82/claire-danes-2119_act_when-you-really-get-it-right-in-acting-i_686027.jpg"
---

#  When you really get it right in acting, it's an act of…

![“When you really get it right in acting, it's an act of empathy. You feel less distant from others, and that is really exciting.” quote by Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f82/claire-danes-2119_act_when-you-really-get-it-right-in-acting-i_686027.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f82/claire-danes-2119_act_when-you-really-get-it-right-in-acting-i_686027.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f82/claire-danes-2119_act_when-you-really-get-it-right-in-acting-i_686027.jpg)

> “When you really get it right in acting, it's an act of empathy. You feel less distant from others, and that is really exciting.”

[Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

True acting requires deep empathy, allowing the performer to connect emotionally with others, which is exhilarating.

**In simple terms:** Good acting is empathy that excites.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate empathy to improve performance.

Themes

acting empathy connection

Mood

inspirational thoughtful

Type

performing arts psychology

When to use this quote

- theatre rehearsals
- film sets
- improvisation classes

Key Concepts

method acting emotional intelligence

Questions to Reflect On

- How does empathy enhance character depth?
- What risks arise from over‑identifying with roles?

A Different Perspective

Empathy may blur personal boundaries.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Empathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empathy/)

## Related quotes

> [I like reading novels because it provides insight into human behavior. I am really interested in feelings and think they are what define us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-like-reading-novels-because-it-provides-insight-into-human-behavior-2/)

[Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/)

> [I always feel that life can teach you how to act. I'm always looking at life through other people's eyes. By feeling empathy. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cara-delevingne/i-always-feel-that-life-can-teach-you-how-to-act-i-m-always-looking/)

[Cara Delevingne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cara-delevingne/)

> [These days with our economy changing so much, there's not as much TV being made and there's a lot more reality these days, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffani-thiessen/these-days-with-our-economy-changing-so-much-there-s-not-as-much-tv/)

[Tiffani Thiessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffani-thiessen/)

> [There is no right in acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-langella/there-is-no-right-in-acting/)

[Frank Langella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-langella/)

> [Acting is about listening and reacting. John Wayne was right: Acting is just reacting. You don't have to do much - as long as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/acting-is-about-listening-and-reacting-john-wayne-was-right-acting-is/)

[Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/)

> [I always like it when writers posit writing as an act of empathy. It's such a grand turn of phrase, such a noble ideal;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumaan-alam/i-always-like-it-when-writers-posit-writing-as-an-act-of-empathy-it-s/)

[Rumaan Alam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumaan-alam/)

> [Writing is an act of empathy. You are occupying and understanding a point of view that might be alien to your own--and work is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-percy/writing-is-an-act-of-empathy-you-are-occupying-and-understanding-a/)

[Benjamin Percy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-percy/)

> [“This paying attention is the foundational act of empathy, of listening, of seeing, of imagining experiences other than one's own, of getting out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/this-paying-attention-is-the-foundational-act-of-empathy-of-listening/)

[Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/)

> [“writing is a sustained act of empathy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-dubois/writing-is-a-sustained-act-of-empathy/)

Andre Dubois

> [“Any act of writing is an act of empathy: you try to imagine yourself into another person’s mind and skin. I tried to ask…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/any-act-of-writing-is-an-act-of-empathy-you-try-to-imagine-yourself/)

[Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/)

> [I cry a lot when I feel empathy. I can feel heartbroken by life, and I cry quite easily, sometimes for no reason. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bat-for-lashes/i-cry-a-lot-when-i-feel-empathy-i-can-feel-heartbroken-by-life-and-i/)

[Bat for Lashes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bat-for-lashes/)

> [“I have seen people at their worst, at their most desperate and selfish, and this knowledge makes me wary. So I’m learning to pretend,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-baker-kline/i-have-seen-people-at-their-worst-at-their-most-desperate-and-selfish/)

[Christina Baker Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-baker-kline/)

> [I don't believe in empathy because I can't feel what another person is feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/i-don-t-believe-in-empathy-because-i-can-t-feel-what-another-person/)

[Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/)

> [“So I am learning to pretend, to smile and nod, to display empathy I do not feel. I am learning to pass, to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-baker-kline/so-i-am-learning-to-pretend-to-smile-and-nod-to-display-empathy-i-do/)

[Christina Baker Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-baker-kline/)

> [“any community or family discussion, those who are the first to introduce concern for empathy feel powerless, and are trying to use the togetherness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-h-friedman-2/any-community-or-family-discussion-those-who-are-the-first-to/)

[Edwin H Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-h-friedman-2/)

## More by Claire Danes

> [My character was kidnapped by the Terminator and I was kidnapped by the Terminator production.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/my-character-was-kidnapped-by-the-terminator-and-i-was-kidnapped-by/)

[Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/)

> [I think it's important to never play 'crazy' - you have to know what kind of crazy you're playing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-think-it-s-important-to-never-play-crazy-you-have-to-know-what-kind/)

[Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/)

> [I hadn't been free from adult responsibilities since I was 12, and I needed to experience that. I really needed to just be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-hadn-t-been-free-from-adult-responsibilities-since-i-was-12-and-i/)

[Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/)

> [Counterterrorism isn't really about the nunchakus, the guns and gadgets. It's about psychology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/counterterrorism-isn-t-really-about-the-nunchakus-the-guns-and/)

[Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/)

> [Growing up in New York with artist parents - a very liberal environment, where we were always encouraged to challenge the status quo -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/growing-up-in-new-york-with-artist-parents-a-very-liberal-environment/)

[Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/)

> [I was told that going to college wouldn't be good for my career, but I think that's nonsense. It's good to empower yourself by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-was-told-that-going-to-college-wouldn-t-be-good-for-my-career-but-i/)

[Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/)

> [I exercise more for mental relaxation than anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-exercise-more-for-mental-relaxation-than-anything-else/)

[Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/)

> [I could truly have gone through life thinking that women were these venomous creatures. Turns out, they're not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-could-truly-have-gone-through-life-thinking-that-women-were-these/)

[Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/)

> [I do feel like I've gotten younger as I've aged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-do-feel-like-i-ve-gotten-younger-as-i-ve-aged/)

[Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/)

> [Voice over can be tricky. It can be dangerous because it's over-used or inappropriately used.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/voice-over-can-be-tricky-it-can-be-dangerous-because-it-s-over-used/)

[Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/)

> [I think people who make movies and have invested a lot of money in them get frightened that if they challenge an audience they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-think-people-who-make-movies-and-have-invested-a-lot-of-money-in/)

[Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/)

> [I was a pretty nerdy kid. I was pretty nerdy. I'm still kind of nerdy. I have all of the worst qualities of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-was-a-pretty-nerdy-kid-i-was-pretty-nerdy-i-m-still-kind-of-nerdy-i/)

[Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/)

> [I care about being formally physically attractive in my life, and I think that I am quite vain about my performance. I'm just not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-care-about-being-formally-physically-attractive-in-my-life-and-i/)

[Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/)

> [When I was younger, like 14...I was desperate to find that 'true love' experience, but really, if you have to ask yourself if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/when-i-was-younger-like-14-i-was-desperate-to-find-that-true-love/)

[Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/)

> [However, I'm at a very comfortable place in my career and celebrity, in that I don't have to audition as extensively as I used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/however-i-m-at-a-very-comfortable-place-in-my-career-and-celebrity-in/)

[Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/)

[Explore all 185 Claire Danes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/)

## More Act quotes

> [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/)

> [Teachers' unions don't act in the interest of most teachers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sal-khan/teachers-unions-don-t-act-in-the-interest-of-most-teachers/)

[Sal Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sal-khan/)

> [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [People take years learning how to act; it's a skill, not just a job. If I tried it out and thought I'd be OK,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-fimmel/people-take-years-learning-how-to-act-it-s-a-skill-not-just-a-job-if/)

[Travis Fimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-fimmel/)

> [Self-discipline is an act of cultivation. It require you to connect today's actions to tomorrow's results. There's a season for sowing a season for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ryan-blair/self-discipline-is-an-act-of-cultivation-it-require-you-to-connect/)

[Gary Ryan Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ryan-blair/)

> [“Don’t turn your face away. Once you’ve seen, you can no longer act like you don’t know. Open your eyes to the truth. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vashti-quiroz-vega/don-t-turn-your-face-away-once-you-ve-seen-you-can-no-longer-act-like/)

Vashti Quiroz-Vega

> [I always advise people not to act upon the advice that I give them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/i-always-advise-people-not-to-act-upon-the-advice-that-i-give-them/)

[Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/)

> [I have no interest in watching myself act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wesley/i-have-no-interest-in-watching-myself-act/)

[Paul Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wesley/)

> [“Don't wait, just sweat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/don-t-wait-just-sweat/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [I do believe some people can naturally act and don't know it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-arnold/i-do-believe-some-people-can-naturally-act-and-don-t-know-it/)

[Andrea Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-arnold/)

> [Regardless of what I do, whether I write a book or whether I act or whether I host, I'll always do stand-up comedy because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-mandel/regardless-of-what-i-do-whether-i-write-a-book-or-whether-i-act-or/)

[Howie Mandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-mandel/)

> [On 'Workaholics,' I feel like I'm just hanging out with my buddies being filmed, but on 'Mindy,' I'm around professional funny people who act.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anders-holm/on-workaholics-i-feel-like-i-m-just-hanging-out-with-my-buddies-being/)

[Anders Holm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anders-holm/)

> [I'm not an artist, and I want to take risks, and when the possibility of failure occurs, it's because the idea is all exciting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/i-m-not-an-artist-and-i-want-to-take-risks-and-when-the-possibility/)

[Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/)

> [I don't have a huge amount of gear, but on the software side, I have a number of plug-in chains that act as abstracted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hopkins/i-don-t-have-a-huge-amount-of-gear-but-on-the-software-side-i-have-a/)

[Jon Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hopkins/)

> [I honestly didn't know that I wanted to act until I was probably 12.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-rae-mayo/i-honestly-didn-t-know-that-i-wanted-to-act-until-i-was-probably-12/)

[Miranda Rae Mayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-rae-mayo/)

Browse all 1,802 Act quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "When you really get it right in acting, it's an act of empathy. You feel less distant from others, and that is really exciting.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Claire Danes"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/when-you-really-get-it-right-in-acting-it-s-an-act-of-empathy-you/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Act"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/when-you-really-get-it-right-in-acting-it-s-an-act-of-empathy-you/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f82/claire-danes-2119_act_when-you-really-get-it-right-in-acting-i_686027.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f82/claire-danes-2119_act_when-you-really-get-it-right-in-acting-i_686027.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f82/claire-danes-2119_act_when-you-really-get-it-right-in-acting-i_686027.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When you really get it right in acting, it's an act of empathy. You feel less distant from others, and that…” — Claire Danes",
                "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": "Claire Danes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "When you really get it right...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/when-you-really-get-it-right-in-acting-it-s-an-act-of-empathy-you/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/when-you-really-get-it-right-in-acting-it-s-an-act-of-empathy-you/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```