--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't pretend to be anything but an…" description: "\"I don't pretend to be anything but an actor and a writer.\" — Dan Futterman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/274/dan-futterman-46175_actor_i-don-t-pretend-to-be-anything-but-an-ac_1764587.jpg" --- # I don't pretend to be anything but an actor and a writer. ![“I don't pretend to be anything but an actor and a writer.” quote by Dan Futterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/274/dan-futterman-46175_actor_i-don-t-pretend-to-be-anything-but-an-ac_1764587.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/274/dan-futterman-46175_actor_i-don-t-pretend-to-be-anything-but-an-ac_1764587.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/274/dan-futterman-46175_actor_i-don-t-pretend-to-be-anything-but-an-ac_1764587.jpg) > “I don't pretend to be anything but an actor and a writer.” [Dan Futterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-futterman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An actor‑writer embraces authenticity, acknowledging his true professional identity. **In simple terms:** Be true to your craft. Key Takeaway Own your artistic identity openly. Themes authenticity creativity identity career Mood honest thoughtful Type personal professional When to use this quote - theatre - screenwriting - teaching acting Key Concepts self‑concept artistic integrity dual roles Questions to Reflect On - How does juggling roles enrich your work? - What boundaries keep you grounded? A Different Perspective Some may view dual roles as lacking focus. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actor Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-writer-330822/) [Anything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anything/) [Don Pretend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-pretend-299949/) [Pretend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretend/) [Pretend Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretend-actor-1723937/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I don't know what else I could do but pretend to be an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alec-guinness/i-don-t-know-what-else-i-could-do-but-pretend-to-be-an-actor/) [Alec Guinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alec-guinness/) > [I'm just myself, I don't pretend otherwise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hakim-ziyech/i-m-just-myself-i-don-t-pretend-otherwise/) [Hakim Ziyech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hakim-ziyech/) > [Don't pretend to be something you're not, because one day you're going to be in a situation where you won't know how to act...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emaliebaby/don-t-pretend-to-be-something-you-re-not-because-one-day-you-re-going/) [Emaliebaby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emaliebaby/) > [I don't pretend reality is the same for everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-setterfield/i-don-t-pretend-reality-is-the-same-for-everyone/) [Diane Setterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-setterfield/) > [Don't pretend to like me if you don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryaj-ablando-catayas/don-t-pretend-to-like-me-if-you-don-t/) [Ryaj Ablando Catayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryaj-ablando-catayas/) > [If you don't like me, don't pretend like you do. Thanks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike/if-you-don-t-like-me-don-t-pretend-like-you-do-thanks/) [Mike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike/) > [I don't pretend I know everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-abramson/i-don-t-pretend-i-know-everything/) [Jill Abramson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-abramson/) > [Don't pretend to know me when I don't even know myself...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-hernandez/don-t-pretend-to-know-me-when-i-don-t-even-know-myself/) [Paula Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-hernandez/) > [We don't pretend to disagree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-siskel/we-don-t-pretend-to-disagree/) [Gene Siskel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-siskel/) > [I like to be myself, and I don't pretend. For instance, I don't dress up for occasions; I am what I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virat-kohli/i-like-to-be-myself-and-i-don-t-pretend-for-instance-i-don-t-dress-up/) [Virat Kohli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virat-kohli/) > [My parents completely supported mine and my brother's career choices - I'm an actor, he's a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-front/my-parents-completely-supported-mine-and-my-brother-s-career-choices/) [Rebecca Front](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-front/) > [I don't pretend to be anybody else but me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-balvin/i-don-t-pretend-to-be-anybody-else-but-me/) [J Balvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-balvin/) > [I don't pretend to anything more than harmony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoly-karpov/i-don-t-pretend-to-anything-more-than-harmony/) [Anatoly Karpov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoly-karpov/) > [We don't have to pretend to be something that we're not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/we-don-t-have-to-pretend-to-be-something-that-we-re-not/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) > [“Pretend to the rest of the world, Mia. I understand your need to do that. But don't pretend with me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-towle/pretend-to-the-rest-of-the-world-mia-i-understand-your-need-to-do/) [Samantha Towle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-towle/) ## More by Dan Futterman > [Once you start working with a particular actor, that actor becomes very present in your mind as your mind as you're writing subsequent episodes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-futterman/once-you-start-working-with-a-particular-actor-that-actor-becomes/) [Dan Futterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-futterman/) > [Does 'Shooting Fish' have less artistic merit than a play like 'Angels In America,' which I did? Well, probably. But it's good for something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-futterman/does-shooting-fish-have-less-artistic-merit-than-a-play-like-angels/) [Dan Futterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-futterman/) > [We are breaking new ground in the territory of dumb with 'Shooting Fish.' Dumb, but in good taste. Silly, but not ridiculous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-futterman/we-are-breaking-new-ground-in-the-territory-of-dumb-with-shooting/) [Dan Futterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-futterman/) > [I loved being in Bombay. It was a pretty thrilling place to walk around and explore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-futterman/i-loved-being-in-bombay-it-was-a-pretty-thrilling-place-to-walk/) [Dan Futterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-futterman/) > [I think I'm kind of attracted to the material more than the medium. I'm not opposed to doing a television show, though. I actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-futterman/i-think-i-m-kind-of-attracted-to-the-material-more-than-the-medium-i/) [Dan Futterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-futterman/) > [With a play, there's more of a definable arc because of the nature of theater: You know, there's no editing, so there's something more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-futterman/with-a-play-there-s-more-of-a-definable-arc-because-of-the-nature-of/) [Dan Futterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-futterman/) > [I was raised Jewish and bar mitzvahed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-futterman/i-was-raised-jewish-and-bar-mitzvahed/) [Dan Futterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-futterman/) [Explore all 8 Dan Futterman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-futterman/) ## 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": "I don't pretend to be anything but an actor and a writer.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dan Futterman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-futterman/i-don-t-pretend-to-be-anything-but-an-actor-and-a-writer/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-futterman/i-don-t-pretend-to-be-anything-but-an-actor-and-a-writer/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/274/dan-futterman-46175_actor_i-don-t-pretend-to-be-anything-but-an-ac_1764587.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/274/dan-futterman-46175_actor_i-don-t-pretend-to-be-anything-but-an-ac_1764587.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/274/dan-futterman-46175_actor_i-don-t-pretend-to-be-anything-but-an-ac_1764587.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't pretend to be anything but an actor and a writer.” — Dan Futterman", "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": "Dan Futterman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-futterman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't pretend to be anything...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-futterman/i-don-t-pretend-to-be-anything-but-an-actor-and-a-writer/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-futterman/i-don-t-pretend-to-be-anything-but-an-actor-and-a-writer/#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 } } ] } ```