--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is the writer’s job to make the play…" description: "\"It is the writer’s job to make the play interesting. It is the actor’s job to make the performance truthful.\" — David Mamet" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72f/david-mamet-1178_actor_it-is-the-writer-s-job-to-make-the-play_2900794.jpg" --- # It is the writer’s job to make the play interesting. It is… ![“It is the writer’s job to make the play interesting. It is the actor’s job to make the performance truthful.” quote by David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72f/david-mamet-1178_actor_it-is-the-writer-s-job-to-make-the-play_2900794.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72f/david-mamet-1178_actor_it-is-the-writer-s-job-to-make-the-play_2900794.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72f/david-mamet-1178_actor_it-is-the-writer-s-job-to-make-the-play_2900794.jpg) > “It is the writer’s job to make the play interesting. It is the actor’s job to make the performance truthful.” [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Distinguishes writer’s role to engage and actor’s role to convey truth **In simple terms:** Writers craft intrigue; actors deliver authenticity Key Takeaway Separate creation from performance Themes craft authenticity collaboration Mood instructive practical Type theatrical educational When to use this quote - rehearsals - script development - casting Key Concepts Theatre method acting Questions to Reflect On - How can writers support actors without dictating truth? - What does “truthful” mean on stage? A Different Perspective May blur lines between roles ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Performances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performances/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Truthful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truthful/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [If people know too much about you, I think you become a little less interesting as an actor - your job is to fool…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonny-lee-miller/if-people-know-too-much-about-you-i-think-you-become-a-little-less/) [Jonny Lee Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonny-lee-miller/) > [It's not the actor's job to be interesting; that's the script's job. It's our job to be truthful and brave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-goth/it-s-not-the-actor-s-job-to-be-interesting-that-s-the-script-s-job-it/) [Mia Goth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-goth/) > [Usually bad guys are much more fun to play and much more interesting to watch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gilpin/usually-bad-guys-are-much-more-fun-to-play-and-much-more-interesting/) John Gilpin > [I mean I don't think it got me interested in acting. I think it might be what makes it so that I can have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sarsgaard/i-mean-i-don-t-think-it-got-me-interested-in-acting-i-think-it-might/) [Peter Sarsgaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sarsgaard/) > [My job is that of an actor. 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In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-irons/i-certainly-play-people-on-the-edge-quite-a-lot-i-am-interested-in/) [Jeremy Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-irons/) > [My goal is to always play interesting and very odd women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-bell/my-goal-is-to-always-play-interesting-and-very-odd-women/) [Jillian Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-bell/) > [The game I play is a very interesting one. It's imagination, in a tight straightjacket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/the-game-i-play-is-a-very-interesting-one-it-s-imagination-in-a-tight/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [I aspire to play interesting characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-kapoor/i-aspire-to-play-interesting-characters/) [Arjun Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-kapoor/) > [Now I am an old hag, I get to play much more interesting characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-greenwood/now-i-am-an-old-hag-i-get-to-play-much-more-interesting-characters/) Joan Greenwood > [I don't play villains, I play very interesting people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/i-don-t-play-villains-i-play-very-interesting-people/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [Characters that are not the norm or a bit out of the ordinary are always a challenge as an actress. You learn more by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-hawkins/characters-that-are-not-the-norm-or-a-bit-out-of-the-ordinary-are/) [Sally Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-hawkins/) > [I wish I could speak Spanish, because it would be a lot easier to play more interesting roles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-alba/i-wish-i-could-speak-spanish-because-it-would-be-a-lot-easier-to-play/) [Jessica Alba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-alba/) > [I want to play interesting women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-weisz/i-want-to-play-interesting-women/) [Rachel Weisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-weisz/) ## More by David Mamet > [If, indeed, a firearm were more dangerous to its possessors than to potential aggressors, would it not make sense for the government to arm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/if-indeed-a-firearm-were-more-dangerous-to-its-possessors-than-to/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [Culture exists and evolves to relegate to habit categories of interactions the constant conscious reference to which would make human interaction impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/culture-exists-and-evolves-to-relegate-to-habit-categories-of/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [When I started out I was a failed actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/when-i-started-out-i-was-a-failed-actor/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [We must have a pie. 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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! 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