--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I certainly don't feel there's a…" description: "\"I certainly don't feel there's a distinction to be made between a television and a film actor. I think there's a distinction between great actors and n..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/387/david-oyelowo-7952_actors_i-certainly-don-t-feel-there-s-a-distinc_2189479.jpg" --- # I certainly don't feel there's a distinction to be made… ![“I certainly don't feel there's a distinction to be made between a television and a film actor. I think there's a distinction between great actors and not so great actors. But I really think if you watch a person working in television give a wonderful performance, that person is f - ing great…” quote by David Oyelowo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/387/david-oyelowo-7952_actors_i-certainly-don-t-feel-there-s-a-distinc_2189479.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/387/david-oyelowo-7952_actors_i-certainly-don-t-feel-there-s-a-distinc_2189479.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/387/david-oyelowo-7952_actors_i-certainly-don-t-feel-there-s-a-distinc_2189479.jpg) > “I certainly don't feel there's a distinction to be made between a television and a film actor. I think there's a distinction between great actors and not so great actors. But I really think if you watch a person working in television give a wonderful performance, that person is f - ing great, because there is no time.” [David Oyelowo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-oyelowo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues that the medium (TV vs film) matters less than the actor’s skill; great talent shines regardless of format. **In simple terms:** Great actors excel in any medium. Key Takeaway Focus on honing craft, not medium. Themes acting medium skill talent industry quality Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - Television series - independent films - live theater - streaming platforms Key Concepts Performance theory Medium theory Talent development Questions to Reflect On - Do you think TV offers more creative freedom? - How do you assess an actor’s greatness? A Different Perspective Budget constraints can limit performance depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Distinction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distinction/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Film actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film-actors/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Great actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-actors/) [Performances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performances/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Wonderful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonderful/) ## Related quotes > [I think a lot of theater actors that were great, like Walken or Glenn Close, later became film actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rockwell/i-think-a-lot-of-theater-actors-that-were-great-like-walken-or-glenn/) [Sam Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rockwell/) > [Who could have asked for anything better? I was cast in movies with great actors, with great leading men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-adams/who-could-have-asked-for-anything-better-i-was-cast-in-movies-with/) Julie Adams > [I always looked up to great actors and great films. A lot of my family would be like, 'Come on, you should get into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-latimore/i-always-looked-up-to-great-actors-and-great-films-a-lot-of-my-family/) [Jacob Latimore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-latimore/) > [You can start with a great director and great actors and have a great script - and it still just doesn't work. It's kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-affleck/you-can-start-with-a-great-director-and-great-actors-and-have-a-great/) [Casey Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-affleck/) > [There are some actors that are great stars and storytellers, but not necessarily good actors. I'm talking about some - not all - of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-ridley/there-are-some-actors-that-are-great-stars-and-storytellers-but-not/) [Philip Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-ridley/) > [We're lucky enough, especially in these 'Madagascar' films, to be working with some of the best people in the industry, who are not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-darnell/we-re-lucky-enough-especially-in-these-madagascar-films-to-be-working/) Eric Darnell > [I always say that, if you have great actors and great storytelling and great monsters, and you mix them together, nine times out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-nicotero/i-always-say-that-if-you-have-great-actors-and-great-storytelling-and/) [Gregory Nicotero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-nicotero/) > [I get to play a great character while working with great actors and great directors on a great show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-hamlin/i-get-to-play-a-great-character-while-working-with-great-actors-and/) [Harry Hamlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-hamlin/) > [To me, when - just like when you watch a movie or you watch a TV show, to me, you know, Nicole Kidman or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lana/to-me-when-just-like-when-you-watch-a-movie-or-you-watch-a-tv-show-to/) [Lana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lana/) > [There are so many great actors, but I really have a lot of respect for Johnny Depp. I've seen a lot of movies with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-speleers/there-are-so-many-great-actors-but-i-really-have-a-lot-of-respect-for/) [Ed Speleers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-speleers/) > [I know from my own experience that great films and great actors can have a really big influence on you. 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I went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-oyelowo/i-do-think-opportunity-breeds-bravery-it-s-such-a-competitive/) [David Oyelowo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-oyelowo/) > [I think the actors take a great responsibility for the characters in the movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-ostlund/i-think-the-actors-take-a-great-responsibility-for-the-characters-in/) [Ruben Ostlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-ostlund/) > [Sometimes during a show or a film, while you're shooting it, you'll think, "This is great, it's going to be fantastic, the script is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aidan-turner/sometimes-during-a-show-or-a-film-while-you-re-shooting-it-you-ll/) [Aidan Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aidan-turner/) ## More by David Oyelowo > [At the end of the day, everyone knows what it is to be loved and to aspire to love someone, to want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-oyelowo/at-the-end-of-the-day-everyone-knows-what-it-is-to-be-loved-and-to/) [David Oyelowo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-oyelowo/) > [I truly believe that one of the things that has been lacking in America is a spirit of repentance about the injustices of slavery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-oyelowo/i-truly-believe-that-one-of-the-things-that-has-been-lacking-in/) [David Oyelowo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-oyelowo/) > [As you know, Sunday at 11 o'clock is the most segregated hour in America. You have black churches; you have white churches; you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-oyelowo/as-you-know-sunday-at-11-o-clock-is-the-most-segregated-hour-in/) [David Oyelowo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-oyelowo/) > [If you merely focus on what we already know, then it's not revelatory. You may as well just go and watch a documentary or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-oyelowo/if-you-merely-focus-on-what-we-already-know-then-it-s-not-revelatory/) [David Oyelowo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-oyelowo/) > [I basically enjoy doing films that are about something, that have complex roles that I can sink my teeth into. Basically, I gravitate to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-oyelowo/i-basically-enjoy-doing-films-that-are-about-something-that-have/) [David Oyelowo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-oyelowo/) > [In my time since moving to the United States, I've found that there is a dearth of great writing for black people. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-oyelowo/in-my-time-since-moving-to-the-united-states-i-ve-found-that-there-is/) [David Oyelowo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-oyelowo/) > [We can't afford to deny our past in a bid to be empowered. But what we can do is contextualize the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-oyelowo/we-can-t-afford-to-deny-our-past-in-a-bid-to-be-empowered-but-what-we/) [David Oyelowo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-oyelowo/) > [I don't have a tailor, but I do love clothes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-oyelowo/i-don-t-have-a-tailor-but-i-do-love-clothes/) [David Oyelowo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-oyelowo/) > [I am a father, I am very aware of the things that I'm putting out in the world knowing that one day my children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-oyelowo/i-am-a-father-i-am-very-aware-of-the-things-that-i-m-putting-out-in/) [David Oyelowo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-oyelowo/) > [I feel television is in a fantastically rich vein of what it's presenting both by opportunity to actors and to audiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-oyelowo/i-feel-television-is-in-a-fantastically-rich-vein-of-what-it-s/) [David Oyelowo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-oyelowo/) > [I do think how two people dance with each other is indicative of how they feel about each other. 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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. 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. 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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 certainly don't feel there's a distinction to be made between a television and a film actor. I think there's a distinction between great actors and not so great actors. 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