--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think it's vital to have something…" description: "\"I think it's vital to have something outside your acting to keep you rooted in the real world, and help you fill the vacuum. If you have nothing else, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/189/david-oyelowo-7952_acting_i-think-it-s-vital-to-have-something-out_2114393.jpg" --- # I think it's vital to have something outside your acting… ![“I think it's vital to have something outside your acting to keep you rooted in the real world, and help you fill the vacuum. If you have nothing else, it can be unhealthy. For me being a Christian has been invaluable: it simply means acting isn't the centre of my life.” quote by David Oyelowo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/189/david-oyelowo-7952_acting_i-think-it-s-vital-to-have-something-out_2114393.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/189/david-oyelowo-7952_acting_i-think-it-s-vital-to-have-something-out_2114393.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/189/david-oyelowo-7952_acting_i-think-it-s-vital-to-have-something-out_2114393.jpg) > “I think it's vital to have something outside your acting to keep you rooted in the real world, and help you fill the vacuum. If you have nothing else, it can be unhealthy. For me being a Christian has been invaluable: it simply means acting isn't the centre of my life.” [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. Balancing artistic passion with external anchors prevents identity loss and promotes mental health. **In simple terms:** Stay grounded beyond your craft. Key Takeaway Cultivate interests outside work. Themes balance identity mental health Mood contemplative hopeful Type motivational spiritual When to use this quote - career - family - hobbies - faith practice Key Concepts psychology spirituality Questions to Reflect On - What non‑work activity grounds you? - How does faith shape your priorities? A Different Perspective Overreliance on a single role can cause burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Invaluable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invaluable/) [Real world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-world/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“I was accused of always acting superior. Always means being, not acting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-spellman/i-was-accused-of-always-acting-superior-always-means-being-not-acting/) [Brian Spellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-spellman/) > [There is less pressure as a character actor. It generally means that you will be acting for all of your life, which is my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-roth/there-is-less-pressure-as-a-character-actor-it-generally-means-that/) [Tim Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-roth/) > [Being Michael Jordan means acting the same as I always have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/being-michael-jordan-means-acting-the-same-as-i-always-have/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [I'm always trying to find that role that will allow me to stretch and play a lot of different sides, but it's hard. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-franco/i-m-always-trying-to-find-that-role-that-will-allow-me-to-stretch-and/) [Dave Franco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-franco/) > [Create a life outside of acting work that fulfills you and feeds your soul. Nurture your relationships - family and friends. Stay ready and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-nicholls-king/create-a-life-outside-of-acting-work-that-fulfills-you-and-feeds-your/) [Melanie Nicholls-King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-nicholls-king/) > [As an actor, you have a ton of downtime, so it's always good to have a hobby, especially another creative outlet outside of acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chandler-riggs/as-an-actor-you-have-a-ton-of-downtime-so-it-s-always-good-to-have-a/) [Chandler Riggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chandler-riggs/) > [I always had acting work when I needed it. I think that is why, when I watch films or TV series in America, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-sukowa/i-always-had-acting-work-when-i-needed-it-i-think-that-is-why-when-i/) [Barbara Sukowa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-sukowa/) > [Stillness is something that I know a lot of people, period - even outside of the acting realm - just struggle with,. But it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-gladstone/stillness-is-something-that-i-know-a-lot-of-people-period-even/) [Lily Gladstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-gladstone/) > [I was lucky in that I didn't have to do too many outside-of-acting side jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/briga-heelan/i-was-lucky-in-that-i-didn-t-have-to-do-too-many-outside-of-acting/) [Briga Heelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/briga-heelan/) > [Most actors don't know what they're going to do next, so you get into this thing where you have to force yourself to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/most-actors-don-t-know-what-they-re-going-to-do-next-so-you-get-into/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [I definitely want to do other things outside of acting like producing, directing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skai-jackson/i-definitely-want-to-do-other-things-outside-of-acting-like-producing/) [Skai Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skai-jackson/) > [I am only an actress when they say, 'action' and I stop being an actress when they say, 'cut'. I am a normal person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paz-vega/i-am-only-an-actress-when-they-say-action-and-i-stop-being-an-actress/) [Paz Vega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paz-vega/) > [I'm much too egotistical to move outside the acting realm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamlyn-tomita/i-m-much-too-egotistical-to-move-outside-the-acting-realm/) [Tamlyn Tomita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamlyn-tomita/) > [Outside of acting, the person that I admire the most is my mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/outside-of-acting-the-person-that-i-admire-the-most-is-my-mother/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [A lot of what I do outside acting is really just for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-silvers/a-lot-of-what-i-do-outside-acting-is-really-just-for-me/) [Diana Silvers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-silvers/) ## 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. It can tell a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-oyelowo/i-do-think-how-two-people-dance-with-each-other-is-indicative-of-how/) [David Oyelowo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-oyelowo/) > [Excellence is the best weapon against prejudice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-oyelowo/excellence-is-the-best-weapon-against-prejudice/) [David Oyelowo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-oyelowo/) > [People have compact to go beyond our own culture and upbringing to a degree that I think we don't acknowledge enough really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-oyelowo/people-have-compact-to-go-beyond-our-own-culture-and-upbringing-to-a/) [David Oyelowo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-oyelowo/) > [I truly believe that we cannot come to a place of reconciliation until there is individual repentance and corporate repentance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-oyelowo/i-truly-believe-that-we-cannot-come-to-a-place-of-reconciliation/) [David Oyelowo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-oyelowo/) > [Africa is trying to find its way back to a sense of itself, when much of that was lost through colonization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-oyelowo/africa-is-trying-to-find-its-way-back-to-a-sense-of-itself-when-much/) [David Oyelowo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-oyelowo/) [Explore all 85 David Oyelowo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-oyelowo/) ## More Acting 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/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [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/) > [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/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) Ryan Newman > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think it's vital to have something outside your acting to keep you rooted in the real world, and help you fill the vacuum. If you have nothing else, it can be unhealthy. 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