--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The best thing an actor can bring to a…" description: "\"The best thing an actor can bring to a role is himself - that's no secret.\" — Dean Winters" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/869/dean-winters-20639_actor_the-best-thing-an-actor-can-bring-to-a-r_185176.jpg" --- # The best thing an actor can bring to a role is himself… ![“The best thing an actor can bring to a role is himself - that's no secret.” quote by Dean Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/869/dean-winters-20639_actor_the-best-thing-an-actor-can-bring-to-a-r_185176.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/869/dean-winters-20639_actor_the-best-thing-an-actor-can-bring-to-a-r_185176.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/869/dean-winters-20639_actor_the-best-thing-an-actor-can-bring-to-a-r_185176.jpg) > “The best thing an actor can bring to a role is himself - that's no secret.” [Dean Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-winters/) ## 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's authenticity comes from bringing his true self to a role, making the performance genuine and relatable. **In simple terms:** Being genuine makes acting stronger. Key Takeaway Embrace your individuality in any role. Themes acting authenticity self expression creativity Mood confident introspective inspired Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - theatre - film - improv workshops - personal development Key Concepts identity presence vulnerability artistic integrity Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance personal truth with character demands? - When does self-expression hinder performance? A Different Perspective Over-reliance on personal traits may limit versatility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actor Bring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-bring-339063/) [Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best/) [Bring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bring/) [Bring Role](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bring-role-1289583/) [Himself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/himself/) [Role](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/role/) [Role Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/role-secret-1969276/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing/) [Thing Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-actor/) ## Related quotes > [The most important thing you can do as an actor is bring as much of yourself to the character to ground the character in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelly/the-most-important-thing-you-can-do-as-an-actor-is-bring-as-much-of/) [Michael Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelly/) > [I bring to a role everything I am, was and hope to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-gable/i-bring-to-a-role-everything-i-am-was-and-hope-to-be/) [Clark Gable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-gable/) > [When you act, you're always playing a version of yourself. You can't bring more to the role than what you are](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-whitford/when-you-act-you-re-always-playing-a-version-of-yourself-you-can-t/) [Bradley Whitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-whitford/) > [You bring yourself to every role, it doesn't matter who it is, it doesn't matter if it's a mass murderer, you can bring something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keira-knightley/you-bring-yourself-to-every-role-it-doesn-t-matter-who-it-is-it-doesn/) [Keira Knightley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keira-knightley/) > [When you are developing a character you have to bring so much of yourself to the role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-loughlin/when-you-are-developing-a-character-you-have-to-bring-so-much-of/) [Lori Loughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-loughlin/) > [Not that my life has been so crazy and exciting but, it just seems like if I can bring more of myself to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-greer/not-that-my-life-has-been-so-crazy-and-exciting-but-it-just-seems/) [Judy Greer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-greer/) > [I try to bring myself to every role. The last thing you want to seem like to other people is a talking head or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krysten-ritter/i-try-to-bring-myself-to-every-role-the-last-thing-you-want-to-seem/) [Krysten Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krysten-ritter/) > [As an actor you have to bring to the table your creative input. But when a director like Ridley Scott says I want you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cuba-gooding-jr/as-an-actor-you-have-to-bring-to-the-table-your-creative-input-but/) [Cuba Gooding, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cuba-gooding-jr/) > [I only want to use my status as a comic actor to bring about a difference to society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karunas/i-only-want-to-use-my-status-as-a-comic-actor-to-bring-about-a/) [Karunas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karunas/) > [Sometimes, if you leave yourself open, an actor can bring nice nuances to a character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-twohy/sometimes-if-you-leave-yourself-open-an-actor-can-bring-nice-nuances/) [David Twohy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-twohy/) > [As an actor you bring some of your own experiences which can make things easier. You build off of it, but your imagination is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-vaughn/as-an-actor-you-bring-some-of-your-own-experiences-which-can-make/) [Vince Vaughn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-vaughn/) > [I think the responsibility that any actor has is to bring some truth to the work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/i-think-the-responsibility-that-any-actor-has-is-to-bring-some-truth/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [When you are an actor, you bring a tool in your craft but you are not that person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-grier/when-you-are-an-actor-you-bring-a-tool-in-your-craft-but-you-are-not/) [Pam Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-grier/) > [I was fortunate as a young actor, to go straight to the RSC, where I learned that being an actor can bring with it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-kingsley/i-was-fortunate-as-a-young-actor-to-go-straight-to-the-rsc-where-i/) [Ben Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-kingsley/) > [I think - in general, I don't think I've been involved in a single movie that turned out the way I anticipated it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-franco/i-think-in-general-i-don-t-think-i-ve-been-involved-in-a-single-movie/) [Dave Franco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-franco/) ## More by Dean Winters > [ Obviously, David \[Shore\] probably has pressure because House was such an amazing show. But I try not to go into these jobs, thinking that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-winters/obviously-david-shore-probably-has-pressure-because-house-was-such-an/) [Dean Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-winters/) > [I've been in scenes with my brother where I've been absolutely emotionally terrified to go somewhere. But because he's my brother, I feel safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-winters/i-ve-been-in-scenes-with-my-brother-where-i-ve-been-absolutely/) [Dean Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-winters/) > [I've definitely become more aware of the penal system and more aware of what life could be like inside a prison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-winters/i-ve-definitely-become-more-aware-of-the-penal-system-and-more-aware/) [Dean Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-winters/) > [I really love Paul Smith. And Chrome Hearts. They make the most beautiful, high-end leather and outerwear and jewelry you've ever seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-winters/i-really-love-paul-smith-and-chrome-hearts-they-make-the-most/) [Dean Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-winters/) > [I have yet to do a job where I would really get to rock the great clothes. I'd love to do a job where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-winters/i-have-yet-to-do-a-job-where-i-would-really-get-to-rock-the-great/) [Dean Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-winters/) > [I wanted to become an actor so I didn't have to put on a suit and sell insurance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-winters/i-wanted-to-become-an-actor-so-i-didn-t-have-to-put-on-a-suit-and/) [Dean Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-winters/) > [I really love Paul Smith. And Chrome Hearts. They make the most beautiful, high-end leather and outerwear and jewelry you've ever seen. But I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-winters/i-really-love-paul-smith-and-chrome-hearts-they-make-the-most-2/) [Dean Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-winters/) > [I was born and raised in New York and I'm of an age where I want to just be home. But, you know, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-winters/i-was-born-and-raised-in-new-york-and-i-m-of-an-age-where-i-want-to/) [Dean Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-winters/) > [When there's not ten feet of snow on the ground, I ride my bike down the streets of New York, and I literally hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-winters/when-there-s-not-ten-feet-of-snow-on-the-ground-i-ride-my-bike-down/) [Dean Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-winters/) > [for me the most fun of my career is to bring a little bit of irreverence to characters. And, you know, I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-winters/for-me-the-most-fun-of-my-career-is-to-bring-a-little-bit-of/) [Dean Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-winters/) > [I work hard, so I play harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-winters/i-work-hard-so-i-play-harder/) [Dean Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-winters/) > [As an actor, I tend to enjoy going to the dark side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-winters/as-an-actor-i-tend-to-enjoy-going-to-the-dark-side/) [Dean Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-winters/) > [On a show like 'Oz,' I was wearing Dickies and a cut-off shirt and a gold cross.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-winters/on-a-show-like-oz-i-was-wearing-dickies-and-a-cut-off-shirt-and-a/) [Dean Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-winters/) > [I'm not a big fan of shopping. I certainly am a fan of clothes, and especially people that put time into the construction of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-winters/i-m-not-a-big-fan-of-shopping-i-certainly-am-a-fan-of-clothes-and/) [Dean Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-winters/) > [I've done a few jobs out there for the money, and I find those jobs have come back to haunt me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-winters/i-ve-done-a-few-jobs-out-there-for-the-money-and-i-find-those-jobs/) [Dean Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-winters/) [Explore all 30 Dean Winters quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-winters/) ## 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": "The best thing an actor can bring to a role is himself - that's no secret.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dean Winters" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-winters/the-best-thing-an-actor-can-bring-to-a-role-is-himself-that-s-no/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-winters/the-best-thing-an-actor-can-bring-to-a-role-is-himself-that-s-no/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/869/dean-winters-20639_actor_the-best-thing-an-actor-can-bring-to-a-r_185176.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/869/dean-winters-20639_actor_the-best-thing-an-actor-can-bring-to-a-r_185176.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/869/dean-winters-20639_actor_the-best-thing-an-actor-can-bring-to-a-r_185176.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The best thing an actor can bring to a role is himself - that's no secret.” — Dean Winters", "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": "Dean Winters", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-winters/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The best thing an actor can...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-winters/the-best-thing-an-actor-can-bring-to-a-role-is-himself-that-s-no/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-winters/the-best-thing-an-actor-can-bring-to-a-role-is-himself-that-s-no/#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 } } ] } ```