--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ewan was auditioning to get into acting…" description: "\"Ewan was auditioning to get into acting college and asked me for advice as he wasn't connecting with the piece he was learning. I told him to think abo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92a/denis-lawson-11527_acting_ewan-was-auditioning-to-get-into-acting_2094134.jpg" --- # Ewan was auditioning to get into acting college and asked… ![“Ewan was auditioning to get into acting college and asked me for advice as he wasn't connecting with the piece he was learning. I told him to think about a time he'd been beaten up in Glasgow and how he felt when the guy had punched him for no reason. He then made the connection between emotion…” quote by Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92a/denis-lawson-11527_acting_ewan-was-auditioning-to-get-into-acting_2094134.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92a/denis-lawson-11527_acting_ewan-was-auditioning-to-get-into-acting_2094134.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92a/denis-lawson-11527_acting_ewan-was-auditioning-to-get-into-acting_2094134.jpg) > “Ewan was auditioning to get into acting college and asked me for advice as he wasn't connecting with the piece he was learning. I told him to think about a time he'd been beaten up in Glasgow and how he felt when the guy had punched him for no reason. He then made the connection between emotion and the words he was saying, which is what acting is.” [Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Connecting personal trauma to performance helps actors access authentic emotions for their roles. **In simple terms:** Use personal pain to fuel acting. Key Takeaway Channel real feelings into performance. Themes acting empathy authenticity Mood intense reflective Type instructional practical When to use this quote - audition prep - theatre workshops - personal therapy Key Concepts method acting emotional memory Questions to Reflect On - How can actors safely access painful memories? - What boundaries are needed for emotional work? A Different Perspective May cause emotional distress if not managed safely. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Auditioning Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/auditioning-acting-3734318/) [Connection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connection/) [Ewan Auditioning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ewan-auditioning-4152925/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Punched Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punched-reason-4152926/) [Saying Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying-acting-3238976/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/) ## Related quotes > [With stand-up you meet almost constant rejection. You put yourself out there with your thoughts and your ideas, and you think they're funny, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-f-tompkins/with-stand-up-you-meet-almost-constant-rejection-you-put-yourself-out/) [Paul F. Tompkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-f-tompkins/) > [I began auditioning for acting jobs at the ripe old age of 12. Thirty years later, including a 15-year run on television, I sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-farr/i-began-auditioning-for-acting-jobs-at-the-ripe-old-age-of-12-thirty/) [Diane Farr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-farr/) > [Acting is mostly about listening. If you just focus in on what the other person is saying, acting takes care of itself to quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/acting-is-mostly-about-listening-if-you-just-focus-in-on-what-the/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > ['m not saying I would never do acting again, because I love it, but there really is nothing compared to getting up in front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/schuyler-fisk/m-not-saying-i-would-never-do-acting-again-because-i-love-it-but/) [Schuyler Fisk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/schuyler-fisk/) > [Acting lessons teach you to really listen to what the other person is saying because in acting it's all about responding to the lines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-mottola/acting-lessons-teach-you-to-really-listen-to-what-the-other-person-is/) [Tommy Mottola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-mottola/) > [You have to believe what you say, and if you believe what you are saying, then acting is easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-van-damme/you-have-to-believe-what-you-say-and-if-you-believe-what-you-are/) [Jean-Claude Van Damme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-van-damme/) > [I knew that I wanted to be an actor; how to go about it was the question. I went to Australia for my studies;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randeep-hooda/i-knew-that-i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-how-to-go-about-it-was-the/) [Randeep Hooda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randeep-hooda/) > [I do very little on-camera acting, so within a phrase as a voice actor you have to know how to convey when someone is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-do-very-little-on-camera-acting-so-within-a-phrase-as-a-voice-actor/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [“During a conversation, it is better to have an understanding without words, than words without understanding.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/during-a-conversation-it-is-better-to-have-an-understanding-without/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [Religion is no longer a connection point for most people. Our communities were built on coming together in physical locations once a week or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-mckelvey/religion-is-no-longer-a-connection-point-for-most-people-our/) [Miguel McKelvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-mckelvey/) > [“Your passion is your connection to God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-ray/your-passion-is-your-connection-to-god/) [Amit Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-ray/) > [When I discovered drama, I felt a connection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-fearon/when-i-discovered-drama-i-felt-a-connection/) [Ray Fearon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-fearon/) > [There's overwhelming evidence... circumstantial and otherwise, to suggest a connection between Iraq and al Qaeda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/there-s-overwhelming-evidence-circumstantial-and-otherwise-to-suggest/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [I believe that we have a huge problem with the water in America. We don't want to make that connection that these chemicals, at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-brockovich/i-believe-that-we-have-a-huge-problem-with-the-water-in-america-we/) [Erin Brockovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-brockovich/) > [I guess at it's very core love is connection that just makes so much sense you wonder how you used to live before you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-stone/i-guess-at-it-s-very-core-love-is-connection-that-just-makes-so-much/) [Benjamin Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-stone/) ## More by Denis Lawson > [My parents came out of Glasgow during the Depression and both - particularly my father - had very tough childhoods. They fought their way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/my-parents-came-out-of-glasgow-during-the-depression-and-both/) [Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) > ['Local Hero' was probably the most enjoyable job I've ever done then or since. It's had a very long shelf life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/local-hero-was-probably-the-most-enjoyable-job-i-ve-ever-done-then-or/) [Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) > [I don't really have a problem at all with doing a show that a lot of people watch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/i-don-t-really-have-a-problem-at-all-with-doing-a-show-that-a-lot-of/) [Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) > [I do some very high energy comedy, vaudeville, music hall stuff, and people who've seen my work on camera, on TV and movies, would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/i-do-some-very-high-energy-comedy-vaudeville-music-hall-stuff-and/) [Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) > [I rather like contemporary art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/i-rather-like-contemporary-art/) [Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) > [The way the show was conceived originally and developed, has always had good writing at the heart of it, it's very difficult to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/the-way-the-show-was-conceived-originally-and-developed-has-always/) [Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) > [The first four years, I worked exclusively in the theater. I did a great deal of different types of acting - avant garde and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/the-first-four-years-i-worked-exclusively-in-the-theater-i-did-a/) [Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) > [Way back at the beginning, I went to see George Lucas when he first came to London for 'Star Wars.' I met him months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/way-back-at-the-beginning-i-went-to-see-george-lucas-when-he-first/) [Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) > [A big moment for me came when 'Singin' in the Rain' came out. It hit me like a sledgehammer - that's what I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/a-big-moment-for-me-came-when-singin-in-the-rain-came-out-it-hit-me/) [Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) > [I get so bored about that, please don't ask me about 'Star Wars.' It was just so unimportant to me as a job, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/i-get-so-bored-about-that-please-don-t-ask-me-about-star-wars-it-was/) [Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) > [I got married on a beach in Italy. It was very romantic getting married in Italian. But I've no idea what we agreed to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/i-got-married-on-a-beach-in-italy-it-was-very-romantic-getting/) [Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) > [In P7, I played Robin in a musical version of 'Robin Hood' and afterwards DO McLean was standing with mum and dad and he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/in-p7-i-played-robin-in-a-musical-version-of-robin-hood-and/) [Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) > [I had a feeling 'Star Wars' might do well, but I didn't anticipate just how well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/i-had-a-feeling-star-wars-might-do-well-but-i-didn-t-anticipate-just/) [Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) > [I hadn't read Dickens for a while and doing 'Bleak House' was great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/i-hadn-t-read-dickens-for-a-while-and-doing-bleak-house-was-great/) [Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) > [I've always been interested in Jewish culture, but never had a chance to dip into it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-lawson/i-ve-always-been-interested-in-jewish-culture-but-never-had-a-chance/) [Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) [Explore all 59 Denis Lawson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-lawson/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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. 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