--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've always maintained that there's no…" description: "\"I've always maintained that there's no such thing as period acting, I think that's a class thing. I don't believe that people moved and spoke much diff..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b5/denis-lawson-11527_acting_i-ve-always-maintained-that-there-s-no-s_1510054.jpg" --- # I've always maintained that there's no such thing as… ![“I've always maintained that there's no such thing as period acting, I think that's a class thing. I don't believe that people moved and spoke much differently than we do now.” quote by Denis Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b5/denis-lawson-11527_acting_i-ve-always-maintained-that-there-s-no-s_1510054.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b5/denis-lawson-11527_acting_i-ve-always-maintained-that-there-s-no-s_1510054.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b5/denis-lawson-11527_acting_i-ve-always-maintained-that-there-s-no-s_1510054.jpg) > “I've always maintained that there's no such thing as period acting, I think that's a class thing. I don't believe that people moved and spoke much differently than we do now.” [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. He argues that acting styles haven't fundamentally changed; modern performers share the same core techniques as past actors. **In simple terms:** Acting hasn't changed much. Key Takeaway Recognize timeless acting fundamentals. Themes acting history craft Mood reflective analytical Type observational philosophical When to use this quote - Theatre rehearsals - film auditions - acting workshops - historical analysis Key Concepts Performance theory cultural continuity Questions to Reflect On - How do you see acting evolving with technology? - What timeless skills remain essential? A Different Perspective Modern media may influence style presentation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-think/) [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Period Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/period-acting-5557485/) [Thing Period](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-period-5557486/) [Think Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-class-692483/) ## Related quotes > [I never thought of myself doing period. When you're in your acting classes, and you think about the kind of roles you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitriona-balfe/i-never-thought-of-myself-doing-period-when-you-re-in-your-acting/) [Caitriona Balfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitriona-balfe/) > [You bring out a lot of your own thoughts and attitudes when acting. I think a great deal of it has to do with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginger-rogers/you-bring-out-a-lot-of-your-own-thoughts-and-attitudes-when-acting-i/) [Ginger Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginger-rogers/) > [I think a lot of people, if they get the opportunity to do some acting, they think, 'I might be a star.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kareem-abdul-jabbar/i-think-a-lot-of-people-if-they-get-the-opportunity-to-do-some-acting/) [Kareem Abdul-Jabbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kareem-abdul-jabbar/) > [I think I was always the class clown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-hahn/i-think-i-was-always-the-class-clown/) [Kathryn Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-hahn/) > [“If you think about the class-size puzzle this way, then what seems baffling starts to make a little more sense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/if-you-think-about-the-class-size-puzzle-this-way-then-what-seems/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [She'd think about class, he'd think about her...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily/she-d-think-about-class-he-d-think-about-her/) [Lily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily/) > [An old joke has an Oxford professor meeting an American former graduate student and asking him what he's working on these days. 'My thesis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/an-old-joke-has-an-oxford-professor-meeting-an-american-former/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [I think I was always a class clown growing up and a funny kid. I never really knew how to channel that until I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-lapkus/i-think-i-was-always-a-class-clown-growing-up-and-a-funny-kid-i-never/) [Lauren Lapkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-lapkus/) > [I often think about the class differences involved in "jobs" vs. "careers."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/i-often-think-about-the-class-differences-involved-in-jobs-vs-careers/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [I think the class divide is going to change. I think a lot more working class people are going to get published. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-mina/i-think-the-class-divide-is-going-to-change-i-think-a-lot-more/) [Denise Mina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-mina/) > [Think first class about everyone around you, and you'll receive first-class results in return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-j-schwartz/think-first-class-about-everyone-around-you-and-you-ll-receive-first/) [David J. Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-j-schwartz/) > [For simplicity one can think of the + class as having one extra base at some point or other in the genetic message and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-crick/for-simplicity-one-can-think-of-the-class-as-having-one-extra-base-at/) [Francis Crick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-crick/) > [The Sixties was a time of breaking down class barriers, although I think class still exists today in some areas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bailey/the-sixties-was-a-time-of-breaking-down-class-barriers-although-i/) [David Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bailey/) > [I don't think there's a whole lot of class literature at all. I think most of that has become racially based, and people don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-whole-lot-of-class-literature-at-all-i-think/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [I think class is still an issue in this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-rayner/i-think-class-is-still-an-issue-in-this-country/) [Angela Rayner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-rayner/) ## 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. 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've always maintained that there's no such thing as period acting, I think that's a class thing. 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