--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes 'great acting' is just showing…" description: "\"Sometimes 'great acting' is just showing off - chewing up scenery and dialogue and other actors - the equivalent of a theatrical sugar rush.\" — Denis L..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08b/denis-leary-1350_acting_sometimes-great-acting-is-just-showing-o_1840494.png" --- # Sometimes 'great acting' is just showing off - chewing up… ![“Sometimes 'great acting' is just showing off - chewing up scenery and dialogue and other actors - the equivalent of a theatrical sugar rush.” quote by Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08b/denis-leary-1350_acting_sometimes-great-acting-is-just-showing-o_1840494.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08b/denis-leary-1350_acting_sometimes-great-acting-is-just-showing-o_1840494.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08b/denis-leary-1350_acting_sometimes-great-acting-is-just-showing-o_1840494.png) > “Sometimes 'great acting' is just showing off - chewing up scenery and dialogue and other actors - the equivalent of a theatrical sugar rush.” [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Overacting is a flashy display that lacks substance, like a sugar rush. **In simple terms:** Showy acting lacks depth. Key Takeaway Seek authentic performance. Themes performance authenticity excess Mood sarcastic humorous Type comedic observational When to use this quote - stage productions - film auditions - improv classes - directing Key Concepts theatre acting technique artistic integrity Questions to Reflect On - When does flair become emptiness? - How to balance energy and nuance? A Different Perspective Excess can distract from true talent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Scenery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scenery/) [Showing off](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/showing-off/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Theatrical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatrical/) ## Related quotes > [If anybody ever points out to me I'm chewing scenery, I certainly like to stop doing that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-fichtner/if-anybody-ever-points-out-to-me-i-m-chewing-scenery-i-certainly-like/) [William Fichtner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-fichtner/) > [I just want to make pictures that are entertaining. I'll leave the scenery chewing to someone else](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-ladd/i-just-want-to-make-pictures-that-are-entertaining-i-ll-leave-the/) [Alan Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-ladd/) > [I've always appreciated great acting performances, but I've even learned to appreciate not so great ones 'cause it's hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/i-ve-always-appreciated-great-acting-performances-but-i-ve-even/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [What's great about acting is that there's never a moment when you're like, 'OK, I got this, I understand this.' You're portraying life, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cress-williams/what-s-great-about-acting-is-that-there-s-never-a-moment-when-you-re/) [Cress Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cress-williams/) > [Whether he's doing great acting or not, you're seeing somebody who is in the tradition of a great actor. 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Graceful Writing, Great Acting, Exquisite Direction, Suspense, Profound Subject Matter and It Rocks!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-reed/packs-a-huge-emotional-punch-graceful-writing-great-acting-exquisite/) [Rex Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-reed/) > [I always go for just really, hopefully, great writing and great acting, being in the company of great actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-malcomson/i-always-go-for-just-really-hopefully-great-writing-and-great-acting/) [Paula Malcomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-malcomson/) > [I think chemistry and great acting go hand-in-hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-parker/i-think-chemistry-and-great-acting-go-hand-in-hand/) [Nate Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-parker/) > [I think great acting is about inhabiting a skin and transforming yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ayer/i-think-great-acting-is-about-inhabiting-a-skin-and-transforming/) [David Ayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ayer/) > [I think that is the secret of great acting. You have to bring your imagination to the party. You've got to have a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-think-that-is-the-secret-of-great-acting-you-have-to-bring-your/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [I don't think I'm great at acting. I think I'm great at directing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-joan-hart/i-don-t-think-i-m-great-at-acting-i-think-i-m-great-at-directing/) [Melissa Joan Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-joan-hart/) > [What I feel is great acting might be rubbish for another filmmaker. There is no right or wrong way to do it. It all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mani-ratnam/what-i-feel-is-great-acting-might-be-rubbish-for-another-filmmaker/) [Mani Ratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mani-ratnam/) > [Great acting can be almost a psychotic mix of self-consciousness and unself-consciousness. And thats the terrible conflict. You have to be free to jump…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alec-baldwin/great-acting-can-be-almost-a-psychotic-mix-of-self-consciousness-and/) [Alec Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alec-baldwin/) ## More by Denis Leary > [I'm sick and tired of our generation being called the TV generation. What do you expect? 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I like to think the end is where it was on TV…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/i-don-t-want-to-see-a-sopranos-movie-this-is-just-me-i-like-to-think/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [The best comedy audiences in the country and this is tried and true, I'm not just saying it, in my opinion are Boston, Atlanta,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/the-best-comedy-audiences-in-the-country-and-this-is-tried-and-true-i/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [Happy Easter everyone! Jesus dies, comes back from the dead - and we get chocolate eggs. It's like turn-down service from God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/happy-easter-everyone-jesus-dies-comes-back-from-the-dead-and-we-get/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [I believe in prescription drugs. I believe in feeling better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/i-believe-in-prescription-drugs-i-believe-in-feeling-better/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [You really want to have a back-up plan, so when you don't feel like acting, or you're getting older and settling down, you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/you-really-want-to-have-a-back-up-plan-so-when-you-don-t-feel-like/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [You try to - you want to fly on both sides of the political fence because that's where the - where the comedy is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/you-try-to-you-want-to-fly-on-both-sides-of-the-political-fence/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [I'm not really a Spider-Man fan. I'm more of a Batman guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/i-m-not-really-a-spider-man-fan-i-m-more-of-a-batman-guy/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) [Explore all 252 Denis Leary quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) ## 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. 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