--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can have good writing, but a great…" description: "\"You can have good writing, but a great actor will make it feel and sound like great writing. You can have great writing, and mediocre actors will make ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c92/denis-leary-1350_actors_you-can-have-good-writing-but-a-great-ac_3042282.png" --- # You can have good writing, but a great actor will make it… ![“You can have good writing, but a great actor will make it feel and sound like great writing. You can have great writing, and mediocre actors will make it feel mediocre. Without the actors, you have nothing.” quote by Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c92/denis-leary-1350_actors_you-can-have-good-writing-but-a-great-ac_3042282.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c92/denis-leary-1350_actors_you-can-have-good-writing-but-a-great-ac_3042282.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c92/denis-leary-1350_actors_you-can-have-good-writing-but-a-great-ac_3042282.png) > “You can have good writing, but a great actor will make it feel and sound like great writing. You can have great writing, and mediocre actors will make it feel mediocre. Without the actors, you have nothing.” [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. Great acting brings writing to life; mediocre acting diminishes it. **In simple terms:** Acting determines writing’s impact. Key Takeaway Choose strong collaborators. Themes collaboration performance artistic integrity Mood critical pragmatic Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - Film production - theatre - advertising Key Concepts Acting theory creative synergy Questions to Reflect On - How to assess actor suitability? - When to prioritize script over performance? A Different Perspective Even great writing can suffer from poor performance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-make/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Good writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-writing/) [Great writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-writing/) [Mediocre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mediocre/) [Mediocre Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mediocre-actors-2512724/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-great/) [Writing Mediocre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-mediocre-1833444/) ## Related quotes > [What helps change bad writing into mediocre writing is editing. Editing is in bad shape in print journalism, and is in virtually nonexistent shape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-christgau/what-helps-change-bad-writing-into-mediocre-writing-is-editing/) [Robert Christgau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-christgau/) > [“What a lot of failed and mediocre actors do not realize, probably because it is ironic, is that the key to being a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-freestone/what-a-lot-of-failed-and-mediocre-actors-do-not-realize-probably/) [Jack Freestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-freestone/) > [There is no great writing, only great rewriting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-no-great-writing-only-great-rewriting/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [That's where everything starts, as an actor: you've gotta have great writing and great character development, and then you have really great materials to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lauria/that-s-where-everything-starts-as-an-actor-you-ve-gotta-have-great/) [Matt Lauria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lauria/) > [There is no such thing as great writing - there is only great re-writing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/there-is-no-such-thing-as-great-writing-there-is-only-great-re-writing/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Blade Runner was the godfather of all these fantastic movies that occur today. What's frustrating is that we're short of really great writing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ridley-scott/blade-runner-was-the-godfather-of-all-these-fantastic-movies-that/) [Ridley Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ridley-scott/) > [Writing is great because in the writing you never have to... First of all you never have to leave your home. And you never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/writing-is-great-because-in-the-writing-you-never-have-to-first-of/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [“There is only one secret to great writing and that's great writing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-thurlow/there-is-only-one-secret-to-great-writing-and-that-s-great-writing/) [Chloe Thurlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chloe-thurlow/) > [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/) > [Great writing is great writing. It's as simple as all that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-mulgrew/great-writing-is-great-writing-it-s-as-simple-as-all-that/) [Kate Mulgrew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-mulgrew/) > [Everybody walks past a thousand story ideas every day. The good writers are the ones who see five or six of them. Most people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/everybody-walks-past-a-thousand-story-ideas-every-day-the-good/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [I write less about alcohol, less and less and less. You 're an addict - so of course you write about the thing you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/i-write-less-about-alcohol-less-and-less-and-less-you-re-an-addict-so/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [There's such good writing now on television and I don't see a lot of great writing on films sadly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-speedman/there-s-such-good-writing-now-on-television-and-i-don-t-see-a-lot-of/) [Scott Speedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-speedman/) > [“In truly good writing no matter how many times you read it you do not know how it is done. That is beacause there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/in-truly-good-writing-no-matter-how-many-times-you-read-it-you-do-not/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [I was determined to be an actor and make a name in the industry, and hence, I did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nawazuddin-siddiqui/i-was-determined-to-be-an-actor-and-make-a-name-in-the-industry-and/) [Nawazuddin Siddiqui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nawazuddin-siddiqui/) ## More by Denis Leary > [I'm sick and tired of our generation being called the TV generation. What do you expect? We watched Lee Harvey Oswald get his brains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/i-m-sick-and-tired-of-our-generation-being-called-the-tv-generation/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [My father left Ireland because he did not want to muck horse manure for the rest of his life, and he wanted to come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/my-father-left-ireland-because-he-did-not-want-to-muck-horse-manure/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [I've eaten things that didn't complain this much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/i-ve-eaten-things-that-didn-t-complain-this-much/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [What I've learned is that life is too short and movies are too long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/what-i-ve-learned-is-that-life-is-too-short-and-movies-are-too-long/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [Yeah, I love living in New York, man, and people who live in New York, we wear that fact like a badge right on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/yeah-i-love-living-in-new-york-man-and-people-who-live-in-new-york-we/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [I've always had a thing for Catwoman. Michelle Pfeiffer or Halle Berry in tight leather pants, with the boots - I'm pretty good with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/i-ve-always-had-a-thing-for-catwoman-michelle-pfeiffer-or-halle-berry/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [I spent a long time working in the movies to figure out that kind of acting and also how to write and produce for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/i-spent-a-long-time-working-in-the-movies-to-figure-out-that-kind-of/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [I do have to say that I think that President Obama is the greatest President in the history of all of our Presidents, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/i-do-have-to-say-that-i-think-that-president-obama-is-the-greatest/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [I don't want to see a 'Sopranos' movie. This is just me. 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 Actors quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/) [Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [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/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [When we watch a film as actors, you have to understand that we always see much more than what's on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/when-we-watch-a-film-as-actors-you-have-to-understand-that-we-always/) [Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/) > [As actors, you become an expert at starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-actors-you-become-an-expert-at-starting-over/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [A rapper is about being completely true to yourself. Being an actor is about changing who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/a-rapper-is-about-being-completely-true-to-yourself-being-an-actor-is/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [I've been a professional actor for almost 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-been-a-professional-actor-for-almost-40-years/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [American actors are coy. We all have pricks and cunts, or are you different from the rest of us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/american-actors-are-coy-we-all-have-pricks-and-cunts-or-are-you/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) [Browse all 11,394 Actors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can have good writing, but a great actor will make it feel and sound like great writing. 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