--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Come on, I know bad acting when I hear it." description: "\"Come on, I know bad acting when I hear it.\" — Denzel Washington" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbd/denzel-washington-1345_acting_come-on-i-know-bad-acting-when-i-hear-it_2055743.jpg" --- # Come on, I know bad acting when I hear it. ![“Come on, I know bad acting when I hear it.” quote by Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbd/denzel-washington-1345_acting_come-on-i-know-bad-acting-when-i-hear-it_2055743.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbd/denzel-washington-1345_acting_come-on-i-know-bad-acting-when-i-hear-it_2055743.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbd/denzel-washington-1345_acting_come-on-i-know-bad-acting-when-i-hear-it_2055743.jpg) > “Come on, I know bad acting when I hear it.” [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Bad acting is recognizable through lack of authenticity and emotional truth. **In simple terms:** Poor acting is obvious. Key Takeaway Strive for genuine performance. Themes acting authenticity craft performance Mood critical encouraging Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - auditions - theatre - film sets Key Concepts method acting emotional truth Questions to Reflect On - What signs reveal authentic acting? - How do you develop emotional truth? A Different Perspective Good acting can be subtle; audiences may miss nuances. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Hear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-hear-3735596/) [Bad acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-acting/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Know Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-bad/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [I think a lot of guys think they can do voice acting, but when you hear the pros and they are so great... that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butch-hartman/i-think-a-lot-of-guys-think-they-can-do-voice-acting-but-when-you/) [Butch Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/butch-hartman/) > [That's why there's so much bad acting out there, because you could see actors watching themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/that-s-why-there-s-so-much-bad-acting-out-there-because-you-could-see/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [We're not allowed in the cutting room - and that's extraordinary. So, when a director is asking for certain nuances and colours and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-hoffman/we-re-not-allowed-in-the-cutting-room-and-that-s-extraordinary-so/) [Dustin Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-hoffman/) > [I think sometimes soap acting gets an unfair label for being bad and over the top. The lessons I learned there were so valuable.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-bruce/i-think-sometimes-soap-acting-gets-an-unfair-label-for-being-bad-and/) [Dylan Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-bruce/) > [I started my career giving a clinic in bad acting in the film, "The Silver Chalice," and now I'm playing a crusty old man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/i-started-my-career-giving-a-clinic-in-bad-acting-in-the-film-the/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [Bad acting, like bad writing, has a remarkable uniformity, whether seen on the French, German, or English stages; it all seems modeled after two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/bad-acting-like-bad-writing-has-a-remarkable-uniformity-whether-seen/) [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) > [Faked enthusiasm is worse than bad acting - it is bad acting with the intent to deceive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-bennett/faked-enthusiasm-is-worse-than-bad-acting-it-is-bad-acting-with-the/) [Bo Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-bennett/) > [I have an appreciation for what some people would call "bad acting," but which I think can be much more real than the overly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-labruce/i-have-an-appreciation-for-what-some-people-would-call-bad-acting-but/) [Bruce LaBruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-labruce/) > [I've often said that I can forgive a shoddy screenplay or bad acting, but I can never forgive bad politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir-khan/i-ve-often-said-that-i-can-forgive-a-shoddy-screenplay-or-bad-acting/) [Kabir Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir-khan/) > [The belief, not only of the socialist but of those so-called liberals who are diligently preparing the way for them is that by due…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/the-belief-not-only-of-the-socialist-but-of-those-so-called-liberals/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [The art of acting is not to act. Once you show them more, what you show them, in fact is bad acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/the-art-of-acting-is-not-to-act-once-you-show-them-more-what-you-show/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [“is not good for one's morals to see bad acting. Besides,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/is-not-good-for-one-s-morals-to-see-bad-acting-besides/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Just because we're on schedule is no reason to shoot bad acting. Someone once said to me, 'You're inconsiderate.' And I said, 'Inconsiderate? Bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-winger/just-because-we-re-on-schedule-is-no-reason-to-shoot-bad-acting/) [Debra Winger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-winger/) > [It is not good for one's morals to see bad acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/it-is-not-good-for-one-s-morals-to-see-bad-acting/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Bad acting is the ultimate inconsideration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-winger/bad-acting-is-the-ultimate-inconsideration/) [Debra Winger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-winger/) ## More by Denzel Washington > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [My father was a minister for 50 years with Pentecostal Church of God in Christ. We prayed about everything, every day, then he always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/my-father-was-a-minister-for-50-years-with-pentecostal-church-of-god/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Family is life; acting is making a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/family-is-life-acting-is-making-a-living/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Talent comes from God. If you have been given some, then value it, cultivate it, work and develop it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/talent-comes-from-god-if-you-have-been-given-some-then-value-it/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [ I'll be working with Ridley's \[Scott\] brother, Tony, again, someone who needless to say we've had a great amount of success together. I trust… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-ll-be-working-with-ridley-s-scott-brother-tony-again-someone-who/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [I found that nothing in life is worthwhile unless you take risks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-found-that-nothing-in-life-is-worthwhile-unless-you-take-risks/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [I and haven't been unemployed for 20 years. I'm an exception to the rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-and-haven-t-been-unemployed-for-20-years-i-m-an-exception-to-the/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [I'm very proud to be black, but black is not all I am. That's my cultural historical background, my genetic make-up, but it's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-m-very-proud-to-be-black-but-black-is-not-all-i-am-that-s-my/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [We'll all retire from life at some point. The great thing about acting is you don't necessarily have to retire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/we-ll-all-retire-from-life-at-some-point-the-great-thing-about-acting/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [It's strictly business. If I loan you $25 million, I want my money back. I don't want to hear about the social impact. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/it-s-strictly-business-if-i-loan-you-25-million-i-want-my-money-back/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [If you have an enemy, then learn and know your enemy, don't just be mad at him or her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/if-you-have-an-enemy-then-learn-and-know-your-enemy-don-t-just-be-mad/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [“He taught us that everyone has a good story and the more of others you understand, the better your grasp of human nature, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/he-taught-us-that-everyone-has-a-good-story-and-the-more-of-others/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Religion to me is when man gets ahold of spirituality: "My god is right, yours is wrong." Religion to me is the human condition.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/religion-to-me-is-when-man-gets-ahold-of-spirituality-my-god-is-right/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [I don't concern myself with award. I'd been to the party enough times to know it really didn't matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-don-t-concern-myself-with-award-i-d-been-to-the-party-enough-times/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [I've just directed a film called The Great Debaters, which is inspired by a true story about a young college debating team in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-ve-just-directed-a-film-called-the-great-debaters-which-is-inspired/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) [Explore all 253 Denzel Washington quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) ## 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": "Come on, I know bad acting when I hear it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Denzel Washington" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/come-on-i-know-bad-acting-when-i-hear-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/come-on-i-know-bad-acting-when-i-hear-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbd/denzel-washington-1345_acting_come-on-i-know-bad-acting-when-i-hear-it_2055743.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbd/denzel-washington-1345_acting_come-on-i-know-bad-acting-when-i-hear-it_2055743.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbd/denzel-washington-1345_acting_come-on-i-know-bad-acting-when-i-hear-it_2055743.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Come on, I know bad acting when I hear it.” — Denzel Washington", "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": "Denzel Washington", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Come on, I know bad acting...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/come-on-i-know-bad-acting-when-i-hear-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/come-on-i-know-bad-acting-when-i-hear-it/#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 } } ] } ```