--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm not going to get better as an actor…" description: "\"I'm not going to get better as an actor working on bad stuff.\" — Domhnall Gleeson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/187/domhnall-gleeson-7289_actor_i-m-not-going-to-get-better-as-an-actor_2973907.jpg" --- # I'm not going to get better as an actor working on bad… ![“I'm not going to get better as an actor working on bad stuff.” quote by Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/187/domhnall-gleeson-7289_actor_i-m-not-going-to-get-better-as-an-actor_2973907.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/187/domhnall-gleeson-7289_actor_i-m-not-going-to-get-better-as-an-actor_2973907.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/187/domhnall-gleeson-7289_actor_i-m-not-going-to-get-better-as-an-actor_2973907.jpg) > “I'm not going to get better as an actor working on bad stuff.” [Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An actor cannot improve by repeating poor material; quality work drives growth. **In simple terms:** Bad roles hinder development. Key Takeaway Seek better scripts. Themes growth craft choice Mood reflective determined Type advice career When to use this quote - audition selection - script analysis - role preparation - career planning Key Concepts artistic integrity career development Questions to Reflect On - What criteria define a "good" role for you? - How do you balance artistic risk with career stability? A Different Perspective Even good roles can be limiting if they typecast. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actor Working](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-working-241726/) [Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad/) [Bad stuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-stuff/) [Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/) [Better actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-actor/) [Get](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get/) [Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going/) [Going Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-better-325748/) [Stuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stuff/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Working](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working/) [Working Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-bad-2788479/) ## Related quotes > [I know that I'm better as an actor when I'm working with a good actor. I think anytime you're working with a better actor,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/i-know-that-i-m-better-as-an-actor-when-i-m-working-with-a-good-actor/) [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) > [I want to keep working with the best, keep going and be a better actor each time I go and dive into something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-kitsch/i-want-to-keep-working-with-the-best-keep-going-and-be-a-better-actor/) [Taylor Kitsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-kitsch/) > [Don't be afraid to let someone go if it's not working. You're not a bad boss. You're not a bad CEO.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-wolfe-herd/don-t-be-afraid-to-let-someone-go-if-it-s-not-working-you-re-not-a/) [Whitney Wolfe Herd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-wolfe-herd/) > [Not working is bad for you. It is my drug, it gives me a high; most performers will tell you that. And there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-forsyth/not-working-is-bad-for-you-it-is-my-drug-it-gives-me-a-high-most/) [Bruce Forsyth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-forsyth/) > [Working is bad enough in the winter, but in the summer it can become completely intolerable. Stuck in airless offices, every fibre of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/working-is-bad-enough-in-the-winter-but-in-the-summer-it-can-become/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [I was never really a child actor. I was working sporadically in indie films in Pennsylvania, but I was still living at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-mcdermott/i-was-never-really-a-child-actor-i-was-working-sporadically-in-indie/) [Charlie McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-mcdermott/) > [I think L.A.'s terrific. You fly an hour and a half and you're in the mountains in three feet of powder. I also think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-patterson/i-think-l-a-s-terrific-you-fly-an-hour-and-a-half-and-you-re-in-the/) [Scott Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-patterson/) > [I'm always looking for work. There are only two states of being an actor, so if I'm not working, I'm looking for employment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-o-quinn/i-m-always-looking-for-work-there-are-only-two-states-of-being-an/) [Terry O'Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-o-quinn/) > [As a working-class actor, leaving school with no qualifications, being a printer and then becoming an actor and then working with people who to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-marsan/as-a-working-class-actor-leaving-school-with-no-qualifications-being/) [Eddie Marsan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-marsan/) > [Sometimes, you run into trouble as an actor when you're not working with someone who is collaborative or doesn't bring themselves to the piece,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-peck/sometimes-you-run-into-trouble-as-an-actor-when-you-re-not-working/) [Josh Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-peck/) > [It's hard because there's a little bit of PTSD from when you're a struggling actor, working at a restaurant or living in a garage.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-powell/it-s-hard-because-there-s-a-little-bit-of-ptsd-from-when-you-re-a/) [Glen Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-powell/) > [When people are bothering you constantly when you're trying to do just a simple thing that humans do every day but they won't let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/when-people-are-bothering-you-constantly-when-you-re-trying-to-do/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [The biggest challenge to being an actor is, when you're not working, just being unemployed: the downtime and not having anything to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alden-ehrenreich/the-biggest-challenge-to-being-an-actor-is-when-you-re-not-working/) [Alden Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alden-ehrenreich/) > [You have to love, without judgment, every actor that you're working with to make beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/you-have-to-love-without-judgment-every-actor-that-you-re-working/) [Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/) > [There's a level of confidence in the actor you're working with that really helps a lot. It makes all the difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-bale/there-s-a-level-of-confidence-in-the-actor-you-re-working-with-that/) [Christian Bale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-bale/) ## More by Domhnall Gleeson > [I don't go to premieres I'm not involved in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/i-don-t-go-to-premieres-i-m-not-involved-in/) [Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/) > [It's nice to sit down when you're not working. I try to do it as often as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/it-s-nice-to-sit-down-when-you-re-not-working-i-try-to-do-it-as-often/) [Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/) > [When I was younger, my father told me not to pigeonhole the way that I perceive myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/when-i-was-younger-my-father-told-me-not-to-pigeonhole-the-way-that-i/) [Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/) > [If there's one person in the world with whom a chemistry read is unnecessary, it's Rachel McAdams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/if-there-s-one-person-in-the-world-with-whom-a-chemistry-read-is/) [Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/) > [Normally, in a film with lots of twists and turns, half of them don't make sense; they're just there for their own sakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/normally-in-a-film-with-lots-of-twists-and-turns-half-of-them-don-t/) [Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/) > [The idea of having dreams that don't come true is really terrifying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/the-idea-of-having-dreams-that-don-t-come-true-is-really-terrifying/) [Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/) > [I'm certainly a young actor. I'm certainly those two things. Actually, I'm not even young anymore; I'm 29. So, I'm an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/i-m-certainly-a-young-actor-i-m-certainly-those-two-things-actually-i/) [Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/) > [All the time travelling in the world can’t make someone love you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/all-the-time-travelling-in-the-world-can-t-make-someone-love-you/) [Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/) > [Look at Cillian Murphy: 'Batman,' 'Tron'... those are some heavy-hitting franchises. But he works his way around it. He manages to have a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/look-at-cillian-murphy-batman-tron-those-are-some-heavy-hitting/) [Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/) > [The only music I've ever written was for a film called Frank, and the idea was that it was the worst music in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/the-only-music-i-ve-ever-written-was-for-a-film-called-frank-and-the/) [Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/) > [As an actor, there's very little you can do if people don't want to see you. Just getting yourself into the room to audition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/as-an-actor-there-s-very-little-you-can-do-if-people-don-t-want-to/) [Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/) > [I did 'Never Let Me Go,' and there were amazing people on that. Brilliant writer, director, cast. That was quite special.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/i-did-never-let-me-go-and-there-were-amazing-people-on-that-brilliant/) [Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/) > [It was when I was on stage that I realized that acting could be such a brilliant job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/it-was-when-i-was-on-stage-that-i-realized-that-acting-could-be-such/) [Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/) > [Conventionally handsome is not really where I'm at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/conventionally-handsome-is-not-really-where-i-m-at/) [Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/) > [I've gotten work based on how I look, and I've not gotten work based on how I look. It's all good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/i-ve-gotten-work-based-on-how-i-look-and-i-ve-not-gotten-work-based/) [Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/) [Explore all 92 Domhnall Gleeson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/) ## More Actor 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/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [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/) > [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/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [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/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm not going to get better as an actor working on bad stuff.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Domhnall Gleeson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/i-m-not-going-to-get-better-as-an-actor-working-on-bad-stuff/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/i-m-not-going-to-get-better-as-an-actor-working-on-bad-stuff/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/187/domhnall-gleeson-7289_actor_i-m-not-going-to-get-better-as-an-actor_2973907.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/187/domhnall-gleeson-7289_actor_i-m-not-going-to-get-better-as-an-actor_2973907.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/187/domhnall-gleeson-7289_actor_i-m-not-going-to-get-better-as-an-actor_2973907.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm not going to get better as an actor working on bad stuff.” — Domhnall Gleeson", "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": "Domhnall Gleeson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'm not going to get better...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/i-m-not-going-to-get-better-as-an-actor-working-on-bad-stuff/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/i-m-not-going-to-get-better-as-an-actor-working-on-bad-stuff/#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 } } ] } ```