--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The worst thing as an actor is when…" description: "\"The worst thing as an actor is when you're not getting opportunities to try and show what you can do; the best thing is when you get material that real..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57b/domhnall-gleeson-7289_about_the-worst-thing-as-an-actor-is-when-you_1420841.jpg" --- # The worst thing as an actor is when you're not getting… ![“The worst thing as an actor is when you're not getting opportunities to try and show what you can do; the best thing is when you get material that really lets you express something and that you're excited about.” quote by Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57b/domhnall-gleeson-7289_about_the-worst-thing-as-an-actor-is-when-you_1420841.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57b/domhnall-gleeson-7289_about_the-worst-thing-as-an-actor-is-when-you_1420841.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57b/domhnall-gleeson-7289_about_the-worst-thing-as-an-actor-is-when-you_1420841.jpg) > “The worst thing as an actor is when you're not getting opportunities to try and show what you can do; the best thing is when you get material that really lets you express something and that you're excited about.” [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. Actors thrive when they can showcase their talent through meaningful material, not just any role. **In simple terms:** Good roles let actors shine. Key Takeaway Seek projects that inspire you. Themes creativity career artistic fulfillment Mood passionate reflective Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - auditions - script selection - career planning - artistic collaboration Key Concepts acting expression opportunity Questions to Reflect On - What project truly excites you? - How do you find material that fits your voice? A Different Perspective Even great roles may lack depth or exposure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actor Getting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-getting-435880/) [Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best/) [Excited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excited/) [Express](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/express/) [Express Excited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/express-excited-5031967/) [Get](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get/) [Getting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting/) [Getting Opportunities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-opportunities-2322612/) [Lets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lets/) [Material](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/material/) [Opportunities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunities/) [Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really/) [Show](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/show/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing/) [Thing Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-actor/) [Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try/) [Worst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worst/) [Worst thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worst-thing/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [That's the great thing about being an actor: getting the opportunity to do something that really speaks to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tyree-henry/that-s-the-great-thing-about-being-an-actor-getting-the-opportunity/) [Brian Tyree Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tyree-henry/) > [If you think it's too good to be true…it probably is...for YOU...but that's not stopping the next guy from getting it! Opportunities come knockin'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markesa-yeager/if-you-think-it-s-too-good-to-be-true-it-probably-is-for-you-but-that/) [Markesa Yeager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markesa-yeager/) > [“It's not a question of getting the opportunities, it's a question of noticing that opportunities are there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sexton/it-s-not-a-question-of-getting-the-opportunities-it-s-a-question-of/) [John Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sexton/) > [A lot of people, be it writers, filmmakers, actors or technicians, are getting opportunities because of digital platforms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-mathur/a-lot-of-people-be-it-writers-filmmakers-actors-or-technicians-are/) [Arjun Mathur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-mathur/) > [Step by step I'm getting my opportunities and what's important for me is to be prepared to show my best whenever possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bojan-krkic/step-by-step-i-m-getting-my-opportunities-and-what-s-important-for-me/) [Bojan Krkic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bojan-krkic/) > [I'm getting so many more opportunities because I'm on magazine covers, and it's exciting to see your face up there and people buying them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-seyfried/i-m-getting-so-many-more-opportunities-because-i-m-on-magazine-covers/) [Amanda Seyfried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-seyfried/) > [Coming through the academy all you want to do is just play for your club and when you are not getting the opportunities there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-smith-rowe/coming-through-the-academy-all-you-want-to-do-is-just-play-for-your/) [Emile Smith Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-smith-rowe/) > [Education in British schools isn't good enough. It's not remotely imaginative enough. It lets down too many children, excluding them from society, and, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rogers/education-in-british-schools-isn-t-good-enough-it-s-not-remotely/) [Richard Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rogers/) > [I think part of the fun of being an actor is getting to work with different directors and seeing their take on it, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-reaser/i-think-part-of-the-fun-of-being-an-actor-is-getting-to-work-with/) [Elizabeth Reaser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-reaser/) > [I faced many ups and downs, like any other actor: not getting through auditions or even worse - getting shortlisted and not being selected.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fatima-sana-shaikh/i-faced-many-ups-and-downs-like-any-other-actor-not-getting-through/) [Fatima Sana Shaikh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fatima-sana-shaikh/) > [There's nothing more exciting as an actor than getting to do something that you're not entirely sure that anyone would let you do, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-paquin/there-s-nothing-more-exciting-as-an-actor-than-getting-to-do/) [Anna Paquin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-paquin/) > [For me, as an actor, it's always about getting out of my own way. I can put so much pressure on myself to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jovan-adepo/for-me-as-an-actor-it-s-always-about-getting-out-of-my-own-way-i-can/) [Jovan Adepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jovan-adepo/) > [I mean, it's fine when you're a kid and someone runs into the playground and goes, 'I've got this great game of pretend,' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-irons/i-mean-it-s-fine-when-you-re-a-kid-and-someone-runs-into-the/) [Max Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-irons/) > [For me, it was always that one extra job that you do to survive in the industry. I also realised that I was not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-banerjee/for-me-it-was-always-that-one-extra-job-that-you-do-to-survive-in-the/) [Abhishek Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-banerjee/) > [My parents are actors as well, so I grew up around that world. It was always a very romantic, mythical world. They did a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-fox/my-parents-are-actors-as-well-so-i-grew-up-around-that-world-it-was/) [Phoebe Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-fox/) ## 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 About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) [Browse all 26,122 About quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The worst thing as an actor is when you're not getting opportunities to try and show what you can do; the best thing is when you get material that really lets you express something and that you're excited about.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Domhnall Gleeson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/the-worst-thing-as-an-actor-is-when-you-re-not-getting-opportunities/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "About" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/the-worst-thing-as-an-actor-is-when-you-re-not-getting-opportunities/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57b/domhnall-gleeson-7289_about_the-worst-thing-as-an-actor-is-when-you_1420841.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57b/domhnall-gleeson-7289_about_the-worst-thing-as-an-actor-is-when-you_1420841.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57b/domhnall-gleeson-7289_about_the-worst-thing-as-an-actor-is-when-you_1420841.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The worst thing as an actor is when you're not getting opportunities to try and show what you can do; the…” — 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": "The worst thing as an actor...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/the-worst-thing-as-an-actor-is-when-you-re-not-getting-opportunities/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/the-worst-thing-as-an-actor-is-when-you-re-not-getting-opportunities/#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 } } ] } ```