--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always felt like I needed to act. Not…" description: "\"I always felt like I needed to act. Not that I wanted to act, but I needed to. And I still feel that same way. There's an expression that I get to have..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4a/dylan-mcdermott-13907_acting_i-always-felt-like-i-needed-to-act-not-t_270299.png" --- # I always felt like I needed to act. Not that I wanted to… ![“I always felt like I needed to act. Not that I wanted to act, but I needed to. And I still feel that same way. There's an expression that I get to have in acting that I can't consciously express in my life. It has always defined me and it always will.” quote by Dylan McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4a/dylan-mcdermott-13907_acting_i-always-felt-like-i-needed-to-act-not-t_270299.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4a/dylan-mcdermott-13907_acting_i-always-felt-like-i-needed-to-act-not-t_270299.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4a/dylan-mcdermott-13907_acting_i-always-felt-like-i-needed-to-act-not-t_270299.png) > “I always felt like I needed to act. Not that I wanted to act, but I needed to. And I still feel that same way. There's an expression that I get to have in acting that I can't consciously express in my life. It has always defined me and it always will.” [Dylan McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-mcdermott/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A deep, internal drive compels him to act, shaping his identity and purpose. **In simple terms:** He feels a strong need to act. Key Takeaway Channel that drive into purposeful projects. Themes motivation identity action Mood reflective determined Type psychological inspirational When to use this quote - career decisions - creative pursuits - personal challenges Key Concepts psychology self‑determination Questions to Reflect On - What does acting mean to you beyond work? - How can you ensure actions align with values? A Different Perspective Risk of burnout if acting without reflection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [What once was an expression of who I was - acting - also became my hiding place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salma-hayek/what-once-was-an-expression-of-who-i-was-acting-also-became-my-hiding/) [Salma Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salma-hayek/) > [“M. de Rollebon was my partner; he needed me in order to exist and I needed him so as not to feel my existence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/m-de-rollebon-was-my-partner-he-needed-me-in-order-to-exist-and-i/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [“He didn't just want her now. He needed her. He needed to feel his rhythm in her body, to see if his soul was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexxie-couper/he-didn-t-just-want-her-now-he-needed-her-he-needed-to-feel-his/) [Lexxie Couper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexxie-couper/) > [Race is used, by all of us, in the most manipulative ways, is often force-fit and reduced to something it isn't, to something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coleman/race-is-used-by-all-of-us-in-the-most-manipulative-ways-is-often/) [Jonathan Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coleman/) > [“I continued with heavy sobs."Please Cassandra.Wake up,sweetheart.I'll do anything.I need you.You're all I've ever needed.All I've ever wanted." I pulled away and stroked my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-graham/i-continued-with-heavy-sobs-please-cassandra-wake-up-sweetheart-i-ll/) [Angela Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-graham/) > ['Waterfalls' spoke to so many people at a time where people needed to feel like somebody was on their side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tionne-watkins/waterfalls-spoke-to-so-many-people-at-a-time-where-people-needed-to/) [Tionne Watkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tionne-watkins/) > [In my case, spirituality has been important to me because at periods in my life there's been very little else that I've had going.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/assata-shakur/in-my-case-spirituality-has-been-important-to-me-because-at-periods/) [Assata Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/assata-shakur/) > [“They fell quiet. Cork wanted to say he loved her. He wanted to ask her to forgive him. 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I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-pfeiffer/i-decided-i-needed-something-that-i-could-feel-as-passionate-about-as/) [Michelle Pfeiffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-pfeiffer/) > [“He needed to feel hot, naked skin against his. His hand on a warm, soft female. His mouth on her neck and belly and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-needed-to-feel-hot-naked-skin-against-his-his-hand-on-a-warm-soft/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“She ignited his protectiveness when she'd leaned into him. Needed him. And he'd needed to feel her in his arms then. Their hearts had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goddard/she-ignited-his-protectiveness-when-she-d-leaned-into-him-needed-him/) [Elizabeth Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goddard/) > [“I've never felt so much at once. I've never needed to feel more. I lift my head and look back down into her eyes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/i-ve-never-felt-so-much-at-once-i-ve-never-needed-to-feel-more-i-lift/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [The more experience you have, the less is needed, but I feel like I have good support around me and people helping me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-stroll/the-more-experience-you-have-the-less-is-needed-but-i-feel-like-i/) [Lance Stroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-stroll/) ## More by Dylan McDermott > [Style is innate to who I am. My father gave me a picture the other day. I must have been about seven, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-mcdermott/style-is-innate-to-who-i-am-my-father-gave-me-a-picture-the-other-day/) [Dylan McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-mcdermott/) > [It's the cable shows that are really the most interesting - 'Mad Men,' 'Breaking Bad,' those shows are really the premiere shows on television…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-mcdermott/it-s-the-cable-shows-that-are-really-the-most-interesting-mad-men/) [Dylan McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-mcdermott/) > [Most of the time people are aiming so low on television. They're trying to reach that common denominator, especially on network television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-mcdermott/most-of-the-time-people-are-aiming-so-low-on-television-they-re/) [Dylan McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-mcdermott/) > [L.A. is still such a fascinating place to me, so big and diverse. It's so spread out that you can go from Zuma to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-mcdermott/l-a-is-still-such-a-fascinating-place-to-me-so-big-and-diverse-it-s/) [Dylan McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-mcdermott/) > [In the consciousness of the end is the limitation of the moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-mcdermott/in-the-consciousness-of-the-end-is-the-limitation-of-the-moment/) [Dylan McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-mcdermott/) > [As an actor, you always have to reinvent yourself or you end up in the gutter somewhere. It's my job to always change people's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-mcdermott/as-an-actor-you-always-have-to-reinvent-yourself-or-you-end-up-in-the/) [Dylan McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-mcdermott/) > [I really am a character actor, in my heart of hearts, because I really do like developing characters and painting a past for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-mcdermott/i-really-am-a-character-actor-in-my-heart-of-hearts-because-i-really/) [Dylan McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-mcdermott/) > [The Victorian era is the sexiest age for me, but I also like a woman in a pair of jeans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-mcdermott/the-victorian-era-is-the-sexiest-age-for-me-but-i-also-like-a-woman/) [Dylan McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-mcdermott/) > [I've always been fascinated by Baretta and Donny Brasco, and other undercover cops in movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-mcdermott/i-ve-always-been-fascinated-by-baretta-and-donny-brasco-and-other/) [Dylan McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-mcdermott/) > [With the rise of cable, network is clearly floundering because the characters on cable are far more fascinating than they are on network. Network…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-mcdermott/with-the-rise-of-cable-network-is-clearly-floundering-because-the/) [Dylan McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-mcdermott/) > [You never want to have a movie be derivative, because that's the worst if you ask me. I always want to be in original…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-mcdermott/you-never-want-to-have-a-movie-be-derivative-because-that-s-the-worst/) [Dylan McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-mcdermott/) > [Everything keeps changing. People want to label things all the time and once you label it, it changes again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-mcdermott/everything-keeps-changing-people-want-to-label-things-all-the-time/) [Dylan McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-mcdermott/) > [Dark Blue' is ultimately a gritty crime drama, at its core. I don't think that is ever going to change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-mcdermott/dark-blue-is-ultimately-a-gritty-crime-drama-at-its-core-i-don-t/) [Dylan McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-mcdermott/) > [My theory about actors is we're all walking milk cartons. Expirations dates everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-mcdermott/my-theory-about-actors-is-we-re-all-walking-milk-cartons-expirations/) [Dylan McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-mcdermott/) > [New York had a big influence on me growing up, and I was really part of the club scene - the Mudd Club and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-mcdermott/new-york-had-a-big-influence-on-me-growing-up-and-i-was-really-part/) [Dylan McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-mcdermott/) [Explore all 48 Dylan McDermott quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-mcdermott/) ## 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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