--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He [Charlie Chaplin] was always playing…" description: "\"He [Charlie Chaplin] was always playing as if it were to the camera, if you've seen the live shots of him when he's going to an opening night or someth..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/429/eddie-izzard-1732_ability_he-charlie-chaplin-was-always-playing-as_2566917.jpg" --- # He \[Charlie Chaplin\] was always playing as if it were to… ![“He [Charlie Chaplin] was always playing as if it were to the camera, if you've seen the live shots of him when he's going to an opening night or something like that. And the skills that he had were beyond my ability to throw together. You just couldn't really compete with him. He was too athletic…” quote by Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/429/eddie-izzard-1732_ability_he-charlie-chaplin-was-always-playing-as_2566917.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/429/eddie-izzard-1732_ability_he-charlie-chaplin-was-always-playing-as_2566917.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/429/eddie-izzard-1732_ability_he-charlie-chaplin-was-always-playing-as_2566917.jpg) > “He \[Charlie Chaplin\] was always playing as if it were to the camera, if you've seen the live shots of him when he's going to an opening night or something like that. And the skills that he had were beyond my ability to throw together. You just couldn't really compete with him. He was too athletic at that.” [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Chaplin performed with such natural, camera‑ready charisma and athletic skill that it seemed effortless and unmatched. **In simple terms:** Chaplin’s effortless, athletic performance was unmatched. Key Takeaway Study and emulate his physicality and timing. Themes performance charisma skill athletics Mood admiring inspired Type observational motivational When to use this quote - theatre rehearsals - film auditions - live comedy shows - physical training Key Concepts method acting physical comedy stagecraft Questions to Reflect On - How can you develop comparable physical comedy skills? - What aspects of his performance can you adapt to your own style? A Different Perspective His style may be hard to replicate without similar physical talent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Cameras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cameras/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Opening night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opening-night/) [Skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skills/) ## Related quotes > [When I'm on an adult set and I'm in a scene, I am myself. I'm not acting. I am playing to the camera, definitely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sasha-grey/when-i-m-on-an-adult-set-and-i-m-in-a-scene-i-am-myself-i-m-not/) [Sasha Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sasha-grey/) > [Having done stand-up on television and in stand-up specials for like Comedy Central, you learn quickly that for that type of performance you're playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/having-done-stand-up-on-television-and-in-stand-up-specials-for-like/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [I've studied Charlie Chaplin for years. I've studied Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, all of them. I don't play around. This is not a game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-haddish/i-ve-studied-charlie-chaplin-for-years-i-ve-studied-lucille-ball/) [Tiffany Haddish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-haddish/) > [When you see Charlie Chaplin, he stays funny. He doesn't become drama, and so what really seems to endure is comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-nielsen/when-you-see-charlie-chaplin-he-stays-funny-he-doesn-t-become-drama/) [Leslie Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-nielsen/) > [American culture has a lot of great moustaches in its history. Mark Twain had a great moustache, Charlie Chaplin, Ben Turpin ... but Zappa,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-groening/american-culture-has-a-lot-of-great-moustaches-in-its-history-mark/) [Matt Groening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-groening/) > [I've always loved the Marx brothers and Charlie Chaplin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-slater/i-ve-always-loved-the-marx-brothers-and-charlie-chaplin/) [Ethan Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-slater/) > [If you know anything about James Whitcomb Riley, you know that Little Orphan Annie is one of the most fantastic characters who ever lived…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marguerite-young/if-you-know-anything-about-james-whitcomb-riley-you-know-that-little/) [Marguerite Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marguerite-young/) > [The end of 'City Lights' makes me cry every time I see it - when Charlie Chaplin walks by the shop window and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-stone/the-end-of-city-lights-makes-me-cry-every-time-i-see-it-when-charlie/) [Emma Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-stone/) > [To truly laugh, you must be able to take your pain, and play with it - Charlie Chaplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-chaplin/to-truly-laugh-you-must-be-able-to-take-your-pain-and-play-with-it/) [Charlie Chaplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-chaplin/) > [Charlie Chaplin, too, through spectacle, contraband certain ideas, put them through, ideas that even today are not being expressed by great statesmen and politicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-leone/charlie-chaplin-too-through-spectacle-contraband-certain-ideas-put/) [Sergio Leone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-leone/) > [In my life, I wanted to meet certain people. I never met Charlie Chaplin, but I met Werner Herzog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/in-my-life-i-wanted-to-meet-certain-people-i-never-met-charlie/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [He's my favorite! He wrote and produced, and starred in and cast all of his movies! Can you imagine? I get really excited when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-stone/he-s-my-favorite-he-wrote-and-produced-and-starred-in-and-cast-all-of/) [Emma Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-stone/) > [I know of only six genuine comic geniuses in movie history; Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Groucho Marx & Harpo Marx, Peter Sellers, and W.C.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-know-of-only-six-genuine-comic-geniuses-in-movie-history-charlie/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [There are people that I am in love with, totally in love with them. I would die for them. I love Michelangelo. I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/there-are-people-that-i-am-in-love-with-totally-in-love-with-them-i/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [People try to put ownership on things: 'That's mine, that's my joke.' No such thing. Like if you tripped or stumbled and people go,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-chong/people-try-to-put-ownership-on-things-that-s-mine-that-s-my-joke-no/) [Tommy Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-chong/) ## More by Eddie Izzard > [When I first came out, I thought, I want to walk like a real woman, I don't want to do mincing steps. And there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/when-i-first-came-out-i-thought-i-want-to-walk-like-a-real-woman-i/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [“You know, I don't believe that religions are religions. No, I believe they are philosophies with some good ideas and some fuckin' weird ones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/you-know-i-don-t-believe-that-religions-are-religions-no-i-believe/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [If you've never seen an elephant ski, then you've never been on acid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/if-you-ve-never-seen-an-elephant-ski-then-you-ve-never-been-on-acid/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [I don't believe in God. I believe gods and devils are within us. It's our own battle. Our life's battle is to appeal to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/i-don-t-believe-in-god-i-believe-gods-and-devils-are-within-us-it-s/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [“If you are an LGBT+ person and you come out, you have to go through your knight’s quest to create ground for yourself, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/if-you-are-an-lgbt-person-and-you-come-out-you-have-to-go-through/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [America is the new Roman Empire. Remember what happened to Rome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/america-is-the-new-roman-empire-remember-what-happened-to-rome/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [I wanna live 'til I die, no more, no less.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/i-wanna-live-til-i-die-no-more-no-less/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [I try to just talk about human stories and what I think about religion or teapots or whatever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/i-try-to-just-talk-about-human-stories-and-what-i-think-about/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [This is your captain speaking. Welcome aboard flight...one, from...here to there. We'll be cruising at a height of ten feet, going up to twelve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/this-is-your-captain-speaking-welcome-aboard-flight-one-from-here-to/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [You have the American dream! The dream is to be born in a gutter and grow up, and then get all the money in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/you-have-the-american-dream-the-dream-is-to-be-born-in-a-gutter-and/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [Because we all know one of the main factors of war is the element of surprise. And what could be more surprising than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/because-we-all-know-one-of-the-main-factors-of-war-is-the-element-of/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [We have two hundred languages in Europe. Two hundred languages! Count them! I know you won't!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/we-have-two-hundred-languages-in-europe-two-hundred-languages-count/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [I don't believe that competitions are important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/i-don-t-believe-that-competitions-are-important/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [“Have you got a flag?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/have-you-got-a-flag/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [Cause if you're a transvestite, you're actually a male tomboy, that's where the sexuality is. Yeah, it's not drag queen, no; gay men have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/cause-if-you-re-a-transvestite-you-re-actually-a-male-tomboy-that-s/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) [Explore all 210 Eddie Izzard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. 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Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [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/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "He [Charlie Chaplin] was always playing as if it were to the camera, if you've seen the live shots of him when he's going to an opening night or something like that. 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