--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Listen, acting is not surgery, it's…" description: "\"Listen, acting is not surgery, it's entertainment. You're doing something to hopefully move people, to make them laugh, to transport them. But actors a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/593/eddie-redmayne-13402_acting_listen-acting-is-not-surgery-it-s-entert_3064897.jpg" --- # Listen, acting is not surgery, it's entertainment. You're… ![“Listen, acting is not surgery, it's entertainment. You're doing something to hopefully move people, to make them laugh, to transport them. But actors are vulnerable, and the reason we're vulnerable is that we're always trying to recreate human behaviour.” quote by Eddie Redmayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/593/eddie-redmayne-13402_acting_listen-acting-is-not-surgery-it-s-entert_3064897.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/593/eddie-redmayne-13402_acting_listen-acting-is-not-surgery-it-s-entert_3064897.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/593/eddie-redmayne-13402_acting_listen-acting-is-not-surgery-it-s-entert_3064897.jpg) > “Listen, acting is not surgery, it's entertainment. You're doing something to hopefully move people, to make them laugh, to transport them. But actors are vulnerable, and the reason we're vulnerable is that we're always trying to recreate human behaviour.” [Eddie Redmayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-redmayne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting is portrayed as an art of recreating human behavior to entertain and move audiences, highlighting actors’ vulnerability. **In simple terms:** Acting recreates human behavior for entertainment. Key Takeaway Embrace vulnerability in creative expression. Themes art performance vulnerability entertainment human behavior Mood inspirational thoughtful Type creative reflective When to use this quote - theatre workshops - acting classes - performance critique Key Concepts method acting empathy storytelling Questions to Reflect On - How does vulnerability enhance performance? - What risks do actors face in authenticity? A Different Perspective The statement may idealize acting, ignoring commercial pressures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Surgery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-surgery-5157403/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Actors Vulnerable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors-vulnerable-5157404/) [Behaviour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behaviour/) [Entertainment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entertainment/) [Hopefully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hopefully/) [Human behaviour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-behaviour/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Laughing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughing/) [Listen Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listen-acting-4184257/) [Moving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Surgery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surgery/) [Surgery Entertainment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surgery-entertainment-5157405/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Transport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transport/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Vulnerable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vulnerable/) ## Related quotes > [I learned never to listen to acting teachers because they don't know what the hell they're talking about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-robbins/i-learned-never-to-listen-to-acting-teachers-because-they-don-t-know/) [Tim Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-robbins/) > [I feel that somewhere actors are vulnerable, that they need to be protected and this is why we find ourselves living life much less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepti-naval/i-feel-that-somewhere-actors-are-vulnerable-that-they-need-to-be/) [Deepti Naval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepti-naval/) > [It is unfortunate that in every industry, there are people who take advantage of needy people, but I would like to tell all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishita-dutta/it-is-unfortunate-that-in-every-industry-there-are-people-who-take/) [Ishita Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishita-dutta/) > [If there were a clear prospect that such evils were part of a barbarian past, then at least we might find a small crumb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-conway-morris/if-there-were-a-clear-prospect-that-such-evils-were-part-of-a/) [Simon Conway Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-conway-morris/) > [“Shakespeare's plays do not present easy solutions. 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Theatre is a purified version of real life, an extraction, an essence of human behaviour that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-catton/theatre-is-a-concentrate-of-life-as-normal-theatre-is-a-purified/) [Eleanor Catton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-catton/) > [“And he thought how in all the cases he'd solved the heart of crime seemed closer to his waking dreams than his own shadow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-godwin/and-he-thought-how-in-all-the-cases-he-d-solved-the-heart-of-crime/) [Richard Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-godwin/) > [“...you’d be amazed at the grand tales the human brain will throw up to make sense of something nonsensical.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianna-hardy/you-d-be-amazed-at-the-grand-tales-the-human-brain-will-throw-up-to/) [Dianna Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianna-hardy/) > [“Most people cannot stand being alone for long. They are always seeking groups to belong to, and if one group dissolves, they look for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/most-people-cannot-stand-being-alone-for-long-they-are-always-seeking/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“Children should be taught about history not as is usually the case now, that this is the record of long past events, which one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/children-should-be-taught-about-history-not-as-is-usually-the-case/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“I love science, current affairs, engines, bikes,lipsticks, human behaviour”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malebo-sephodi/i-love-science-current-affairs-engines-bikes-lipsticks-human-behaviour/) [Malebo Sephodi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malebo-sephodi/) > [“I used to believe, when I was 'just' a reader, that writers, because they wrote books where truth was found, because they described the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/i-used-to-believe-when-i-was-just-a-reader-that-writers-because-they/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [“I think this is one bad side of a mirror; it helps us to see the reflection of the effects of our own actions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/i-think-this-is-one-bad-side-of-a-mirror-it-helps-us-to-see-the/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) ## More by Eddie Redmayne > [And you can't complain about kissing Emma Watson. Isn't that what everyone in the world wants to do? I've known Emma for a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-redmayne/and-you-can-t-complain-about-kissing-emma-watson-isn-t-that-what/) [Eddie Redmayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-redmayne/) > [I feel like J.K. Rowling's world is one that is owned by everyone in some ways. People have grown up with it and have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-redmayne/i-feel-like-j-k-rowling-s-world-is-one-that-is-owned-by-everyone-in/) [Eddie Redmayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-redmayne/) > [I always think of comedy as being spontaneous, and yet everything about filmmaking is not spontaneous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-redmayne/i-always-think-of-comedy-as-being-spontaneous-and-yet-everything/) [Eddie Redmayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-redmayne/) > [I have this horrific thing where I'm really bad with names and faces. I have an appalling memory. Someone will come up to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-redmayne/i-have-this-horrific-thing-where-i-m-really-bad-with-names-and-faces/) [Eddie Redmayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-redmayne/) > [I find that what doubt does, or fear, is it makes you come up with as many ideas as you possibly can. And on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-redmayne/i-find-that-what-doubt-does-or-fear-is-it-makes-you-come-up-with-as/) [Eddie Redmayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-redmayne/) > [My first film, 'Like Minds,' was with Toni Colette, who was extraordinary. I mean it was basically a mini-masterclass for acting on film at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-redmayne/my-first-film-like-minds-was-with-toni-colette-who-was-extraordinary/) [Eddie Redmayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-redmayne/) > [I draw and play the piano badly. But when I’m doing those things, I’m concentrating so hard there’s no room for worry. I find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-redmayne/i-draw-and-play-the-piano-badly-but-when-i-m-doing-those-things-i-m/) [Eddie Redmayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-redmayne/) > [A lot of people think theatre must be much harder work than film, but anything histrionic or superfluous gets seen on camera so you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-redmayne/a-lot-of-people-think-theatre-must-be-much-harder-work-than-film-but/) [Eddie Redmayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-redmayne/) > [The fear of messing up is what makes you work harder!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-redmayne/the-fear-of-messing-up-is-what-makes-you-work-harder/) [Eddie Redmayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-redmayne/) > [People ask, "Do you enjoy acting?" But you only have those specific few hours to do a scene, and then you drive home and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-redmayne/people-ask-do-you-enjoy-acting-but-you-only-have-those-specific-few/) [Eddie Redmayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-redmayne/) > [Learning lines is hard for me because I have the attention span of a six year old. That's why being on planes all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-redmayne/learning-lines-is-hard-for-me-because-i-have-the-attention-span-of-a/) [Eddie Redmayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-redmayne/) > [I'm as voyeuristic and intrigued as the next person as to how celebrities live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-redmayne/i-m-as-voyeuristic-and-intrigued-as-the-next-person-as-to-how/) [Eddie Redmayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-redmayne/) > [It's the weird thing Eton does - you're at school next to lords and earls and, in my case, Prince William, so you end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-redmayne/it-s-the-weird-thing-eton-does-you-re-at-school-next-to-lords-and/) [Eddie Redmayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-redmayne/) > [Ladies and babies, and mortgages, for that matter, can all wait. Acting has done a strange thing to me, though. I often sit there,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-redmayne/ladies-and-babies-and-mortgages-for-that-matter-can-all-wait-acting/) [Eddie Redmayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-redmayne/) > [They're such hierarchical things, film sets, they're sort of mini societies. Often they're incredibly political places.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-redmayne/they-re-such-hierarchical-things-film-sets-they-re-sort-of-mini/) [Eddie Redmayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-redmayne/) [Explore all 50 Eddie Redmayne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-redmayne/) ## 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. 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