--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What has always been most interesting…" description: "\"What has always been most interesting about acting to me personally is that it affords you the chance to shift gears, both in terms of the experiences ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3e/edward-norton-2203_acting_what-has-always-been-most-interesting-ab_1762684.jpg" --- # What has always been most interesting about acting to me… ![“What has always been most interesting about acting to me personally is that it affords you the chance to shift gears, both in terms of the experiences you get to have through doing it, but also the different kinds of things you get to represent.” quote by Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3e/edward-norton-2203_acting_what-has-always-been-most-interesting-ab_1762684.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3e/edward-norton-2203_acting_what-has-always-been-most-interesting-ab_1762684.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3e/edward-norton-2203_acting_what-has-always-been-most-interesting-ab_1762684.jpg) > “What has always been most interesting about acting to me personally is that it affords you the chance to shift gears, both in terms of the experiences you get to have through doing it, but also the different kinds of things you get to represent.” [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting lets you explore new perspectives and embody different identities, enriching personal growth. **In simple terms:** Acting expands experience. Key Takeaway Seek roles that challenge you. Themes acting identity growth empathy creativity Mood inspired thoughtful Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - Theater classes - film auditions - improv workshops - personal development Key Concepts Method acting role immersion Questions to Reflect On - What character would push your boundaries? - How does embodying another shape your worldview? A Different Perspective Commercial roles may limit depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Personally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-personally-1706286/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Chance Shift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance-shift-955123/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Different kinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-kinds/) [Experiences Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experiences-doing-1706287/) [Gears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gears/) [Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting/) [Interesting Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting-acting-687771/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Most interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/most-interesting/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) ## Related quotes > [I believe from what I can see there is a good chance the shift will happen in humanity before it is too late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/i-believe-from-what-i-can-see-there-is-a-good-chance-the-shift-will/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [I could make thousands of dollars in Broadway musicals, but among the best experiences I had was doing 'Hamlet' in Milwaukee and a version…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cullum/i-could-make-thousands-of-dollars-in-broadway-musicals-but-among-the/) [John Cullum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cullum/) > [I had some really great experiences doing overdubs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-britt-daniel/i-had-some-really-great-experiences-doing-overdubs/) [John Britt Daniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-britt-daniel/) > [I'm sure my children will be artists. I hope they will direct because it is much more interesting. Acting is great, and I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-seigner/i-m-sure-my-children-will-be-artists-i-hope-they-will-direct-because/) [Emmanuelle Seigner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-seigner/) > [I don't think you have to be in these serious, heavy, independent little movies to be an actor. Some of the most interesting acting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-dern/i-don-t-think-you-have-to-be-in-these-serious-heavy-independent/) [Laura Dern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-dern/) > [It's really interesting how acting looks in real life when you remove the production.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilson/it-s-really-interesting-how-acting-looks-in-real-life-when-you-remove/) [John Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilson/) > [It's interesting, the acting thing. I think it must be a deep sense of insecurity that made me want to explore other characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trudie-styler/it-s-interesting-the-acting-thing-i-think-it-must-be-a-deep-sense-of/) [Trudie Styler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trudie-styler/) > [Unfortunately, there aren't enough interesting acting roles in New Zealand to sustain a career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taika-waititi/unfortunately-there-aren-t-enough-interesting-acting-roles-in-new/) [Taika Waititi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taika-waititi/) > [What I find most interesting about acting is transforming myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mccrory/what-i-find-most-interesting-about-acting-is-transforming-myself/) [Helen McCrory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mccrory/) > [Eventually writing became more interesting to me than acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/eventually-writing-became-more-interesting-to-me-than-acting/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [You're always choosing the start point and the end point. And almost by definition, the most interesting period is where something happens, as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/you-re-always-choosing-the-start-point-and-the-end-point-and-almost/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [One of the most interesting things for me in playing another species is that you want to make them different enough to be alien…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-murray/one-of-the-most-interesting-things-for-me-in-playing-another-species/) [Jaime Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-murray/) > [Too many things are possible in a dream. It's most interesting when you don't know which space you're in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiro-murai/too-many-things-are-possible-in-a-dream-it-s-most-interesting-when/) [Hiro Murai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiro-murai/) > [I didn't read about it for school. It was just for myself. I was interested in cults in general but Jonestown was the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danzy-senna/i-didn-t-read-about-it-for-school-it-was-just-for-myself-i-was/) [Danzy Senna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danzy-senna/) > [The karma that is most interesting is the mental karma because ultimately it generates physical action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-karma-that-is-most-interesting-is-the-mental-karma-because/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) ## More by Edward Norton > [I don't feel insecure about any of this work anymore. Maybe I don't have what I had when I was younger. I'm not really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-don-t-feel-insecure-about-any-of-this-work-anymore-maybe-i-don-t/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [ As an actor, if you step to the side and you look at \[Thornton's performance\] technically, and you try to imagine doing what he… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/as-an-actor-if-you-step-to-the-side-and-you-look-at-thornton-s/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [It's better for people to miss you than to have seen too much of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/it-s-better-for-people-to-miss-you-than-to-have-seen-too-much-of-you/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [You can't control everything that comes to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/you-can-t-control-everything-that-comes-to-you/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [The incentive for business is not, and cannot, be anything other than the root incentive for all business: they must profit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/the-incentive-for-business-is-not-and-cannot-be-anything-other-than/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [My greatest hope is that we transcend the most fearful thing, which is that we are rapidly degrading the ecological systems on this planet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/my-greatest-hope-is-that-we-transcend-the-most-fearful-thing-which-is/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [David Fincher is probably the best comprehensive director in terms of being a manger of a process that must drive forward. He has such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/david-fincher-is-probably-the-best-comprehensive-director-in-terms-of/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [Sometimes their oppression of emotion and the weird way it comes out is more interesting than painting it in bold primary colors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/sometimes-their-oppression-of-emotion-and-the-weird-way-it-comes-out/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [The thing I'm absolutely convinced of, no matter how crazy - technological the world is getting, is that people feel more connected through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/the-thing-i-m-absolutely-convinced-of-no-matter-how-crazy/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [Making really great music, making really great films, writing great books is an antidote to all of that. And, as people, as artists, some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/making-really-great-music-making-really-great-films-writing-great/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [I like music, but I need to get outside more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-like-music-but-i-need-to-get-outside-more/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [I've always liked the idea of taking old dramatic ideas and devices and making them feel relevant or contemporary or whatever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-ve-always-liked-the-idea-of-taking-old-dramatic-ideas-and-devices/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [I don't think you should sit around and wait for people to give you an opportunity to express yourself or do your work, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-don-t-think-you-should-sit-around-and-wait-for-people-to-give-you/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [To cite my own alma mater, it's shocking to me that Yale University can teach what it teaches at the Yale School of Environmental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/to-cite-my-own-alma-mater-it-s-shocking-to-me-that-yale-university/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [I had a huge advantage with Edward Norton because he's directed a movie before, so one thing he appreciates is how hard my job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-had-a-huge-advantage-with-edward-norton-because-he-s-directed-a/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) [Explore all 179 Edward Norton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What has always been most interesting about acting to me personally is that it affords you the chance to shift gears, both in terms of the experiences you get to have through doing it, but also the different kinds of things you get to represent.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward Norton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/what-has-always-been-most-interesting-about-acting-to-me-personally/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/what-has-always-been-most-interesting-about-acting-to-me-personally/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3e/edward-norton-2203_acting_what-has-always-been-most-interesting-ab_1762684.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3e/edward-norton-2203_acting_what-has-always-been-most-interesting-ab_1762684.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3e/edward-norton-2203_acting_what-has-always-been-most-interesting-ab_1762684.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What has always been most interesting about acting to me personally is that it affords you the chance to…” — Edward Norton", "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": "Edward Norton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What has always been most interesting...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/what-has-always-been-most-interesting-about-acting-to-me-personally/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/what-has-always-been-most-interesting-about-acting-to-me-personally/#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 } } ] } ```