--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was very intense. I think it's a…" description: "\"I was very intense. I think it's a privilege to be an actor.\" — Elia Kazan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21d/elia-kazan-6753_actor_i-was-very-intense-i-think-it-s-a-privil_638729.jpg" --- # I was very intense. I think it's a privilege to be an actor. ![“I was very intense. I think it's a privilege to be an actor.” quote by Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21d/elia-kazan-6753_actor_i-was-very-intense-i-think-it-s-a-privil_638729.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21d/elia-kazan-6753_actor_i-was-very-intense-i-think-it-s-a-privil_638729.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21d/elia-kazan-6753_actor_i-was-very-intense-i-think-it-s-a-privil_638729.jpg) > “I was very intense. I think it's a privilege to be an actor.” [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting demands intense immersion, making it a privileged, consuming craft. **In simple terms:** Acting is intense and rewarding. Key Takeaway Respect the craft’s depth. Themes artistry intensity privilege Mood reflective motivational Type professional creative When to use this quote - theatre - film set - rehearsal Key Concepts performance studies method acting Questions to Reflect On - How does intensity shape an actor’s life? - What privileges does acting grant? A Different Perspective Intensity can lead to burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Intense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intense/) [Intense Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intense-think-5132429/) [Privilege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privilege/) [Privilege Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privilege-actor-266328/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Think Privilege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-privilege-1037596/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I have to enjoy life - it is a privilege to be an actor and I love what I do, so I will act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-baxendale/i-have-to-enjoy-life-it-is-a-privilege-to-be-an-actor-and-i-love-what/) [Helen Baxendale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-baxendale/) > [It's a privilege to be an actor, as it's not work - it's a job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-nable/it-s-a-privilege-to-be-an-actor-as-it-s-not-work-it-s-a-job/) [Matthew Nable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-nable/) > [It's an incredible privilege for an actor to look into the camera. It's like looking right into the heart of the film, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-watson/it-s-an-incredible-privilege-for-an-actor-to-look-into-the-camera-it/) [Emily Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-watson/) > [Part of the privilege of being an actor is the people you get to work with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/part-of-the-privilege-of-being-an-actor-is-the-people-you-get-to-work/) [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) > [I think that being part of privilege and never having to work a day in your life is so boring. I'm so glad of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-that-being-part-of-privilege-and-never-having-to-work-a-day/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I love Eurovision. I think it's such a privilege to be able to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ryder/i-love-eurovision-i-think-it-s-such-a-privilege-to-be-able-to-do/) [Sam Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ryder/) > [All I could think of was what a privilege it was to give my life away for love's sake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-baker/all-i-could-think-of-was-what-a-privilege-it-was-to-give-my-life-away/) [Heidi Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-baker/) > [I really like being a woman. ... I like it more now because I think it's more of a privilege.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-vincent/i-really-like-being-a-woman-i-like-it-more-now-because-i-think-it-s/) [Norah Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-vincent/) > [“When you arise in the morning think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love ...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/when-you-arise-in-the-morning-think-of-what-a-privilege-it-is-to-be/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [I think it's a privilege to be able to fly to somewhere where people want to see my show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burr/i-think-it-s-a-privilege-to-be-able-to-fly-to-somewhere-where-people/) [Bill Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burr/) > [“I think of the privilege it is to be able to speak life over these hurting people and believe in new life for them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-davis-majors/i-think-of-the-privilege-it-is-to-be-able-to-speak-life-over-these/) [Katie Davis Majors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-davis-majors/) > [If we had nothing but pecuniary rewards and worldly honours to look to, our profession would not be one to be desired. But in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lister/if-we-had-nothing-but-pecuniary-rewards-and-worldly-honours-to-look/) [Joseph Lister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lister/) > [I did an action series back in '97, and did very intense training; weapons, knives, hand-to-hand combat. The more an actor trains in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melinda-clarke/i-did-an-action-series-back-in-97-and-did-very-intense-training/) [Melinda Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melinda-clarke/) > [It's really weird to be in more than one franchise because an actor's life is so nomadic, and so it's a real privilege to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cho/it-s-really-weird-to-be-in-more-than-one-franchise-because-an-actor-s/) [John Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cho/) > [I always think as actors, we have the privilege of going to red carpet events and dressing up and having glam teams. I'm like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-coughlan/i-always-think-as-actors-we-have-the-privilege-of-going-to-red-carpet/) [Nicola Coughlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-coughlan/) ## More by Elia Kazan > [The essence of the stage is concentration and penetration. Of the screen action, movement, sweep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/the-essence-of-the-stage-is-concentration-and-penetration-of-the/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [I didn't have the problem of finding myself at 45 on the wrong course - I always wanted to be a film director.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/i-didn-t-have-the-problem-of-finding-myself-at-45-on-the-wrong-course/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [Never underestimate the narcissism of a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/never-underestimate-the-narcissism-of-a-writer/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [What's called a difficult decision is a difficult decision because either way you go there are penalties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/what-s-called-a-difficult-decision-is-a-difficult-decision-because/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [You can't just sit there and do the lines. You have to do something revealing or unusual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/you-can-t-just-sit-there-and-do-the-lines-you-have-to-do-something/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [I'm small, but I'm neither compliant nor agreeable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/i-m-small-but-i-m-neither-compliant-nor-agreeable/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [If you're going to play a cowboy, show up with the horse at the audition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/if-you-re-going-to-play-a-cowboy-show-up-with-the-horse-at-the/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [I value peace, too, when it is not bought at the price of fundamental decencies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/i-value-peace-too-when-it-is-not-bought-at-the-price-of-fundamental/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [You have no idea how fragile an actor's self-worth is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/you-have-no-idea-how-fragile-an-actor-s-self-worth-is/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [There was no doubt that there was a vast organization which was making fools of all the liberals in Hollywood and taking their money,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/there-was-no-doubt-that-there-was-a-vast-organization-which-was/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [The makers of entertainment must try, in our field, to be honest and grown-up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/the-makers-of-entertainment-must-try-in-our-field-to-be-honest-and/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [I'm very pro-America, but I feel it necessary to keep in touch with Europe to maintain a perspective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/i-m-very-pro-america-but-i-feel-it-necessary-to-keep-in-touch-with/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [It's difficult, if not impossible, to get away with anything false before the camera. That instrument penetrates the husk of the actor; it reveals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/it-s-difficult-if-not-impossible-to-get-away-with-anything-false/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [For years after I resigned, I was still faithful to their way of thinking. But not in the American Communists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/for-years-after-i-resigned-i-was-still-faithful-to-their-way-of/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [You've got to keep fighting; you've got to risk your life every six months to stay alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/you-ve-got-to-keep-fighting-you-ve-got-to-risk-your-life-every-six/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) [Explore all 97 Elia Kazan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) ## More Actor 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/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [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/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [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/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was very intense. 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