--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was doing the work I was capable of…" description: "\"I was doing the work I was capable of doing with my own native talent, but when I looked at actors like Marlon Brando, Jimmy Dean, Kim Stanley, and Ger..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/482/ellen-burstyn-12671_capable_i-was-doing-the-work-i-was-capable-of-do_1863477.jpg" --- # I was doing the work I was capable of doing with my own… ![“I was doing the work I was capable of doing with my own native talent, but when I looked at actors like Marlon Brando, Jimmy Dean, Kim Stanley, and Geraldine Page, I knew that they knew something that I didn't know. I wanted to find out what that was.” quote by Ellen Burstyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/482/ellen-burstyn-12671_capable_i-was-doing-the-work-i-was-capable-of-do_1863477.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/482/ellen-burstyn-12671_capable_i-was-doing-the-work-i-was-capable-of-do_1863477.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/482/ellen-burstyn-12671_capable_i-was-doing-the-work-i-was-capable-of-do_1863477.jpg) > “I was doing the work I was capable of doing with my own native talent, but when I looked at actors like Marlon Brando, Jimmy Dean, Kim Stanley, and Geraldine Page, I knew that they knew something that I didn't know. I wanted to find out what that was.” [Ellen Burstyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-burstyn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She recognized that great actors possess an intangible skill beyond natural talent, prompting her to seek deeper mastery. **In simple terms:** Great actors have hidden skills she wants to learn. Key Takeaway Study and emulate the hidden qualities of masters. Themes acting selfimprovement learning Mood inspired curious Type reflective motivational When to use this quote - acting workshops - film study - personal coaching - observational learning Key Concepts craft intuition mastery Questions to Reflect On - What hidden skill do you already have? - How can you integrate others' techniques without losing yourself? A Different Perspective She may overlook her own unique strengths while chasing others. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Doing The Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-the-work/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [When I was younger, I looked to actors like they were from another planet. You couldn't believe you could be anywhere near that world.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-sturgess/when-i-was-younger-i-looked-to-actors-like-they-were-from-another/) [Jim Sturgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-sturgess/) > [“It is not the man of great native talent who wins, but he who pushes his talent however small to its utmost capacity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-coats/it-is-not-the-man-of-great-native-talent-who-wins-but-he-who-pushes/) Carolyn Coats > [I figure there are a few actors like Marlon Brando, George C. Scott and Laurence Olivier who have been touched by the hand of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-forsythe/i-figure-there-are-a-few-actors-like-marlon-brando-george-c-scott-and/) [John Forsythe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-forsythe/) > [Most actors are like, 'I want to be more like Marlon Brando.' But when I was a little kid, I just wanted to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-till/most-actors-are-like-i-want-to-be-more-like-marlon-brando-but-when-i/) [Lucas Till](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-till/) > [“I looked at the actors with whom I’d grown so familiar over the last few months: Scott Holmes (who was playing Mike—and who was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-sestero/i-looked-at-the-actors-with-whom-i-d-grown-so-familiar-over-the-last/) [Greg Sestero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-sestero/) > [ I enjoy the physicality a little more, with Vinnie Paz \[in Bleed for This\] that was the most prep I've ever had to do… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-teller/i-enjoy-the-physicality-a-little-more-with-vinnie-paz-in-bleed-for/) [Miles Teller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-teller/) > [I've decided it's finally time for me to get a real "leading man" body. Like Marlon Brando in The Godfather.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-segel/i-ve-decided-it-s-finally-time-for-me-to-get-a-real-leading-man-body/) [Jason Segel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-segel/) > [The most realistic blood I've seen is when Marlon Brando gets beat up in On The Waterfront.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-a-romero/the-most-realistic-blood-i-ve-seen-is-when-marlon-brando-gets-beat-up/) [George A. Romero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-a-romero/) > [I said to Tennessee, this thing is becoming the Marlon Brando show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/i-said-to-tennessee-this-thing-is-becoming-the-marlon-brando-show/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > ['The Simpsons' is like Charlie Parker or Marlon Brando or Richard Pryor: Comedy couldn't go back to the way it was after 'The Simpsons'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-andre/the-simpsons-is-like-charlie-parker-or-marlon-brando-or-richard-pryor/) [Eric Andre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-andre/) > [Marlon Brando said any guy can become an actor. It takes a real man to quit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-davis/marlon-brando-said-any-guy-can-become-an-actor-it-takes-a-real-man-to/) Clifton Davis > [I used to go over to Gene Kelly's house and play volleyball, and Paul Newman and Marlon Brando were always there. You kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-collins/i-used-to-go-over-to-gene-kelly-s-house-and-play-volleyball-and-paul/) [Joan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-collins/) > [I mean, the actors that I admired were Marlon Brando, Montgomery Clift, an actress named Barbara Harris. And Greta Garbo. They were great actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/i-mean-the-actors-that-i-admired-were-marlon-brando-montgomery-clift/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) > [If Fred Astaire is the Cary Grant of dance, I'm the Marlon Brando.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kelly/if-fred-astaire-is-the-cary-grant-of-dance-i-m-the-marlon-brando/) [Gene Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kelly/) > [I came out here with one suit and everybody said I looked like a bum. Twenty years later Marlon Brando came out with only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humphrey-bogart/i-came-out-here-with-one-suit-and-everybody-said-i-looked-like-a-bum/) [Humphrey Bogart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humphrey-bogart/) ## More by Ellen Burstyn > [It's interesting: John Calley at Warner Bros. helped me put 'Alice' together. It was very unusual back then for a studio to support an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-burstyn/it-s-interesting-john-calley-at-warner-bros-helped-me-put-alice/) [Ellen Burstyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-burstyn/) > [The real work of an actor goes on inside, and I don't think it changes from director to director - I always go for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-burstyn/the-real-work-of-an-actor-goes-on-inside-and-i-don-t-think-it-changes/) [Ellen Burstyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-burstyn/) > [I feel eager to learn as much as I can, not only about my craft but the world and the cosmos and how we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-burstyn/i-feel-eager-to-learn-as-much-as-i-can-not-only-about-my-craft-but/) [Ellen Burstyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-burstyn/) > [I'm interested in the cosmos. I want to know what's out there and how connected we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-burstyn/i-m-interested-in-the-cosmos-i-want-to-know-what-s-out-there-and-how/) [Ellen Burstyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-burstyn/) > [Bob Duvall is a great actor because each time out, he creates a whole, complete character. You have the feeling that you're not seeing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-burstyn/bob-duvall-is-a-great-actor-because-each-time-out-he-creates-a-whole/) [Ellen Burstyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-burstyn/) > [I talked to women who lived there, to get their speech patterns and outlook on life - and how narrow that is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-burstyn/i-talked-to-women-who-lived-there-to-get-their-speech-patterns-and/) [Ellen Burstyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-burstyn/) > [It's a sin to have your films not to make money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-burstyn/it-s-a-sin-to-have-your-films-not-to-make-money/) [Ellen Burstyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-burstyn/) > [When I was 19, I took a train from Houston to New York, and I had in my lap the collected works of William…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-burstyn/when-i-was-19-i-took-a-train-from-houston-to-new-york-and-i-had-in-my/) [Ellen Burstyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-burstyn/) > [Well my taste wasn't very good when I first started out. But later, when I began to appreciate the art of acting, I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-burstyn/well-my-taste-wasn-t-very-good-when-i-first-started-out-but-later/) [Ellen Burstyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-burstyn/) > [Their life is about getting enough money to put food on the table to feed their children, and that's it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-burstyn/their-life-is-about-getting-enough-money-to-put-food-on-the-table-to/) [Ellen Burstyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-burstyn/) > [The only Shakespeare I ever did was a production of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' two years in a row in my garden in Rockland…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-burstyn/the-only-shakespeare-i-ever-did-was-a-production-of-a-midsummer-night/) [Ellen Burstyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-burstyn/) > [I couldn't kill a chicken, I couldn't kill a cow - I was a vegetarian too at that time - so I thought, well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-burstyn/i-couldn-t-kill-a-chicken-i-couldn-t-kill-a-cow-i-was-a-vegetarian/) [Ellen Burstyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-burstyn/) > [I left my career in Hollywood, moved back to New York, and went to Lee Strasberg and studied with him for the rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-burstyn/i-left-my-career-in-hollywood-moved-back-to-new-york-and-went-to-lee/) [Ellen Burstyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-burstyn/) > [There's no doubt that the patriarchy that we live in also controls the movie industry. The heads of the studios are men, and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-burstyn/there-s-no-doubt-that-the-patriarchy-that-we-live-in-also-controls/) [Ellen Burstyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-burstyn/) > [I've liked all the directors I've worked with a lot. And the ones I like best are the ones that have really good taste…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-burstyn/i-ve-liked-all-the-directors-i-ve-worked-with-a-lot-and-the-ones-i/) [Ellen Burstyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-burstyn/) [Explore all 53 Ellen Burstyn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-burstyn/) ## More Actors quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/) [Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [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/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [When we watch a film as actors, you have to understand that we always see much more than what's on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/when-we-watch-a-film-as-actors-you-have-to-understand-that-we-always/) [Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/) > [As actors, you become an expert at starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-actors-you-become-an-expert-at-starting-over/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [A rapper is about being completely true to yourself. Being an actor is about changing who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/a-rapper-is-about-being-completely-true-to-yourself-being-an-actor-is/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [I've been a professional actor for almost 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-been-a-professional-actor-for-almost-40-years/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [American actors are coy. We all have pricks and cunts, or are you different from the rest of us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/american-actors-are-coy-we-all-have-pricks-and-cunts-or-are-you/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) [Browse all 11,394 Actors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was doing the work I was capable of doing with my own native talent, but when I looked at actors like Marlon Brando, Jimmy Dean, Kim Stanley, and Geraldine Page, I knew that they knew something that I didn't know. 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