--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Difficult for actors to extemporise in…" description: "\"Difficult for actors to extemporise in nineteenth-century English. Except for Robert Hardy and Elizabeth Spriggs, who speak that way anyway.\" — Emma Th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/906/emma-thompson-3232_actors_difficult-for-actors-to-extemporise-in-n_2487101.png" --- # Difficult for actors to extemporise in nineteenth-century… ![“Difficult for actors to extemporise in nineteenth-century English. Except for Robert Hardy and Elizabeth Spriggs, who speak that way anyway.” quote by Emma Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/906/emma-thompson-3232_actors_difficult-for-actors-to-extemporise-in-n_2487101.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/906/emma-thompson-3232_actors_difficult-for-actors-to-extemporise-in-n_2487101.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/906/emma-thompson-3232_actors_difficult-for-actors-to-extemporise-in-n_2487101.png) > “Difficult for actors to extemporise in nineteenth-century English. Except for Robert Hardy and Elizabeth Spriggs, who speak that way anyway.” [Emma Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-thompson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting in period language is difficult, but some actors naturally embody it, making it seem effortless. **In simple terms:** Period speech is hard unless you’re naturally suited. Key Takeaway Study and practice historical speech patterns. Themes craft language performance Mood reflective serious Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - theatre rehearsals - historical film sets - voice coaching - language classes Key Concepts period language natural talent acting technique Questions to Reflect On - What techniques help master historical dialogue? - Can natural talent be cultivated? A Different Perspective Even talented actors need training to avoid caricature. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Actors Extemporise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors-extemporise-926049/) [Century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/century/) [Century English](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/century-english-319498/) [Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) [Difficult Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult-actors-926048/) [Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hardy/) [Nineteenth century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nineteenth-century/) [Robert Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robert-hardy-926051/) [Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak/) [Spriggs Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spriggs-speak-926050/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [“In the sixteenth century, English was established as a language of record;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kory-stamper/in-the-sixteenth-century-english-was-established-as-a-language-of/) [Kory Stamper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kory-stamper/) > [Nineteenth-century English literature I know; 19th-century sewage systems, not so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-duncan/nineteenth-century-english-literature-i-know-19th-century-sewage/) [Glen Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-duncan/) > [One thing we do know is that mass literacy is a product of the 19th century, at least in English-speaking cultures - Ireland, England,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hass/one-thing-we-do-know-is-that-mass-literacy-is-a-product-of-the-19th/) [Robert Hass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hass/) > [Well, I haven't been an impulsive guy lately because I'm not in control of my own life. 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Just sit at your desk and write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-thompson/just-write-it-doesn-t-matter-what-you-write-just-sit-at-your-desk-and/) [Emma Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-thompson/) > [ The best way \[to survive\] the red carpet is by wearing Ugg boots. But unfortunately, I have not yet managed to persuade the people… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-thompson/the-best-way-to-survive-the-red-carpet-is-by-wearing-ugg-boots-but/) [Emma Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-thompson/) > [Indeed - judicious, consistent parenting is a dream of mine. No judgements, learning space and listening carefully are my goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-thompson/indeed-judicious-consistent-parenting-is-a-dream-of-mine-no/) [Emma Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-thompson/) > [I am who I am, and there is nothing I can do about that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-thompson/i-am-who-i-am-and-there-is-nothing-i-can-do-about-that/) [Emma Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-thompson/) > [“My godfather sad that story was abut taking the chaotic jigsaw of life, making it into a picture and putting a frame around it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-thompson/my-godfather-sad-that-story-was-abut-taking-the-chaotic-jigsaw-of/) [Emma Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-thompson/) > [I've realized that in all the great stories, even if there's a happily-ever-after ending, there's something sad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-thompson/i-ve-realized-that-in-all-the-great-stories-even-if-there-s-a-happily/) [Emma Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-thompson/) > [Piracy is our only option.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-thompson/piracy-is-our-only-option/) [Emma Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-thompson/) [Explore all 136 Emma Thompson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-thompson/) ## More Actors quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. 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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. 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