--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If actors could actually make a living…" description: "\"If actors could actually make a living doing theater, that would be my first choice. Sitcoms are the closest thing to being onstage in front of an audi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f38/enrico-colantoni-25443_actor_if-actors-could-actually-make-a-living-d_1281904.jpg" --- # If actors could actually make a living doing theater, that… ![“If actors could actually make a living doing theater, that would be my first choice. Sitcoms are the closest thing to being onstage in front of an audience. If I had to choose, it would be theater and doing the occasional movie once in a while, and spending time doing nothing.” quote by Enrico Colantoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f38/enrico-colantoni-25443_actor_if-actors-could-actually-make-a-living-d_1281904.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f38/enrico-colantoni-25443_actor_if-actors-could-actually-make-a-living-d_1281904.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f38/enrico-colantoni-25443_actor_if-actors-could-actually-make-a-living-d_1281904.jpg) > “If actors could actually make a living doing theater, that would be my first choice. Sitcoms are the closest thing to being onstage in front of an audience. If I had to choose, it would be theater and doing the occasional movie once in a while, and spending time doing nothing.” [Enrico Colantoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-colantoni/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He values theater as the purest artistic expression and sees sitcoms as a practical compromise for audience connection. **In simple terms:** He prefers theater, sees sitcoms as a practical compromise. Key Takeaway Pursue theater, accept occasional film work, cherish downtime. Themes art career balance audience creativity Mood reflective determined hopeful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - auditioning - writing sitcoms - film roles - leisure time Key Concepts theatre media work-life balance Questions to Reflect On - What compromises are you willing to make for your art? - How do you define success in creative work? A Different Perspective Balancing artistic integrity with financial stability is challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing/) [Sitcoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sitcoms/) [Spending time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spending-time/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [If actors could actually make a living doing theater, that would be my first choice. Sitcoms are the closest thing to being onstage in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-colantoni/if-actors-could-actually-make-a-living-doing-theater-that-would-be-my/) [Enrico Colantoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-colantoni/) > [If I could earn the living that I earn in motion pictures and television in the theater, I'd be doing theater. But you can't.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-vaughn/if-i-could-earn-the-living-that-i-earn-in-motion-pictures-and/) [Robert Vaughn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-vaughn/) > [I really enjoy doing theater, but doing theater in Seattle is like dropping a brick in a bottomless well. It's gratifying, but it's almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/i-really-enjoy-doing-theater-but-doing-theater-in-seattle-is-like/) [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) > [I've been lucky enough to be part of some great ensembles in theater - I'd been doing theater since college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-been-lucky-enough-to-be-part-of-some-great-ensembles-in-theater/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've been so fortunate throughout my career, when I was doing theater - more theater than anything else - and when I was doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-shalhoub/i-ve-been-so-fortunate-throughout-my-career-when-i-was-doing-theater-2/) [Tony Shalhoub](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-shalhoub/) > [If I had a gun to my head and I had to choose between theater and film I'd choose theater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-fiennes/if-i-had-a-gun-to-my-head-and-i-had-to-choose-between-theater-and/) [Ralph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-fiennes/) > [I never thought about becoming an actor. Even when I applied for university, I didn't choose theater as a major to become an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gong-yoo/i-never-thought-about-becoming-an-actor-even-when-i-applied-for/) [Gong Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gong-yoo/) > [I come from theater, and doing period stuff is so whimsical and imaginative and so outside any frame of reference than I have ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginnifer-goodwin/i-come-from-theater-and-doing-period-stuff-is-so-whimsical-and/) [Ginnifer Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginnifer-goodwin/) > [Because I come from a background in theater and doing little fringe plays, and wondering if 20 people would come to see it, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-coughlan/because-i-come-from-a-background-in-theater-and-doing-little-fringe/) [Nicola Coughlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-coughlan/) > [I didn't come from a traditional background of studying theater and doing Shakespeare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-boreanaz/i-didn-t-come-from-a-traditional-background-of-studying-theater-and/) [David Boreanaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-boreanaz/) > [The discipline of live theater - doing the same perfect thing night after night, eight times a week - never ceases to amaze me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/the-discipline-of-live-theater-doing-the-same-perfect-thing-night/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [I'm not doubtful that I am doing what I should be doing - writing for theater - and that I'm doing it in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-robert-brown/i-m-not-doubtful-that-i-am-doing-what-i-should-be-doing-writing-for/) [Jason Robert Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-robert-brown/) > [It doesn't make me anxious to see old photos of myself. The same thing happens to me with theater: I see someone who was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lux-pascal/it-doesn-t-make-me-anxious-to-see-old-photos-of-myself-the-same-thing/) [Lux Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lux-pascal/) > [If I ever got married and my husband wanted me to give all this up and follow him wherever he wanted me to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bethany-joy-galeotti/if-i-ever-got-married-and-my-husband-wanted-me-to-give-all-this-up/) [Bethany Joy Galeotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bethany-joy-galeotti/) > [I think you fall out of love with theater while you're doing your eighth show of your eighteenth week and your body is saying,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cillian-murphy/i-think-you-fall-out-of-love-with-theater-while-you-re-doing-your/) [Cillian Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cillian-murphy/) ## More by Enrico Colantoni > [School is very important; it was very important for me. It gave me an enormous amount of confidence, especially at Yale where we were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-colantoni/school-is-very-important-it-was-very-important-for-me-it-gave-me-an/) [Enrico Colantoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-colantoni/) > [Bringing humility to the material and to the world and to the talent that was present, that's the true formula for success. When people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-colantoni/bringing-humility-to-the-material-and-to-the-world-and-to-the-talent/) [Enrico Colantoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-colantoni/) > [If actors could actually make a living doing theater, that would be my first choice. Sitcoms are the closest thing to being onstage in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-colantoni/if-actors-could-actually-make-a-living-doing-theater-that-would-be-my/) [Enrico Colantoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-colantoni/) > [The truth is, my father stopped bothering me after Stigmata, because I got to play a priest. That fulfilled his dream. The cop thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-colantoni/the-truth-is-my-father-stopped-bothering-me-after-stigmata-because-i/) [Enrico Colantoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-colantoni/) > [I'd make a lousy cop. I'd just wear it too close to my skin and wouldn't survive. I'll stick to acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-colantoni/i-d-make-a-lousy-cop-i-d-just-wear-it-too-close-to-my-skin-and-wouldn/) [Enrico Colantoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-colantoni/) > [I'd love to teach theatre arts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-colantoni/i-d-love-to-teach-theatre-arts/) [Enrico Colantoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-colantoni/) > [My whole experience into the sitcom world, it was, like, "This is like theater, this is like film... This is a hybrid of everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-colantoni/my-whole-experience-into-the-sitcom-world-it-was-like-this-is-like/) [Enrico Colantoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-colantoni/) > [Everybody remembers 'Just Shoot Me,' and I'm very proud of that. It's still on TV, and people still catch it and laugh about it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-colantoni/everybody-remembers-just-shoot-me-and-i-m-very-proud-of-that-it-s/) [Enrico Colantoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-colantoni/) > [We watch so many TV shows and movies about jaded or corrupt policemen, we forget people join the police force to do good, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-colantoni/we-watch-so-many-tv-shows-and-movies-about-jaded-or-corrupt-policemen/) [Enrico Colantoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-colantoni/) > [From Italy, I'd get calls from cousins and aunts saying, 'I don't think you should act. It's really tough. What are the chances?' This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-colantoni/from-italy-i-d-get-calls-from-cousins-and-aunts-saying-i-don-t-think/) [Enrico Colantoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-colantoni/) > [You know what, I'm a big, big fan of 'Heroes,' but the day they told me that the end of the world was coming,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-colantoni/you-know-what-i-m-a-big-big-fan-of-heroes-but-the-day-they-told-me/) [Enrico Colantoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-colantoni/) > [I believe that no one can teach you how to act, but schools do give you an environment to make mistakes, to learn techniques…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-colantoni/i-believe-that-no-one-can-teach-you-how-to-act-but-schools-do-give/) [Enrico Colantoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-colantoni/) > [I'm a hockey fan; I watch hockey, and I listen to the news.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-colantoni/i-m-a-hockey-fan-i-watch-hockey-and-i-listen-to-the-news/) [Enrico Colantoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-colantoni/) > [I know that any fan of 'Veronica Mars' is hardcore and loyal, so I give them the time; we spend time talking about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-colantoni/i-know-that-any-fan-of-veronica-mars-is-hardcore-and-loyal-so-i-give/) [Enrico Colantoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-colantoni/) > [It's like watching a car accident, that reality TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-colantoni/it-s-like-watching-a-car-accident-that-reality-tv/) [Enrico Colantoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-colantoni/) [Explore all 23 Enrico Colantoni quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-colantoni/) ## 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. 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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": "If actors could actually make a living doing theater, that would be my first choice. Sitcoms are the closest thing to being onstage in front of an audience. 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