--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nothing is worse for me, as an actor…" description: "\"Nothing is worse for me, as an actor, than when I walk on a set and the director goes, \"Okay, you're going to be standing here, the other person is goi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/623/eric-balfour-18535_actors_nothing-is-worse-for-me-as-an-actor-than_1722527.jpg" --- # Nothing is worse for me, as an actor, than when I walk on… ![“Nothing is worse for me, as an actor, than when I walk on a set and the director goes, "Okay, you're going to be standing here, the other person is going to be standing here, and you're going to move to there and then do the scene." That doesn't help actors.” quote by Eric Balfour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/623/eric-balfour-18535_actors_nothing-is-worse-for-me-as-an-actor-than_1722527.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/623/eric-balfour-18535_actors_nothing-is-worse-for-me-as-an-actor-than_1722527.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/623/eric-balfour-18535_actors_nothing-is-worse-for-me-as-an-actor-than_1722527.jpg) > “Nothing is worse for me, as an actor, than when I walk on a set and the director goes, "Okay, you're going to be standing here, the other person is going to be standing here, and you're going to move to there and then do the scene." That doesn't help actors.” [Eric Balfour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-balfour/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Actors need clear, purposeful direction rather than vague stage blocking. **In simple terms:** Clear direction helps actors perform better. Key Takeaway Seek specific guidance. Themes acting communication direction Mood frustrated determined Type practical advice When to use this quote - film set - theatre rehearsal - directed scenes Key Concepts stagecraft collaboration Questions to Reflect On - How does precise direction improve performance? - What can directors do to clarify intent? A Different Perspective Vague instructions can stifle creativity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [“Do you think he's the murderer?" "It's worse than that -- he's an actor!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-fellowes/do-you-think-he-s-the-murderer-it-s-worse-than-that-he-s-an-actor/) [Julian Fellowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-fellowes/) > [As a director, I hoped that I was able to help the actors by giving them the space and the respect they need and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/as-a-director-i-hoped-that-i-was-able-to-help-the-actors-by-giving/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [When I do things that aren't very good, I'm worse as an actor. I don't know what I pick up - but it's something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-okonedo/when-i-do-things-that-aren-t-very-good-i-m-worse-as-an-actor-i-don-t/) [Sophie Okonedo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-okonedo/) > [It's my goal to help actors achieve their best work, and I think I speak the same language as actors, so I understand how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arden/it-s-my-goal-to-help-actors-achieve-their-best-work-and-i-think-i/) [Michael Arden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arden/) > [Know what it is the emotional statement to convey, and use taste and judgement to help the actors give their best possible performance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-kubrick/know-what-it-is-the-emotional-statement-to-convey-and-use-taste-and/) [Stanley Kubrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-kubrick/) > [If there's anything I'd hate as a son-in-law, it's an actor; and if there's anything I think I'd hate worse than an actor as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-kennedy/if-there-s-anything-i-d-hate-as-a-son-in-law-it-s-an-actor-and-if/) [Joseph P. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-kennedy/) > [When you're an actor and you walk into a theatre where your movie is playing, you're kinda proud. "Look at my skill!"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hetfield/when-you-re-an-actor-and-you-walk-into-a-theatre-where-your-movie-is/) [James Hetfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hetfield/) > [Nothing can teach you what it's like to work on a film set, and the best education there can be for an actor is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosamund-pike/nothing-can-teach-you-what-it-s-like-to-work-on-a-film-set-and-the/) [Rosamund Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosamund-pike/) > [I might not be the greatest actor, but I walk into every project willing to work hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-efron/i-might-not-be-the-greatest-actor-but-i-walk-into-every-project/) [Zac Efron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-efron/) > [There are people out there with three jobs and small children. Being an actor is a walk in the park compared to working as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-marie-duff/there-are-people-out-there-with-three-jobs-and-small-children-being/) [Anne-Marie Duff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-marie-duff/) > [As an actor, when you walk onto a set, you're always working with different actors with different processes, and I kind of respect them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-bomer/as-an-actor-when-you-walk-onto-a-set-you-re-always-working-with/) [Matthew Bomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-bomer/) > [The most fun you can possibly have as an actor is to walk that line between what's real and what's interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-d-onofrio/the-most-fun-you-can-possibly-have-as-an-actor-is-to-walk-that-line/) [Vincent D'Onofrio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-d-onofrio/) > [I think I approach everything as an actor first. I'd rather walk onto a set and just act and just worry about that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-fogler/i-think-i-approach-everything-as-an-actor-first-i-d-rather-walk-onto/) [Dan Fogler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-fogler/) > [In movies, you get to explore parts of yourself that in real life, people shy away from, like looking stupid or embarrassing yourself or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-weixler/in-movies-you-get-to-explore-parts-of-yourself-that-in-real-life/) [Jess Weixler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-weixler/) > [Okay, I guess you can come in." "Um, Hannah, you have to, you know, open the front door so I can actually come in."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-scott/okay-i-guess-you-can-come-in-um-hannah-you-have-to-you-know-open-the/) [Elizabeth Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-scott/) ## More by Eric Balfour > [A lot of why we become actors is to fill a void that we have and a part of that void is to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-balfour/a-lot-of-why-we-become-actors-is-to-fill-a-void-that-we-have-and-a/) [Eric Balfour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-balfour/) > [Having been an actor, I always want to leave room for the actors to find their comfort zone, so I don't like to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-balfour/having-been-an-actor-i-always-want-to-leave-room-for-the-actors-to/) [Eric Balfour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-balfour/) > [As an artist, you're always trying to reach a new height, do something new, try something you haven't done before, and push your boundaries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-balfour/as-an-artist-you-re-always-trying-to-reach-a-new-height-do-something/) [Eric Balfour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-balfour/) > [One of the greatest things I've learned, as an actor, was how to talk to actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-balfour/one-of-the-greatest-things-i-ve-learned-as-an-actor-was-how-to-talk/) [Eric Balfour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-balfour/) > [As an actor, I've always paid attention on sets. I've always watched, learned and listened, and you start to see things differently. You always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-balfour/as-an-actor-i-ve-always-paid-attention-on-sets-i-ve-always-watched/) [Eric Balfour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-balfour/) > [By nature, I'm very care-taking. There's something really beautiful about cooking for someone and feeding them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-balfour/by-nature-i-m-very-care-taking-there-s-something-really-beautiful/) [Eric Balfour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-balfour/) > [I already love acting and I love actors, so being able to communicate with actors and to bring performances out of them, and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-balfour/i-already-love-acting-and-i-love-actors-so-being-able-to-communicate/) [Eric Balfour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-balfour/) > [Directing is something that I'd been wanting and hoping to do, as I've grown into myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-balfour/directing-is-something-that-i-d-been-wanting-and-hoping-to-do-as-i-ve/) [Eric Balfour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-balfour/) > [I think directors can be a little insensitive to how vulnerable an actor is, when he's giving a performance. Part of the job of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-balfour/i-think-directors-can-be-a-little-insensitive-to-how-vulnerable-an/) [Eric Balfour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-balfour/) > [The minute you try to do something that is not true to you, is not something that you really know about, and is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-balfour/the-minute-you-try-to-do-something-that-is-not-true-to-you-is-not/) [Eric Balfour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-balfour/) > [The stories that I like to tell and the movies I like are always grounded in the emotional arc of the characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-balfour/the-stories-that-i-like-to-tell-and-the-movies-i-like-are-always/) [Eric Balfour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-balfour/) > [To whatever degree you have as a celebrity or notoriety, there are people who see you as an opinion leader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-balfour/to-whatever-degree-you-have-as-a-celebrity-or-notoriety-there-are/) [Eric Balfour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-balfour/) > [I'm such an L.A. boy, I love hanging out by the beach and throwing some steaks on the grill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-balfour/i-m-such-an-l-a-boy-i-love-hanging-out-by-the-beach-and-throwing-some/) [Eric Balfour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-balfour/) > [Stepping out of the director's chair completely and into a scene as an actor was weird. It was more excitement about directing than anything,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-balfour/stepping-out-of-the-director-s-chair-completely-and-into-a-scene-as/) [Eric Balfour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-balfour/) > [As you get older and you hopefully battle your own demons, you find other reasons why you want to be an actor. The people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-balfour/as-you-get-older-and-you-hopefully-battle-your-own-demons-you-find/) [Eric Balfour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-balfour/) [Explore all 34 Eric Balfour quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-balfour/) ## 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. 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