--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I want to get better as an actor, to keep…" description: "\"I want to get better as an actor, to keep trying to work harder, trying to discover something different. In some ways, it's a pretty frightening experi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/548/forest-whitaker-3022_experience_i-want-to-get-better-as-an-actor-to-keep_1940308.jpg" --- # I want to get better as an actor, to keep trying to work… ![“I want to get better as an actor, to keep trying to work harder, trying to discover something different. In some ways, it's a pretty frightening experience. But normally, I do tend to walk against fear and hope that I'll be able to survive.” quote by Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/548/forest-whitaker-3022_experience_i-want-to-get-better-as-an-actor-to-keep_1940308.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/548/forest-whitaker-3022_experience_i-want-to-get-better-as-an-actor-to-keep_1940308.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/548/forest-whitaker-3022_experience_i-want-to-get-better-as-an-actor-to-keep_1940308.jpg) > “I want to get better as an actor, to keep trying to work harder, trying to discover something different. In some ways, it's a pretty frightening experience. But normally, I do tend to walk against fear and hope that I'll be able to survive.” [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker acknowledges growth requires effort, confronting fear, and hope for perseverance in acting. **In simple terms:** Improving as an actor needs hard work and facing fear. Key Takeaway Embrace challenge, keep practicing. Themes growth fear perseverance creativity Mood determined reflective Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - audition prep - daily practice - role research - stage performance - creative risk‑taking Key Concepts self‑discovery resilience artistic development Questions to Reflect On - How do you turn fear into motivation? - What small step can you take today to improve? A Different Perspective Fear can paralyze; support systems matter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actor Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-trying-234327/) [Better actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-actor/) [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Survive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survive/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Walk Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walk-fear-566596/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work harder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-harder/) ## Related quotes > [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'm not the type of actor who is trying to do a whole bunch of different stuff, you know what I mean?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/i-m-not-the-type-of-actor-who-is-trying-to-do-a-whole-bunch-of-2/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [I've become an actor rather than trying to be one, if that makes sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/callum-turner/i-ve-become-an-actor-rather-than-trying-to-be-one-if-that-makes-sense/) [Callum Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/callum-turner/) > [It can be a bit annoying if another actor is trying to talk to the director and the wife is sitting on his lap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-farrell/it-can-be-a-bit-annoying-if-another-actor-is-trying-to-talk-to-the/) [Colin Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-farrell/) > [I was an actor... or, at least, I was trying to be an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-donner/i-was-an-actor-or-at-least-i-was-trying-to-be-an-actor/) [Richard Donner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-donner/) > [If you go into something saying, 'I'm the bad guy,' you do yourself a disservice as an actor. It's always about trying to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mekhi-phifer/if-you-go-into-something-saying-i-m-the-bad-guy-you-do-yourself-a/) [Mekhi Phifer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mekhi-phifer/) > [I'm not the type of actor who is trying to do a whole bunch of different shit, you know what I mean?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/i-m-not-the-type-of-actor-who-is-trying-to-do-a-whole-bunch-of/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [I'm an actor. I'm trying to be the character and do what they're doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-field/i-m-an-actor-i-m-trying-to-be-the-character-and-do-what-they-re-doing/) [Sally Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-field/) > [When you look at something that's so extraordinary, like a man who is traveling back in time to prevent JFK's assassination, for me as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-gadon/when-you-look-at-something-that-s-so-extraordinary-like-a-man-who-is/) [Sarah Gadon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-gadon/) > [I don't think I'm that much different from any other working actor that's trying to make a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/i-don-t-think-i-m-that-much-different-from-any-other-working-actor/) [Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/) > [I'm very much a jobbing actor who's still trying to find a place to rent down the road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-very-much-a-jobbing-actor-who-s-still-trying-to-find-a-place-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I spent so many years trying to become an actor, trying to be a person that I wasn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/i-spent-so-many-years-trying-to-become-an-actor-trying-to-be-a-person/) [Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) > [I suppose the underlying current for me is the idea of not doing something I've done before. I call myself a character actor and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/i-suppose-the-underlying-current-for-me-is-the-idea-of-not-doing/) [Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/) > [Now, being a model and an actor, I'm trying to learn more as my profession demands it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/urvashi-rautela/now-being-a-model-and-an-actor-i-m-trying-to-learn-more-as-my/) [Urvashi Rautela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/urvashi-rautela/) > [I believe every actor is trying to create an identity for himself or herself. My first song did that for me. There can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/i-believe-every-actor-is-trying-to-create-an-identity-for-himself-or/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) ## More by Forest Whitaker > [To try and act like we haven't had great progress is not true. Obama didn't fail - he changed the psyche of the nation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/to-try-and-act-like-we-haven-t-had-great-progress-is-not-true-obama/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [In high school, I did some musicals, but I never took acting until college. I was studying opera, classical voice, and a speech teacher…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/in-high-school-i-did-some-musicals-but-i-never-took-acting-until/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [I'm really excited that people are receiving my performance like this. It makes me feel good, because I've been working really hard. And this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/i-m-really-excited-that-people-are-receiving-my-performance-like-this/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [If I go to a reunion in east Texas, my mother's side or my father's, one out of ten is a preacher or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/if-i-go-to-a-reunion-in-east-texas-my-mother-s-side-or-my-father-s/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [ As an artist, it's a great opportunity to play a character like this \[Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland\]. And… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/as-an-artist-it-s-a-great-opportunity-to-play-a-character-like-this/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [I can play a man who's despicable. But I'll still look inside him to find a point of connection. If I can find that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/i-can-play-a-man-who-s-despicable-but-i-ll-still-look-inside-him-to/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [It's all about destiny. That's why people look at the zodiac or the I Ching - because there's a certain order to life, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/it-s-all-about-destiny-that-s-why-people-look-at-the-zodiac-or-the-i/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [My wife is completely different from me: she's good with everyone, whereas I'm good at directed conversation when I have a purpose for it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/my-wife-is-completely-different-from-me-she-s-good-with-everyone/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [I was a curious child. I'd debate with anyone who came to the door - people from the Islamic community... Jehovah's Witnesses... anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/i-was-a-curious-child-i-d-debate-with-anyone-who-came-to-the-door/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [There was a time in my acting career, where I was trying to figure out if acting was the thing to do. You know?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/there-was-a-time-in-my-acting-career-where-i-was-trying-to-figure-out/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [The first time I ever went out of the country, it was to London. I was with the choir from my college, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/the-first-time-i-ever-went-out-of-the-country-it-was-to-london-i-was/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [If I were to mark three, I'd mark Bird, because I grew immensely as an artist, I learned a lot, and also, I think,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/if-i-were-to-mark-three-i-d-mark-bird-because-i-grew-immensely-as-an/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [I try to be like a forest: revitalizing and constantly growing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/i-try-to-be-like-a-forest-revitalizing-and-constantly-growing/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [I stay true, because whatever the project is, I'm still looking for inside of that character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/i-stay-true-because-whatever-the-project-is-i-m-still-looking-for/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [It's a contract of connection to be in the same space and watch and listen to stories and be caught in them. When you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/it-s-a-contract-of-connection-to-be-in-the-same-space-and-watch-and/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) [Explore all 142 Forest Whitaker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) ## 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 want to get better as an actor, to keep trying to work harder, trying to discover something different. In some ways, it's a pretty frightening experience. 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