--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When asked what it takes to succeed in…" description: "\"When asked what it takes to succeed in the acting profession, Bette Davis would answer, \"The courage to be hated.\"\" — Frank Langella" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e83/frank-langella-10624_acting_when-asked-what-it-takes-to-succeed-in-t_2576814.png" --- # When asked what it takes to succeed in the acting… ![“When asked what it takes to succeed in the acting profession, Bette Davis would answer, "The courage to be hated."” quote by Frank Langella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e83/frank-langella-10624_acting_when-asked-what-it-takes-to-succeed-in-t_2576814.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e83/frank-langella-10624_acting_when-asked-what-it-takes-to-succeed-in-t_2576814.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e83/frank-langella-10624_acting_when-asked-what-it-takes-to-succeed-in-t_2576814.png) > “When asked what it takes to succeed in the acting profession, Bette Davis would answer, "The courage to be hated."” [Frank Langella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-langella/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success in acting often requires embracing public dislike as a byproduct of bold performance. **In simple terms:** Being hated shows boldness. Key Takeaway Embrace criticism as sign of impact. Themes courage public perception artistic integrity Mood serious motivational Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - theater auditions - public speaking - creative risk Key Concepts performance art psychology Questions to Reflect On - Can you succeed without being hated? - What limits does criticism impose? A Different Perspective Hate can damage mental health. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Profession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profession/) ## Related quotes > [So if the world hates us, we take courage that it hated Jesus first. If you're wondering whether you'll be safe, just look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-claiborne/so-if-the-world-hates-us-we-take-courage-that-it-hated-jesus-first-if/) [Shane Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-claiborne/) > [To succeed in life, you must have the courage to be hated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/to-succeed-in-life-you-must-have-the-courage-to-be-hated/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [One cannot answer for his courage when he has never been in danger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/one-cannot-answer-for-his-courage-when-he-has-never-been-in-danger/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [One of the hardest questions I have been asked is How will you manage the army if you are having menstrual cramps? I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josefina-vazquez-mota/one-of-the-hardest-questions-i-have-been-asked-is-how-will-you-manage/) [Josefina Vazquez Mota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josefina-vazquez-mota/) > [We keep on asking the same question over and over again and we keep on getting same answer over and over again and yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/missyrie/we-keep-on-asking-the-same-question-over-and-over-again-and-we-keep/) Missyrie > [I have ever hated all nations, professions, and communities, and all my love is toward individuals: for instance, I hate the tribe of lawyers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/i-have-ever-hated-all-nations-professions-and-communities-and-all-my/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [Even as a kid, I was more enchanted watching Bette Davis than Errol Flynn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lagravenese/even-as-a-kid-i-was-more-enchanted-watching-bette-davis-than-errol/) [Richard LaGravenese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lagravenese/) > [Bette davis was one tough bitch!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-stone/bette-davis-was-one-tough-bitch/) [Sharon Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-stone/) > [Oh, yes, we were on location with Another Man's Poison, which I wrote for Bette Davis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/oh-yes-we-were-on-location-with-another-man-s-poison-which-i-wrote/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [I'd love to play a femme fatale in a film noir. I'm thinking of one of those roles that Lauren Bacall or Bette Davis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-quick/i-d-love-to-play-a-femme-fatale-in-a-film-noir-i-m-thinking-of-one-of/) [Diana Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-quick/) > [I think that the work that Bette Davis and Joan Crawford did was truly extraordinary, and that's their legacy. Not the other petty stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-murphy/i-think-that-the-work-that-bette-davis-and-joan-crawford-did-was/) [Ryan Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-murphy/) > [I could never understand the attraction of Bette Davis. I always preferred Jane Russell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-griffiths/i-could-never-understand-the-attraction-of-bette-davis-i-always/) [Richard Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-griffiths/) > [I adore Bette Davis and Vivien Leigh, but more because they were good actresses. That's what makes me interested in them, that they didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-staunton/i-adore-bette-davis-and-vivien-leigh-but-more-because-they-were-good/) [Imelda Staunton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-staunton/) > [I was supposedly named after the Bette Davis character in 'The Letter' by my sister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/i-was-supposedly-named-after-the-bette-davis-character-in-the-letter/) [Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) > [ “We worked so hard,” \[Joan Blondell\] said, “and hardly ever had a day off . . . Saturday was a working day and we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-golden/we-worked-so-hard-joan-blondell-said-and-hardly-ever-had-a-day-off/) [Eve Golden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-golden/) ## More by Frank Langella > [What helped me most were my failures and slumps - when I couldn't get work, people weren't interested in me or had written me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-langella/what-helped-me-most-were-my-failures-and-slumps-when-i-couldn-t-get/) [Frank Langella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-langella/) > [Actors want to show off and dance in front of you and get your love, because they don't think they're worthy of it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-langella/actors-want-to-show-off-and-dance-in-front-of-you-and-get-your-love/) [Frank Langella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-langella/) > [Sometimes you have to get out of your own way as an actor. Young actors tend to over prepare sometimes and over think it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-langella/sometimes-you-have-to-get-out-of-your-own-way-as-an-actor-young/) [Frank Langella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-langella/) > [But I think one of the reasons I tend to stay in the water most of the time is I distrust the comfort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-langella/but-i-think-one-of-the-reasons-i-tend-to-stay-in-the-water-most-of/) [Frank Langella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-langella/) > [Intelligence is enormously sexy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-langella/intelligence-is-enormously-sexy/) [Frank Langella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-langella/) > [All of our health is basically genetics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-langella/all-of-our-health-is-basically-genetics/) [Frank Langella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-langella/) > [I have a list a mile long of faults that sometimes bring me to my knees in self-hatred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-langella/i-have-a-list-a-mile-long-of-faults-that-sometimes-bring-me-to-my/) [Frank Langella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-langella/) > [A five-year-old Chinese girl knows more about football than I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-langella/a-five-year-old-chinese-girl-knows-more-about-football-than-i-do/) [Frank Langella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-langella/) > [I grew up in a household where everybody lived at the top of his lungs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-langella/i-grew-up-in-a-household-where-everybody-lived-at-the-top-of-his-lungs/) [Frank Langella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-langella/) > [There are no taboos in bed, and there shouldn't be any taboos in bed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-langella/there-are-no-taboos-in-bed-and-there-shouldn-t-be-any-taboos-in-bed/) [Frank Langella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-langella/) > [You can only lead by example.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-langella/you-can-only-lead-by-example/) [Frank Langella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-langella/) > [As a matter of fact, I rarely ever play myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-langella/as-a-matter-of-fact-i-rarely-ever-play-myself/) [Frank Langella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-langella/) > [Vampires are sexy to a woman perhaps because the fantasy is similar to that of the man on the white horse sweeping her off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-langella/vampires-are-sexy-to-a-woman-perhaps-because-the-fantasy-is-similar/) [Frank Langella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-langella/) > [But I firmly believe that you can't be emotionally free until you are emotionally committed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-langella/but-i-firmly-believe-that-you-can-t-be-emotionally-free-until-you-are/) [Frank Langella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-langella/) > [When I closed in "King Lear" I went into a period of depression for about three weeks, and every actor I've talked to who's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-langella/when-i-closed-in-king-lear-i-went-into-a-period-of-depression-for/) [Frank Langella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-langella/) [Explore all 64 Frank Langella quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-langella/) ## More Acting 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/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [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/) > [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/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) Ryan Newman > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When asked what it takes to succeed in the acting profession, Bette Davis would answer, \"The courage to be hated.\"", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Frank Langella" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-langella/when-asked-what-it-takes-to-succeed-in-the-acting-profession-bette/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-langella/when-asked-what-it-takes-to-succeed-in-the-acting-profession-bette/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e83/frank-langella-10624_acting_when-asked-what-it-takes-to-succeed-in-t_2576814.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e83/frank-langella-10624_acting_when-asked-what-it-takes-to-succeed-in-t_2576814.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e83/frank-langella-10624_acting_when-asked-what-it-takes-to-succeed-in-t_2576814.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When asked what it takes to succeed in the acting profession, Bette Davis would answer, \"The courage to be…” — Frank Langella", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Frank Langella", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-langella/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When asked what it takes to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-langella/when-asked-what-it-takes-to-succeed-in-the-acting-profession-bette/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-langella/when-asked-what-it-takes-to-succeed-in-the-acting-profession-bette/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```