--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In acting you have to not be yourself…" description: "\"In acting you have to not be yourself. It's like whatever character is put on, you have to just to turn into that person.\" — Ginuwine" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17f/ginuwine-2313_acting_in-acting-you-have-to-not-be-yourself-it_95355.png" --- # In acting you have to not be yourself. It's like whatever… ![“In acting you have to not be yourself. It's like whatever character is put on, you have to just to turn into that person.” quote by Ginuwine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17f/ginuwine-2313_acting_in-acting-you-have-to-not-be-yourself-it_95355.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17f/ginuwine-2313_acting_in-acting-you-have-to-not-be-yourself-it_95355.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17f/ginuwine-2313_acting_in-acting-you-have-to-not-be-yourself-it_95355.png) > “In acting you have to not be yourself. It's like whatever character is put on, you have to just to turn into that person.” [Ginuwine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginuwine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective acting requires abandoning one's own identity and fully embodying the character, transforming personal traits into the role's persona. **In simple terms:** Acting demands self‑transformation. Key Takeaway True performance is character immersion. Themes acting identity psychology performance self‑discipline Mood excitement vulnerability Type instructional reflective When to use this quote - theatre rehearsals - film auditions - method acting workshops - character study - improvisation classes Key Concepts character immersion self‑abandonment role adoption Practical Applications - acting training - performance coaching Questions to Reflect On - How does shedding self affect emotional authenticity? - What techniques aid in deep character immersion? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-like-233504/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Be yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-yourself/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-just-336272/) [Like Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-character-232173/) [Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person/) ## Related quotes > [I don't care if people like my character. I just want them to think about the movie's message.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-page/i-don-t-care-if-people-like-my-character-i-just-want-them-to-think/) [Ellen Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-page/) > [When you find you don't like a character, you just type four letters and he's dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-palmer/when-you-find-you-don-t-like-a-character-you-just-type-four-letters/) [Michael Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-palmer/) > [When I'm acting, it's like I am the character - no one can talk to me. But I'm not so method I'd sell my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-holland/when-i-m-acting-it-s-like-i-am-the-character-no-one-can-talk-to-me/) [Tom Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-holland/) > [When I did 'Think Like A Man', I would run into people who were acting like it was the first thing I'd ever done.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romany-malco/when-i-did-think-like-a-man-i-would-run-into-people-who-were-acting/) [Romany Malco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romany-malco/) > [I ain't the captain of the yacht, but I'm on the boat; I ain't acting what I'm not, knowing that I don't. You niggaz…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beanie-sigel/i-ain-t-the-captain-of-the-yacht-but-i-m-on-the-boat-i-ain-t-acting/) [Beanie Sigel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beanie-sigel/) > [You’re always a kid around your parents… Unless they’re acting like children. Then you don’t get the chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-re-always-a-kid-around-your-parents-unless-they-re-acting-like/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [That's all TV acting is. Like, let me find my mark and seem like I'm still acting. Sometimes they'll put sandbags there, but then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-benanti/that-s-all-tv-acting-is-like-let-me-find-my-mark-and-seem-like-i-m/) [Laura Benanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-benanti/) > [I feel like with acting it's not like you make a choice - it's kind of in you and you have to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/i-feel-like-with-acting-it-s-not-like-you-make-a-choice-it-s-kind-of/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [Acting is like peeling an onion. You have to peel away each layer to reveal another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliette-binoche/acting-is-like-peeling-an-onion-you-have-to-peel-away-each-layer-to/) [Juliette Binoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliette-binoche/) > [With acting, it's like you form chemistry with different people in different ways, so it's really added even more fun to work, you know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-blackburn/with-acting-it-s-like-you-form-chemistry-with-different-people-in/) [Tyler Blackburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-blackburn/) > [No one has it all figured out, especially not the people who are acting like they do and judging you because of it. Pretending…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-max/no-one-has-it-all-figured-out-especially-not-the-people-who-are/) [Tucker Max](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-max/) > [I never set out to make any statements about a specific character, I just set out to tell what feels like is a truthful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/i-never-set-out-to-make-any-statements-about-a-specific-character-i/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [No matter what the character is, I just say to myself 'If I, Melissa George, was in that situation, how would I react?' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-george/no-matter-what-the-character-is-i-just-say-to-myself-if-i-melissa/) [Melissa George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-george/) > [I was curious. Here was a character where I just didn't know how they were going to write him into 13 episodes without it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-hatosy/i-was-curious-here-was-a-character-where-i-just-didn-t-know-how-they/) [Shawn Hatosy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-hatosy/) > [Every so often you read a play and a character just speaks to you - almost seems to speak through you, in fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/every-so-often-you-read-a-play-and-a-character-just-speaks-to-you/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) ## More by Ginuwine > [I always loved music and I always loved to perform, and that's my favorite part, to perform; my favorite part is not the studio,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginuwine/i-always-loved-music-and-i-always-loved-to-perform-and-that-s-my/) [Ginuwine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginuwine/) > [I love to stay busy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginuwine/i-love-to-stay-busy/) [Ginuwine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginuwine/) > [I'm not the same young man I was when I first got into music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginuwine/i-m-not-the-same-young-man-i-was-when-i-first-got-into-music/) [Ginuwine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginuwine/) > [I just do as many songs as I can and then I put it together when I get sort of in the middle, maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginuwine/i-just-do-as-many-songs-as-i-can-and-then-i-put-it-together-when-i/) [Ginuwine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginuwine/) > [Someone has to really like you to go out there and physically get your CD. Shout out to everybody who actually paid for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginuwine/someone-has-to-really-like-you-to-go-out-there-and-physically-get/) [Ginuwine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginuwine/) > [I think any smart businessman would go where the money is bigger, but I also feel like you don't forget your roots either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginuwine/i-think-any-smart-businessman-would-go-where-the-money-is-bigger-but/) [Ginuwine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginuwine/) > [That's why I named my album 'The Life,' because it's appreciating life and not taking it for granted and living it day by day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginuwine/that-s-why-i-named-my-album-the-life-because-it-s-appreciating-life/) [Ginuwine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginuwine/) > [For me, I feel like if a woman doesn't find me attractive 'cause I'm taking care of myself, then that's not the woman I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginuwine/for-me-i-feel-like-if-a-woman-doesn-t-find-me-attractive-cause-i-m/) [Ginuwine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginuwine/) > [I love women, I love being around women, I love to learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginuwine/i-love-women-i-love-being-around-women-i-love-to-learn/) [Ginuwine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginuwine/) > [I don't think no one out there can entertain better than I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginuwine/i-don-t-think-no-one-out-there-can-entertain-better-than-i-can/) [Ginuwine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginuwine/) > [If I don't feel it when I'm sitting there, if it doesn't give me the feeling I got when I heard 'Pony' or 'So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginuwine/if-i-don-t-feel-it-when-i-m-sitting-there-if-it-doesn-t-give-me-the/) [Ginuwine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginuwine/) > [A lot of producers always say "what direction are you going in?" and I don't know. I'm just doing music. Right now it's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginuwine/a-lot-of-producers-always-say-what-direction-are-you-going-in-and-i/) [Ginuwine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginuwine/) > [I don't want to put out a CD of album songs. I'm gunning for every song to be a single.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginuwine/i-don-t-want-to-put-out-a-cd-of-album-songs-i-m-gunning-for-every/) [Ginuwine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginuwine/) > [I just don't like my voice in the studio, and I just don't like the studio, I'm not a studio-head. And that's why you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginuwine/i-just-don-t-like-my-voice-in-the-studio-and-i-just-don-t-like-the/) [Ginuwine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginuwine/) > [I think the legacy I'll leave on music is just an artist that went out here and gave 100%.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginuwine/i-think-the-legacy-i-ll-leave-on-music-is-just-an-artist-that-went/) [Ginuwine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginuwine/) [Explore all 172 Ginuwine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginuwine/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "In acting you have to not be yourself. 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