---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have to be vulnerable as actors, but…"
description: "\"We have to be vulnerable as actors, but we have to protect ourselves.\" — Glenn Close"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/782/glenn-close-8097_actors_we-have-to-be-vulnerable-as-actors-but-w_2821491.jpg"
---

#  We have to be vulnerable as actors, but we have to protect…

![“We have to be vulnerable as actors, but we have to protect ourselves.” quote by Glenn Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/782/glenn-close-8097_actors_we-have-to-be-vulnerable-as-actors-but-w_2821491.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/782/glenn-close-8097_actors_we-have-to-be-vulnerable-as-actors-but-w_2821491.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/782/glenn-close-8097_actors_we-have-to-be-vulnerable-as-actors-but-w_2821491.jpg)

> “We have to be vulnerable as actors, but we have to protect ourselves.”

[Glenn Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-close/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Actors must expose vulnerability for authenticity while maintaining personal boundaries.

**In simple terms:** Vulnerability is essential but needs protection.

Key Takeaway

Balance openness with self‑care.

Themes

vulnerability self‑care authenticity

Mood

thoughtful serene

Type

advice reflective

When to use this quote

- theatre performance
- public speaking
- personal relationships
- creative work

Key Concepts

emotional intelligence boundary setting

Questions to Reflect On

- When do you draw the line on sharing?
- What safeguards protect your wellbeing?

A Different Perspective

Too much exposure can lead to emotional burnout.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Actors Protect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors-protect-1664525/) [Protect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protect/) [Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Vulnerable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vulnerable/) [Vulnerable Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vulnerable-actors-3593930/)

## Related quotes

> [How you prepare for a role is entirely your business in my point of view. There is little enough mystery anymore left in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-plummer/how-you-prepare-for-a-role-is-entirely-your-business-in-my-point-of/)

[Christopher Plummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-plummer/)

> [If the role is right and it's another situation of having a benevolent genius at the head of it, someone who likes actors, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-williams/if-the-role-is-right-and-it-s-another-situation-of-having-a/)

[Olivia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-williams/)

> [Actors have to protect each other in a way. The idea of humiliating another actor or being humiliated myself is devastating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/actors-have-to-protect-each-other-in-a-way-the-idea-of-humiliating/)

[Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/)

> [Our society is only as healthy as our most vulnerable citizens. It is unconscionable that the weakest links in our country are our hungry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-gray/our-society-is-only-as-healthy-as-our-most-vulnerable-citizens-it-is/)

[Linda Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-gray/)

> [We travel together, passengers on a little spaceship, dependent on it's vulnerable reserves of air and soil, all committed, for our safety, to it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adlai-e-stevenson/we-travel-together-passengers-on-a-little-spaceship-dependent-on-it-s/)

[Adlai E. Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adlai-e-stevenson/)

> [Gambles are the most fun because it's part of being an actor or being a creative person. It's risky only in the vulnerable sense.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-stone/gambles-are-the-most-fun-because-it-s-part-of-being-an-actor-or-being/)

[Emma Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-stone/)

> [It is my belief that industry and government around the world should work even more closely to protect the privacy and security of Internet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/it-is-my-belief-that-industry-and-government-around-the-world-should/)

[Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/)

> [There is no safety-net to protect against attraction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-charles-swinburne/there-is-no-safety-net-to-protect-against-attraction/)

[Algernon Charles Swinburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-charles-swinburne/)

> [Intelligence is our first line of defense against terrorism, and we must improve the collection capabilities and analysis of intelligence to protect the security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saxby-chambliss/intelligence-is-our-first-line-of-defense-against-terrorism-and-we/)

[Saxby Chambliss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saxby-chambliss/)

> [It's always been government's role to protect the security of the nation. And cyber-attacks is a security issue, from our perspective. And it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-napolitano/it-s-always-been-government-s-role-to-protect-the-security-of-the/)

[Janet Napolitano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-napolitano/)

> [Critics have stepped up their attacks on the President for authorizing the National Security Agency to listen to international communications of known al Qaeda…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/critics-have-stepped-up-their-attacks-on-the-president-for/)

[Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/)

> [We forget today that Britain still depends for its livelihood and, indeed, its day-to-day survival, on the sea. But the Royal Navy is now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keegan/we-forget-today-that-britain-still-depends-for-its-livelihood-and/)

[John Keegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keegan/)

> [Well, the U.N. Security Council resolution 1973 is very clear. It says all necessary measures to be taken to protect civilians and civilian areas.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-jackson/well-the-u-n-security-council-resolution-1973-is-very-clear-it-says/)

[Mike Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-jackson/)

> [You want to work with good people. When you're working with good people, it frees you up. There's nothing worse, as an actor, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-badge-dale/you-want-to-work-with-good-people-when-you-re-working-with-good/)

[James Badge Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-badge-dale/)

> [I think everybody else in Hollywood, including network execs, has the opportunity to ask for a raise or a change in scenery in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorja-fox/i-think-everybody-else-in-hollywood-including-network-execs-has-the/)

[Jorja Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorja-fox/)

## More by Glenn Close

> [Love makes no sense at all. But it's the most powerful and amazing force in the entire universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-close/love-makes-no-sense-at-all-but-it-s-the-most-powerful-and-amazing/)

[Glenn Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-close/)

> [I love Ron Howard, he's a wonderful director, incredibly prepared. But I have to criticize my performance in that movie. It all took place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-close/i-love-ron-howard-he-s-a-wonderful-director-incredibly-prepared-but-i/)

[Glenn Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-close/)

> [As an actor, I go where the good writing is. That's the bottom line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-close/as-an-actor-i-go-where-the-good-writing-is-that-s-the-bottom-line/)

[Glenn Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-close/)

> [I don't have the body or the face for romantic comedies, so I've never been offered those. The challenge is that a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-close/i-don-t-have-the-body-or-the-face-for-romantic-comedies-so-i-ve-never/)

[Glenn Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-close/)

> [I'm not a natural ocean person. I married into a family of swimmers, and I've slowly been drawn into the sea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-close/i-m-not-a-natural-ocean-person-i-married-into-a-family-of-swimmers/)

[Glenn Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-close/)

> [When you're on the set, and sometimes, because it's been so complex and the writers have been really writing, sometimes up until the last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-close/when-you-re-on-the-set-and-sometimes-because-it-s-been-so-complex-and/)

[Glenn Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-close/)

> [I've often been mistaken for Meryl Streep, although never on Oscar night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-close/i-ve-often-been-mistaken-for-meryl-streep-although-never-on-oscar/)

[Glenn Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-close/)

> [I had a great time on The Shield. From working on it I have a totally different view of law enforcement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-close/i-had-a-great-time-on-the-shield-from-working-on-it-i-have-a-totally/)

[Glenn Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-close/)

> [Taking power away from a man is a dangerous thing. Someone always pays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-close/taking-power-away-from-a-man-is-a-dangerous-thing-someone-always-pays/)

[Glenn Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-close/)

> [My fellow actors inspire me a lot and really good writing inspires me. And then trying to stick to the decision to only do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-close/my-fellow-actors-inspire-me-a-lot-and-really-good-writing-inspires-me/)

[Glenn Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-close/)

> [You have to love the characters you play, even if no one else does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-close/you-have-to-love-the-characters-you-play-even-if-no-one-else-does/)

[Glenn Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-close/)

> [I get bored talking about myself, but I can talk about the work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-close/i-get-bored-talking-about-myself-but-i-can-talk-about-the-work/)

[Glenn Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-close/)

> [I've always felt that an independent film is a film that almost doesn't get made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-close/i-ve-always-felt-that-an-independent-film-is-a-film-that-almost-doesn/)

[Glenn Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-close/)

> [I'm fascinated by the First World War because it was supposed to be the war to end all wars, and it was the biggest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-close/i-m-fascinated-by-the-first-world-war-because-it-was-supposed-to-be/)

[Glenn Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-close/)

> [I knew the term Stepford Wife, and I knew what that meant. I never read the book, and I think before I started filming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-close/i-knew-the-term-stepford-wife-and-i-knew-what-that-meant-i-never-read/)

[Glenn Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-close/)

[Explore all 84 Glenn Close quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-close/)

## More Actors quotes

> [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/)

[Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/)

> [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/)

[Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/)

> [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/)

[Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/)

> [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/)

[Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/)

> [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/)

[Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/)

> [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/)

[Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/)

> [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/)

> [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/)

[Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/)

> [When we watch a film as actors, you have to understand that we always see much more than what's on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/when-we-watch-a-film-as-actors-you-have-to-understand-that-we-always/)

[Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/)

> [As actors, you become an expert at starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-actors-you-become-an-expert-at-starting-over/)

[Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/)

> [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/)

[Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/)

> [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/)

[Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/)

> [A rapper is about being completely true to yourself. Being an actor is about changing who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/a-rapper-is-about-being-completely-true-to-yourself-being-an-actor-is/)

[Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/)

> [I've been a professional actor for almost 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-been-a-professional-actor-for-almost-40-years/)

[Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/)

> [American actors are coy. We all have pricks and cunts, or are you different from the rest of us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/american-actors-are-coy-we-all-have-pricks-and-cunts-or-are-you/)

[Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/)

[Browse all 11,394 Actors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "We have to be vulnerable as actors, but we have to protect ourselves.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Glenn Close"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-close/we-have-to-be-vulnerable-as-actors-but-we-have-to-protect-ourselves/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Actors"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-close/we-have-to-be-vulnerable-as-actors-but-we-have-to-protect-ourselves/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/782/glenn-close-8097_actors_we-have-to-be-vulnerable-as-actors-but-w_2821491.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/782/glenn-close-8097_actors_we-have-to-be-vulnerable-as-actors-but-w_2821491.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/782/glenn-close-8097_actors_we-have-to-be-vulnerable-as-actors-but-w_2821491.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“We have to be vulnerable as actors, but we have to protect ourselves.” — Glenn Close",
                "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": "Glenn Close",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-close/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "We have to be vulnerable as...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-close/we-have-to-be-vulnerable-as-actors-but-we-have-to-protect-ourselves/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-close/we-have-to-be-vulnerable-as-actors-but-we-have-to-protect-ourselves/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
