--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Acting is not acting. It isn't putting on…" description: "\"Acting is not acting. It isn't putting on a face and dancing around in a mask. It's believing that you are that character and playing him as if it were..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/453/haley-joel-osment-13043_acting_acting-is-not-acting-it-isn-t-putting-on_924468.png" --- # Acting is not acting. It isn't putting on a face and… ![“Acting is not acting. It isn't putting on a face and dancing around in a mask. It's believing that you are that character and playing him as if it were a normal day in the life of that character.” quote by Haley Joel Osment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/453/haley-joel-osment-13043_acting_acting-is-not-acting-it-isn-t-putting-on_924468.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/453/haley-joel-osment-13043_acting_acting-is-not-acting-it-isn-t-putting-on_924468.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/453/haley-joel-osment-13043_acting_acting-is-not-acting-it-isn-t-putting-on_924468.png) > “Acting is not acting. It isn't putting on a face and dancing around in a mask. It's believing that you are that character and playing him as if it were a normal day in the life of that character.” [Haley Joel Osment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-joel-osment/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting is authentic embodiment, not mere performance; the actor lives as the character daily. **In simple terms:** Acting means truly becoming the character. Key Takeaway Seek genuine immersion in roles. Themes authenticity craft identity Mood reflective inquisitive Type artistic psychological When to use this quote - theatre - film - character study Key Concepts method acting psychology role immersion Questions to Reflect On - Can actors maintain self-identity while fully embodying roles? - What safeguards help preserve personal wellbeing? A Different Perspective True immersion can blur personal boundaries, risking identity loss. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-acting/) [Acting Isn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-isn/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Around](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around/) [Believing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believing/) [Believing Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believing-character-1455803/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Dancing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dancing/) [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Face](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/face/) [Him](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/him/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mask/) [Normal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/normal/) [Normal Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/normal-day/) [Playing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing/) [Playing Normal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-normal-864908/) [Putting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/putting/) [Were](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/were/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [The best advice my dad ever gave me is that acting is believing. Acting is not acting. It isn't putting on a face and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-joel-osment/the-best-advice-my-dad-ever-gave-me-is-that-acting-is-believing/) [Haley Joel Osment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-joel-osment/) > [Playing normal-looking characters really intimidatesme. I got into acting to play anyone but me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/playing-normal-looking-characters-really-intimidatesme-i-got-into/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [There are too many possibilities, if you can't die. If you're playing a normal human being, there's always that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pattinson/there-are-too-many-possibilities-if-you-can-t-die-if-you-re-playing-a/) [Robert Pattinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pattinson/) > [“But there was something else, too, a strange excitement at the idea of playing normal, and every time he tried to untangle how he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-schwab/but-there-was-something-else-too-a-strange-excitement-at-the-idea-of/) [Victoria Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-schwab/) > [ What was the worst thing \[making Twiligh\]? Playing the part where you can't get hurt and you can't die because there's no framework. There… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pattinson/what-was-the-worst-thing-making-twiligh-playing-the-part-where-you/) [Robert Pattinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pattinson/) > [Playing normal is hard - especially playing normal that's not you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alycia-debnam-carey/playing-normal-is-hard-especially-playing-normal-that-s-not-you/) [Alycia Debnam-Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alycia-debnam-carey/) > [Playing normal is hard; especially playing normal that's not you. The biggest challenge in playing Alicia is trying to make a teenage girl seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alycia-debnam-carey-2/playing-normal-is-hard-especially-playing-normal-that-s-not-you-the/) [Alycia Debnam Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alycia-debnam-carey-2/) > [I think I’ll just go take a shower,” I said. It wasn’t until Samuel stiffened that I remembered I’d just come out of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/i-think-i-ll-just-go-take-a-shower-i-said-it-wasn-t-until-samuel/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [Someone once shouted: 'We know you're acting and this isn't real' at a gig in Cambridge. I was 25, playing a 50-year-old lounge singer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-demetriou/someone-once-shouted-we-know-you-re-acting-and-this-isn-t-real-at-a/) [Jamie Demetriou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-demetriou/) > [Acting isn't a game of "pretend." It's an exercise in being real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/acting-isn-t-a-game-of-pretend-it-s-an-exercise-in-being-real/) [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) > [I like working one-on-one with someone, and I think that to go to a school of acting isn't really my thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-maeve/i-like-working-one-on-one-with-someone-and-i-think-that-to-go-to-a/) [Stella Maeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-maeve/) > [If there is any sense of order to the universe, acting is what I am meant to do. I'm not manufactured. I know acting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dj-qualls/if-there-is-any-sense-of-order-to-the-universe-acting-is-what-i-am/) [DJ Qualls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dj-qualls/) > [There was a time when I only wanted to show off, but as I've grown older, I've realised that acting isn't an end in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naseeruddin-shah/there-was-a-time-when-i-only-wanted-to-show-off-but-as-i-ve-grown/) [Naseeruddin Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naseeruddin-shah/) > [Acting isn't that hard, really. I mean, I think that people make a big deal about it, but you just kind of try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-gosling/acting-isn-t-that-hard-really-i-mean-i-think-that-people-make-a-big/) [Ryan Gosling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-gosling/) > [The acting thing is so beyond my control. Acting isn't mine. You're like a tiny piece in this big, corporate mechanism that needs chemistry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/the-acting-thing-is-so-beyond-my-control-acting-isn-t-mine-you-re/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) ## More by Haley Joel Osment > [When you get lucky, as I did getting to work on a series of amazing films, one of the drawbacks career-wise is that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-joel-osment/when-you-get-lucky-as-i-did-getting-to-work-on-a-series-of-amazing/) [Haley Joel Osment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-joel-osment/) > [What I like least about acting is that when you're only in one place, you're missing the other part of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-joel-osment/what-i-like-least-about-acting-is-that-when-you-re-only-in-one-place/) [Haley Joel Osment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-joel-osment/) > [One of the cool things about getting to audition for things on short notice is that it teaches you to memorize efficiently. So I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-joel-osment/one-of-the-cool-things-about-getting-to-audition-for-things-on-short/) [Haley Joel Osment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-joel-osment/) > [I went to the Experimental Theater Wing at NYU and wrote and directed a small amount of stuff there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-joel-osment/i-went-to-the-experimental-theater-wing-at-nyu-and-wrote-and-directed/) [Haley Joel Osment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-joel-osment/) > [I never wanted to do Harry Potter. I thought it should have stayed as a book. There are some books that should be made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-joel-osment/i-never-wanted-to-do-harry-potter-i-thought-it-should-have-stayed-as/) [Haley Joel Osment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-joel-osment/) > [The best advice my dad ever gave me is that acting is believing. Acting is not acting. It isn't putting on a face and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-joel-osment/the-best-advice-my-dad-ever-gave-me-is-that-acting-is-believing/) [Haley Joel Osment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-joel-osment/) > [When you're a kid, and you grow up, it takes some time for people to associate you with more things other than that initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-joel-osment/when-you-re-a-kid-and-you-grow-up-it-takes-some-time-for-people-to/) [Haley Joel Osment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-joel-osment/) > [My parents were both born in Birmingham, Alabama, and come from large Catholic families with lots of Michaels, Marks, and Patricks, so they wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-joel-osment/my-parents-were-both-born-in-birmingham-alabama-and-come-from-large/) [Haley Joel Osment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-joel-osment/) > [I like normal stuff people fear - like spiders and heights. I'm frightened by the unknown, by things that are hard to figure out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-joel-osment/i-like-normal-stuff-people-fear-like-spiders-and-heights-i-m/) [Haley Joel Osment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-joel-osment/) > [Just keep learning from the role and not just go for the money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-joel-osment/just-keep-learning-from-the-role-and-not-just-go-for-the-money/) [Haley Joel Osment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-joel-osment/) > [When I was five, I went on my first audition. It was for a Pizza Hut commercial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-joel-osment/when-i-was-five-i-went-on-my-first-audition-it-was-for-a-pizza-hut/) [Haley Joel Osment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-joel-osment/) > [Kobe Bryant is my favorite basketball player. He takes risks. He goes for the shot. He isn't cautious with whatever he does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-joel-osment/kobe-bryant-is-my-favorite-basketball-player-he-takes-risks-he-goes/) [Haley Joel Osment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-joel-osment/) > [People love to get scared. People want to see the worst thing that can happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-joel-osment/people-love-to-get-scared-people-want-to-see-the-worst-thing-that-can/) [Haley Joel Osment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-joel-osment/) > [One challenge in this industry is that you adopt a certain look for a movie, and then people don't get to see the movie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-joel-osment/one-challenge-in-this-industry-is-that-you-adopt-a-certain-look-for-a/) [Haley Joel Osment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-joel-osment/) > [I went to New York University to study experimental theatre in 2006 and was there pretty consistently until 2011.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-joel-osment/i-went-to-new-york-university-to-study-experimental-theatre-in-2006/) [Haley Joel Osment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-joel-osment/) [Explore all 52 Haley Joel Osment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-joel-osment/) ## 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": "Acting is not acting. It isn't putting on a face and dancing around in a mask. 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