--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Broadly speaking, there are two kinds of…" description: "\"Broadly speaking, there are two kinds of acting: character acting and lead acting. And in my life, to begin with, in the 1980s, it was all character ac..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04a/hugh-grant-4025_acting_broadly-speaking-there-are-two-kinds-of_201861.png" --- # Broadly speaking, there are two kinds of acting: character… ![“Broadly speaking, there are two kinds of acting: character acting and lead acting. And in my life, to begin with, in the 1980s, it was all character acting. And then when, by fluke, through 'Four Weddings', I got into doing lead parts, it's a completely different thing.” quote by Hugh Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04a/hugh-grant-4025_acting_broadly-speaking-there-are-two-kinds-of_201861.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04a/hugh-grant-4025_acting_broadly-speaking-there-are-two-kinds-of_201861.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04a/hugh-grant-4025_acting_broadly-speaking-there-are-two-kinds-of_201861.png) > “Broadly speaking, there are two kinds of acting: character acting and lead acting. And in my life, to begin with, in the 1980s, it was all character acting. And then when, by fluke, through 'Four Weddings', I got into doing lead parts, it's a completely different thing.” [Hugh Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-grant/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He distinguishes between character and lead acting, noting his early career was character roles until a breakthrough led to lead parts, which felt very different. **In simple terms:** He moved from supporting to starring roles, which changed his experience. Key Takeaway Embrace new challenges that shift your professional trajectory. Themes career evolution acting styles breakthrough typecasting growth Mood reflective insightful optimistic Type professional artistic When to use this quote - auditioning for lead roles - seeking diverse characters - negotiating contracts Key Concepts character acting lead acting industry dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How did the shift affect his artistic choices? - What risks come with moving to lead roles? A Different Perspective Lead roles may bring typecasting and pressure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Lead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-lead-2106861/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-acting-1471670/) [Kinds Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kinds-acting-2106862/) [Lead Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lead-acting-2106860/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [My life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-life/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) ## Related quotes > [If you do too much acting in a lead part in a feature film where you're 40 ft. high, it's rather unattractive. You can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-grant/if-you-do-too-much-acting-in-a-lead-part-in-a-feature-film-where-you/) [Hugh Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-grant/) > [I may not have made humongous sum of money through acting, but I have enough to lead a stress free life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sowcar-janaki/i-may-not-have-made-humongous-sum-of-money-through-acting-but-i-have/) [Sowcar Janaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sowcar-janaki/) > [I would love to do more acting; I really would love to do it, particularly character acting. I'm a character type of actor; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharlto-copley/i-would-love-to-do-more-acting-i-really-would-love-to-do-it/) [Sharlto Copley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharlto-copley/) > [I think good acting is always character acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-sadler/i-think-good-acting-is-always-character-acting/) [William Sadler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-sadler/) > [The one I remember the most is 'Abigail's Party'. Seeing Alison Steadman's performance made me want to do character acting. It was just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-wix/the-one-i-remember-the-most-is-abigail-s-party-seeing-alison-steadman/) [Katy Wix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-wix/) > [In my opinion, the actors I admire the most are also character actors - the Dustin Hoffmans and the Robert De Niros. You look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-sadler/in-my-opinion-the-actors-i-admire-the-most-are-also-character-actors/) [William Sadler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-sadler/) > [I treat any scene the same - dialogue, action - you're still creating something in character. It's all acting, fighting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-owen/i-treat-any-scene-the-same-dialogue-action-you-re-still-creating/) [Clive Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-owen/) > [I think I've grown up in an era where character acting on film has become less desirable for the producers and directors and therefore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suchet/i-think-i-ve-grown-up-in-an-era-where-character-acting-on-film-has/) [David Suchet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suchet/) > [Years of live storytelling and character acting have helped me with building vivid locations and scenes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-crabb/years-of-live-storytelling-and-character-acting-have-helped-me-with/) [David Crabb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-crabb/) > [Character acting is a much braver pursuit than a guy who runs around and intermittently clenches his jaw muscles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-reynolds/character-acting-is-a-much-braver-pursuit-than-a-guy-who-runs-around/) [Ryan Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-reynolds/) > [I'm an actress. You can hide behind your character when you're acting - you're not being yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-keegan/i-m-an-actress-you-can-hide-behind-your-character-when-you-re-acting/) [Michelle Keegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-keegan/) > [My general view is that best actor best suited to role should get the job. Obviously when it comes to colour and issues of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/my-general-view-is-that-best-actor-best-suited-to-role-should-get-the/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [I hadn't done just a straight-out comedy in a long time, just letting an ensemble do really good character acting, having them carry the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-de-palma/i-hadn-t-done-just-a-straight-out-comedy-in-a-long-time-just-letting/) [Brian De Palma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-de-palma/) > [My whole background is character acting: weird costumes, fat suits, playing men, playing animals - I've never played anyone with whom there's any overlapping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-williams/my-whole-background-is-character-acting-weird-costumes-fat-suits/) [Allison Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-williams/) > [When I first moved out to Los Angeles I was thinking, you know, I wanted to be an actor but I didn't really know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-biehn/when-i-first-moved-out-to-los-angeles-i-was-thinking-you-know-i/) [Michael Biehn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-biehn/) ## More by Hugh Grant > [I've driven people mad on films that I've made - I want more takes; I want to try new lines. Then I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-grant/i-ve-driven-people-mad-on-films-that-i-ve-made-i-want-more-takes-i/) [Hugh Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-grant/) > [Some newspapers in Britain have become closer to these kind of mafia families. They wield an incredible power. They choose our governments, they choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-grant/some-newspapers-in-britain-have-become-closer-to-these-kind-of-mafia/) [Hugh Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-grant/) > [Well, you know I have an office, my film offices. So I know that syndrome. I fancy offices, so there must be something wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-grant/well-you-know-i-have-an-office-my-film-offices-so-i-know-that/) [Hugh Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-grant/) > [I'm such a chronic relativist, I can't hold down a strong opinion about many things long enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-grant/i-m-such-a-chronic-relativist-i-can-t-hold-down-a-strong-opinion/) [Hugh Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-grant/) > [Do I think human beings are meant to be in 40-year-long monogamous, faithful, relationships? No, No, No. Whoever said they were? Only the Bible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-grant/do-i-think-human-beings-are-meant-to-be-in-40-year-long-monogamous/) [Hugh Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-grant/) > [And film acting is incredibly tedious, just by its nature. It's incredibly, mind numbingly slow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-grant/and-film-acting-is-incredibly-tedious-just-by-its-nature-it-s/) [Hugh Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-grant/) > [Being on a film set, it's mind-numbing. It's like torture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-grant/being-on-a-film-set-it-s-mind-numbing-it-s-like-torture/) [Hugh Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-grant/) > ['The Lair of the White Worm' is quite a strange film. It's difficult to be good when you're saying lines that have been translated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-grant/the-lair-of-the-white-worm-is-quite-a-strange-film-it-s-difficult-to/) [Hugh Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-grant/) > [The only reason my work seems to be eclectic up to a certain period is because I was a failure as an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-grant/the-only-reason-my-work-seems-to-be-eclectic-up-to-a-certain-period/) [Hugh Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-grant/) > [Although I'm largely doing other things in life, it's very nice occasionally to put my toe back in the waters of show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-grant/although-i-m-largely-doing-other-things-in-life-it-s-very-nice/) [Hugh Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-grant/) > [I look at life and I see some very happy relationships, but I also see the vast majority as not being that happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-grant/i-look-at-life-and-i-see-some-very-happy-relationships-but-i-also-see/) [Hugh Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-grant/) > [Now, I quite like it. For years I sat in these interviews and everyone said, 'You're always Mister Nice Guy, why don't you ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-grant/now-i-quite-like-it-for-years-i-sat-in-these-interviews-and-everyone/) [Hugh Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-grant/) > [The reason I turn down 99% of a hundred, I mean a thousand, scripts is because romantic comedies are often very romantic but seldom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-grant/the-reason-i-turn-down-99-of-a-hundred-i-mean-a-thousand-scripts-is/) [Hugh Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-grant/) > [I never meant to be in romantic comedies; it's just what ended up happening. But they are tricky, in a post-1960s sexual revolution way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-grant/i-never-meant-to-be-in-romantic-comedies-it-s-just-what-ended-up/) [Hugh Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-grant/) > [It's always more fun to be an anti-hero. They're more interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-grant/it-s-always-more-fun-to-be-an-anti-hero-they-re-more-interesting/) [Hugh Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-grant/) [Explore all 117 Hugh Grant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-grant/) ## 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": "Broadly speaking, there are two kinds of acting: character acting and lead acting. And in my life, to begin with, in the 1980s, it was all character acting. 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