--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I used to comfort myself when I became an…" description: "\"I used to comfort myself when I became an actor that it was a useful job, entertaining people. And it was important to do it as well as you possibly ca..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10a/ian-mckellen-1396_actor_i-used-to-comfort-myself-when-i-became-a_1652200.jpg" --- # I used to comfort myself when I became an actor that it… ![“I used to comfort myself when I became an actor that it was a useful job, entertaining people. And it was important to do it as well as you possibly can.” quote by Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10a/ian-mckellen-1396_actor_i-used-to-comfort-myself-when-i-became-a_1652200.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10a/ian-mckellen-1396_actor_i-used-to-comfort-myself-when-i-became-a_1652200.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10a/ian-mckellen-1396_actor_i-used-to-comfort-myself-when-i-became-a_1652200.jpg) > “I used to comfort myself when I became an actor that it was a useful job, entertaining people. And it was important to do it as well as you possibly can.” [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) ## 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 a valuable service; it entertains and carries responsibility to give your best effort. **In simple terms:** Acting is both useful and a duty to do well. Key Takeaway Give your best in any role. Themes art responsibility craft service Mood reflective inspirational Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - theater - film - public speaking - teaching Key Concepts performance ethics personal fulfillment Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities do you feel in your work? - How do you balance duty and enjoyment? A Different Perspective The quote may overlook the joy of spontaneity in art. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfort/) [Entertaining people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entertaining-people/) [Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [I do have comfort, because as an actor you don't want that anxiety of wondering if you're going to continue with a certain role…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-dekay/i-do-have-comfort-because-as-an-actor-you-don-t-want-that-anxiety-of/) [Tim DeKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-dekay/) > [You set out to tell a good story. You don't do it because there is a deep message involved, because the movie is almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lee-hancock/you-set-out-to-tell-a-good-story-you-don-t-do-it-because-there-is-a/) [John Lee Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lee-hancock/) > [By creating useful job descriptions and making clear what qualifications should be expected, the Department aims to help improve schools' ability to recruit the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/by-creating-useful-job-descriptions-and-making-clear-what/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gardening is the only unquestionably useful job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/gardening-is-the-only-unquestionably-useful-job/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [ Ralph \[ Nader\] is an old friend of mine, and he does a useful job in displaying a position. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/ralph-nader-is-an-old-friend-of-mine-and-he-does-a-useful-job-in/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [I like to be around entertaining people. Even if they're bored, and you're in a convalescent home, there's something entertaining about that, in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/i-like-to-be-around-entertaining-people-even-if-they-re-bored-and-you/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [I figured, 'Why not go into entertainment?' I love entertaining people. I always loved being extra loud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-g/i-figured-why-not-go-into-entertainment-i-love-entertaining-people-i/) [Becky G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-g/) > [I like entertaining people. I like being on stage. I like being in the life. This is what I do. This is the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-like-entertaining-people-i-like-being-on-stage-i-like-being-in-the/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [If you lose you better at least be entertaining while you do it or people will turn you off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-corso/if-you-lose-you-better-at-least-be-entertaining-while-you-do-it-or/) [Lee Corso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-corso/) > [I believe in the nobility of entertaining people and I take great, great pride that people are willing to give me two or three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/i-believe-in-the-nobility-of-entertaining-people-and-i-take-great/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [I feel blessed that I get to be part of entertaining people in any capacity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/i-feel-blessed-that-i-get-to-be-part-of-entertaining-people-in-any/) [J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/) > [My first dream was to travel. I was attracted to different places, different colors of skin, different food. When I was 18 in 1977,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-laliberte/my-first-dream-was-to-travel-i-was-attracted-to-different-places/) [Guy Laliberte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-laliberte/) > [I love entertaining people and making them laugh. It's my favorite thing to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-cosgrove/i-love-entertaining-people-and-making-them-laugh-it-s-my-favorite/) [Miranda Cosgrove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-cosgrove/) > [I'm like Cab Calloway: I love the entertainment, and I've loved entertaining people ever since I was little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wyclef-jean/i-m-like-cab-calloway-i-love-the-entertainment-and-i-ve-loved/) [Wyclef Jean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wyclef-jean/) > [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) ## More by Ian Mckellen > [I've always longed for the theatre and acting to be popular. No actor wants to play to an empty house. We only do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/i-ve-always-longed-for-the-theatre-and-acting-to-be-popular-no-actor/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [It's my impression that I've done every job that I've been asked to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/it-s-my-impression-that-i-ve-done-every-job-that-i-ve-been-asked-to-do/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [I'm fortunate to be famous for two rather imposing characters like Magneto and Gandalf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/i-m-fortunate-to-be-famous-for-two-rather-imposing-characters-like/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [Tolkien is as good as Dickens at sketching a scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/tolkien-is-as-good-as-dickens-at-sketching-a-scene/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [If you are playing King Lear you are the centre of attention anyway. You don't need to draw attention to yourself. It's all laid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/if-you-are-playing-king-lear-you-are-the-centre-of-attention-anyway/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [Godot is whatever it is in life that you are waiting for: 'I'm waiting to win the lottery. I'm waiting to fall in love'.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/godot-is-whatever-it-is-in-life-that-you-are-waiting-for-i-m-waiting/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [I'm only an actor. I'm not a writer. I'm not going to leave any legacy. All I've ever done is learn the lines and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/i-m-only-an-actor-i-m-not-a-writer-i-m-not-going-to-leave-any-legacy/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [I'd never read 'Lord of the Rings' until I was asked to play Gandalf, so I didn't really know it was a frightfully famous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/i-d-never-read-lord-of-the-rings-until-i-was-asked-to-play-gandalf-so/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [You might be surprised by how interested young people are in older people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/you-might-be-surprised-by-how-interested-young-people-are-in-older/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [The strength of British theatre should be that these actors in their middle years know what they're doing and are good at it. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/the-strength-of-british-theatre-should-be-that-these-actors-in-their/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [Until I came out, my acting was all about disguise, and thereafter it became about telling the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/until-i-came-out-my-acting-was-all-about-disguise-and-thereafter-it/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [Elijah looks angelic but his beauty of spirit is what makes his Frodo leap out of the screen. Unalloyed goodness is one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/elijah-looks-angelic-but-his-beauty-of-spirit-is-what-makes-his-frodo/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > ['The Lego Movie?' I've never heard of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/the-lego-movie-i-ve-never-heard-of-it/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [When I appeared in 'Coronation Street,' I lived in Manchester and enjoyed it very much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/when-i-appeared-in-coronation-street-i-lived-in-manchester-and/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [Before acting, I wanted to become a journalist. I also toyed with the idea of being a chef - but that's only when people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/before-acting-i-wanted-to-become-a-journalist-i-also-toyed-with-the/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) [Explore all 247 Ian Mckellen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) ## More Actor 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/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [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/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! 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