---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The press like to talk to actors. They…"
description: "\"The press like to talk to actors. They mustn't be surprised when actors talk back to them.\" — Ian Mckellen"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d1/ian-mckellen-1396_actor_the-press-like-to-talk-to-actors-they-mu_2818373.jpg"
---

#  The press like to talk to actors. They mustn't be…

![“The press like to talk to actors. They mustn't be surprised when actors talk back to them.” quote by Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d1/ian-mckellen-1396_actor_the-press-like-to-talk-to-actors-they-mu_2818373.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d1/ian-mckellen-1396_actor_the-press-like-to-talk-to-actors-they-mu_2818373.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d1/ian-mckellen-1396_actor_the-press-like-to-talk-to-actors-they-mu_2818373.jpg)

> “The press like to talk to actors. They mustn't be surprised when actors talk back to them.”

[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.

Actors engage with media, so they should expect reciprocal dialogue rather than one‑sided questioning.

**In simple terms:** Actors should expect talk‑backs from press.

Key Takeaway

Embrace two‑way communication in interviews.

Themes

media relations actor dynamics communication

Mood

assertive professional

Type

strategic practical

When to use this quote

- press junkets
- talk shows
- social media Q&A

Key Concepts

public relations dialogue

Questions to Reflect On

- How can actors steer conversations toward mutual exchange?
- What strategies ensure balanced media interactions?

A Different Perspective

Press may dominate narratives, limiting actor input.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Press](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/press/) [Surprised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprised/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/)

## Related quotes

> [A lot of actors never talk to other actors about how they're doing things, or why. I think it's important to share the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-travolta/a-lot-of-actors-never-talk-to-other-actors-about-how-they-re-doing/)

[John Travolta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-travolta/)

> [I'm always surprised when actors say they don't like sex scenes. It's like a freebie. It's fun to make out with someone. So yes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mackenzie-davis/i-m-always-surprised-when-actors-say-they-don-t-like-sex-scenes-it-s/)

[Mackenzie Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mackenzie-davis/)

> [When I call 'Action,' I love to be surprised. And the actors I've been fortunate enough to work with always surprise me in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zal-batmanglij/when-i-call-action-i-love-to-be-surprised-and-the-actors-i-ve-been/)

[Zal Batmanglij](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zal-batmanglij/)

> [You can't plan your character arc - you have a vague idea, maybe, but I'm constantly surprised. Sometimes actors in films will play the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-peters/you-can-t-plan-your-character-arc-you-have-a-vague-idea-maybe-but-i-m/)

[Evan Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-peters/)

> [Some directors hardly talk to the actors at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-solondz/some-directors-hardly-talk-to-the-actors-at-all/)

[Todd Solondz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-solondz/)

> [Actors know how to talk to other actors in a way that sometimes other directors just don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-heslov/actors-know-how-to-talk-to-other-actors-in-a-way-that-sometimes-other/)

[Grant Heslov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-heslov/)

> [Being an actor helps me direct a little bit, when I do that, which I haven't been able to do that much, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-mazzello/being-an-actor-helps-me-direct-a-little-bit-when-i-do-that-which-i/)

[Joseph Mazzello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-mazzello/)

> [Personally, I don't like to talk too much to the actors about the camera choices because I feel like the way I want them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-haigh/personally-i-don-t-like-to-talk-too-much-to-the-actors-about-the/)

[Andrew Haigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-haigh/)

> [I wouldn't say I'm a very controlling person. For instance, when I talk to the actors, I don't tell them exactly what I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-amenabar/i-wouldn-t-say-i-m-a-very-controlling-person-for-instance-when-i-talk/)

[Alejandro Amenabar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-amenabar/)

> [One of the things I tried to do is to kind of talk my actors through the scene, but at the same time let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wan/one-of-the-things-i-tried-to-do-is-to-kind-of-talk-my-actors-through/)

[James Wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wan/)

> [One of the greatest things I've learned, as an actor, was how to talk to actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-balfour/one-of-the-greatest-things-i-ve-learned-as-an-actor-was-how-to-talk/)

[Eric Balfour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-balfour/)

> [I didn't train in directing; I talk to actors the way I talk to anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-baumbach/i-didn-t-train-in-directing-i-talk-to-actors-the-way-i-talk-to-anybody/)

[Noah Baumbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-baumbach/)

> [Communication is the key, and it's one thing I had to learn-to talk to the actors. I was so involved with the visual and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/communication-is-the-key-and-it-s-one-thing-i-had-to-learn-to-talk-to/)

[Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/)

> [People talk, or however about actors watching themselves, but no, no one likes to watch themselves. Come on. It's extremely difficult. You can't help,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/people-talk-or-however-about-actors-watching-themselves-but-no-no-one/)

[Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/)

> [I often talk with other actors about that time when you've just finished a job, because I think you do take on the characteristics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-barnes/i-often-talk-with-other-actors-about-that-time-when-you-ve-just/)

[Ben Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-barnes/)

## 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! 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/)

> [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/)

[Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/)

> [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/)

[Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The press like to talk to actors. They mustn't be surprised when actors talk back to them.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ian Mckellen"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/the-press-like-to-talk-to-actors-they-mustn-t-be-surprised-when/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Actor"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/the-press-like-to-talk-to-actors-they-mustn-t-be-surprised-when/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d1/ian-mckellen-1396_actor_the-press-like-to-talk-to-actors-they-mu_2818373.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d1/ian-mckellen-1396_actor_the-press-like-to-talk-to-actors-they-mu_2818373.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d1/ian-mckellen-1396_actor_the-press-like-to-talk-to-actors-they-mu_2818373.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The press like to talk to actors. They mustn't be surprised when actors talk back to them.” — Ian Mckellen",
                "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": "Ian Mckellen",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The press like to talk to...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/the-press-like-to-talk-to-actors-they-mustn-t-be-surprised-when/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/the-press-like-to-talk-to-actors-they-mustn-t-be-surprised-when/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```