--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are directors, and I think this is…" description: "\"There are directors, and I think this is true of all directors, it would be true if I was a director - If the actor didn't want to do what I was sugges..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/903/ian-mckellen-1396_actors_there-are-directors-and-i-think-this-is_933375.jpg" --- # There are directors, and I think this is true of all… ![“There are directors, and I think this is true of all directors, it would be true if I was a director - If the actor didn't want to do what I was suggesting, I would let him do it his way, and then I would say to him, "Just give me one where you do what the director wants", and that, of course, is…” quote by Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/903/ian-mckellen-1396_actors_there-are-directors-and-i-think-this-is_933375.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/903/ian-mckellen-1396_actors_there-are-directors-and-i-think-this-is_933375.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/903/ian-mckellen-1396_actors_there-are-directors-and-i-think-this-is_933375.jpg) > “There are directors, and I think this is true of all directors, it would be true if I was a director - If the actor didn't want to do what I was suggesting, I would let him do it his way, and then I would say to him, "Just give me one where you do what the director wants", and that, of course, is the take that's used.” [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. Directors should trust actors’ instincts while guiding the vision. **In simple terms:** Balance guidance with creative freedom. Key Takeaway Guide, then let actors lead. Themes collaboration leadership creativity Mood reflective thoughtful Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - film set - theatre rehearsal - advertising campaign Key Concepts Directing acting creative process Questions to Reflect On - How much control is too much? - When should a director intervene? A Different Perspective Too much freedom can dilute the original vision. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Being true](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-true/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Courses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courses/) [Director Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/director-actor/) [Director Wants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/director-wants/) [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Directors Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors-think-590138/) [Directors True](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors-true-1537303/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Give me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/give-me/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Suggesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suggesting/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [True Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-directors-1537304/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [You can be playing a line some way and the director wants you to change that, or you can disagree. But I always think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/you-can-be-playing-a-line-some-way-and-the-director-wants-you-to/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [I'm a huge fan of Greta Gerwig, and working with her was also a dream come true. She was one of those directors who,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-newton/i-m-a-huge-fan-of-greta-gerwig-and-working-with-her-was-also-a-dream/) [Kathryn Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-newton/) > [The performance is created by the director. The actor is the material. 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As good or better than guy directors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alia-shawkat/i-ve-worked-with-a-couple-of-female-directors-now-and-i-think-that/) [Alia Shawkat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alia-shawkat/) > [My whole M.O. in my 20s was being in as many different types of films as you can. Working with as many different types…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hathaway/my-whole-m-o-in-my-20s-was-being-in-as-many-different-types-of-films/) [Anne Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hathaway/) > [When I came out here, my manager thought that casting directors might think I'm a girl, and when I did Threat Matrix, they thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-denton/when-i-came-out-here-my-manager-thought-that-casting-directors-might/) [James Denton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-denton/) > [All of my fellow directors, I think, would agree that in whatever medium you are working, the challenges and obstacles push them to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/all-of-my-fellow-directors-i-think-would-agree-that-in-whatever/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [As an actor, I just go off the director. I never ask how big the part is. I don't look at it from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-gerwig/as-an-actor-i-just-go-off-the-director-i-never-ask-how-big-the-part/) [Greta Gerwig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-gerwig/) > [I think that too often we, film directors, think that a big epic novel and feature film are the same. It's a lie. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/i-think-that-too-often-we-film-directors-think-that-a-big-epic-novel/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) ## 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. 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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. 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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 Actors quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. 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