--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you really do want to be an actor who…" description: "\"If you really do want to be an actor who can satisfy himself and his audience, you need to be vulnerable. [You must] reach the emotional and intellectu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/291/jack-lemmon-15749_ability_if-you-really-do-want-to-be-an-actor-who_1689948.jpg" --- # If you really do want to be an actor who can satisfy… ![“If you really do want to be an actor who can satisfy himself and his audience, you need to be vulnerable. [You must] reach the emotional and intellectual level of ability where you can go out stark naked, emotionally, in front of an audience.” quote by Jack Lemmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/291/jack-lemmon-15749_ability_if-you-really-do-want-to-be-an-actor-who_1689948.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/291/jack-lemmon-15749_ability_if-you-really-do-want-to-be-an-actor-who_1689948.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/291/jack-lemmon-15749_ability_if-you-really-do-want-to-be-an-actor-who_1689948.jpg) > “If you really do want to be an actor who can satisfy himself and his audience, you need to be vulnerable. \[You must\] reach the emotional and intellectual level of ability where you can go out stark naked, emotionally, in front of an audience.” [Jack Lemmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lemmon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Vulnerability is essential for authentic performance, requiring emotional honesty before an audience **In simple terms:** Being emotionally open is key to genuine acting Key Takeaway Embrace emotional honesty on stage Themes acting authenticity self‑expression Mood introspective motivational Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - theatre rehearsals - film auditions - improvisation workshops Key Concepts Vulnerability emotional exposure audience connection Questions to Reflect On - How can you protect yourself while being open? - What practices build emotional resilience? A Different Perspective Vulnerability can be misinterpreted as weakness by critics ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Emotional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional/) [Intellectual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectual/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [If you really do want to be an actor who can satisfy himself and his audience, you need to be vulnerable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-really-do-want-to-be-an-actor-who-can-satisfy-himself-and-his/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am successful if I manage to make a film that I want and if it works emotionally for the audience and if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmila-zbanic/i-am-successful-if-i-manage-to-make-a-film-that-i-want-and-if-it/) [Jasmila Zbanic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmila-zbanic/) > [I cannot do my job unless I am fully open to whatever comes. You're almost naked emotionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-lawless/i-cannot-do-my-job-unless-i-am-fully-open-to-whatever-comes-you-re/) [Renee Lawless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-lawless/) > [ \[Salomaybe\] is my presentation, my vision of the world. Not so much to satisfy the audience at large. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/salomaybe-is-my-presentation-my-vision-of-the-world-not-so-much-to/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [I have to satisfy my audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-smoove/i-have-to-satisfy-my-audience/) [J. B. Smoove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-smoove/) > [The thing about sex is not that you're naked physically, but if you do it right, that you're naked emotionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-browne/the-thing-about-sex-is-not-that-you-re-naked-physically-but-if-you-do/) [Joy Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-browne/) > [I want to satisfy my audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jagapathi-babu/i-want-to-satisfy-my-audience/) [Jagapathi Babu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jagapathi-babu/) > [As an actor, you're naked emotionally; you're revealing yourself emotionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-gugino/as-an-actor-you-re-naked-emotionally-you-re-revealing-yourself/) [Carla Gugino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-gugino/) > [ My objective is to satisfy \[my\] audience so they come back the next day. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/my-objective-is-to-satisfy-my-audience-so-they-come-back-the-next-day/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [On certain days, it can get difficult, because acting is about being naked emotionally. There are days when you are feeling empty, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radhika-apte/on-certain-days-it-can-get-difficult-because-acting-is-about-being/) [Radhika Apte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radhika-apte/) > [I write about what interests me. It's very dangerous when you try to satisfy an audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-carroll/i-write-about-what-interests-me-it-s-very-dangerous-when-you-try-to/) [Jonathan Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-carroll/) > [I've been naked physically in movies - but it's a whole other thing to be naked emotionally in a way that's not just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/i-ve-been-naked-physically-in-movies-but-it-s-a-whole-other-thing-to/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [To grow: that is your deepest and truest need when you say, 'I want to be an actor.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-adler/to-grow-that-is-your-deepest-and-truest-need-when-you-say-i-want-to/) [Stella Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-adler/) > [I hate acting when I see it. I don't want to feel it, I don't want to see it, I want to be taken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-hauer/i-hate-acting-when-i-see-it-i-don-t-want-to-feel-it-i-don-t-want-to/) [Rutger Hauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-hauer/) > [When you are in America, at least for me, as an immigrant, I try to be as Americanized as I could. I just want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-o-yang/when-you-are-in-america-at-least-for-me-as-an-immigrant-i-try-to-be/) [Jimmy O. Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-o-yang/) ## More by Jack Lemmon > [Acting doesn't have anything to do with listening to the words. We never really listen, in general conversation, to what the other person is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lemmon/acting-doesn-t-have-anything-to-do-with-listening-to-the-words-we/) [Jack Lemmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lemmon/) > [I have been fortunate to be able to have a career playing comedy and drama. And it's awfully hard - it's like apples and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lemmon/i-have-been-fortunate-to-be-able-to-have-a-career-playing-comedy-and/) [Jack Lemmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lemmon/) > [how she moves. That's just like Jell-O on springs. She must have some sort of built-in motors. I tell you, it's a whole different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lemmon/how-she-moves-that-s-just-like-jell-o-on-springs-she-must-have-some/) [Jack Lemmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lemmon/) > [Once I had started film, I suddenly said, 'Wow, I love it.' I moved there from New York. But I've always gone back to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lemmon/once-i-had-started-film-i-suddenly-said-wow-i-love-it-i-moved-there/) [Jack Lemmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lemmon/) > [Anything truly worthwhile does not come easy. If it did, it would not be all that worthwhile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lemmon/anything-truly-worthwhile-does-not-come-easy-if-it-did-it-would-not/) [Jack Lemmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lemmon/) > [Everything that is truly worthwhile - I think passion is involved in your approach to it. No matter what it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lemmon/everything-that-is-truly-worthwhile-i-think-passion-is-involved-in/) [Jack Lemmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lemmon/) > [People are probably correct when they see me as the so-called Everyman. I'm attracted primarily to contemporary characters. I understand them and their frustrations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lemmon/people-are-probably-correct-when-they-see-me-as-the-so-called/) [Jack Lemmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lemmon/) > [I think whatever you do, if you are going to do well or even if you don't do it well, you have to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lemmon/i-think-whatever-you-do-if-you-are-going-to-do-well-or-even-if-you/) [Jack Lemmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lemmon/) > [I had no desire to be in the movies. All my training had been in the theater, thank God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lemmon/i-had-no-desire-to-be-in-the-movies-all-my-training-had-been-in-the/) [Jack Lemmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lemmon/) > [In general, I think comedy is more difficult to write, to direct, and to act successfully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lemmon/in-general-i-think-comedy-is-more-difficult-to-write-to-direct-and-to/) [Jack Lemmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lemmon/) > [If I'd been bright, I'd have realized that I was horribly uncomfortable, amazingly frustrated, and like any sensible person, I'd have quit. But it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lemmon/if-i-d-been-bright-i-d-have-realized-that-i-was-horribly/) [Jack Lemmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lemmon/) > [I have lost someone I loved as a brother, as a closest friend, and a remarkable human being. We have also lost one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lemmon/i-have-lost-someone-i-loved-as-a-brother-as-a-closest-friend-and-a/) [Jack Lemmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lemmon/) > [I don't think Ed Horman could be dishonest if his life depended on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lemmon/i-don-t-think-ed-horman-could-be-dishonest-if-his-life-depended-on-it/) [Jack Lemmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lemmon/) > [I had already played a lead on Broadway before I ever did a film. I had had three, four seasons of stock with good,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lemmon/i-had-already-played-a-lead-on-broadway-before-i-ever-did-a-film-i/) [Jack Lemmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lemmon/) > [Part of an actor's job is to actually adopt the world-view of the character she is playing and to tell the story from that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lemmon/part-of-an-actor-s-job-is-to-actually-adopt-the-world-view-of-the/) [Jack Lemmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lemmon/) [Explore all 42 Jack Lemmon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lemmon/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you really do want to be an actor who can satisfy himself and his audience, you need to be vulnerable. 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