--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't remember if I've been asked…" description: "\"I don't remember if I've been asked seriously to direct a picture. I understand that. I'm very good business for people as an actor and perhaps they'd ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffb/jack-nicholson-1283_actors_i-don-t-remember-if-i-ve-been-asked-seri_3131069.jpg" --- # I don't remember if I've been asked seriously to direct a… ![“I don't remember if I've been asked seriously to direct a picture. I understand that. I'm very good business for people as an actor and perhaps they'd rather I didn't.” quote by Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffb/jack-nicholson-1283_actors_i-don-t-remember-if-i-ve-been-asked-seri_3131069.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffb/jack-nicholson-1283_actors_i-don-t-remember-if-i-ve-been-asked-seri_3131069.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffb/jack-nicholson-1283_actors_i-don-t-remember-if-i-ve-been-asked-seri_3131069.jpg) > “I don't remember if I've been asked seriously to direct a picture. I understand that. I'm very good business for people as an actor and perhaps they'd rather I didn't.” [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Nicholson feels he is typecast as an actor and not given directing opportunities, despite his business acumen. **In simple terms:** He believes he's limited to acting, not directing. Key Takeaway Advocate for broader creative roles. Themes career typecasting ambition Mood reflective determined Type career industry When to use this quote - film production - career negotiations - skill diversification Key Concepts industry dynamics creative control Questions to Reflect On - What steps can actors take to expand into directing? - How can studios recognize hidden talents? A Different Perspective Industry may resist non-traditional casting choices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Good business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-business/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [“The PM's gaze swings around to where I'm sitting. "Ms. Montague. Would you step outside?" My immediate reaction is yes, of course. But that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ainsley-booth/the-pm-s-gaze-swings-around-to-where-i-m-sitting-ms-montague-would/) [Ainsley Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ainsley-booth/) > [“Are you seriously telling me the truth about all this?" I asked. "I seriously am," he replied. "I was also serious about stealing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-ribar/are-you-seriously-telling-me-the-truth-about-all-this-i-asked-i/) [Lindsay Ribar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-ribar/) > [“Do you think you’re special, Perry?” he asked seriously. I winced. “A little bit. Maybe more in the Special Olympics kind of way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karina-halle/do-you-think-you-re-special-perry-he-asked-seriously-i-winced-a/) [Karina Halle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karina-halle/) > [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/) > [In all of us, there is a struggle between the good and the bad. It makes it more palpable and real to play such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randeep-hooda/in-all-of-us-there-is-a-struggle-between-the-good-and-the-bad-it/) [Randeep Hooda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randeep-hooda/) > [I really have no ulterior motive in taking on certain roles. I have no larger issue that I really want to show people. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-field/i-really-have-no-ulterior-motive-in-taking-on-certain-roles-i-have-no/) [Sally Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-field/) > [As a kid, I used to run around our garden waving a stick and pretending to be a million different people. That's why I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-booth/as-a-kid-i-used-to-run-around-our-garden-waving-a-stick-and/) [Douglas Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-booth/) > [I just have always been so interested in the way actors and actresses present themselves to the world because I think it is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-williams/i-just-have-always-been-so-interested-in-the-way-actors-and-actresses/) [Allison Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-williams/) > [I want to prove to people that I'm an actor and not just a character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/i-want-to-prove-to-people-that-i-m-an-actor-and-not-just-a-character/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > ['Shaadi... ' made people see me as an actor. A lot of filmmakers called and said I was really good in the film... People…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kriti-kharbanda/shaadi-made-people-see-me-as-an-actor-a-lot-of-filmmakers-called-and/) [Kriti Kharbanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kriti-kharbanda/) > [When people see an actor speak, they think they know him or her, whereas I'm just a face or a body to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-moss/when-people-see-an-actor-speak-they-think-they-know-him-or-her/) [Kate Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-moss/) > [I'm a people's actor, not a critics' actor, and I always have been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-norris/i-m-a-people-s-actor-not-a-critics-actor-and-i-always-have-been/) [Chuck Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-norris/) > [Because I have done different kinds of roles, I hope that people take me as an actor they want to experiment with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-banerjee/because-i-have-done-different-kinds-of-roles-i-hope-that-people-take/) [Abhishek Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-banerjee/) > [I want to try to help shift perceptions people may have of me as an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-walsh/i-want-to-try-to-help-shift-perceptions-people-may-have-of-me-as-an/) [Bradley Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-walsh/) > [It's like playing tennis, you play a different rally with different people. Every actor is different and the chemistry between actors is different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/it-s-like-playing-tennis-you-play-a-different-rally-with-different/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) ## More by Jack Nicholson > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [Women are sort of like motorcycle gangs with me. They get really shy and polite. I don't know why.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/women-are-sort-of-like-motorcycle-gangs-with-me-they-get-really-shy/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [I love writing, but I stopped because I felt I was more effective approaching filmmaking from a different vantage point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/i-love-writing-but-i-stopped-because-i-felt-i-was-more-effective/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [I've been too many places. I'm like the bad penny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/i-ve-been-too-many-places-i-m-like-the-bad-penny/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [I was invited to join the MGM cartoon department. But if I'd started work in animation I'd have had to take a cut in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/i-was-invited-to-join-the-mgm-cartoon-department-but-if-i-d-started/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [I don't play golf competitively. I tell everybody that I cheat so they won't gamble with me. That's why you can't watch football. Everybody's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/i-don-t-play-golf-competitively-i-tell-everybody-that-i-cheat-so-they/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [I'm such a perfectionist. I always feel overpraised or whatever. In the abstract, I know I'm a good person, a good professional. But it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/i-m-such-a-perfectionist-i-always-feel-overpraised-or-whatever-in-the/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [Men dominate because of physicality, and thus they have mercy where women do not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/men-dominate-because-of-physicality-and-thus-they-have-mercy-where/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [I think it's good if a man gives a woman some time to herself because I think we all need that and we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/i-think-it-s-good-if-a-man-gives-a-woman-some-time-to-herself-because/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [The most difficult thing about being well known? Getting out of a hotel room at 4am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/the-most-difficult-thing-about-being-well-known-getting-out-of-a/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [ He \[Castro\] is a genius. We spoke about everything. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/he-castro-is-a-genius-we-spoke-about-everything/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [I've always had an urge to feed my need to have fun and feel free. I don't see any interesting alternatives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/i-ve-always-had-an-urge-to-feed-my-need-to-have-fun-and-feel-free-i/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [Take caution in your tone, commander. I'm a fair man, but this -- heat is making me absolutely crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/take-caution-in-your-tone-commander-i-m-a-fair-man-but-this-heat-is/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [The stage has a certain discipline. But the ultimate standard is more exacting in film, because you have to see yourself and you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/the-stage-has-a-certain-discipline-but-the-ultimate-standard-is-more/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [Comedy is much harder, it's a lot more exacting. You can't just be real and you can't just use the same kind of techniques…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/comedy-is-much-harder-it-s-a-lot-more-exacting-you-can-t-just-be-real/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) [Explore all 261 Jack Nicholson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) ## More Actors quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/) [Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [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/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [When we watch a film as actors, you have to understand that we always see much more than what's on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/when-we-watch-a-film-as-actors-you-have-to-understand-that-we-always/) [Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/) > [As actors, you become an expert at starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-actors-you-become-an-expert-at-starting-over/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [A rapper is about being completely true to yourself. Being an actor is about changing who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/a-rapper-is-about-being-completely-true-to-yourself-being-an-actor-is/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [I've been a professional actor for almost 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-been-a-professional-actor-for-almost-40-years/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [American actors are coy. We all have pricks and cunts, or are you different from the rest of us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/american-actors-are-coy-we-all-have-pricks-and-cunts-or-are-you/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) [Browse all 11,394 Actors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't remember if I've been asked seriously to direct a picture. I understand that. 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