--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wanted to be the best actor possible. I…" description: "\"I wanted to be the best actor possible. I worked very hard at the craft of it.\" — Jack Nicholson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02c/jack-nicholson-1283_actor_i-wanted-to-be-the-best-actor-possible-i_2574781.jpg" --- # I wanted to be the best actor possible. I worked very hard… ![“I wanted to be the best actor possible. I worked very hard at the craft of it.” quote by Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02c/jack-nicholson-1283_actor_i-wanted-to-be-the-best-actor-possible-i_2574781.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02c/jack-nicholson-1283_actor_i-wanted-to-be-the-best-actor-possible-i_2574781.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02c/jack-nicholson-1283_actor_i-wanted-to-be-the-best-actor-possible-i_2574781.jpg) > “I wanted to be the best actor possible. I worked very hard at the craft of it.” [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. Describes personal dedication to acting, emphasizing hard work as the path to excellence. **In simple terms:** Hard work leads to being the best actor you can be. Key Takeaway Commit to disciplined practice. Themes career self‑improvement craft determination Mood motivational reflective Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - Audition preparation - daily rehearsal - skill workshops - career planning Key Concepts Practice discipline mastery Questions to Reflect On - How do you measure “best” in a subjective art? - What role does luck play in acting careers? A Different Perspective Hard work alone may not guarantee success without opportunity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Being the best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-the-best/) [Crafts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crafts/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [Growing up, I was certainly drawn to comedy, but my goal was just to be as well-rounded an actor as possible. I really liked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-rudd/growing-up-i-was-certainly-drawn-to-comedy-but-my-goal-was-just-to-be/) [Paul Rudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-rudd/) > [Sometimes you choose the wrong actor, he could be the best actor ever, but hes not cast in the right part then it doesnt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-marceau/sometimes-you-choose-the-wrong-actor-he-could-be-the-best-actor-ever/) [Sophie Marceau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-marceau/) > [I was terrified of being on stage, and I had to work very hard at a craft to get past that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-was-terrified-of-being-on-stage-and-i-had-to-work-very-hard-at-a/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [I work really hard on my craft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mccollum/i-work-really-hard-on-my-craft/) [C. J. McCollum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mccollum/) > [I can't think of very many people who work as hard at the craft of songcraft as Gord Downie does. It was life or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-berlin/i-can-t-think-of-very-many-people-who-work-as-hard-at-the-craft-of/) [Steve Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-berlin/) > [I worked extremely hard at my craft and at being a good songwriter, being a good guitar player, being a good organist, because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-potter/i-worked-extremely-hard-at-my-craft-and-at-being-a-good-songwriter/) [Grace Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-potter/) > [I have to really work hard at my craft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-mcafee/i-have-to-really-work-hard-at-my-craft/) [Pat McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-mcafee/) > [Being on set is really hard because there's craft service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-jaret-winokur/being-on-set-is-really-hard-because-there-s-craft-service/) [Marissa Jaret Winokur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-jaret-winokur/) > [Basic training was hard, but I made it - because I wanted to be the best me. Sometimes you have to learn that being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ant-middleton/basic-training-was-hard-but-i-made-it-because-i-wanted-to-be-the-best/) [Ant Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ant-middleton/) > [I always want to be the best at what I do. As a kid, whatever I was doing, if I was playing football or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hamilton/i-always-want-to-be-the-best-at-what-i-do-as-a-kid-whatever-i-was/) [Lewis Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hamilton/) > [I wanted to be the best in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emerson-fittipaldi/i-wanted-to-be-the-best-in-the-world/) [Emerson Fittipaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emerson-fittipaldi/) > [I've always been a player and a person who wanted to be the best at whatever he did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/i-ve-always-been-a-player-and-a-person-who-wanted-to-be-the-best-at/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [I did not want to be the best black man of the year; I wanted to be the best man of the year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daley-thompson/i-did-not-want-to-be-the-best-black-man-of-the-year-i-wanted-to-be/) [Daley Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daley-thompson/) > [I was always the best actor and best dancer in my college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/i-was-always-the-best-actor-and-best-dancer-in-my-college/) [Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/) > [If you held a pistol at my head, I couldn't tell you who they're going to vote for Best Actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/if-you-held-a-pistol-at-my-head-i-couldn-t-tell-you-who-they-re-going/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) ## 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 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": "I wanted to be the best actor possible. 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