--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's great to be an actor, and it's great…" description: "\"It's great to be an actor, and it's great to embody something more than who you are.\" — Janet Varney" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/943/janet-varney-10868_actor_it-s-great-to-be-an-actor-and-it-s-great_1180314.jpg" --- # It's great to be an actor, and it's great to embody… ![“It's great to be an actor, and it's great to embody something more than who you are.” quote by Janet Varney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/943/janet-varney-10868_actor_it-s-great-to-be-an-actor-and-it-s-great_1180314.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/943/janet-varney-10868_actor_it-s-great-to-be-an-actor-and-it-s-great_1180314.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/943/janet-varney-10868_actor_it-s-great-to-be-an-actor-and-it-s-great_1180314.jpg) > “It's great to be an actor, and it's great to embody something more than who you are.” [Janet Varney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-varney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting allows one to embody roles beyond personal identity, expanding self-understanding. **In simple terms:** Acting lets you be more than yourself. Key Takeaway Explore diverse roles. Themes creativity identity empathy Mood inspirational playful Type artistic motivational When to use this quote - theatre - film - personal development Key Concepts method acting role immersion Questions to Reflect On - How does embodying another affect your sense of self? - What limits do you set when exploring characters? A Different Perspective Playing roles may blur personal boundaries. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [“He was on a wildly successful TV show on Disney for two years (playing a singing possum), before hitting the big screen, playing everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-tanen/he-was-on-a-wildly-successful-tv-show-on-disney-for-two-years-playing/) Sloane Tanen > [I believe we all have the capacity to be masters of many things, and there's nothing that we can't do. You can be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hill-harper/i-believe-we-all-have-the-capacity-to-be-masters-of-many-things-and/) [Hill Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hill-harper/) > [I've come to this conclusion: What makes a great actor is great need. A huge need of acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-callow/i-ve-come-to-this-conclusion-what-makes-a-great-actor-is-great-need-a/) [Simon Callow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-callow/) > [As an actor, it was great to work with Harry Lloyd because he's wicked smart, and he is very kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-gabriel/as-an-actor-it-was-great-to-work-with-harry-lloyd-because-he-s-wicked/) [Betty Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-gabriel/) > [I watched a film with a very famous, great, great actor, I won't mention his name because everyone loves his memory, but I thought,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/i-watched-a-film-with-a-very-famous-great-great-actor-i-won-t-mention/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [It's the kind of sage wisdom coming from a guy who was 25 at the time, but already had 20 years of experience. Kurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-matheson/it-s-the-kind-of-sage-wisdom-coming-from-a-guy-who-was-25-at-the-time/) [Tim Matheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-matheson/) > [For the longest time, I gave myself value as a human because of my work. So when I saw it potentially ending, I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-barrera/for-the-longest-time-i-gave-myself-value-as-a-human-because-of-my/) [Melissa Barrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-barrera/) > [I'm lucky to just be a working actor. There are so many great actors out there and I'm just lucky to have gotten work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-messina/i-m-lucky-to-just-be-a-working-actor-there-are-so-many-great-actors/) [Chris Messina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-messina/) > [I like the fact that Chris Rock is one of the best stand ups ever and still is a really good actor. And a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-dugan/i-like-the-fact-that-chris-rock-is-one-of-the-best-stand-ups-ever-and/) Dennis Dugan > [That's the only way to do it. Just like an actor. You can get a great performance if you do a bunch of takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-buckingham/that-s-the-only-way-to-do-it-just-like-an-actor-you-can-get-a-great/) [Lindsey Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-buckingham/) > [Every actor is great in his own right but certain actors suit certain roles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajkumar-hirani/every-actor-is-great-in-his-own-right-but-certain-actors-suit-certain/) [Rajkumar Hirani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajkumar-hirani/) > [Creating my own roles, as an actor, is great. You're so at the mercy of other people, and you're waiting for a job. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-bell/creating-my-own-roles-as-an-actor-is-great-you-re-so-at-the-mercy-of/) [Catherine Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-bell/) > [I've always thought Ed Burns was a profoundly underrated actor. He's a great director, obviously. A great director/writer. But I think he's a stunning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-mcginley/i-ve-always-thought-ed-burns-was-a-profoundly-underrated-actor-he-s-a/) [John C. McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-mcginley/) > [ Tim \[Omundson\] is just so wonderfully delicious. He has the sexiest beard on television. He's such a fabulous actor, and a great character. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-robbins/tim-omundson-is-just-so-wonderfully-delicious-he-has-the-sexiest/) [J. Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-robbins/) > [Through all permutations and youthful poetry, I came to believe that the film actor was the great "literateur" of his time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/through-all-permutations-and-youthful-poetry-i-came-to-believe-that/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) ## More by Janet Varney > [I just want to be Patty McCormack. I want to spend every year aging the way she has.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-varney/i-just-want-to-be-patty-mccormack-i-want-to-spend-every-year-aging/) [Janet Varney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-varney/) > [Marilyn Monroe appeared to be perfect, but she wasn't perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-varney/marilyn-monroe-appeared-to-be-perfect-but-she-wasn-t-perfect/) [Janet Varney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-varney/) > [Quaintness is creepy. So let's maximize that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-varney/quaintness-is-creepy-so-let-s-maximize-that/) [Janet Varney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-varney/) > [In general, the threshold for a woman becoming worried at how she's coming off in terms of asserting her power, that threshold is continually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-varney/in-general-the-threshold-for-a-woman-becoming-worried-at-how-she-s/) [Janet Varney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-varney/) > [I love seeing cosplayers, not just of Korra, but anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-varney/i-love-seeing-cosplayers-not-just-of-korra-but-anybody/) [Janet Varney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-varney/) > [When you're a writer, if you're very lucky, you create these characters that you fall in love with, and you feel like they're guiding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-varney/when-you-re-a-writer-if-you-re-very-lucky-you-create-these-characters/) [Janet Varney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-varney/) > [I love doing voiceover.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-varney/i-love-doing-voiceover/) [Janet Varney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-varney/) > [I believe that truth is one of the most powerful tools we possess against victimization, exploitation, and fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-varney/i-believe-that-truth-is-one-of-the-most-powerful-tools-we-possess/) [Janet Varney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-varney/) > [I do feel like, because my podcast is so specific, I've been really fortunate in that the kind of people it attracts tend to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-varney/i-do-feel-like-because-my-podcast-is-so-specific-i-ve-been-really/) [Janet Varney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-varney/) > [To me, the real genius in making television for kids is making something that inadvertently - or perhaps intentionally - becomes something that can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-varney/to-me-the-real-genius-in-making-television-for-kids-is-making/) [Janet Varney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-varney/) > [I'm from Arizona where I feel like our history, as a state, is so young in comparison to some of these wonderful southern cities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-varney/i-m-from-arizona-where-i-feel-like-our-history-as-a-state-is-so-young/) [Janet Varney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-varney/) > [One of the things I've learned in playing a character like Becca from 'You're the Worst' is that there really is such a joy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-varney/one-of-the-things-i-ve-learned-in-playing-a-character-like-becca-from/) [Janet Varney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-varney/) > [Typically, I'm put in high heels and a tight top, which is not my personality at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-varney/typically-i-m-put-in-high-heels-and-a-tight-top-which-is-not-my/) [Janet Varney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-varney/) > [Because Comic Con in San Diego is crazy, and it's very commercialized, and it's corporate, and it's all about money and selling, selling, selling...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-varney/because-comic-con-in-san-diego-is-crazy-and-it-s-very-commercialized/) [Janet Varney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-varney/) > [As me, I couldn't love my cohorts P.J. Byrne and David Faustino more. I just adore them, and any opportunity to be in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-varney/as-me-i-couldn-t-love-my-cohorts-p-j-byrne-and-david-faustino-more-i/) [Janet Varney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-varney/) [Explore all 63 Janet Varney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-varney/) ## 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": "It's great to be an actor, and it's great to embody something more than who you are.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Janet Varney" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-varney/it-s-great-to-be-an-actor-and-it-s-great-to-embody-something-more/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-varney/it-s-great-to-be-an-actor-and-it-s-great-to-embody-something-more/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/943/janet-varney-10868_actor_it-s-great-to-be-an-actor-and-it-s-great_1180314.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/943/janet-varney-10868_actor_it-s-great-to-be-an-actor-and-it-s-great_1180314.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/943/janet-varney-10868_actor_it-s-great-to-be-an-actor-and-it-s-great_1180314.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's great to be an actor, and it's great to embody something more than who you are.” — Janet Varney", "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": "Janet Varney", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-varney/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's great to be an actor,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-varney/it-s-great-to-be-an-actor-and-it-s-great-to-embody-something-more/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-varney/it-s-great-to-be-an-actor-and-it-s-great-to-embody-something-more/#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 } } ] } ```