--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had to choose between American and…" description: "\"I had to choose between American and British actors, and it didn't take me more than a second to decide: Russians are Europeans and should be played by..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d73/jean-jacques-annaud-28922_actors_i-had-to-choose-between-american-and-bri_2280990.jpg" --- # I had to choose between American and British actors, and… ![“I had to choose between American and British actors, and it didn't take me more than a second to decide: Russians are Europeans and should be played by other Europeans.” quote by Jean-Jacques Annaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d73/jean-jacques-annaud-28922_actors_i-had-to-choose-between-american-and-bri_2280990.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d73/jean-jacques-annaud-28922_actors_i-had-to-choose-between-american-and-bri_2280990.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d73/jean-jacques-annaud-28922_actors_i-had-to-choose-between-american-and-bri_2280990.jpg) > “I had to choose between American and British actors, and it didn't take me more than a second to decide: Russians are Europeans and should be played by other Europeans.” [Jean-Jacques Annaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-annaud/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker argues that casting should reflect geographic and cultural authenticity, preferring Europeans for European roles. **In simple terms:** Cast actors who match a character’s cultural background. Key Takeaway Choose actors whose heritage aligns with the role. Themes authenticity casting culture Mood thoughtful critical Type observational industry insight When to use this quote - film casting - historical dramas - international productions Key Concepts representation cultural fidelity Questions to Reflect On - How does cultural authenticity affect storytelling? - When should talent outweigh heritage? A Different Perspective May overlook talent diversity and reinforce stereotypes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [British](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british/) [Russians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russians/) ## Related quotes > [British actors behave like Europeans; they are also extremely well trained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-annaud/british-actors-behave-like-europeans-they-are-also-extremely-well/) [Jean-Jacques Annaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-annaud/) > [Where were they when the Russians went down?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-keach/where-were-they-when-the-russians-went-down/) [Stacy Keach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-keach/) > [As far as the Russians were concerned, I felt the reverse; they had adequate gold, if they wanted to buy, and they weren't dependent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-averell-harriman/as-far-as-the-russians-were-concerned-i-felt-the-reverse-they-had/) [W. Averell Harriman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-averell-harriman/) > [Don't you want to know what's real and what's not? I remember when I was a kid, you know, this whole Cold War thing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/don-t-you-want-to-know-what-s-real-and-what-s-not-i-remember-when-i/) [Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/) > [And the Russians certainly don't have it. If a woman shows up in a fur coat, I just assume she's a crook. And that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/and-the-russians-certainly-don-t-have-it-if-a-woman-shows-up-in-a-fur/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [The Russians love Brooke Shields because her eyebrows remind them of Leonid Brezhnev.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/the-russians-love-brooke-shields-because-her-eyebrows-remind-them-of/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [We were fortunate to have the Russians as our childhood enemies. We practiced hiding under our desks in case they had the temerity to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kary-mullis/we-were-fortunate-to-have-the-russians-as-our-childhood-enemies-we/) [Kary Mullis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kary-mullis/) > [The Russians have a lot at stake, and the power of Moscow pride should never be underestimated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-schaffer/the-russians-have-a-lot-at-stake-and-the-power-of-moscow-pride-should/) [Bob Schaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-schaffer/) > [Russians call me German, Germans call me Russian, Jews call me a Christian, Christians a Jew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-rubinstein/russians-call-me-german-germans-call-me-russian-jews-call-me-a/) Anton Rubinstein > [Most correspondents came from the former colonial powers - there were British, French, and a lot of Italians, because there were a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryszard-kapuscinski/most-correspondents-came-from-the-former-colonial-powers-there-were/) [Ryszard Kapuscinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryszard-kapuscinski/) > [Russians have a new freedom, but as long as they don't express that freedom on a public platform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-almond/russians-have-a-new-freedom-but-as-long-as-they-don-t-express-that/) [Marc Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-almond/) > [Come to find out, the Russians were never afraid of the Americans. They weren't raised with the terror that we were by our government.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deidre-hall/come-to-find-out-the-russians-were-never-afraid-of-the-americans-they/) [Deidre Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deidre-hall/) > [The Russians often took advantage of Lend-Lease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-averell-harriman/the-russians-often-took-advantage-of-lend-lease/) [W. Averell Harriman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-averell-harriman/) > [It's often assumed that British actors read Shakespeare and sonnets as we're going to bed at night and we're all very familiar with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/it-s-often-assumed-that-british-actors-read-shakespeare-and-sonnets/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [My first job was a film called 'Storm Damage' for the BBC. I was 16 and working with really respected British actors. I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-madekwe/my-first-job-was-a-film-called-storm-damage-for-the-bbc-i-was-16-and/) [Ashley Madekwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-madekwe/) ## More by Jean-Jacques Annaud > [I make movies just as painters paint: I work where I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-annaud/i-make-movies-just-as-painters-paint-i-work-where-i-can/) [Jean-Jacques Annaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-annaud/) > [The art of motion pictures is pictorial and language comes a distant second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-annaud/the-art-of-motion-pictures-is-pictorial-and-language-comes-a-distant/) [Jean-Jacques Annaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-annaud/) > [When Americans shoot movies they aim at the entire planet. When the French make movies, they aim at Paris.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-annaud/when-americans-shoot-movies-they-aim-at-the-entire-planet-when-the/) [Jean-Jacques Annaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-annaud/) > [America is the only country capable of producing national movies: its culture has become a global culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-annaud/america-is-the-only-country-capable-of-producing-national-movies-its/) [Jean-Jacques Annaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-annaud/) > [When a French book becomes an international hit it is because of the author and not because of the language. The same goes for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-annaud/when-a-french-book-becomes-an-international-hit-it-is-because-of-the/) [Jean-Jacques Annaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-annaud/) > [My way of remaining French was the financing scheme I used for Quest for Fire, with Fox funds, since it started as a 100%…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-annaud/my-way-of-remaining-french-was-the-financing-scheme-i-used-for-quest/) [Jean-Jacques Annaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-annaud/) > [The financing of my films has always been international.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-annaud/the-financing-of-my-films-has-always-been-international/) [Jean-Jacques Annaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-annaud/) > [Today's cinema is a global art form, it is impossible to make movies for a market the size of France, representing no more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-annaud/today-s-cinema-is-a-global-art-form-it-is-impossible-to-make-movies/) [Jean-Jacques Annaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-annaud/) > [I think it is a mistake to identify a movie according to its language, as if movies were literature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-annaud/i-think-it-is-a-mistake-to-identify-a-movie-according-to-its-language/) [Jean-Jacques Annaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-annaud/) > [The French have got to understand that a film is so expensive that it can no longer afford to be regional or even national…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-annaud/the-french-have-got-to-understand-that-a-film-is-so-expensive-that-it/) [Jean-Jacques Annaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-annaud/) > [If you make a movie about Elizabeth I, how much of the dialogue is her real words? Audiences know when they go see a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-annaud/if-you-make-a-movie-about-elizabeth-i-how-much-of-the-dialogue-is-her/) [Jean-Jacques Annaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-annaud/) > [To do the writing, I have to have time to do research.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-annaud/to-do-the-writing-i-have-to-have-time-to-do-research/) [Jean-Jacques Annaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-annaud/) > [There is a broad cultural current that conveys the idea that a film is like a football team, it represents a nation, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-annaud/there-is-a-broad-cultural-current-that-conveys-the-idea-that-a-film/) [Jean-Jacques Annaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-annaud/) > [The world distribution of French movies is a laughing matter. That is a fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-annaud/the-world-distribution-of-french-movies-is-a-laughing-matter-that-is/) [Jean-Jacques Annaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-annaud/) > [British actors behave like Europeans; they are also extremely well trained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-annaud/british-actors-behave-like-europeans-they-are-also-extremely-well/) [Jean-Jacques Annaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-annaud/) [Explore all 19 Jean-Jacques Annaud quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-annaud/) ## 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 had to choose between American and British actors, and it didn't take me more than a second to decide: Russians are Europeans and should be played by other Europeans.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jean-Jacques Annaud" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-annaud/i-had-to-choose-between-american-and-british-actors-and-it-didn-t/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actors" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-annaud/i-had-to-choose-between-american-and-british-actors-and-it-didn-t/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d73/jean-jacques-annaud-28922_actors_i-had-to-choose-between-american-and-bri_2280990.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d73/jean-jacques-annaud-28922_actors_i-had-to-choose-between-american-and-bri_2280990.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d73/jean-jacques-annaud-28922_actors_i-had-to-choose-between-american-and-bri_2280990.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I had to choose between American and British actors, and it didn't take me more than a second to decide…” — Jean-Jacques Annaud", "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": "Jean-Jacques Annaud", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-annaud/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I had to choose between American...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-annaud/i-had-to-choose-between-american-and-british-actors-and-it-didn-t/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-annaud/i-had-to-choose-between-american-and-british-actors-and-it-didn-t/#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 } } ] } ```