--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had never done Shakespeare before, but…" description: "\"I had never done Shakespeare before, but I don't think you can be an actor and not do it. There were moments when I thought, I'm just not going to be a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/357/jessica-lange-7297_able_i-had-never-done-shakespeare-before-but_105189.jpg" --- # I had never done Shakespeare before, but I don't think you… ![“I had never done Shakespeare before, but I don't think you can be an actor and not do it. There were moments when I thought, I'm just not going to be able to pull this off.” quote by Jessica Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/357/jessica-lange-7297_able_i-had-never-done-shakespeare-before-but_105189.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/357/jessica-lange-7297_able_i-had-never-done-shakespeare-before-but_105189.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/357/jessica-lange-7297_able_i-had-never-done-shakespeare-before-but_105189.jpg) > “I had never done Shakespeare before, but I don't think you can be an actor and not do it. There were moments when I thought, I'm just not going to be able to pull this off.” [Jessica Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lange/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Lange admits she had never performed Shakespeare before, yet believes an actor must engage with it, expressing self‑doubt about mastering the role. **In simple terms:** Shakespeare is essential for actors, despite intimidation. Key Takeaway Professional standards often demand confronting challenging material. Themes acting Shakespeare self‑doubt craft training Mood determined vulnerable Type career advice personal anecdote When to use this quote - audition preparation - acting class curriculum - career coaching Key Concepts growth mindset performance anxiety Practical Applications - study Shakespeare early in training - use visualization to reduce anxiety Questions to Reflect On - How does confronting difficult texts shape an actor's confidence? - Are there alternative pathways to acting mastery? A Different Perspective Some acting styles or genres may not require Shakespeare, making the claim context‑dependent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actor Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-moments-655459/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shakespeare/) [Shakespeare Don](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shakespeare-don-1122461/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Think Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-actor/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I've hated poetry ever since I was at school. I include Shakespeare in that. I don't understand the obsession with him!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-the-eagle/i-ve-hated-poetry-ever-since-i-was-at-school-i-include-shakespeare-in/) [Eddie the Eagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-the-eagle/) > [Anyone can play anyone in Shakespeare. I don't think there are limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-okonedo/anyone-can-play-anyone-in-shakespeare-i-don-t-think-there-are-limits/) [Sophie Okonedo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-okonedo/) > [I don't do Shakespeare. I don't talk in that kind of broken English.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mr-t/i-don-t-do-shakespeare-i-don-t-talk-in-that-kind-of-broken-english/) [Mr. T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mr-t/) > [Any actor has their moments of being stressed, but the great part about this job is that it's so unpredictable, and that's what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liana-liberato/any-actor-has-their-moments-of-being-stressed-but-the-great-part/) [Liana Liberato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liana-liberato/) > [A lot of directors on a base level are fearful of actors and maybe even distrustful. I love the craft of acting and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-ross/a-lot-of-directors-on-a-base-level-are-fearful-of-actors-and-maybe/) [Matt Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-ross/) > [I'm an actor, so sometimes there are moments where I think about everything that's happening and I want to cry. I'm doing what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-greene/i-m-an-actor-so-sometimes-there-are-moments-where-i-think-about/) [Ashley Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-greene/) > [I think, when someone say, "When did you feel like an actor?" it's those moments when I feel like, "I'm an actor, wow." That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-gyllenhaal/i-think-when-someone-say-when-did-you-feel-like-an-actor-it-s-those/) [Jake Gyllenhaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-gyllenhaal/) > [I don't think an actor's job is to be recognized. I think an actor's job is to facilitate the writing in a way that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-donovan/i-don-t-think-an-actor-s-job-is-to-be-recognized-i-think-an-actor-s/) [Jeffrey Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-donovan/) > [I'm not cerebral in any way. Education, for me, was a nightmare. You put someone talking in front of me, and I cannot engage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-whittaker/i-m-not-cerebral-in-any-way-education-for-me-was-a-nightmare-you-put/) [Jodie Whittaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-whittaker/) > [I also think if you're an actor and you can improvise, when you go on an audition and you can improvise you're just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/i-also-think-if-you-re-an-actor-and-you-can-improvise-when-you-go-on/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) > [People think, 'You're an actor, you can afford clothes,' but I just try to take the clothes from the movie, which makes the selecting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-eisenberg/people-think-you-re-an-actor-you-can-afford-clothes-but-i-just-try-to/) [Jesse Eisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-eisenberg/) > [I think any actor worth their salt wants to show as much versatility as they possibly can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/i-think-any-actor-worth-their-salt-wants-to-show-as-much-versatility/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > [To be honest, I don't think I'm an actor. I'm a creator - or try to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilian-schell/to-be-honest-i-don-t-think-i-m-an-actor-i-m-a-creator-or-try-to-be/) [Maximilian Schell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilian-schell/) > [I only want to exist as a character. I don't want people to think of the actor Lee Je-hoon when they see my roles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-je-hoon/i-only-want-to-exist-as-a-character-i-don-t-want-people-to-think-of/) [Lee Je-hoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-je-hoon/) > [I am ambitious to do more than what has been offered me. I want to be the best in whatever career I choose and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uday-chopra/i-am-ambitious-to-do-more-than-what-has-been-offered-me-i-want-to-be/) [Uday Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uday-chopra/) ## More by Jessica Lange > [Sometimes parts just come along when it's the perfect time for you to do them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lange/sometimes-parts-just-come-along-when-it-s-the-perfect-time-for-you-to/) [Jessica Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lange/) > [I never just slide through anything. I explore everything to the fullest, whether good or bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lange/i-never-just-slide-through-anything-i-explore-everything-to-the/) [Jessica Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lange/) > [I went to the University of Minnesota to study art. I left the university to come to New York and live in Soho. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lange/i-went-to-the-university-of-minnesota-to-study-art-i-left-the/) [Jessica Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lange/) > [At certain times you really feel as though you have to do something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lange/at-certain-times-you-really-feel-as-though-you-have-to-do-something/) [Jessica Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lange/) > [I have been a waitress, and I was a damn fine waitress too, let me tell you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lange/i-have-been-a-waitress-and-i-was-a-damn-fine-waitress-too-let-me-tell/) [Jessica Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lange/) > [Once I started on 'Frances' I discovered it was literally a bottomless well. It devastated me to maintain that for eighteen weeks, to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lange/once-i-started-on-frances-i-discovered-it-was-literally-a-bottomless/) [Jessica Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lange/) > [I like playing characters who are out there on the edge, where they can explode at any moment or fall off the precipice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lange/i-like-playing-characters-who-are-out-there-on-the-edge-where-they/) [Jessica Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lange/) > [I am tortured when I am away from my family, from my children. I am horribly guilt-ridden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lange/i-am-tortured-when-i-am-away-from-my-family-from-my-children-i-am/) [Jessica Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lange/) > [I am coming to the end of acting. I have a list: another stage production, maybe one or two more movies, one more season…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lange/i-am-coming-to-the-end-of-acting-i-have-a-list-another-stage/) [Jessica Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lange/) > [Acceptance and tolerance and forgiveness, those are life-altering lessons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lange/acceptance-and-tolerance-and-forgiveness-those-are-life-altering/) [Jessica Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lange/) > [At a certain age, death becomes familiar to you-or a loss becomes familiar-the tragedies that are more commonplace in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lange/at-a-certain-age-death-becomes-familiar-to-you-or-a-loss-becomes/) [Jessica Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lange/) > [I never think of the future. I never imagine what comes next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lange/i-never-think-of-the-future-i-never-imagine-what-comes-next/) [Jessica Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lange/) > [If Ive got a clean pair of jeans and a T-shirt, thats usually a good day for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lange/if-ive-got-a-clean-pair-of-jeans-and-a-t-shirt-thats-usually-a-good/) [Jessica Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lange/) > [American Horror Story re-energized me; it re-energized my career. There’s no shame in recognizing that. It’s exposed me to a whole new generation, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lange/american-horror-story-re-energized-me-it-re-energized-my-career-there/) [Jessica Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lange/) > [There was that feminist myth that we can do everything. I don't think you can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lange/there-was-that-feminist-myth-that-we-can-do-everything-i-don-t-think/) [Jessica Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lange/) [Explore all 92 Jessica Lange quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lange/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) [Greg Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-perry/) > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [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/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) [Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I had never done Shakespeare before, but I don't think you can be an actor and not do it. There were moments when I thought, I'm just not going to be able to pull this off.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jessica Lange" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lange/i-had-never-done-shakespeare-before-but-i-don-t-think-you-can-be-an/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Able" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lange/i-had-never-done-shakespeare-before-but-i-don-t-think-you-can-be-an/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/357/jessica-lange-7297_able_i-had-never-done-shakespeare-before-but_105189.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/357/jessica-lange-7297_able_i-had-never-done-shakespeare-before-but_105189.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/357/jessica-lange-7297_able_i-had-never-done-shakespeare-before-but_105189.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I had never done Shakespeare before, but I don't think you can be an actor and not do it. There were moments…” — Jessica Lange", "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": "Jessica Lange", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lange/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I had never done Shakespeare before,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lange/i-had-never-done-shakespeare-before-but-i-don-t-think-you-can-be-an/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lange/i-had-never-done-shakespeare-before-but-i-don-t-think-you-can-be-an/#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 } } ] } ```