--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Acting, for me, is exhausting. I'm always…" description: "\"Acting, for me, is exhausting. I'm always more energized by directing. It's more intense to direct. I can pop in and express myself, then pop out again..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/535/jodie-foster-2055_acting_acting-for-me-is-exhausting-i-m-always-m_1331982.jpg" --- # Acting, for me, is exhausting. I'm always more energized… ![“Acting, for me, is exhausting. I'm always more energized by directing. It's more intense to direct. I can pop in and express myself, then pop out again. It's a huge passion for me.” quote by Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/535/jodie-foster-2055_acting_acting-for-me-is-exhausting-i-m-always-m_1331982.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/535/jodie-foster-2055_acting_acting-for-me-is-exhausting-i-m-always-m_1331982.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/535/jodie-foster-2055_acting_acting-for-me-is-exhausting-i-m-always-m_1331982.jpg) > “Acting, for me, is exhausting. I'm always more energized by directing. It's more intense to direct. I can pop in and express myself, then pop out again. It's a huge passion for me.” [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting drains her, while directing revitalizes her, highlighting a preference for creative control over performance **In simple terms:** Directing energizes her more than acting Key Takeaway Prefer directing over acting Themes creativity control energy Mood reflective passionate Type professional personal When to use this quote - film set - theater production - creative workshops Key Concepts artistic expression leadership personal fulfillment Questions to Reflect On - How does control affect artistic satisfaction? - What trade‑offs exist between directing and acting? A Different Perspective Directing can be isolating and limit collaborative spontaneity ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Exhausting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-exhausting-4472443/) [Direct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direct/) [Directing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directing/) [Directing Intense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directing-intense-4472441/) [Energized Directing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energized-directing-4472442/) [Exhausting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exhausting/) [Express Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/express-myself/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Huge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/huge/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Intense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intense/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) [Pops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pops/) ## Related quotes > [When you're writing, it's all up to you, and you don't have to make any compromises. And when you're directing, there's this intense pleasure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-selick/when-you-re-writing-it-s-all-up-to-you-and-you-don-t-have-to-make-any/) [Henry Selick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-selick/) > [I'd like to work more as a director. It's distracting being an actor, because - there's a lot of reasons. You find out you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-d-like-to-work-more-as-a-director-it-s-distracting-being-an-actor/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [I had a certain career as an actor that I think was quite personal as well, and had a lot of integrity, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-had-a-certain-career-as-an-actor-that-i-think-was-quite-personal-as/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [The endless definitions for feminism are exhausting. It's this, it isn't this, it's only this if you're this, etc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cazzie-david/the-endless-definitions-for-feminism-are-exhausting-it-s-this-it-isn/) [Cazzie David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cazzie-david/) > [It's literally, if I'm not working out, I eat the whole time I'm not working out. It's exhausting. You have to force-feed. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-watt/it-s-literally-if-i-m-not-working-out-i-eat-the-whole-time-i-m-not/) [J. J. Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-watt/) > [“Existing is exhausting. I want to live - How to be”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-a-bitez/existing-is-exhausting-i-want-to-live-how-to-be/) [P.A. Bitez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-a-bitez/) > [Today's competitiveness, so much imposed from without, is exhausting, not exhilarating; is unending-a part of one's social life, one's solitude, one's sleep, one's sleeplessness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-kronenberger/today-s-competitiveness-so-much-imposed-from-without-is-exhausting/) [Louis Kronenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-kronenberger/) > [Seeing people I've been friends with for well over a decade just turn on me. It was just so exhausting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-sandoval/seeing-people-i-ve-been-friends-with-for-well-over-a-decade-just-turn/) [Tom Sandoval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-sandoval/) > [It's exhausting trying to impress someone and be a version of yourself that might be attractive to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-martin/it-s-exhausting-trying-to-impress-someone-and-be-a-version-of/) [Mae Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-martin/) > [One day I would want to be an Egyptologist, the next day an ornithologist. I was an exhausting child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-perkins/one-day-i-would-want-to-be-an-egyptologist-the-next-day-an/) [Sue Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-perkins/) > [It is utterly exhausting being Black in America - physically, mentally, and emotionally. While many minority groups and women feel similar stress, there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/it-is-utterly-exhausting-being-black-in-america-physically-mentally/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) > [“It was exhausting being a schizophrenic, which he was still convinced he was.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/it-was-exhausting-being-a-schizophrenic-which-he-was-still-convinced/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [Friendship is a difficult, dangerous job. It is also (though we rarely admit it) extremely exhausting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-bibesco/friendship-is-a-difficult-dangerous-job-it-is-also-though-we-rarely/) [Elizabeth Bibesco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-bibesco/) > [I'm OK with my appearance. I have made my peace with it after a long and frankly exhausting battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-perkins/i-m-ok-with-my-appearance-i-have-made-my-peace-with-it-after-a-long/) [Sue Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-perkins/) > [I talk a lot, and that is probably exhausting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-whittaker/i-talk-a-lot-and-that-is-probably-exhausting/) [Jodie Whittaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-whittaker/) ## More by Jodie Foster > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [I spent a lot of time not in school, so I didn't have deep relationships with kids my own age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-spent-a-lot-of-time-not-in-school-so-i-didn-t-have-deep/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [Let how you live your life stand for something, no matter how small and incidental it may seem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/let-how-you-live-your-life-stand-for-something-no-matter-how-small/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [Look, it's terrible, I know, but weakness really, really bugs me, to the point that if there is a wounded bird on the sidewalk,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/look-it-s-terrible-i-know-but-weakness-really-really-bugs-me-to-the/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [I want to be inspiring to myself, to my kids, my family, and my friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-want-to-be-inspiring-to-myself-to-my-kids-my-family-and-my-friends/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [Well, I certainly was exposed to and learned to appreciate the work of great directors early on. As a kid, my mother used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/well-i-certainly-was-exposed-to-and-learned-to-appreciate-the-work-of/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [Sometimes, you really don't understand why something is important to you until you get halfway through the movie - or maybe even all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/sometimes-you-really-don-t-understand-why-something-is-important-to/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [I think I missed all of the wonderful things ... I missed the control that you have in film, and I missed getting it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-think-i-missed-all-of-the-wonderful-things-i-missed-the-control/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [But the reason I became, why I wanted to be in the business was because there was Midnight Cowboy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/but-the-reason-i-became-why-i-wanted-to-be-in-the-business-was/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [I'm a technician. I don't go for the get-into-the-role stuff. I read the lines and play the scenes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-m-a-technician-i-don-t-go-for-the-get-into-the-role-stuff-i-read/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [Casting is a long process for me. I take a lot of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/casting-is-a-long-process-for-me-i-take-a-lot-of-time/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [I already did my coming out about a thousand years ago in the stone age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-already-did-my-coming-out-about-a-thousand-years-ago-in-the-stone/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [Where I have problems is when I am in the midst of doing something that I am completely focused on, and then I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/where-i-have-problems-is-when-i-am-in-the-midst-of-doing-something/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [I was one of those avid moviegoers as a kid, and we didn't have video, so we went to see everything five times. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-was-one-of-those-avid-moviegoers-as-a-kid-and-we-didn-t-have-video/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [When I go into the stores, I pet the saddles. Until security comes and takes me away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/when-i-go-into-the-stores-i-pet-the-saddles-until-security-comes-and/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) [Explore all 189 Jodie Foster quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) ## More Acting 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/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [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/) > [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/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) [Ryan Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-newman/) > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Acting, for me, is exhausting. I'm always more energized by directing. It's more intense to direct. I can pop in and express myself, then pop out again. 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