--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I learned so much by being an actor, and…" description: "\"I learned so much by being an actor, and part of my sort-of development as a writer is big thanks to the scripts I read in my acting life.\" — Joel Edge..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/861/joel-edgerton-2300_acting_i-learned-so-much-by-being-an-actor-and_2888254.jpg" --- # I learned so much by being an actor, and part of my… ![“I learned so much by being an actor, and part of my sort-of development as a writer is big thanks to the scripts I read in my acting life.” quote by Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/861/joel-edgerton-2300_acting_i-learned-so-much-by-being-an-actor-and_2888254.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/861/joel-edgerton-2300_acting_i-learned-so-much-by-being-an-actor-and_2888254.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/861/joel-edgerton-2300_acting_i-learned-so-much-by-being-an-actor-and_2888254.jpg) > “I learned so much by being an actor, and part of my sort-of development as a writer is big thanks to the scripts I read in my acting life.” [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting experience enriches his writing, as scripts provide valuable insights for his development as a writer. **In simple terms:** Acting informs his writing development. Key Takeaway Leverage acting experience in writing. Themes career development cross‑disciplinary learning Mood insightful reflective Type creative professional When to use this quote - film - theatre - writing workshops - career planning Key Concepts script analysis creative growth Questions to Reflect On - How does acting shape your storytelling? - What script lessons apply to writing? A Different Perspective May limit exposure to other genres. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [When I see an image in my head that compels me, where there's this mystery about what's going to happen next or could happen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-fukunaga/when-i-see-an-image-in-my-head-that-compels-me-where-there-s-this/) [Cary Fukunaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-fukunaga/) > [I practice reading all the time. I read everything and having so many scripts to read, which really helps out as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-thorne/i-practice-reading-all-the-time-i-read-everything-and-having-so-many/) [Bella Thorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-thorne/) > [When I read scripts and when I read books, it's more of an emotional response and I was really drawn to these characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-holmes/when-i-read-scripts-and-when-i-read-books-it-s-more-of-an-emotional/) [Katie Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-holmes/) > [There are people I'm drawn to that you just can't do a tiny, no-budget movie with. I would like to pursue some of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-swanberg/there-are-people-i-m-drawn-to-that-you-just-can-t-do-a-tiny-no-budget/) [Joe Swanberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-swanberg/) > [Some scripts you read and say, 'I've just got to do this' and you find a way of making it work. Some things you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-otto/some-scripts-you-read-and-say-i-ve-just-got-to-do-this-and-you-find-a/) [Miranda Otto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-otto/) > [I try not to read acting books any more, but they set a high bar for me very early on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-j-smith/i-try-not-to-read-acting-books-any-more-but-they-set-a-high-bar-for/) [Brian J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-j-smith/) > [Many people think voice over artists just read, there's much more to it. Without acting beats, scene study and improving skills, you won't make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-strong/many-people-think-voice-over-artists-just-read-there-s-much-more-to/) [Tara Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-strong/) > [I'm not a trained actor. I have neither read acting books nor gone to acting school. But I have certain fundamentals on how I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-massey/i-m-not-a-trained-actor-i-have-neither-read-acting-books-nor-gone-to/) [Vikrant Massey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-massey/) > [Remember, acting is not a business of glamour. It is science, craft and an art. Read about acting; don't do it for the sake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boman-irani/remember-acting-is-not-a-business-of-glamour-it-is-science-craft-and/) [Boman Irani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boman-irani/) > [You once liked the blissful mobility, but then you wonder, who's the real you? And who's the chap on the screen? You know, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-flynn/you-once-liked-the-blissful-mobility-but-then-you-wonder-who-s-the/) [Errol Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-flynn/) > [I have to say that one person I learned from the most as an actor in my life is Emmy Rossum. She is so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-kenney/i-have-to-say-that-one-person-i-learned-from-the-most-as-an-actor-in/) [Emma Kenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-kenney/) > [I learned so much about being an actor by being a director. More than I ever thought I would.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lowell/i-learned-so-much-about-being-an-actor-by-being-a-director-more-than/) [Chris Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lowell/) > [I also have learned as an actor, this ties in the principles of improv, sometimes someone gives a piece of instruction and my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/i-also-have-learned-as-an-actor-this-ties-in-the-principles-of-improv/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [One of the greatest things I've learned, as an actor, was how to talk to actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-balfour/one-of-the-greatest-things-i-ve-learned-as-an-actor-was-how-to-talk/) [Eric Balfour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-balfour/) > [I don't know how to play myself. I'm not interested enough in myself. That's just not how I was educated. That's not how I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stoll/i-don-t-know-how-to-play-myself-i-m-not-interested-enough-in-myself/) [Corey Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stoll/) ## More by Joel Edgerton > [At some point, you have to disconnect, if the obsession with playing a real person gets in the way of the movie at large.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/at-some-point-you-have-to-disconnect-if-the-obsession-with-playing-a/) [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) > [I'm the great-great-grandson of a sheep stealer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/i-m-the-great-great-grandson-of-a-sheep-stealer/) [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) > [I don't have any kids of my own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/i-don-t-have-any-kids-of-my-own/) [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) > [I'm single, footloose and fancy free, I have no responsibilities, no anchors. Work, friendship and self-improvement, that's me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/i-m-single-footloose-and-fancy-free-i-have-no-responsibilities-no/) [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) > [If I knew my schedule a month ahead, I'd be so bored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/if-i-knew-my-schedule-a-month-ahead-i-d-be-so-bored/) [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) > [Unfortunately, the Egyptians weren't the greatest artists in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/unfortunately-the-egyptians-weren-t-the-greatest-artists-in-the-world/) [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) > [Even to this day, when I think about the fact that I'm in this 'Star Wars' world, that I'm a half-brother to Darth Vader…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/even-to-this-day-when-i-think-about-the-fact-that-i-m-in-this-star/) [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) > [I think the great thing about characters is the ways that they can be surprising. I mean, sometimes you think you've got a lock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/i-think-the-great-thing-about-characters-is-the-ways-that-they-can-be/) [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) > [All I can say is working with Ridley Scott is a dream come true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/all-i-can-say-is-working-with-ridley-scott-is-a-dream-come-true/) [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) > [Actors are excused from a lot of things, and we get away with a lot... I find it equally interesting and exciting as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/actors-are-excused-from-a-lot-of-things-and-we-get-away-with-a-lot-i/) [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) > [Sometimes I think being an actor is like being a dog for a director; it's like they throw a stick, and you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/sometimes-i-think-being-an-actor-is-like-being-a-dog-for-a-director/) [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) > [I always wonder why people cast me in anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/i-always-wonder-why-people-cast-me-in-anything/) [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) > [One of the things I've always enjoyed is moving around and staying fit. Physicality is such a big part of being an actor, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/one-of-the-things-i-ve-always-enjoyed-is-moving-around-and-staying/) [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) > [I grew up being taught, 'Do unto others as they would do unto you.' I would get scolded for not being polite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/i-grew-up-being-taught-do-unto-others-as-they-would-do-unto-you-i/) [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) > [There's the pressure of being a No. 1 on the call sheet, being a lead actor. There's almost this feeling like being captain of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/there-s-the-pressure-of-being-a-no-1-on-the-call-sheet-being-a-lead/) [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) [Explore all 173 Joel Edgerton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) ## 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 > [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. 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