--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm not a Method actor. I don't believe…" description: "\"I'm not a Method actor. I don't believe acting should be psychodrama. I look within myself and see what I can find to play the role with. If I'm playin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2eb/john-malkovich-2387_acting_i-m-not-a-method-actor-i-don-t-believe-a_1288553.jpg" --- # I'm not a Method actor. I don't believe acting should be… ![“I'm not a Method actor. I don't believe acting should be psychodrama. I look within myself and see what I can find to play the role with. If I'm playing a blind man, I don't go around blindfolded for days. A lot of good actors would, but I don't go in for that very much. I like to just make it up…” quote by John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2eb/john-malkovich-2387_acting_i-m-not-a-method-actor-i-don-t-believe-a_1288553.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2eb/john-malkovich-2387_acting_i-m-not-a-method-actor-i-don-t-believe-a_1288553.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2eb/john-malkovich-2387_acting_i-m-not-a-method-actor-i-don-t-believe-a_1288553.jpg) > “I'm not a Method actor. I don't believe acting should be psychodrama. I look within myself and see what I can find to play the role with. If I'm playing a blind man, I don't go around blindfolded for days. A lot of good actors would, but I don't go in for that very much. I like to just make it up as I go along.” [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He prefers internal imagination over extreme physical immersion, using personal insight to shape a role. **In simple terms:** Uses inner resources, not extreme methods, to act. Key Takeaway Trust your own instincts when performing. Themes acting creativity methodology Mood thoughtful reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - theatre - film auditions - character development - role preparation Key Concepts psychology improvisation self‑reflection Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance authenticity with personal comfort? - When is method acting essential? A Different Perspective May limit depth for roles requiring physical authenticity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Blind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blind/) [Good actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-actors/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Method actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/method-actor/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [I love to watch good actors who surprise and amuse me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/i-love-to-watch-good-actors-who-surprise-and-amuse-me/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) > [I was painfully shy as a child; I was dyslexic. I had a single mother who's an immigrant. I just didn't believe acting was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaya-scodelario/i-was-painfully-shy-as-a-child-i-was-dyslexic-i-had-a-single-mother/) [Kaya Scodelario](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaya-scodelario/) > [God inspired me, because I was blessed with the knowledge that I wanted to do this. And my mother supported it. She said, 'Whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-lawrence/god-inspired-me-because-i-was-blessed-with-the-knowledge-that-i/) [Martin Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-lawrence/) > [I don't believe in acting. I think that people in life act, but when you are on the stage, or in my case also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luise-rainer/i-don-t-believe-in-acting-i-think-that-people-in-life-act-but-when/) [Luise Rainer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luise-rainer/) > [I believe acting is a director's medium completely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harshvardhan-kapoor/i-believe-acting-is-a-director-s-medium-completely/) [Harshvardhan Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harshvardhan-kapoor/) > [As an actor, I believe that acting is actually behaving truthfully under imaginary circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saba-qamar/as-an-actor-i-believe-that-acting-is-actually-behaving-truthfully/) [Saba Qamar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saba-qamar/) > [I believe that once you get into acting, you shouldn't limit yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisy-shah/i-believe-that-once-you-get-into-acting-you-shouldn-t-limit-yourself/) [Daisy Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisy-shah/) > [I believe acting is very physical, and when you have to fight or do those kinds of things, it takes a lot of respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giancarlo-esposito/i-believe-acting-is-very-physical-and-when-you-have-to-fight-or-do/) [Giancarlo Esposito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giancarlo-esposito/) > [I believe that acting in any medium is the same thing, it's discovering the truth in where you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-garber/i-believe-that-acting-in-any-medium-is-the-same-thing-it-s/) [Victor Garber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-garber/) > [I believe acting also has a retirement phase. Unfortunately, no one in the industry is ready to accept that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-kumar/i-believe-acting-also-has-a-retirement-phase-unfortunately-no-one-in/) [Salim Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-kumar/) > [I have found that the greatest help in meeting any problem is to know where you yourself stand. That is, to have in words…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/i-have-found-that-the-greatest-help-in-meeting-any-problem-is-to-know/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [I believe acting truly is harnessing the power of belief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heath-ledger/i-believe-acting-truly-is-harnessing-the-power-of-belief/) [Heath Ledger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heath-ledger/) > [I believe acting to be my own journey through connection more than anything else, but that's only my take on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-olivieri/i-believe-acting-to-be-my-own-journey-through-connection-more-than/) [Dawn Olivieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-olivieri/) > [Looking back, I believe that acting was the best that I could do. It just happened. I kept getting good offers, and the going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-winget/looking-back-i-believe-that-acting-was-the-best-that-i-could-do-it/) [Jennifer Winget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-winget/) > [If you believe - which I do - that acting is a bit like advocacy for your character, then of course I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-lewis/if-you-believe-which-i-do-that-acting-is-a-bit-like-advocacy-for-your/) [Damian Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-lewis/) ## More by John Malkovich > [Films take too long. There's too much BS, too much nonsense. If I want to do a play, I just call the theater, whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/films-take-too-long-there-s-too-much-bs-too-much-nonsense-if-i-want/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) > [I don't want a trillion-dollar empire to run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/i-don-t-want-a-trillion-dollar-empire-to-run/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) > [Reviews are destructive by their very nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/reviews-are-destructive-by-their-very-nature/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) > [I can see how, given a certain degree of sensitivities, proclivities and rage, I could have ended up differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/i-can-see-how-given-a-certain-degree-of-sensitivities-proclivities/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) > [Most filmmakers' entire body of knowledge is of other movies. When they describe things, they describe them in relation to other movies. That's why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/most-filmmakers-entire-body-of-knowledge-is-of-other-movies-when-they/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) > [I wouldn't say anything I ever did in film would be something I'd use the word proud about. I've done better work in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/i-wouldn-t-say-anything-i-ever-did-in-film-would-be-something-i-d-use/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) > [I have driven school buses, sold egg rolls and painted houses, and I have often wondered what my life would have been like if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/i-have-driven-school-buses-sold-egg-rolls-and-painted-houses-and-i/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) > [You have to play your characters, not like them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/you-have-to-play-your-characters-not-like-them/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) > [One doesn't know if one had a happy childhood or not. I don't really know what it means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/one-doesn-t-know-if-one-had-a-happy-childhood-or-not-i-don-t-really/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) > [I'm more comfortable with whatever's wrong with me than my father was whenever he felt he failed or didn't measure up to the standard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/i-m-more-comfortable-with-whatever-s-wrong-with-me-than-my-father-was/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) > [I was a very good baseball and football player, but my father always told me I was much more interested in how I looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/i-was-a-very-good-baseball-and-football-player-but-my-father-always/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) > [I think people seem to sort of associate me with danger. And I don't see that at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/i-think-people-seem-to-sort-of-associate-me-with-danger-and-i-don-t/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) > [I like to direct movies, but I don't like to goof around for eight years talking about it. And it's pretty irritating to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/i-like-to-direct-movies-but-i-don-t-like-to-goof-around-for-eight/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) > [I love to watch good actors who surprise and amuse me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/i-love-to-watch-good-actors-who-surprise-and-amuse-me/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) > [I find it hard to pre-plan every element of everything I do. It's not my thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/i-find-it-hard-to-pre-plan-every-element-of-everything-i-do-it-s-not/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) [Explore all 169 John Malkovich quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) ## 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. 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": "I'm not a Method actor. I don't believe acting should be psychodrama. I look within myself and see what I can find to play the role with. If I'm playing a blind man, I don't go around blindfolded for days. A lot of good actors would, but I don't go in for that very much. 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