--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think acting is a gift. I look at…" description: "\"I think acting is a gift. I look at someone like Ben Kingsley, and hes incredibly charismatic, even when hes not acting. Hes an incredibly hard worker,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e99/jonathan-jackson-20684_acting_i-think-acting-is-a-gift-i-look-at-someo_1478691.jpg" --- # I think acting is a gift. I look at someone like Ben… ![“I think acting is a gift. I look at someone like Ben Kingsley, and hes incredibly charismatic, even when hes not acting. Hes an incredibly hard worker, and he has a very specific system that he does with his work.” quote by Jonathan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e99/jonathan-jackson-20684_acting_i-think-acting-is-a-gift-i-look-at-someo_1478691.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e99/jonathan-jackson-20684_acting_i-think-acting-is-a-gift-i-look-at-someo_1478691.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e99/jonathan-jackson-20684_acting_i-think-acting-is-a-gift-i-look-at-someo_1478691.jpg) > “I think acting is a gift. I look at someone like Ben Kingsley, and hes incredibly charismatic, even when hes not acting. Hes an incredibly hard worker, and he has a very specific system that he does with his work.” [Jonathan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-jackson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting talent combines natural charisma with disciplined effort and a personal system. **In simple terms:** Talent plus hard work creates skill. Key Takeaway Develop a personal system. Themes talent hard work system Mood analytical encouraging Type advice motivational When to use this quote - theatre auditions - career building - skill mastery Key Concepts performance arts personal development Questions to Reflect On - How can you create your own workflow? - What habits enhance your performance? A Different Perspective Not everyone can replicate a unique system. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Charismatic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charismatic/) [Gift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gift/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Hard worker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-worker/) [System](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/system/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Workers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/workers/) ## Related quotes > [I think acting is a gift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-jackson/i-think-acting-is-a-gift/) [Jonathan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-jackson/) > [I think acting is a gift. I think certain people for some reason just have a gift that they were meant to perform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-jackson/i-think-acting-is-a-gift-i-think-certain-people-for-some-reason-just/) [Jonathan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-jackson/) > [~ I have a feeling that hes not acting like himself anymore:/](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angel-eyes/i-have-a-feeling-that-hes-not-acting-like-himself-anymore/) Angel\_eyes > [I believe the gift of acting is a gift from God, my oath to God, and I want to make sure on a daily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-gossett-jr/i-believe-the-gift-of-acting-is-a-gift-from-god-my-oath-to-god-and-i/) [Louis Gossett, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-gossett-jr/) > [I could live without acting… Acting is a gift I've received. And I'm grateful for it and I enjoy it. But it's not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-moreau/i-could-live-without-acting-acting-is-a-gift-i-ve-received-and-i-m/) [Jeanne Moreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanne-moreau/) > [I see my job as an actor to be as good a channel as I can be. Acting is a gift, and I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-taylor/i-see-my-job-as-an-actor-to-be-as-good-a-channel-as-i-can-be-acting/) [Lili Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-taylor/) > [My highest score karaoke song is 'Ben,' by Michael Jackson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-wilson/my-highest-score-karaoke-song-is-ben-by-michael-jackson/) [Nancy Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-wilson/) > [Ben Henderson is a unique challenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricio-freire/ben-henderson-is-a-unique-challenge/) [Patricio Freire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricio-freire/) > [I knew Quintessentially was a success when my father, who does a lot of business in Beirut, introduced himself to somebody and they said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-elliot/i-knew-quintessentially-was-a-success-when-my-father-who-does-a-lot/) [Ben Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-elliot/) > [The time between appearances for us is so great that we lose track of it. It would be like watching 'Ben Hur' at one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-schultz/the-time-between-appearances-for-us-is-so-great-that-we-lose-track-of/) [Dwight Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-schultz/) > [I'm a big fan of piano-based rock music like Elton John, Ben Folds, and even Queen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-axel/i-m-a-big-fan-of-piano-based-rock-music-like-elton-john-ben-folds-and/) [Ian Axel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-axel/) > [I'm no Kenneth Branagh or Ben Stiller. I'm not that single-minded, 'I'm producing it, directing it, and starring in it' kind of person; that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hollander/i-m-no-kenneth-branagh-or-ben-stiller-i-m-not-that-single-minded-i-m/) [Tom Hollander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hollander/) > [At Marshall Field in Chicago, I had them take a big bed into the menswear department, one with black sheets. I'd get in bed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wavy-gravy/at-marshall-field-in-chicago-i-had-them-take-a-big-bed-into-the/) [Wavy Gravy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wavy-gravy/) > [John Hawkes is amazing. I really want to meet that man; he's so good. Him and Ben Foster, and I'm a big fan of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-culkin/john-hawkes-is-amazing-i-really-want-to-meet-that-man-he-s-so-good/) [Rory Culkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-culkin/) > [Ben Davison has brought a lot as trainer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-taylor/ben-davison-has-brought-a-lot-as-trainer/) [Josh Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-taylor/) ## More by Jonathan Jackson > [For years, I've thought about a project or a way where I could do acting and music together, and I never really thought that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-jackson/for-years-i-ve-thought-about-a-project-or-a-way-where-i-could-do/) [Jonathan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-jackson/) > ["Silence Of The Lambs" is definitely very frightening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-jackson/silence-of-the-lambs-is-definitely-very-frightening/) [Jonathan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-jackson/) > [Yeah... I like films, I like movies, I like playing different characters and working with different actors and filming in different places. I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-jackson/yeah-i-like-films-i-like-movies-i-like-playing-different-characters/) [Jonathan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-jackson/) > [Not judging people is the fastest way to peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-jackson/not-judging-people-is-the-fastest-way-to-peace/) [Jonathan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-jackson/) > [I walked away from this movie thinking how important it is to have a genuine selfless love for your children. You can really mess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-jackson/i-walked-away-from-this-movie-thinking-how-important-it-is-to-have-a/) [Jonathan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-jackson/) > [I think acting is a gift. I think certain people for some reason just have a gift that they were meant to perform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-jackson/i-think-acting-is-a-gift-i-think-certain-people-for-some-reason-just/) [Jonathan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-jackson/) > [The challenges change depending on the song. There are some songs where the lyrics are really a challenge and then there are other songs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-jackson/the-challenges-change-depending-on-the-song-there-are-some-songs/) [Jonathan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-jackson/) > [I'd rather live forever in Heaven than a place where there's terrorism and hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-jackson/i-d-rather-live-forever-in-heaven-than-a-place-where-there-s/) [Jonathan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-jackson/) > [God puts certain things in certain people. I'm a restless soul. I'm always searching. I'm always pressing to find what truth is and what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-jackson/god-puts-certain-things-in-certain-people-i-m-a-restless-soul-i-m/) [Jonathan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-jackson/) > [Being joyful is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-jackson/being-joyful-is-a-choice/) [Jonathan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-jackson/) > [I like movies, because it's kind of a combination of every art, it's like it's picture, it's story, it's music, it's kind of like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-jackson/i-like-movies-because-it-s-kind-of-a-combination-of-every-art-it-s/) [Jonathan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-jackson/) > [Gratitude is the root of joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-jackson/gratitude-is-the-root-of-joy/) [Jonathan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-jackson/) > [There's nothing better than actually getting to watch the person and see his or her mannerisms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-jackson/there-s-nothing-better-than-actually-getting-to-watch-the-person-and/) [Jonathan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-jackson/) > [I would rather portray the hero if it's a really great film. All my favorite fictional film characters are heroes, such as in 'The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-jackson/i-would-rather-portray-the-hero-if-it-s-a-really-great-film-all-my/) [Jonathan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-jackson/) > [A lot of Christians look at Hollywood as the ultimate evil. But what it did for me is it sharpened my ability to love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-jackson/a-lot-of-christians-look-at-hollywood-as-the-ultimate-evil-but-what/) [Jonathan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-jackson/) [Explore all 30 Jonathan Jackson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-jackson/) ## 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 think acting is a gift. I look at someone like Ben Kingsley, and hes incredibly charismatic, even when hes not acting. 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