--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can say something that can really…" description: "\"You can say something that can really help and actor and you can say something that can really get in the way of an actor's performance, kind of cut th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55b/josh-radnor-7807_actors_you-can-say-something-that-can-really-he_2523075.jpg" --- # You can say something that can really help and actor and… ![“You can say something that can really help and actor and you can say something that can really get in the way of an actor's performance, kind of cut them off from their instincts and really get into their heads. And every actor's different. Every actor requires something different. Being an actor…” quote by Josh Radnor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55b/josh-radnor-7807_actors_you-can-say-something-that-can-really-he_2523075.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55b/josh-radnor-7807_actors_you-can-say-something-that-can-really-he_2523075.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55b/josh-radnor-7807_actors_you-can-say-something-that-can-really-he_2523075.jpg) > “You can say something that can really help and actor and you can say something that can really get in the way of an actor's performance, kind of cut them off from their instincts and really get into their heads. And every actor's different. Every actor requires something different. Being an actor, for me, was the greatest training to be a writer and director.” [Josh Radnor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-radnor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He explains how feedback can aid or hinder actors, and how acting informs writing and directing. **In simple terms:** Actor feedback shapes performance; acting teaches storytelling. Key Takeaway Use acting experience to enhance direction. Themes performance feedback craft Mood thoughtful analytical Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - theatre rehearsals - film sets - workshops - script development Key Concepts actor instincts directorial vision writing process Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance actor input with your vision? - When does feedback become interference? A Different Perspective Overreliance on actor instincts may limit writer's voice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Instinct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instinct/) [Performances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performances/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Training](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/training/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Being an actor sometimes requires that you ask yourself questions youd rather not know the answers to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/being-an-actor-sometimes-requires-that-you-ask-yourself-questions/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [Being an actor sometimes requires that you ask yourself questions you'd rather not know the answers to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/being-an-actor-sometimes-requires-that-you-ask-yourself-questions-you/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [Each actor requires a different language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/each-actor-requires-a-different-language/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [I think what qualitiy make for good directors is being able to articulate what you want; it can cause problems with a lack of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-rhys-meyers/i-think-what-qualitiy-make-for-good-directors-is-being-able-to/) [Jonathan Rhys Meyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-rhys-meyers/) > [Being an actor requires a lot of self-analysis and reflection. The better you know who you are, the better you are at becoming another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-goth/being-an-actor-requires-a-lot-of-self-analysis-and-reflection-the/) [Mia Goth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-goth/) > [In the scenes I try to be a giver as much as possible, giving the other actor something to work with. When not in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-preston-rogers/in-the-scenes-i-try-to-be-a-giver-as-much-as-possible-giving-the/) [James Preston Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-preston-rogers/) > [Studying cows, pigs and chickens can help an actor develop his character. There are a lot of things I learned from animals. One was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dean/studying-cows-pigs-and-chickens-can-help-an-actor-develop-his/) [James Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dean/) > [As far as I could discover, the notion that a play could succeed without any further help from the actor than a simple impersonation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-beerbohm-tree/as-far-as-i-could-discover-the-notion-that-a-play-could-succeed/) [Herbert Beerbohm Tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-beerbohm-tree/) > [My dad was a lovely guy. I had great parents. But he was a conservative shopkeeper, and he said, "Look, I don't know how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kapelos/my-dad-was-a-lovely-guy-i-had-great-parents-but-he-was-a-conservative/) [John Kapelos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kapelos/) > [The "magic if" is a tool invented by Stanislavski, the father of acting craft, is to help an actor make appropriate choices. Essentially, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-miller/the-magic-if-is-a-tool-invented-by-stanislavski-the-father-of-acting/) Bruce Miller > [The bikini scenes in 'Billa' were vital because they showed me as a seductress. I'd like to say here that outfits define a character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anushka-shetty/the-bikini-scenes-in-billa-were-vital-because-they-showed-me-as-a/) [Anushka Shetty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anushka-shetty/) > [I always thought the leading actor should be the best supporting actor, because you're the only person that can help every other actor on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-costner/i-always-thought-the-leading-actor-should-be-the-best-supporting/) [Kevin Costner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-costner/) > [As an actor, when you walk onto a set, you're always working with different actors with different processes, and I kind of respect them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-bomer/as-an-actor-when-you-walk-onto-a-set-you-re-always-working-with/) [Matthew Bomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-bomer/) > [Honestly, I look at the project and I look at the people attached and I look at the director. If it's a role that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sasha-grey/honestly-i-look-at-the-project-and-i-look-at-the-people-attached-and/) [Sasha Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sasha-grey/) > [I don't call cut between the takes - it's my way to help the actor keep focused. As soon as you say 'cut' you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-gondry/i-don-t-call-cut-between-the-takes-it-s-my-way-to-help-the-actor-keep/) [Michel Gondry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-gondry/) ## More by Josh Radnor > [I learned to choose my battles. Sometimes I let my producer deal with something that I didn't want to deal with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-radnor/i-learned-to-choose-my-battles-sometimes-i-let-my-producer-deal-with/) [Josh Radnor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-radnor/) > [One thing I'm most proud of, in my movies, is that I think the performances are super-strong, but that's not all me. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-radnor/one-thing-i-m-most-proud-of-in-my-movies-is-that-i-think-the/) [Josh Radnor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-radnor/) > [It's really hard to be poor in New York - I was really poor when I lived in New York.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-radnor/it-s-really-hard-to-be-poor-in-new-york-i-was-really-poor-when-i/) [Josh Radnor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-radnor/) > [In writing scripts now, having made a film, I'm much more conscious of what it means to shoot and edit a movie, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-radnor/in-writing-scripts-now-having-made-a-film-i-m-much-more-conscious-of/) [Josh Radnor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-radnor/) > [One of the secrets to life is saying yes to change and allowing things to transition, but I also think you have to mark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-radnor/one-of-the-secrets-to-life-is-saying-yes-to-change-and-allowing/) [Josh Radnor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-radnor/) > [We're like a gardener with a hose and our attention is water - we can water flowers or we can water weeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-radnor/we-re-like-a-gardener-with-a-hose-and-our-attention-is-water-we-can/) [Josh Radnor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-radnor/) > [Time off from the news is always something I welcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-radnor/time-off-from-the-news-is-always-something-i-welcome/) [Josh Radnor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-radnor/) > [My trick is the trick that everyone knows: Work really hard and prepare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-radnor/my-trick-is-the-trick-that-everyone-knows-work-really-hard-and-prepare/) [Josh Radnor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-radnor/) > [I think that the mark of a great book is that it will meet you wherever you're at and you'll feel and experience something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-radnor/i-think-that-the-mark-of-a-great-book-is-that-it-will-meet-you/) [Josh Radnor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-radnor/) > [There's that great Bill Hicks line - the comedian - where he says, "Are you proud to be an American?" "I don't know. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-radnor/there-s-that-great-bill-hicks-line-the-comedian-where-he-says-are-you/) [Josh Radnor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-radnor/) > [When I'm working, it's great. When I'm not working, it's great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-radnor/when-i-m-working-it-s-great-when-i-m-not-working-it-s-great/) [Josh Radnor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-radnor/) > [I find myself going out less and less. When you're 22 and see older people start to do that, it's depressing, but once you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-radnor/i-find-myself-going-out-less-and-less-when-you-re-22-and-see-older/) [Josh Radnor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-radnor/) > [It's strange to look back over a full season. Our characters have accrued all these memories, but so have we, the actors. And sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-radnor/it-s-strange-to-look-back-over-a-full-season-our-characters-have/) [Josh Radnor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-radnor/) > [One man's uplift is another man's sentimental hooey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-radnor/one-man-s-uplift-is-another-man-s-sentimental-hooey/) [Josh Radnor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-radnor/) > [When I go to movies and I love the movie, it's because it feels like it articulated something about how we're living now, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-radnor/when-i-go-to-movies-and-i-love-the-movie-it-s-because-it-feels-like/) [Josh Radnor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-radnor/) [Explore all 87 Josh Radnor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-radnor/) ## More Actors quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/) [Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [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/) > [When we watch a film as actors, you have to understand that we always see much more than what's on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/when-we-watch-a-film-as-actors-you-have-to-understand-that-we-always/) [Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/) > [As actors, you become an expert at starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-actors-you-become-an-expert-at-starting-over/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [A rapper is about being completely true to yourself. Being an actor is about changing who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/a-rapper-is-about-being-completely-true-to-yourself-being-an-actor-is/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [I've been a professional actor for almost 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-been-a-professional-actor-for-almost-40-years/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [American actors are coy. We all have pricks and cunts, or are you different from the rest of us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/american-actors-are-coy-we-all-have-pricks-and-cunts-or-are-you/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) [Browse all 11,394 Actors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can say something that can really help and actor and you can say something that can really get in the way of an actor's performance, kind of cut them off from their instincts and really get into their heads. And every actor's different. Every actor requires something different. 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