--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The bottom line is that I'm an actor, so…" description: "\"The bottom line is that I'm an actor, so when somebody pitches me a great part, it's a no-brainer. You never know what it's gonna be like, in terms of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/203/kathy-bates-8711_actors_the-bottom-line-is-that-i-m-an-actor-so_1607147.jpg" --- # The bottom line is that I'm an actor, so when somebody… ![“The bottom line is that I'm an actor, so when somebody pitches me a great part, it's a no-brainer. You never know what it's gonna be like, in terms of the actual experience. You can be really excited about a part that can turn out shitty, you can have a bad time, there's a bad egg or two or three…” quote by Kathy Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/203/kathy-bates-8711_actors_the-bottom-line-is-that-i-m-an-actor-so_1607147.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/203/kathy-bates-8711_actors_the-bottom-line-is-that-i-m-an-actor-so_1607147.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/203/kathy-bates-8711_actors_the-bottom-line-is-that-i-m-an-actor-so_1607147.jpg) > “The bottom line is that I'm an actor, so when somebody pitches me a great part, it's a no-brainer. You never know what it's gonna be like, in terms of the actual experience. You can be really excited about a part that can turn out shitty, you can have a bad time, there's a bad egg or two or three, in the bunch, or the producers are weird, or something like that.” [Kathy Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-bates/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An actor must accept roles without guarantee of quality, trusting the process despite uncertainty. **In simple terms:** Actors take roles despite unknown outcomes. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty and focus on the craft. Themes career risk uncertainty craft expectations Mood reflective pragmatic Type advice industry insight When to use this quote - audition - film set - script reading - contract negotiation Key Concepts Decision making probability creative risk Questions to Reflect On - How do you evaluate a role’s potential? - What safeguards can protect your career? A Different Perspective Not all roles will be rewarding; some may harm reputation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actor Somebody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-somebody-894076/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Bad time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-time/) [Bad times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-times/) [Bottom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bottom/) [Bottom line](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bottom-line/) [Bunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bunch/) [Eggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eggs/) [Excited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excited/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Line Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/line-actor-1231800/) [Lines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lines/) [No brainer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-brainer/) [Pitches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pitches/) [Pitches Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pitches-great-6122875/) [Producers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/producers/) [Producers Weird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/producers-weird-6122876/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) ## Related quotes > [I'm just back in line with every other actor looking for a job right now and keeping my fingers crossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lando/i-m-just-back-in-line-with-every-other-actor-looking-for-a-job-right/) [Joe Lando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lando/) > [You always have these moments when projects are over when you wonder if you'll ever work again. In the end, what it comes down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-kirk/you-always-have-these-moments-when-projects-are-over-when-you-wonder/) [Justin Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-kirk/) > [An actor's performance can be improved or shaped - or ruined - by what takes you use, how long you are on the actor's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/an-actor-s-performance-can-be-improved-or-shaped-or-ruined-by-what/) [Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/) > [Even when you're casting, casting is always one of the weirdest subjective areas. You can get a group of people who would decide and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-todd/even-when-you-re-casting-casting-is-always-one-of-the-weirdest/) [Suzanne Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-todd/) > [You get burned a lot as an actor. You give somebody, you give some guy real free reign and he just doesn't know how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-russell/you-get-burned-a-lot-as-an-actor-you-give-somebody-you-give-some-guy/) [Kurt Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-russell/) > [It's really rich territory for me as an actor to have somebody who has such a long way to go, but he's trying and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-dunster/it-s-really-rich-territory-for-me-as-an-actor-to-have-somebody-who/) [Phil Dunster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-dunster/) > [It's weird that you have to work really, really hard just to be real or normal. Everybody's got their different techniques, but what makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scoot-mcnairy/it-s-weird-that-you-have-to-work-really-really-hard-just-to-be-real/) [Scoot McNairy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scoot-mcnairy/) > [At one point you think, well, it's funny, I could just be a starving actor... So if somebody were to pull the plug right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-fassbender/at-one-point-you-think-well-it-s-funny-i-could-just-be-a-starving/) [Michael Fassbender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-fassbender/) > [An actor is somebody who communicates someone else's words and emotions to an audience. It's not me. It's what writers want me to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-smith/an-actor-is-somebody-who-communicates-someone-else-s-words-and/) [Maggie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-smith/) > [A good actor is somebody who can be truthful and fascinating and interesting and enlightening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-davison/a-good-actor-is-somebody-who-can-be-truthful-and-fascinating-and/) [Bruce Davison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-davison/) > [I always figure hey, look, I'm not a rock star, I'm an actor. I'm somebody who's meant to be other people and I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-bale/i-always-figure-hey-look-i-m-not-a-rock-star-i-m-an-actor-i-m/) [Christian Bale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-bale/) > [I've never thought of myself as an actor, so somebody recognizing me for that would be a real shock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/i-ve-never-thought-of-myself-as-an-actor-so-somebody-recognizing-me/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Dior is the first fashion brand I've gotten to work with and it really was a no-brainer for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-barbaro/dior-is-the-first-fashion-brand-i-ve-gotten-to-work-with-and-it/) [Monica Barbaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-barbaro/) > [Its a no-brainer for me that at some point our cars will have the ability to drive themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/its-a-no-brainer-for-me-that-at-some-point-our-cars-will-have-the/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [One of the things I regret about not putting in that book or I think it's there but I didn't really elaborate on it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/one-of-the-things-i-regret-about-not-putting-in-that-book-or-i-think/) [Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/) ## More by Kathy Bates > ['Misery' left a lasting mark on me. When I die, it will be 'Kathy 'Misery' Bates Is Dead.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-bates/misery-left-a-lasting-mark-on-me-when-i-die-it-will-be-kathy-misery/) [Kathy Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-bates/) > [Cancer and its aftermath changed my outlook in a profound way. I've become less of a hermit, and I travel more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-bates/cancer-and-its-aftermath-changed-my-outlook-in-a-profound-way-i-ve/) [Kathy Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-bates/) > [When I was in New Orleans, I was in a grocery store and a woman came up to me and she said, "Oh, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-bates/when-i-was-in-new-orleans-i-was-in-a-grocery-store-and-a-woman-came/) [Kathy Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-bates/) > [I can sit here on the couch and hear you say, "You're very feminine and very attractive," but I have always struggled with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-bates/i-can-sit-here-on-the-couch-and-hear-you-say-you-re-very-feminine-and/) [Kathy Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-bates/) > [I want to see women onscreen the way I see them in society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-bates/i-want-to-see-women-onscreen-the-way-i-see-them-in-society/) [Kathy Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-bates/) > [I have really focused on mindfulness. That helps me make better choices both physically, psychologically, and emotionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-bates/i-have-really-focused-on-mindfulness-that-helps-me-make-better/) [Kathy Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-bates/) > [I didn't go out on one date in high school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-bates/i-didn-t-go-out-on-one-date-in-high-school/) [Kathy Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-bates/) > [People will come up, and they'll talk about 'Misery.' But a lot of people will talk about 'Waterboy.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-bates/people-will-come-up-and-they-ll-talk-about-misery-but-a-lot-of-people/) [Kathy Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-bates/) > [I love everything. I love being the empathetic characters. I love being the villains. I think it's like when we're kids, we like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-bates/i-love-everything-i-love-being-the-empathetic-characters-i-love-being/) [Kathy Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-bates/) > [I didn't go out on one date in high school. I played guitar and sang and wrote my own music and poetry and stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-bates/i-didn-t-go-out-on-one-date-in-high-school-i-played-guitar-and-sang/) [Kathy Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-bates/) > [The problem I have these days is that women are often cast in a role - as a police officer, for example - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-bates/the-problem-i-have-these-days-is-that-women-are-often-cast-in-a-role/) [Kathy Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-bates/) > [I have had periods of depression in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-bates/i-have-had-periods-of-depression-in-my-life/) [Kathy Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-bates/) > [I kind of grew up on horror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-bates/i-kind-of-grew-up-on-horror/) [Kathy Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-bates/) > [Now if I go through it again, I think I would be a lot more open about it. I admire people who have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-bates/now-if-i-go-through-it-again-i-think-i-would-be-a-lot-more-open-about/) [Kathy Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-bates/) > [I was never an ingenue. I've always just been a character actor. When I was younger, it was a real problem, because I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-bates/i-was-never-an-ingenue-i-ve-always-just-been-a-character-actor-when-i/) [Kathy Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-bates/) [Explore all 78 Kathy Bates quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-bates/) ## More Actor 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/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [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/) > [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/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [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/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The bottom line is that I'm an actor, so when somebody pitches me a great part, it's a no-brainer. You never know what it's gonna be like, in terms of the actual experience. 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