--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I thought acting was all about natural…" description: "\"I thought acting was all about natural instinct but I've realised, through working with so many talented actors on 'Wild Swans' and 'Run,' that I can s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce5/katie-leung-38847_acting_i-thought-acting-was-all-about-natural-i_602798.jpg" --- # I thought acting was all about natural instinct but I've… ![“I thought acting was all about natural instinct but I've realised, through working with so many talented actors on 'Wild Swans' and 'Run,' that I can see the training. That's why I am back at drama school.” quote by Katie Leung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce5/katie-leung-38847_acting_i-thought-acting-was-all-about-natural-i_602798.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce5/katie-leung-38847_acting_i-thought-acting-was-all-about-natural-i_602798.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce5/katie-leung-38847_acting_i-thought-acting-was-all-about-natural-i_602798.jpg) > “I thought acting was all about natural instinct but I've realised, through working with so many talented actors on 'Wild Swans' and 'Run,' that I can see the training. That's why I am back at drama school.” [Katie Leung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-leung/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She discovered that acting relies on learned techniques, not just instinct, prompting her return to drama school. **In simple terms:** Acting needs training, not just natural talent. Key Takeaway Embrace formal training to improve. Themes growth training self‑awareness Mood reflective determined Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - auditions - classroom practice - workshop participation - directed scenes Key Concepts craft skill development discipline Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance instinct with technique? - What specific skills will you focus on? A Different Perspective Training alone cannot replace innate creativity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Drama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama/) [Drama school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama-school/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Instinct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instinct/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Training](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/training/) ## Related quotes > [My experiences and training back at drama school were very enlightening. I always believe in improving, be it kathak or my acting skills, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiah-khan/my-experiences-and-training-back-at-drama-school-were-very/) [Jiah Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiah-khan/) > [I've been acting since I was 5 years old, from primary school to secondary school, did training at drama school, which was the big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyega/i-ve-been-acting-since-i-was-5-years-old-from-primary-school-to/) [John Boyega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyega/) > [When I watch my sons play, I think, God, acting's the most natural thing in the world. They take the 'Star Wars' characters and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-allam/when-i-watch-my-sons-play-i-think-god-acting-s-the-most-natural-thing/) [Roger Allam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-allam/) > [Don't tell me I'm crazy. I'm out here acting natural.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-diaz/don-t-tell-me-i-m-crazy-i-m-out-here-acting-natural/) [Nick Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-diaz/) > [I think acting's very natural. It comes from a place of honesty, and if someone tries to teach you their way of doing it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-heaton/i-think-acting-s-very-natural-it-comes-from-a-place-of-honesty-and-if/) [Charlie Heaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-heaton/) > [People create the illusion of acting natural, which is what I think most documentarians do in part because of the direct cinema orthodoxies that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-oppenheimer/people-create-the-illusion-of-acting-natural-which-is-what-i-think/) [Joshua Oppenheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-oppenheimer/) > [I think acting is something that is within you. It's a very natural thing for me. It comes from myself, really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saoirse-ronan/i-think-acting-is-something-that-is-within-you-it-s-a-very-natural/) [Saoirse Ronan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saoirse-ronan/) > [It's an acting job - acting natural.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-cooke/it-s-an-acting-job-acting-natural/) [Alistair Cooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-cooke/) > [I think for comedians, acting is their natural progression. It's all about progression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-peters/i-think-for-comedians-acting-is-their-natural-progression-it-s-all/) [Russell Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-peters/) > [Good acting is about being as natural and calm as possible. These days producers have such definite ideas that you have to be prepared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryn-terfel/good-acting-is-about-being-as-natural-and-calm-as-possible-these-days/) [Bryn Terfel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryn-terfel/) > [I learn a lot from acting, but it's not my natural way. I can't help but write; I do it all the time. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-stuart-masterson/i-learn-a-lot-from-acting-but-it-s-not-my-natural-way-i-can-t-help/) [Mary Stuart Masterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-stuart-masterson/) > [I wouldn't have been able to go to drama school when I was 19. I don't think I was even conscious of life... I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-foy/i-wouldn-t-have-been-able-to-go-to-drama-school-when-i-was-19-i-don-t/) [Claire Foy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-foy/) > [Wild Swans' showed me there are Chinese traditions that still affect my life. For example, it's not that women are inferior, exactly, but my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-leung/wild-swans-showed-me-there-are-chinese-traditions-that-still-affect/) [Katie Leung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-leung/) > [If King Harold had had swans on his side, England would still be Saxon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-willis/if-king-harold-had-had-swans-on-his-side-england-would-still-be-saxon/) [Connie Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-willis/) > [May you eat an unfamiliar dessert in a strange land at least once every three years. May you wake up... and start dancing while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-brezsny/may-you-eat-an-unfamiliar-dessert-in-a-strange-land-at-least-once/) [Rob Brezsny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brezsny/) ## More by Katie Leung > [I'm very quiet. I can go a whole week without talking, so doing interviews is really awkward for me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-leung/i-m-very-quiet-i-can-go-a-whole-week-without-talking-so-doing/) [Katie Leung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-leung/) > [I like Joaquin Phoenix. He's an amazing actor and he's so buff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-leung/i-like-joaquin-phoenix-he-s-an-amazing-actor-and-he-s-so-buff/) [Katie Leung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-leung/) > [I was born in Scotland and have lived there all my life. I speak conversational Cantonese with my dad when I'm at home, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-leung/i-was-born-in-scotland-and-have-lived-there-all-my-life-i-speak/) [Katie Leung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-leung/) > [In general, the auditions I go up for are very sparse, I guess because of my ethnicity. And the characters are very similar: shy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-leung/in-general-the-auditions-i-go-up-for-are-very-sparse-i-guess-because/) [Katie Leung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-leung/) > [I love theatre. It's far more satisfying than film. Sometimes there's a collective sigh from the audience, or it's so quiet you can hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-leung/i-love-theatre-it-s-far-more-satisfying-than-film-sometimes-there-s-a/) [Katie Leung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-leung/) > [I am very indecisive. I'm always afraid of making the wrong decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-leung/i-am-very-indecisive-i-m-always-afraid-of-making-the-wrong-decision/) [Katie Leung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-leung/) > [Wild Swans' showed me there are Chinese traditions that still affect my life. For example, it's not that women are inferior, exactly, but my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-leung/wild-swans-showed-me-there-are-chinese-traditions-that-still-affect/) [Katie Leung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-leung/) > [I'm not the type of person who enjoys the limelight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-leung/i-m-not-the-type-of-person-who-enjoys-the-limelight/) [Katie Leung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-leung/) > [I'm single and looking and failing miserably. I'm keeping my options open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-leung/i-m-single-and-looking-and-failing-miserably-i-m-keeping-my-options/) [Katie Leung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-leung/) > [One of the things I liked about my character in 'Run' is that she can just disappear into the background if she wants, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-leung/one-of-the-things-i-liked-about-my-character-in-run-is-that-she-can/) [Katie Leung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-leung/) [Explore all 11 Katie Leung quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-leung/) ## 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 thought acting was all about natural instinct but I've realised, through working with so many talented actors on 'Wild Swans' and 'Run,' that I can see the training. 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