--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An actor has power, and their power is…" description: "\"An actor has power, and their power is very simple: it's the power to say no.\" — Ken Stott" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e77/ken-stott-23596_actor_an-actor-has-power-and-their-power-is-ve_2937407.jpg" --- # An actor has power, and their power is very simple: it's… ![“An actor has power, and their power is very simple: it's the power to say no.” quote by Ken Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e77/ken-stott-23596_actor_an-actor-has-power-and-their-power-is-ve_2937407.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e77/ken-stott-23596_actor_an-actor-has-power-and-their-power-is-ve_2937407.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e77/ken-stott-23596_actor_an-actor-has-power-and-their-power-is-ve_2937407.jpg) > “An actor has power, and their power is very simple: it's the power to say no.” [Ken Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-stott/) ## 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’s greatest leverage is the ability to refuse roles, maintaining control over their career. **In simple terms:** Saying no gives power. Key Takeaway Practice selective acceptance of opportunities. Themes career agency choice boundary setting Mood assertive thoughtful Type motivational strategic When to use this quote - audition decisions - contract negotiations - role selection Key Concepts professional autonomy ethical decision‑making personal branding Questions to Reflect On - When should you say no? - What are the costs of refusal? A Different Perspective Turning down roles can limit exposure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actor Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-power-775404/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Power Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-say-518868/) [Power Simple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-simple-1339255/) [Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say/) [Simple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple/) [Simple Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple-power-4362100/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Very](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/very/) ## Related quotes > [I've decided as an actor the only, the power I have really is in the performance. It's the only real place I get to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-gyllenhaal/i-ve-decided-as-an-actor-the-only-the-power-i-have-really-is-in-the/) [Jake Gyllenhaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-gyllenhaal/) > [I can write hundreds of songs on simple power chords.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel/i-can-write-hundreds-of-songs-on-simple-power-chords/) [Miguel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel/) > [Power is the agency to effect change, pure and simple. The more power you have, the clearer and less frictional the trajectory from an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-ghosn/power-is-the-agency-to-effect-change-pure-and-simple-the-more-power/) [Caroline Ghosn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-ghosn/) > [Never underestimate the power of a simple tool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-underestimate-the-power-of-a-simple-tool/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The greatest power is often simple patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-joseph-cossman/the-greatest-power-is-often-simple-patience/) [E. Joseph Cossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-joseph-cossman/) > [“The world is based on power. Power is simple. It is the ability to get others to do one’s will. Nothing more, nothing less—but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-e-modesitt-jr/the-world-is-based-on-power-power-is-simple-it-is-the-ability-to-get/) [L.E. Modesitt Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-e-modesitt-jr/) > [As an actor, I had the most power than I've ever had before, because I was able to create and arc and pursue that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esme-creed-miles/as-an-actor-i-had-the-most-power-than-i-ve-ever-had-before-because-i/) [Esme Creed-Miles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esme-creed-miles/) > [As a television actor, there's a power you're given to use your image to do something valuable. As a parent, these messages are particularly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/as-a-television-actor-there-s-a-power-you-re-given-to-use-your-image/) [Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/) > [I didn't become an actor to have power, but it just happens that I have it and so I have a lot of opportunities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-cruise/i-didn-t-become-an-actor-to-have-power-but-it-just-happens-that-i/) [Tom Cruise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-cruise/) > [I've always been an actor, a lowly actor without power, so I've never been corrupted. I've never even directed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-fraser/i-ve-always-been-an-actor-a-lowly-actor-without-power-so-i-ve-never/) [Laura Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-fraser/) > [What this power is, I cannot say... All I know is that it exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-graham-bell/what-this-power-is-i-cannot-say-all-i-know-is-that-it-exists/) [Alexander Graham Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-graham-bell/) > [No one is going to tell me I'm too small to do whatever, to do anything. That's not up to them, and I'll never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/draymond-green/no-one-is-going-to-tell-me-i-m-too-small-to-do-whatever-to-do/) [Draymond Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/draymond-green/) > [“At any given moment, you have the power to say that this is NOT how the story is going to END”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mhs-pourri/at-any-given-moment-you-have-the-power-to-say-that-this-is-not-how/) [MHS Pourri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mhs-pourri/) > [A bureaucrat is one who has the power to say "no" but none to say "yes."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-l-ackoff/a-bureaucrat-is-one-who-has-the-power-to-say-no-but-none-to-say-yes/) [Russell L. Ackoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-l-ackoff/) > [Never allow a person to tell you no who doesn't have the power to say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/never-allow-a-person-to-tell-you-no-who-doesn-t-have-the-power-to-say/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) ## More by Ken Stott > [No acting, no production, could take the place of that moment when you come out in the dark on to the stage and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-stott/no-acting-no-production-could-take-the-place-of-that-moment-when-you/) [Ken Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-stott/) > [I've got a feeling that with the best coppers - and in fact the best people in any field of work - what sets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-stott/i-ve-got-a-feeling-that-with-the-best-coppers-and-in-fact-the-best/) [Ken Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-stott/) > [I wanted success, but I wanted it on my own terms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-stott/i-wanted-success-but-i-wanted-it-on-my-own-terms/) [Ken Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-stott/) > [In every area, we seem to have thrown everything away and embraced reality television. It's nauseating, programme after programme.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-stott/in-every-area-we-seem-to-have-thrown-everything-away-and-embraced/) [Ken Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-stott/) > [The establishment is a dirty, dangerous beast, and the BBC is a mouthpiece for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-stott/the-establishment-is-a-dirty-dangerous-beast-and-the-bbc-is-a/) [Ken Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-stott/) > [For me, acting is a series of impressions rather than trying to find one line through to the end, which risks becoming more of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-stott/for-me-acting-is-a-series-of-impressions-rather-than-trying-to-find/) [Ken Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-stott/) > [There are many actors who'll make their living in other areas, and they'll say they don't like theatre. What they're saying is that they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-stott/there-are-many-actors-who-ll-make-their-living-in-other-areas-and/) [Ken Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-stott/) > [Villains are often attractive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-stott/villains-are-often-attractive/) [Ken Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-stott/) > [I am very aware of how warmly Scotland is regarded around the world, and a vote for self-determination would raise our international profile even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-stott/i-am-very-aware-of-how-warmly-scotland-is-regarded-around-the-world/) [Ken Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-stott/) > [My first major role was in a play called 'Through the Leaves.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-stott/my-first-major-role-was-in-a-play-called-through-the-leaves/) [Ken Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-stott/) > [The Scottish are not shy when it comes to expressing themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-stott/the-scottish-are-not-shy-when-it-comes-to-expressing-themselves/) [Ken Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-stott/) > [I always leave room for serendipity and chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-stott/i-always-leave-room-for-serendipity-and-chance/) [Ken Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-stott/) > [Producers and directors think they have the power, but what they think of as the weakest link, the actor, is all-powerful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-stott/producers-and-directors-think-they-have-the-power-but-what-they-think/) [Ken Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-stott/) > [In every area, we seem to have thrown everything away and embraced reality television. Its nauseating, programme after programme.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-stott/in-every-area-we-seem-to-have-thrown-everything-away-and-embraced-2/) [Ken Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-stott/) > [I do feel my work has momentum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-stott/i-do-feel-my-work-has-momentum/) [Ken Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-stott/) [Explore all 25 Ken Stott quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-stott/) ## 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. 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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! 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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": "An actor has power, and their power is very simple: it's the power to say no.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ken Stott" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-stott/an-actor-has-power-and-their-power-is-very-simple-it-s-the-power-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-stott/an-actor-has-power-and-their-power-is-very-simple-it-s-the-power-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e77/ken-stott-23596_actor_an-actor-has-power-and-their-power-is-ve_2937407.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e77/ken-stott-23596_actor_an-actor-has-power-and-their-power-is-ve_2937407.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e77/ken-stott-23596_actor_an-actor-has-power-and-their-power-is-ve_2937407.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“An actor has power, and their power is very simple: it's the power to say no.” — Ken Stott", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ken Stott", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-stott/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "An actor has power, and their...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-stott/an-actor-has-power-and-their-power-is-very-simple-it-s-the-power-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-stott/an-actor-has-power-and-their-power-is-very-simple-it-s-the-power-to/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```