--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One of my main techniques for acting is I…" description: "\"One of my main techniques for acting is I try to know almost nothing beyond the words that I have to say, because that's my zone of control.\" — Kristin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/kristin-bauer-van-straten-1369_acting_one-of-my-main-techniques-for-acting-is_1815511.png" --- # One of my main techniques for acting is I try to know… ![“One of my main techniques for acting is I try to know almost nothing beyond the words that I have to say, because that's my zone of control.” quote by Kristin Bauer van Straten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/kristin-bauer-van-straten-1369_acting_one-of-my-main-techniques-for-acting-is_1815511.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/kristin-bauer-van-straten-1369_acting_one-of-my-main-techniques-for-acting-is_1815511.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/kristin-bauer-van-straten-1369_acting_one-of-my-main-techniques-for-acting-is_1815511.png) > “One of my main techniques for acting is I try to know almost nothing beyond the words that I have to say, because that's my zone of control.” [Kristin Bauer van Straten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-bauer-van-straten/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focus on staying present by limiting knowledge to the script, maintaining control through simplicity. **In simple terms:** Know only your lines to stay in control. Key Takeaway Limit external info to enhance performance focus. Themes acting focus control simplicity mindfulness Mood introspective practical Type advice reflective When to use this quote - rehearsal - live performance - improv - directed scenes - stress management Key Concepts method acting cognitive load presence Questions to Reflect On - How does this approach affect character depth? - When might extra context be beneficial? A Different Perspective Risk of missing deeper character insight. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technique/) ## Related quotes > [I would say there is a zone of R&B that hadn't been quite innovative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelela/i-would-say-there-is-a-zone-of-r-b-that-hadn-t-been-quite-innovative/) [Kelela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelela/) > [It is a simple fact that all of us use the techniques of acting to achieve whatever ends we seek.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-brando/it-is-a-simple-fact-that-all-of-us-use-the-techniques-of-acting-to/) [Marlon Brando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-brando/) > [I was about to get a degree in economics when I accepted that I'd be a lousy businessman, and if I didn't give acting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-gallagher/i-was-about-to-get-a-degree-in-economics-when-i-accepted-that-i-d-be/) [Peter Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-gallagher/) > [Actually I have to say when I'm acting, I try not to think about directing at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-o-connor/actually-i-have-to-say-when-i-m-acting-i-try-not-to-think-about/) [Renee O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-o-connor/) > [One of the amazing things about acting now is that you can try different things and have choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edge/one-of-the-amazing-things-about-acting-now-is-that-you-can-try/) [Edge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edge/) > [When I'm not acting, I try to be normal, play golf, play hockey. It's funny because you're in this little bubble when you're working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-kitsch/when-i-m-not-acting-i-try-to-be-normal-play-golf-play-hockey-it-s/) [Taylor Kitsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-kitsch/) > [Lead by example. Women often wait for permission instead of acting, and I try to encourage bold action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belinda-johnson/lead-by-example-women-often-wait-for-permission-instead-of-acting-and/) [Belinda Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belinda-johnson/) > [I think that various styles and methods and approaches are an invention of people who don't understand the process of acting and who try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-kingsley/i-think-that-various-styles-and-methods-and-approaches-are-an/) [Ben Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-kingsley/) > [When you're acting, you can try your own ideas and be free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/storm-reid/when-you-re-acting-you-can-try-your-own-ideas-and-be-free/) [Storm Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/storm-reid/) > [It's kind of funny, with all of the different outlets that come from acting that you could try, I would love to direct and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imogen-poots/it-s-kind-of-funny-with-all-of-the-different-outlets-that-come-from/) [Imogen Poots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imogen-poots/) > [If I wasn't acting, I'd try and be a footballer. I wouldn't be a musician because I can't write my own music. Realistically, I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-blackley/if-i-wasn-t-acting-i-d-try-and-be-a-footballer-i-wouldn-t-be-a/) [Jamie Blackley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-blackley/) > [I started studying at 26. Before that, I never thought of acting as something that I would ever try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gale-harold/i-started-studying-at-26-before-that-i-never-thought-of-acting-as/) [Gale Harold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gale-harold/) > [I did an internship in the Silicon Valley during the Internet boom. I couldn't imagine sitting in a cubicle the rest of my life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-chon/i-did-an-internship-in-the-silicon-valley-during-the-internet-boom-i/) [Justin Chon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-chon/) > [In acting, I always try to go back to what would actually be the real situation, the real human behavior in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/in-acting-i-always-try-to-go-back-to-what-would-actually-be-the-real/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) > [The approach to acting is always the same, you try to figure who the guy is and then you try to transition your way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/the-approach-to-acting-is-always-the-same-you-try-to-figure-who-the/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) ## More by Kristin Bauer van Straten > [I have little space from the suffering of elephants right now. I wake up with it and go to sleep with it. The plight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-bauer-van-straten/i-have-little-space-from-the-suffering-of-elephants-right-now-i-wake/) [Kristin Bauer van Straten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-bauer-van-straten/) > [I can watch endless humans get killed, but if I see a movie and they kill a dog, I practically want to walk out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-bauer-van-straten/i-can-watch-endless-humans-get-killed-but-if-i-see-a-movie-and-they/) [Kristin Bauer van Straten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-bauer-van-straten/) > [So much of our lives are defined by habit or what the guy next to us is doing, never wondering and knowing who and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-bauer-van-straten/so-much-of-our-lives-are-defined-by-habit-or-what-the-guy-next-to-us/) [Kristin Bauer van Straten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-bauer-van-straten/) > [Africa is being raped mainly by Asia, but the second largest market for dead endangered animals is the US. Most don't know this is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-bauer-van-straten/africa-is-being-raped-mainly-by-asia-but-the-second-largest-market/) [Kristin Bauer van Straten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-bauer-van-straten/) > [Sometimes I'll read an audition and I'll get a very strong first impression about who the person is, and I usually go with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-bauer-van-straten/sometimes-i-ll-read-an-audition-and-i-ll-get-a-very-strong-first/) [Kristin Bauer van Straten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-bauer-van-straten/) > [I'm getting the jobs that are a gift, and also the jobs that I do because I just love them. That's ideal, for anybody.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-bauer-van-straten/i-m-getting-the-jobs-that-are-a-gift-and-also-the-jobs-that-i-do/) [Kristin Bauer van Straten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-bauer-van-straten/) > [As an actor, I look at first what I can borrow from what I really feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-bauer-van-straten/as-an-actor-i-look-at-first-what-i-can-borrow-from-what-i-really-feel/) [Kristin Bauer van Straten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-bauer-van-straten/) > [People can do all kinds of things that maybe aren't wise in hindsight because of jealousy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-bauer-van-straten/people-can-do-all-kinds-of-things-that-maybe-aren-t-wise-in-hindsight/) [Kristin Bauer van Straten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-bauer-van-straten/) > [My best source of grounding are animals and nature. Animals live more in the moment and don't worry so much! And nature is proof…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-bauer-van-straten/my-best-source-of-grounding-are-animals-and-nature-animals-live-more/) [Kristin Bauer van Straten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-bauer-van-straten/) > [The one thing I've come to figure out is this equation where the more uncomfortable I am, the better I'm going to look. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-bauer-van-straten/the-one-thing-i-ve-come-to-figure-out-is-this-equation-where-the-more/) [Kristin Bauer van Straten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-bauer-van-straten/) > [My acting teacher used to say that people reveal themselves in their opposites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-bauer-van-straten/my-acting-teacher-used-to-say-that-people-reveal-themselves-in-their/) [Kristin Bauer van Straten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-bauer-van-straten/) > [I will never be ok with the suffering of others - that I will likely continue to fight so I must treat it as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-bauer-van-straten/i-will-never-be-ok-with-the-suffering-of-others-that-i-will-likely/) [Kristin Bauer van Straten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-bauer-van-straten/) > [I am either blessed or cursed with having little barrier between feeling emotions and displaying them for all to see. My heart is on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-bauer-van-straten/i-am-either-blessed-or-cursed-with-having-little-barrier-between/) [Kristin Bauer van Straten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-bauer-van-straten/) > [I've had my share, less than so many though, but enough to feel empathy. It's tough and I see it so much on Earth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-bauer-van-straten/i-ve-had-my-share-less-than-so-many-though-but-enough-to-feel-empathy/) [Kristin Bauer van Straten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-bauer-van-straten/) > [The movies and TV shows I like to watch tend to put their characters in situations where they have to dig deeper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-bauer-van-straten/the-movies-and-tv-shows-i-like-to-watch-tend-to-put-their-characters/) [Kristin Bauer van Straten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-bauer-van-straten/) [Explore all 49 Kristin Bauer van Straten quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-bauer-van-straten/) ## 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": "One of my main techniques for acting is I try to know almost nothing beyond the words that I have to say, because that's my zone of control.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kristin Bauer van Straten" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-bauer-van-straten/one-of-my-main-techniques-for-acting-is-i-try-to-know-almost-nothing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-bauer-van-straten/one-of-my-main-techniques-for-acting-is-i-try-to-know-almost-nothing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/kristin-bauer-van-straten-1369_acting_one-of-my-main-techniques-for-acting-is_1815511.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/kristin-bauer-van-straten-1369_acting_one-of-my-main-techniques-for-acting-is_1815511.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/kristin-bauer-van-straten-1369_acting_one-of-my-main-techniques-for-acting-is_1815511.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“One of my main techniques for acting is I try to know almost nothing beyond the words that I have to say…” — Kristin Bauer van Straten", "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": "Kristin Bauer van Straten", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-bauer-van-straten/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "One of my main techniques for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-bauer-van-straten/one-of-my-main-techniques-for-acting-is-i-try-to-know-almost-nothing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-bauer-van-straten/one-of-my-main-techniques-for-acting-is-i-try-to-know-almost-nothing/#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 } } ] } ```