--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know that actors and actresses have a…" description: "\"I know that actors and actresses have a great reputation for being very, very selfish, and in some cases, that's very true. But in the theater I find i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46a/laura-linney-3979_actor_i-know-that-actors-and-actresses-have-a_2937419.jpg" --- # I know that actors and actresses have a great reputation… ![“I know that actors and actresses have a great reputation for being very, very selfish, and in some cases, that's very true. But in the theater I find it doesn't help you to be selfish. You sort of have to be selfless in the theater, and the more selfless you are - that doesn't mean don't take care…” quote by Laura Linney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46a/laura-linney-3979_actor_i-know-that-actors-and-actresses-have-a_2937419.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46a/laura-linney-3979_actor_i-know-that-actors-and-actresses-have-a_2937419.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46a/laura-linney-3979_actor_i-know-that-actors-and-actresses-have-a_2937419.jpg) > “I know that actors and actresses have a great reputation for being very, very selfish, and in some cases, that's very true. But in the theater I find it doesn't help you to be selfish. You sort of have to be selfless in the theater, and the more selfless you are - that doesn't mean don't take care of yourself - but the more you sort of surrender to the work, I find, the better the work is. That's just my experience.” [Laura Linney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-linney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Actors are seen as selfish, but theater requires selflessness and surrender to the work for better performance. **In simple terms:** Theater demands selflessness despite selfish reputation. Key Takeaway Surrender to the craft to improve work. Themes theatre selflessness craft Mood reflective inspired Type artistic psychological When to use this quote - rehearsals - directing - team projects - personal development Key Concepts performance art ego collaboration Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance self-care with surrender? - When does selflessness hinder creativity? A Different Perspective Self-sacrifice can lead to burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors and actresses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors-and-actresses/) [Being selfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-selfish/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Help Selfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help-selfish-4191164/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Reputation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reputation/) [Reputation Selfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reputation-selfish-4362114/) [Selfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish/) [Selfless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfless/) [Selfless Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfless-theater-4362115/) [Surrender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surrender/) [Take care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/take-care/) [Take care of yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/take-care-of-yourself/) [Theater Selfless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater-selfless-4362113/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Very true](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/very-true/) ## Related quotes > [A true man is always willing to help others. 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I call the bag my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-linney/i-have-a-bag-with-a-toothbrush-and-toothpaste-and-all-the-things-i/) [Laura Linney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-linney/) > [The good thing is that I'm always honest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-linney/the-good-thing-is-that-i-m-always-honest/) [Laura Linney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-linney/) > [But I've also spread my net very wide. If there's one thing that I've done on purpose it's to take whatever job, so long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-linney/but-i-ve-also-spread-my-net-very-wide-if-there-s-one-thing-that-i-ve/) [Laura Linney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-linney/) > [My experience is that's rare - that you have a script that is... what they call 'film-ready.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-linney/my-experience-is-that-s-rare-that-you-have-a-script-that-is-what-they/) [Laura Linney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-linney/) > [You can watch someone on-stage cry and cry - but in the audience you feel nothing. It's easy to become indulgent. 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