Actor Quote by Laurence Olivier
“What is the main problem of the actor? It is to keep the audience awake, and not let them go to sleep, then wake up and go home feeling they've wasted their money.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Advice to Actors, date unknown
The actor must constantly engage the audience, preventing boredom and ensuring they feel the performance was worthwhile.
In simple terms: Actors must keep audiences awake and satisfied.
Key Takeaway
Focus on dynamic, compelling performance.
Themes
performance
audience engagement
entertainment
Mood
intense
motivational
Type
practical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- stage shows
- film sets
- live comedy
- theatrical rehearsals
- public speaking
Key Concepts
theatre
attention
value perception
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you measure audience engagement in real time?
- What techniques keep viewers emotionally invested?
A Different Perspective
Audience fatigue can still occur despite effort.
![“[in 1979] You must have - besides intuition and sensitivity - a cutting edge that allows you to reach what you need. Also, you have to know life - bastards included - and it takes a bit of one to know one, don't you think?” quote by Laurence Olivier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/11d/laurence-olivier-11163_cutting_in-1979-you-must-have-besides-intuition_331373.jpg)
![“[on whether he harbored any resentment at his forced retirement from the stage after he was fired by Britain's National Theater] I should be soaring away with my head tilted slightly toward the gods, feeding on the caviar of Shakespeare... An actor must act.” quote by Laurence Olivier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/756/laurence-olivier-11163_actors_on-whether-he-harbored-any-resentment-at_368719.jpg)
