--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [May 1958, on playing Macbeth at age 30…" description: "\"[May 1958, on playing Macbeth at age 30 and age 48] When you're a young man, Macbeth is a character part. When you're older, it's a straight part.\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46a/laurence-olivier-11163_age_may-1958-on-playing-macbeth-at-age-30-an_1782352.png" --- # \[May 1958, on playing Macbeth at age 30 and age 48\] When… ![“[May 1958, on playing Macbeth at age 30 and age 48] When you're a young man, Macbeth is a character part. When you're older, it's a straight part.” quote by Laurence Olivier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46a/laurence-olivier-11163_age_may-1958-on-playing-macbeth-at-age-30-an_1782352.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46a/laurence-olivier-11163_age_may-1958-on-playing-macbeth-at-age-30-an_1782352.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46a/laurence-olivier-11163_age_may-1958-on-playing-macbeth-at-age-30-an_1782352.png) > “\[May 1958, on playing Macbeth at age 30 and age 48\] When you're a young man, Macbeth is a character part. When you're older, it's a straight part.” [Laurence Olivier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-olivier/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A young actor sees Macbeth as a role to learn; an older actor sees it as a role to embody fully. **In simple terms:** Youth treats the character as a part; age treats it as a whole. Key Takeaway Recognize how perspective shifts with experience. Themes acting age perspective growth craft Mood reflective thoughtful Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - theatre rehearsals - career retrospectives - mentor discussions - personal growth - role preparation Key Concepts method acting career development self-awareness Questions to Reflect On - How does your view of a role change over time? - What can you learn from revisiting earlier work? A Different Perspective The insight may overlook the emotional depth required at any age. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Macbeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/macbeth/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [When you're a young man, Macbeth is a character part. 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If you want to sell out a theater,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/the-most-likely-explanation-is-the-most-practical-macbeth-is-a-very/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [When I was 16, I played Macbeth at school and my English teacher said, 'I think you may have acting talent. Try to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suchet/when-i-was-16-i-played-macbeth-at-school-and-my-english-teacher-said/) [David Suchet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suchet/) > [“What, you egg?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/what-you-egg/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“your son has paid the soldier’s price: death. He only lived long enough to become a man, and as soon as he proved that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/your-son-has-paid-the-soldier-s-price-death-he-only-lived-long-enough/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I've always wanted to play 'Lady Macbeth' and Strindberg's 'Miss Julie'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-d-abo/i-ve-always-wanted-to-play-lady-macbeth-and-strindberg-s-miss-julie/) [Olivia d'Abo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-d-abo/) > [For me, what Macbeth is about is people who cannot face their fears and pain and instead of facing them and going beyond, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-cotillard/for-me-what-macbeth-is-about-is-people-who-cannot-face-their-fears/) [Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/) > [The idea of Macbeth as a conscience-torm ented man is a platitude as false as Macbeth himself. Macbeth has no conscience. His main concern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccarthy/the-idea-of-macbeth-as-a-conscience-torm-ented-man-is-a-platitude-as/) [Mary McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccarthy/) > ['Macbeth' is one of those books that demand all of your attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mannie-fresh/macbeth-is-one-of-those-books-that-demand-all-of-your-attention/) [Mannie Fresh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mannie-fresh/) > [“Macbeth's self-justifications were feeble – and his conscience devoured him. Yes, even Iago was a little lamb, too. The imagination and spiritual strength of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-solschenizyn/macbeth-s-self-justifications-were-feeble-and-his-conscience-devoured/) [Alexander Solschenizyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-solschenizyn/) > [“You're like Lady MacBeth without the murder." "Thank you. You have no idea how much of a compliment that is to me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corey-whaley/you-re-like-lady-macbeth-without-the-murder-thank-you-you-have-no/) [John Corey Whaley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corey-whaley/) > [Maybe because Im a nice and sweet person in life, I like the darker roles. The really dark one is Lady Macbeth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-netrebko/maybe-because-im-a-nice-and-sweet-person-in-life-i-like-the-darker/) [Anna Netrebko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-netrebko/) > [Very fun! Here is one I like: Double, dubloe toil and trouble; fire burn and cauldron bubble. ~ Shakespeare Macbeth Hope you Halloween is spirit-filled!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin/very-fun-here-is-one-i-like-double-dubloe-toil-and-trouble-fire-burn/) Marvin ## More by Laurence Olivier > [I often think that could we creep behind the actor's eyes, we would find an attic of forgotten toys and a copy of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-olivier/i-often-think-that-could-we-creep-behind-the-actor-s-eyes-we-would/) [Laurence Olivier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-olivier/) > [Autograph-hunting is the most unattractive manifestation of sex-starved curiosity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-olivier/autograph-hunting-is-the-most-unattractive-manifestation-of-sex/) [Laurence Olivier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-olivier/) > [Acting is an everlasting search for truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-olivier/acting-is-an-everlasting-search-for-truth/) [Laurence Olivier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-olivier/) > [I believe in the theater; I believe in it as the first glamorizer of thought. 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You have to have extra voltage, some extra temperament to reach certain heights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-olivier/if-i-wasn-t-an-actor-i-think-i-d-have-gone-mad-you-have-to-have-extra/) [Laurence Olivier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-olivier/) > [ \[on whether he harbored any resentment at his forced retirement from the stage after he was fired by Britain's National Theater\] I should be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-olivier/on-whether-he-harbored-any-resentment-at-his-forced-retirement-from/) [Laurence Olivier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-olivier/) > [I have to act to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-olivier/i-have-to-act-to-live/) [Laurence Olivier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-olivier/) > [If he was lost for a moment, he would dive straight back into its honey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-olivier/if-he-was-lost-for-a-moment-he-would-dive-straight-back-into-its-honey/) [Laurence Olivier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-olivier/) > [If you're an artist, you've got to prove it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-olivier/if-you-re-an-artist-you-ve-got-to-prove-it/) [Laurence Olivier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-olivier/) > [Lead the audience by the nose to the thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-olivier/lead-the-audience-by-the-nose-to-the-thought/) [Laurence Olivier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-olivier/) > [A sexual athlete is not likely to find sufficient energy for work of another athletic kind, and the acting of great parts most definitely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-olivier/a-sexual-athlete-is-not-likely-to-find-sufficient-energy-for-work-of/) [Laurence Olivier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-olivier/) [Explore all 61 Laurence Olivier quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-olivier/) ## More Age quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. 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Adulthood is a series of lines crossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/age-is-an-accumulation-of-life-and-loss-adulthood-is-a-series-of/) [Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/) > [I calculated that if I live up to the age of 80, then I end up using 450 toothbrushes in my life. All that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dia-mirza/i-calculated-that-if-i-live-up-to-the-age-of-80-then-i-end-up-using/) [Dia Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dia-mirza/) > [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? 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