--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is the main problem of the actor? It…" description: "\"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 ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4a/laurence-olivier-11163_actor_what-is-the-main-problem-of-the-actor-it_3100362.png" --- # What is the main problem of the actor? It is to keep the… ![“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.” quote by Laurence Olivier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4a/laurence-olivier-11163_actor_what-is-the-main-problem-of-the-actor-it_3100362.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4a/laurence-olivier-11163_actor_what-is-the-main-problem-of-the-actor-it_3100362.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4a/laurence-olivier-11163_actor_what-is-the-main-problem-of-the-actor-it_3100362.png) > “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.” [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. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Going to sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-to-sleep/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Wake up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wake-up/) ## Related quotes > [I've been asked repeatedly what the 'key' to acting is, and as far as I'm concerned, the main thing is to keep the audience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-stapleton/i-ve-been-asked-repeatedly-what-the-key-to-acting-is-and-as-far-as-i/) Maureen Stapleton > [The problem with being an actor is that you have to be reactive to what other people want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-coughlan/the-problem-with-being-an-actor-is-that-you-have-to-be-reactive-to/) [Marisa Coughlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-coughlan/) > [Getting stereotyped is a problem. 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And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-travolta/i-ve-always-thought-of-of-a-relationship-with-an-actor-to-an-audience/) [John Travolta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-travolta/) > [The big difference I think between tv and stage is definitely the immediate buzz that you get. And that's not just as an actor,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-morgan/the-big-difference-i-think-between-tv-and-stage-is-definitely-the/) [Colin Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-morgan/) > [In comedy, beware the split focus. The audience should focus on the face of the actor. The audience must see the setup. If there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-carver/in-comedy-beware-the-split-focus-the-audience-should-focus-on-the/) James Carver > [I'm kind of private and I keep things inside a lot, but it's been so wonderful to realize that people care about you in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-fox/i-m-kind-of-private-and-i-keep-things-inside-a-lot-but-it-s-been-so/) [Michael J. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-fox/) ## 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 Actor quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. 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