--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Like they say: The acting is for free. I…" description: "\"Like they say: The acting is for free. I get paid to wait.\" — Leighton Meester" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3a/leighton-meester-3954_acting_like-they-say-the-acting-is-for-free-i-g_1765397.jpg" --- # Like they say: The acting is for free. I get paid to wait. ![“Like they say: The acting is for free. I get paid to wait.” quote by Leighton Meester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3a/leighton-meester-3954_acting_like-they-say-the-acting-is-for-free-i-g_1765397.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3a/leighton-meester-3954_acting_like-they-say-the-acting-is-for-free-i-g_1765397.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3a/leighton-meester-3954_acting_like-they-say-the-acting-is-for-free-i-g_1765397.jpg) > “Like they say: The acting is for free. I get paid to wait.” [Leighton Meester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leighton-meester/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker highlights the paradox of acting being unpaid while other roles, like waiting, are compensated, underscoring the unpredictable nature of creative work. **In simple terms:** Acting may be unpaid, but other tasks can pay. Key Takeaway Recognize and value all forms of work. Themes career work art paradox Mood reflective realistic Type observational pragmatic When to use this quote - auditions - waiting rooms - gig economy - side jobs - contract negotiations Key Concepts economics value theory creative labor Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance passion with financial needs? - What tasks can you monetize that you currently overlook? A Different Perspective Not all creative contributions are financially recognized, which can affect motivation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-free-828322/) [Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free/) [Free Paid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-paid-1730723/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Paid Wait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paid-wait-871815/) [Say Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-acting-403547/) ## Related quotes > [“More waiting...actors are paid to wait. We do the acting for free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-chan/more-waiting-actors-are-paid-to-wait-we-do-the-acting-for-free/) [Jason Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-chan/) > [When you have somebody writing or acting for you, you have to be free to have them hate you so you can get your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-heckerling/when-you-have-somebody-writing-or-acting-for-you-you-have-to-be-free/) [Amy Heckerling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-heckerling/) > [“Nothing is ever free, though to you it be. Somewhere, somehow, someone paid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-w-hancock/nothing-is-ever-free-though-to-you-it-be-somewhere-somehow-someone/) [Roger W Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-w-hancock/) > [The two things in life are finding something you'd do for free and be well-paid for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renato-moicano/the-two-things-in-life-are-finding-something-you-d-do-for-free-and-be/) [Renato Moicano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renato-moicano/) > [I always tell people, 'The music's free. I get paid to travel.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-stapleton/i-always-tell-people-the-music-s-free-i-get-paid-to-travel/) [Chris Stapleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-stapleton/) > [I must say acting was good training for the political life which lay ahead for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-reagan/i-must-say-acting-was-good-training-for-the-political-life-which-lay/) [Nancy Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-reagan/) > [I think the most interesting question is, why do you act? I act because I have felt in acting some of the most free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/i-think-the-most-interesting-question-is-why-do-you-act-i-act-because/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [The sitting around on the set is awful. But I always figure that’s what they pay me for. The acting I do for free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-g-robinson/the-sitting-around-on-the-set-is-awful-but-i-always-figure-that-s/) [Edward G. Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-g-robinson/) > [Human beings, in their thinking, feeling and acting are not free agents but are as causally bound as the stars in their motion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/human-beings-in-their-thinking-feeling-and-acting-are-not-free-agents/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I actually think that craft service was the reason I got into acting: the free food. I literally remember on my first job being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-lively/i-actually-think-that-craft-service-was-the-reason-i-got-into-acting/) [Blake Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-lively/) > [Propaganda works best when those who are being manipulated are confident they are acting on their own free will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-goebbels/propaganda-works-best-when-those-who-are-being-manipulated-are/) [Joseph Goebbels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-goebbels/) > [If a show comes and the content is great, I would never say no to acting on TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-fatehi/if-a-show-comes-and-the-content-is-great-i-would-never-say-no-to/) [Nora Fatehi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-fatehi/) > [Something people say about acting is that acting is listening. But I think that writing is listening, too. That you really have to listen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-gerwig/something-people-say-about-acting-is-that-acting-is-listening-but-i/) [Greta Gerwig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-gerwig/) > [There's not much to say about acting but this. Never settle back on your heels. Never relax. If you relax, the audience relaxes. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cagney/there-s-not-much-to-say-about-acting-but-this-never-settle-back-on/) [James Cagney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cagney/) > [I got a chance to act, and I have to say that acting is extremely fun and vital.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-labrava/i-got-a-chance-to-act-and-i-have-to-say-that-acting-is-extremely-fun/) [David Labrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-labrava/) ## More by Leighton Meester > [Sometimes you're a little too close for comfort, and I think anybody can relate to that, whether you're in college or just moving out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leighton-meester/sometimes-you-re-a-little-too-close-for-comfort-and-i-think-anybody/) [Leighton Meester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leighton-meester/) > [I used to buy everything at garage sales. It was hard to give up! I’d be like, ‘But this crazy sweater is amazing, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leighton-meester/i-used-to-buy-everything-at-garage-sales-it-was-hard-to-give-up-i-d/) [Leighton Meester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leighton-meester/) > [There's no sense in trying to be or look like anyone other than yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leighton-meester/there-s-no-sense-in-trying-to-be-or-look-like-anyone-other-than/) [Leighton Meester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leighton-meester/) > [I'm a grown woman and sometimes, I might be a little fat, you know? Am I alone there? Not really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leighton-meester/i-m-a-grown-woman-and-sometimes-i-might-be-a-little-fat-you-know-am-i/) [Leighton Meester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leighton-meester/) > [Don’t try to be anything but yourself, and find success as yourself. Otherwise, you won’t be happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leighton-meester/don-t-try-to-be-anything-but-yourself-and-find-success-as-yourself/) [Leighton Meester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leighton-meester/) > [S exciting and thrilling as playing Rebecca was in The Roommate, I wouldn't do it again. Just like Blair, I probably won't ever play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leighton-meester/s-exciting-and-thrilling-as-playing-rebecca-was-in-the-roommate-i/) [Leighton Meester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leighton-meester/) > [Any fear of aging, I think, is simply vanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leighton-meester/any-fear-of-aging-i-think-is-simply-vanity/) [Leighton Meester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leighton-meester/) > [I love New York. You're never alone, but you're always on your own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leighton-meester/i-love-new-york-you-re-never-alone-but-you-re-always-on-your-own/) [Leighton Meester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leighton-meester/) > [I've gotten to wear such beautiful clothes and had such a variety and it's just been so nice because I feel like I've grown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leighton-meester/i-ve-gotten-to-wear-such-beautiful-clothes-and-had-such-a-variety-and/) [Leighton Meester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leighton-meester/) > [I really like those days when I can just wear sweatpants, to be honest. And when I'm actually going to go somewhere, I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leighton-meester/i-really-like-those-days-when-i-can-just-wear-sweatpants-to-be-honest/) [Leighton Meester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leighton-meester/) > [You can take what is handed to you and use it as an excuse to mess up. But I've always handled what was given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leighton-meester/you-can-take-what-is-handed-to-you-and-use-it-as-an-excuse-to-mess-up/) [Leighton Meester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leighton-meester/) > [I dont listen to compliments too much! I want an identity outside of my work. Fame is not what I want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leighton-meester/i-dont-listen-to-compliments-too-much-i-want-an-identity-outside-of/) [Leighton Meester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leighton-meester/) > [I've been so happy with how everything has gone so far, and I'm ecstatic with the direction I'm headed at the moment. I've been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leighton-meester/i-ve-been-so-happy-with-how-everything-has-gone-so-far-and-i-m/) [Leighton Meester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leighton-meester/) > [Success to me is being happy, truly fulfilled, being proud of myself, and doing different things all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leighton-meester/success-to-me-is-being-happy-truly-fulfilled-being-proud-of-myself/) [Leighton Meester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leighton-meester/) > [I think you have to know how you feel when you're sad and it's healthy to mourn if a relationship ends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leighton-meester/i-think-you-have-to-know-how-you-feel-when-you-re-sad-and-it-s/) [Leighton Meester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leighton-meester/) [Explore all 118 Leighton Meester quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leighton-meester/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "Like they say: The acting is for free. 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