--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What actors are involved in is a similar…" description: "\"What actors are involved in is a similar sort of psychological forensic examination of the characters they're playing. You try to have an idea about wh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/990/lesley-sharp-6142_actor_what-actors-are-involved-in-is-a-similar_110688.jpg" --- # What actors are involved in is a similar sort of… ![“What actors are involved in is a similar sort of psychological forensic examination of the characters they're playing. You try to have an idea about why somebody does what they do and you try not to be in judgmental about it. That is what psychologists and psychotherapists aim to do with their…” quote by Lesley Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/990/lesley-sharp-6142_actor_what-actors-are-involved-in-is-a-similar_110688.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/990/lesley-sharp-6142_actor_what-actors-are-involved-in-is-a-similar_110688.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/990/lesley-sharp-6142_actor_what-actors-are-involved-in-is-a-similar_110688.jpg) > “What actors are involved in is a similar sort of psychological forensic examination of the characters they're playing. You try to have an idea about why somebody does what they do and you try not to be in judgmental about it. That is what psychologists and psychotherapists aim to do with their patients.” [Lesley Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-sharp/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting requires a psychological analysis of a character’s motives, mirroring therapeutic practice that seeks to understand behavior without judgment. **In simple terms:** Actors study characters like therapists study patients. Key Takeaway Empathy fuels authentic performance. Themes psychology empathy acting non‑judgment character study Mood insightful thoughtful Type analogy advice When to use this quote - An actor preparing for a complex role - A therapist exploring a client’s narrative - A writer developing a believable protagonist Key Concepts theory of mind mirror neurons Practical Applications - Use character back‑stories to inform performance - Practice non‑judgmental observation in daily interactions Questions to Reflect On - When does analysis become hindrance? - How can actors balance empathy with creative distance? A Different Perspective Over‑analysis can stifle spontaneity and emotional truth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Forensic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forensic/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [In '13 Assassins' the biggest challenge was that action period films, for budget reasons and because of the age of the actors involved, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-miike/in-13-assassins-the-biggest-challenge-was-that-action-period-films/) [Takashi Miike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-miike/) > [Actors can become very involved in a role, but for a director or producer, that's your life for many years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-mcginty-nichol/actors-can-become-very-involved-in-a-role-but-for-a-director-or/) [Joseph McGinty Nichol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-mcginty-nichol/) > [ The Russian famous actors involved \[into The Darkest Hour\], they are very creative and they will create sympathetic characters. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timur-bekmambetov/the-russian-famous-actors-involved-into-the-darkest-hour-they-are/) [Timur Bekmambetov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timur-bekmambetov/) > [I get involved with projects based on three parameters - the script, the actors involved and the director.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-monaghan/i-get-involved-with-projects-based-on-three-parameters-the-script-the/) [Dominic Monaghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-monaghan/) > [Communication is the key, and it's one thing I had to learn-to talk to the actors. 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They don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-brooke/there-are-corporate-private-investigators-companies-doing-very/) [Heather Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-brooke/) > [The aim of forensic oratory is to teach, to delight, to move.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-aim-of-forensic-oratory-is-to-teach-to-delight-to-move/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Fans are always asking me where I get my ideas from. The answer is that I'm very curious, and I get inspiration from everywhere.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/fans-are-always-asking-me-where-i-get-my-ideas-from-the-answer-is/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) ## More by Lesley Sharp > [I don't think I've ever gone home and not been able to shake it off. I like having my own life too much!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-sharp/i-don-t-think-i-ve-ever-gone-home-and-not-been-able-to-shake-it-off-i/) [Lesley Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-sharp/) > [I've been so grateful for writing, and writers and, actually I would say that that is the cornerstone of my career, the writing. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-sharp/i-ve-been-so-grateful-for-writing-and-writers-and-actually-i-would/) [Lesley Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-sharp/) > [That's the thing about 'Three Girls' I found most upsetting. 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That taught me not to read my reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-sharp/when-i-was-in-stephen-poliakoff-s-playing-with-trains-someone-wrote/) [Lesley Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-sharp/) > [The thing that gives me most pleasure is when I feel I've really engaged with my colleagues, other like-minded individuals, in getting something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-sharp/the-thing-that-gives-me-most-pleasure-is-when-i-feel-i-ve-really/) [Lesley Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-sharp/) > [My best feature is the color of my eyes, but I don't know where that comes from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-sharp/my-best-feature-is-the-color-of-my-eyes-but-i-don-t-know-where-that/) [Lesley Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-sharp/) > [I had a fantastic father, Jack Sharp, and I will always carry him in my heart as my father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-sharp/i-had-a-fantastic-father-jack-sharp-and-i-will-always-carry-him-in-my/) [Lesley Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-sharp/) > [I've got a big nose, and that's from my birth father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-sharp/i-ve-got-a-big-nose-and-that-s-from-my-birth-father/) [Lesley Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-sharp/) > [Sometimes when I hear people talking about their families, or their relationships with their mothers and fathers, I hear it but it's not something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-sharp/sometimes-when-i-hear-people-talking-about-their-families-or-their/) [Lesley Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-sharp/) > [I know Toby Jones very well, we've done yoga together in the past and get on very well. 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