--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My background is really being a writer's…" description: "\"My background is really being a writer's actor - that seems to be the way I work best, bringing out the best of writing. There's a whole range of actin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84c/lindsay-duncan-21301_acting_my-background-is-really-being-a-writer-s_787300.jpg" --- # My background is really being a writer's actor - that… ![“My background is really being a writer's actor - that seems to be the way I work best, bringing out the best of writing. There's a whole range of acting skills, and some people can be astonishing with very poor material. That's not me; my skill is essentially unlocking the writing.” quote by Lindsay Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84c/lindsay-duncan-21301_acting_my-background-is-really-being-a-writer-s_787300.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84c/lindsay-duncan-21301_acting_my-background-is-really-being-a-writer-s_787300.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84c/lindsay-duncan-21301_acting_my-background-is-really-being-a-writer-s_787300.jpg) > “My background is really being a writer's actor - that seems to be the way I work best, bringing out the best of writing. There's a whole range of acting skills, and some people can be astonishing with very poor material. That's not me; my skill is essentially unlocking the writing.” [Lindsay Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-duncan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She views acting as a tool to unlock and enhance the writing, focusing on performance that serves the text. **In simple terms:** Acting helps reveal the best of a script. Key Takeaway Use acting to deepen written work. Themes creativity performance writing Mood reflective inspired Type practical artistic When to use this quote - theatre rehearsals - script development - workshop teaching - directing actors Key Concepts interpretation collaboration craft Questions to Reflect On - How do you choose material that matches your strengths? - What techniques help you stay true to the writer’s intent? A Different Perspective Skillful acting can’t compensate for weak material. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Skill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skill/) [Skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skills/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I like the idea of taking a true classic written by a true genius and destroying it essentially! I like the idea of bringing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-newman/i-like-the-idea-of-taking-a-true-classic-written-by-a-true-genius-and-2/) [Randy Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-newman/) > [In this day and age, if you're aspiring to be an actor, and you're putting all your eggs in one basket, you could be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/in-this-day-and-age-if-you-re-aspiring-to-be-an-actor-and-you-re/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [You'd be surprised how many writers, or how many actors, if they miss a paycheck or two, they've got nothing. As a writer or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-haggis/you-d-be-surprised-how-many-writers-or-how-many-actors-if-they-miss-a/) [Paul Haggis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-haggis/) > [I'm a writer, not an actor. I want to write rather than perform. I'm looking forward to disappearing for a while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-groff/i-m-a-writer-not-an-actor-i-want-to-write-rather-than-perform-i-m/) [Lauren Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-groff/) > [You hope for that with anything, but with a TV show, the writer and the actor being the right mix are more important than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-kasdan/you-hope-for-that-with-anything-but-with-a-tv-show-the-writer-and-the/) [Jake Kasdan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-kasdan/) > [I don't call myself a writer, much as I'd love to be. An author, maybe - the novel 'Voyage' made $870,000. Writer, no. Nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-hayden/i-don-t-call-myself-a-writer-much-as-i-d-love-to-be-an-author-maybe/) [Sterling Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-hayden/) > [I want to be a director, producer, and a writer. And an actor. So, like, all the things in acting, basically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-tremblay/i-want-to-be-a-director-producer-and-a-writer-and-an-actor-so-like/) [Jacob Tremblay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-tremblay/) > [I'm a writer; I've worked as much as a writer as I have as an actor, so I was in a script-note session at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dax-shepard/i-m-a-writer-i-ve-worked-as-much-as-a-writer-as-i-have-as-an-actor-so/) [Dax Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dax-shepard/) > [We do say no to a lot, but we also say yes; I find ways of coming to peace with certain things. Sometimes a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-scally/we-do-say-no-to-a-lot-but-we-also-say-yes-i-find-ways-of-coming-to/) [Alex Scally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-scally/) > [I'm much more a writer than an actor. Although I have a great respect for that and I enjoy acting still, it really is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-gann/i-m-much-more-a-writer-than-an-actor-although-i-have-a-great-respect/) [Jason Gann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-gann/) > [I am hoping that I can be known as a great writer and actor some day, rather than a sex symbol.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-seagal/i-am-hoping-that-i-can-be-known-as-a-great-writer-and-actor-some-day/) [Steven Seagal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-seagal/) > [I've become a writer, an actor, producing films, and having a TV show. I'm pretty successful and proud of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-murphy/i-ve-become-a-writer-an-actor-producing-films-and-having-a-tv-show-i/) [Charlie Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-murphy/) > [I feel much more comfortable as a writer than an actor. I feel like I am a much better writer than I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-rogen/i-feel-much-more-comfortable-as-a-writer-than-an-actor-i-feel-like-i/) [Seth Rogen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-rogen/) > [It's funny, in a way the actor is a writer. It's not like the two things are so separate as to be like apples…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/it-s-funny-in-a-way-the-actor-is-a-writer-it-s-not-like-the-two/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) > [I mean, I'm a writer, actor, AND director. Not to rock the boat or anything, but compare that to a carpenter and, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/i-mean-i-m-a-writer-actor-and-director-not-to-rock-the-boat-or/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) ## More by Lindsay Duncan > [It's an important point to make that people can't just be invalidated, eradicated, because they don't fit tidily into a box. And more and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-duncan/it-s-an-important-point-to-make-that-people-can-t-just-be-invalidated/) [Lindsay Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-duncan/) > [I desperately wanted to play the part of Darth Vader's mother - I think she ended up being played by a Scandinavian actress -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-duncan/i-desperately-wanted-to-play-the-part-of-darth-vader-s-mother-i-think/) [Lindsay Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-duncan/) > [I've always had not just an affection but a real love for the theater family in New York, and I really feel it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-duncan/i-ve-always-had-not-just-an-affection-but-a-real-love-for-the-theater/) [Lindsay Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-duncan/) > [I'm perfectly gregarious, but I can also be really happy left to my own devices with nobody watching me or listening to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-duncan/i-m-perfectly-gregarious-but-i-can-also-be-really-happy-left-to-my/) [Lindsay Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-duncan/) > [I was the suburban kid of Scottish parents, and the idea of an acting career was so beyond my experience. I didn't even know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-duncan/i-was-the-suburban-kid-of-scottish-parents-and-the-idea-of-an-acting/) [Lindsay Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-duncan/) > [Recently I made the mistake of opening a bundle of reviews that someone had sent me of a production from years and years ago,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-duncan/recently-i-made-the-mistake-of-opening-a-bundle-of-reviews-that/) [Lindsay Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-duncan/) > [I want to have the career that is my choice - what interests me, what doesn't. I feel more and more strongly about that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-duncan/i-want-to-have-the-career-that-is-my-choice-what-interests-me-what/) [Lindsay Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-duncan/) > [I don't have any desire to be better known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-duncan/i-don-t-have-any-desire-to-be-better-known/) [Lindsay Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-duncan/) > [I have done some wonderful television, but you know, there's not as much exceptional material as there is in the theatre. So I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-duncan/i-have-done-some-wonderful-television-but-you-know-there-s-not-as/) [Lindsay Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-duncan/) > [If someone said I had enough money and I could take six months off, I would run in an instant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-duncan/if-someone-said-i-had-enough-money-and-i-could-take-six-months-off-i/) [Lindsay Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-duncan/) > [Deep down, I think I would be utterly miserable in Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-duncan/deep-down-i-think-i-would-be-utterly-miserable-in-hollywood/) [Lindsay Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-duncan/) > [I've been listening to a new band called Wolf Alice, courtesy of my son. The vocalist, Ellie Rowsell, has a gorgeous voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-duncan/i-ve-been-listening-to-a-new-band-called-wolf-alice-courtesy-of-my/) [Lindsay Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-duncan/) > [My parents' generation was definitely pre-telly, and they knew how to entertain each other. Everybody knew something that they could do - a song…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-duncan/my-parents-generation-was-definitely-pre-telly-and-they-knew-how-to/) [Lindsay Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-duncan/) > [I don't perform well in private. Socially, I mean. And I didn't as a child. Actors aren't necessarily outgoing, are they?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-duncan/i-don-t-perform-well-in-private-socially-i-mean-and-i-didn-t-as-a/) [Lindsay Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-duncan/) > [I've always been a material-based actor. That's what I've done, the choices I've made - like a heat-seeking missile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-duncan/i-ve-always-been-a-material-based-actor-that-s-what-i-ve-done-the/) [Lindsay Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-duncan/) [Explore all 29 Lindsay Duncan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-duncan/) ## 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 > [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": "My background is really being a writer's actor - that seems to be the way I work best, bringing out the best of writing. There's a whole range of acting skills, and some people can be astonishing with very poor material. 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