--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I do interviews about movies I…" description: "\"When I do interviews about movies I direct, I often talk about how my superpower as a director is that I'm an actor. I can talk to actors. I'm not afra..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/305/marielle-heller-7174_actor_when-i-do-interviews-about-movies-i-dire_2881006.jpg" --- # When I do interviews about movies I direct, I often talk… ![“When I do interviews about movies I direct, I often talk about how my superpower as a director is that I'm an actor. I can talk to actors. I'm not afraid of actors.” quote by Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/305/marielle-heller-7174_actor_when-i-do-interviews-about-movies-i-dire_2881006.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/305/marielle-heller-7174_actor_when-i-do-interviews-about-movies-i-dire_2881006.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/305/marielle-heller-7174_actor_when-i-do-interviews-about-movies-i-dire_2881006.jpg) > “When I do interviews about movies I direct, I often talk about how my superpower as a director is that I'm an actor. I can talk to actors. I'm not afraid of actors.” [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A director who can act understands actors deeply, fostering trust and clearer communication on set. **In simple terms:** Acting skill improves directing actors. Key Takeaway Leverage acting experience to guide performers. Themes leadership communication film making Mood insightful collaborative Type inspirational professional When to use this quote - directing - actor coaching - film production Key Concepts empathy role reversal Questions to Reflect On - How does acting experience change your directing style? - Can non‑actors develop similar empathy? A Different Perspective Not all directors have acting backgrounds, limiting this advantage. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Director](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/director/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Movies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movies/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [One of the greatest things I've learned, as an actor, was how to talk to actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-balfour/one-of-the-greatest-things-i-ve-learned-as-an-actor-was-how-to-talk/) [Eric Balfour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-balfour/) > [I find that in the United States, there's more rules and people are more afraid of actors getting hurt. In Mexico, I was like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-barrera/i-find-that-in-the-united-states-there-s-more-rules-and-people-are/) [Melissa Barrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-barrera/) > [I don't feel comfortable calling myself a writer or a director or an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/limmy/i-don-t-feel-comfortable-calling-myself-a-writer-or-a-director-or-an/) [Limmy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/limmy/) > [I'm a director's actor, and I surrender myself to the vision and the process. I think nothing else matters then.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aditi-rao-hydari/i-m-a-director-s-actor-and-i-surrender-myself-to-the-vision-and-the/) [Aditi Rao Hydari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aditi-rao-hydari/) > [I am completely a director's actor. If the director gives me the liberty and freedom, then I give my inputs. Otherwise, I just follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manisha-koirala/i-am-completely-a-director-s-actor-if-the-director-gives-me-the/) [Manisha Koirala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manisha-koirala/) > [You can be playing a line some way and the director wants you to change that, or you can disagree. But I always think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/you-can-be-playing-a-line-some-way-and-the-director-wants-you-to/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [I am totally a director's actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sridevi/i-am-totally-a-director-s-actor/) [Sridevi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sridevi/) > [I want to be a director's actor and stay true to their vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuthirakani/i-want-to-be-a-director-s-actor-and-stay-true-to-their-vision/) [Samuthirakani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuthirakani/) > [Now, what does an actor who can't talk do? Wait for silent pictures to come back?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/now-what-does-an-actor-who-can-t-talk-do-wait-for-silent-pictures-to/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [Where I come from, you don't just say, 'Oh, I'm going to become an actor.' Talk like that and they think you're crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-pompeo/where-i-come-from-you-don-t-just-say-oh-i-m-going-to-become-an-actor/) [Ellen Pompeo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-pompeo/) > [I would daydream about what it would be like to be an actor. I would even do talk shows where I interviewed myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/i-would-daydream-about-what-it-would-be-like-to-be-an-actor-i-would/) [Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) > [Fifteen years ago, I suffered a stroke, which caused me to lose my speech. Now, what does an actor who can't talk do? Wait…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/fifteen-years-ago-i-suffered-a-stroke-which-caused-me-to-lose-my/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [Despite all the wonderful advances that have been made, it's still dangerous for an actor to talk about that in our extremely misguided culture.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-chamberlain/despite-all-the-wonderful-advances-that-have-been-made-it-s-still/) [Richard Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-chamberlain/) > [Life was so easy before I became an actor. I could talk to anyone, and no one bothered. I keep thinking to myself, 'Should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anushka-sharma/life-was-so-easy-before-i-became-an-actor-i-could-talk-to-anyone-and/) [Anushka Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anushka-sharma/) > [I was an art student when I was a boy, and as an art student you don't have to talk to anyone - you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rees/i-was-an-art-student-when-i-was-a-boy-and-as-an-art-student-you-don-t/) [Roger Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rees/) ## More by Marielle Heller > [I think there used to be more respect toward young people in movies. John Hughes really respects his characters and they're given their emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/i-think-there-used-to-be-more-respect-toward-young-people-in-movies/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [I remember my grandmother's husband dying. But I think I was older. I think I was 7 or 8 when he died. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/i-remember-my-grandmother-s-husband-dying-but-i-think-i-was-older-i/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [My normal way of filming something is, like, one camera, very well planned out, knowing exactly how we're going to get each shot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/my-normal-way-of-filming-something-is-like-one-camera-very-well/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [I like working in TV, but my real love is making movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/i-like-working-in-tv-but-my-real-love-is-making-movies/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [You live in an apartment in New York, and you think all the time about like, 'I don't even know who's living above me.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/you-live-in-an-apartment-in-new-york-and-you-think-all-the-time-about/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [I spent most of my 20s working as an actor. I started writing and directing because I was frustrated with the types of roles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/i-spent-most-of-my-20s-working-as-an-actor-i-started-writing-and/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [I'm getting more and more used to the fact that being a director and being a woman are two things that everyone wants to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/i-m-getting-more-and-more-used-to-the-fact-that-being-a-director-and/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [I don't really believe that all theater needs to be filmed - for some things, the special part of live theater is that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/i-don-t-really-believe-that-all-theater-needs-to-be-filmed-for-some/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [I do think there's probably a little more opportunity to direct in television, because there are just so many TV shows. In movies, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/i-do-think-there-s-probably-a-little-more-opportunity-to-direct-in/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [One of the boring tricks about capturing Broadway onscreen, actually, is just about all the different unions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/one-of-the-boring-tricks-about-capturing-broadway-onscreen-actually/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [Why do so many women drop out of the workforce at this age, in our late 30s, early 40s? Well, often it's because we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/why-do-so-many-women-drop-out-of-the-workforce-at-this-age-in-our/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [I just have no interest in making a biopic. No offence to biopics, it's just not where my mind goes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/i-just-have-no-interest-in-making-a-biopic-no-offence-to-biopics-it-s/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [As women we are very accustomed to putting ourselves in the shoes of male leads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/as-women-we-are-very-accustomed-to-putting-ourselves-in-the-shoes-of/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [I remember the first time somebody classified me as a feminist. I was in fourth grade. And I remember thinking, 'Oh, is that what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/i-remember-the-first-time-somebody-classified-me-as-a-feminist-i-was/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [Just make things, and find people you love working with. If you're working on something you truly love and are passionate about, you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/just-make-things-and-find-people-you-love-working-with-if-you-re/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) [Explore all 94 Marielle Heller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) ## More Actor 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/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [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/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [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/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I do interviews about movies I direct, I often talk about how my superpower as a director is that I'm an actor. I can talk to actors. 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