--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Playing a drunk doesn't mean being a…" description: "\"Playing a drunk doesn't mean being a drunk, only bad actors try to be drunk. A real drunk tries to be sober, he wants another drink. How a character hi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83e/martin-landau-3492_character_playing-a-drunk-doesn-t-mean-being-a-dru_859156.jpg" --- # Playing a drunk doesn't mean being a drunk, only bad… ![“Playing a drunk doesn't mean being a drunk, only bad actors try to be drunk. A real drunk tries to be sober, he wants another drink. How a character hides their feelings tells us who they are, no one shows their feelings except bad actors.” quote by Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83e/martin-landau-3492_character_playing-a-drunk-doesn-t-mean-being-a-dru_859156.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83e/martin-landau-3492_character_playing-a-drunk-doesn-t-mean-being-a-dru_859156.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83e/martin-landau-3492_character_playing-a-drunk-doesn-t-mean-being-a-dru_859156.jpg) > “Playing a drunk doesn't mean being a drunk, only bad actors try to be drunk. A real drunk tries to be sober, he wants another drink. How a character hides their feelings tells us who they are, no one shows their feelings except bad actors.” [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True intoxication is a state of mind; authenticity comes from inner truth, not performance. **In simple terms:** Real drunk seeks more, not just act. Key Takeaway Seek authenticity, not façade. Themes authenticity performance self-awareness Mood introspective analytical Type psychological inspirational When to use this quote - theatre - film acting - personal relationships Key Concepts psychology behavioral Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate genuine emotion from performance? - What does “bad actor” mean in daily life? A Different Perspective Acting can mask deeper issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Drunk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drunk/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Sober](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sober/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [A drunk doesn't try to stand up; a drunk tries not to fall down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-mcconaughey/a-drunk-doesn-t-try-to-stand-up-a-drunk-tries-not-to-fall-down/) [Matthew McConaughey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-mcconaughey/) > [I eat, sleep, and drink my character. It is my fantasy to go to another planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ace-frehley/i-eat-sleep-and-drink-my-character-it-is-my-fantasy-to-go-to-another/) [Ace Frehley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ace-frehley/) > [The best research for playing a drunk is being a British actor for 20 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/the-best-research-for-playing-a-drunk-is-being-a-british-actor-for-20/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [It's sort of cliche, but when you're playing drunk, your character is trying to appear sober.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stoll/it-s-sort-of-cliche-but-when-you-re-playing-drunk-your-character-is/) [Corey Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stoll/) > [The best research for playing a drunk is being a British Actor for twenty years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/the-best-research-for-playing-a-drunk-is-being-a-british-actor-for/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [The difference between a drunk and a alcoholic is that a drunk doesn't have to attend all those meetings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-arthur-lewis/the-difference-between-a-drunk-and-a-alcoholic-is-that-a-drunk-doesn/) W. Arthur Lewis > [“He examines my face closely. “What’s going on in your head?” “I don’t know,” I whisper back. “Then it’s like kissing someone who’s drunk.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/he-examines-my-face-closely-what-s-going-on-in-your-head-i-don-t-know/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“What's going on in your head?" "I don't know," I whisper back. "Then it's like kissing someone who's drunk. It doesn't count.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/what-s-going-on-in-your-head-i-don-t-know-i-whisper-back-then-it-s/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Being drunk doesn't change who you are, it reveals it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-drunk-doesn-t-change-who-you-are-it-reveals-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was sober for five years a long time ago and was just bored out of my tree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-sheen/i-was-sober-for-five-years-a-long-time-ago-and-was-just-bored-out-of/) [Charlie Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-sheen/) > [“The simpler the pose, the better; the more sober, the more beautiful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-simpler-the-pose-the-better-the-more-sober-the-more-beautiful/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [I'm 12 years sober, so I don't have beer! When I used to drink I really liked Bass Ale!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-davis/i-m-12-years-sober-so-i-don-t-have-beer-when-i-used-to-drink-i-really/) [Kristin Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-davis/) > [“We were still twirling around the tiny parking lot when the neighbors screamed 'Happy New Year'. Unfortunately we weren't sober enough to realize that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaitlin-scott/we-were-still-twirling-around-the-tiny-parking-lot-when-the-neighbors/) [Kaitlin Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaitlin-scott/) > [I was totally sober in college and really, really focused. I just took the time when other people might be partying and just made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-flay/i-was-totally-sober-in-college-and-really-really-focused-i-just-took/) [K. Flay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-flay/) > [Now I try to make efforts, you know, I'm just, the best effort I can do is just stay sober myself. I can at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dick/now-i-try-to-make-efforts-you-know-i-m-just-the-best-effort-i-can-do/) [Andy Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dick/) ## More by Martin Landau > [My best stuff as a teacher was always to find the problems within each individual actor, and I'll suggest things that I know that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/my-best-stuff-as-a-teacher-was-always-to-find-the-problems-within/) [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) > [People are in denial all the time, hiding things. If I tell you a racist or dirty joke and you laugh, you're telling me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/people-are-in-denial-all-the-time-hiding-things-if-i-tell-you-a/) [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) > [You can have immediate regrets, but if you look at stuff and say, 'Things happen for a reason', there's a fatalistic thing about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/you-can-have-immediate-regrets-but-if-you-look-at-stuff-and-say/) [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) > [I did 12 shows in 13 weeks at a summer theater in Maine where we were paid $35 a week. After taxes and $25…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/i-did-12-shows-in-13-weeks-at-a-summer-theater-in-maine-where-we-were/) [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) > [What I'm saying not a lot of people say: What is considered good acting today isn't necessarily good acting, because everybody knows what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/what-i-m-saying-not-a-lot-of-people-say-what-is-considered-good/) [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) > [God is a luxury I can't afford.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/god-is-a-luxury-i-can-t-afford/) [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) > [I was offered the Gene Hackman role in 'The Poseidon Adventure' four times, and I turned it down four times. I didn't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/i-was-offered-the-gene-hackman-role-in-the-poseidon-adventure-four/) [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) > [A good director makes a playground and allows you to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/a-good-director-makes-a-playground-and-allows-you-to-play/) [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) > [People do not necessarily reveal what is going on - only bad actors do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/people-do-not-necessarily-reveal-what-is-going-on-only-bad-actors-do/) [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) > [I've got two daughters, and it's impossible for me to say one of them is a favorite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/i-ve-got-two-daughters-and-it-s-impossible-for-me-to-say-one-of-them/) [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) > [An actor knows much more about a character than the character knows about himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/an-actor-knows-much-more-about-a-character-than-the-character-knows/) [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) > [You can't perish because of your own feelings; you have to embrace those things as an actor because it's part of your palette.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/you-can-t-perish-because-of-your-own-feelings-you-have-to-embrace/) [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) > [I run the 'Actors Studio' on the West Cost. I'm artistic director of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/i-run-the-actors-studio-on-the-west-cost-i-m-artistic-director-of-that/) [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) > [The actor has to have some degree of craft, along with the talent. No one tries to laugh except bad actors. No one tries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/the-actor-has-to-have-some-degree-of-craft-along-with-the-talent-no/) [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) > [My technique has always been to include all the periphery around me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/my-technique-has-always-been-to-include-all-the-periphery-around-me/) [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) [Explore all 129 Martin Landau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) David Hudgins > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [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/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [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/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Playing a drunk doesn't mean being a drunk, only bad actors try to be drunk. A real drunk tries to be sober, he wants another drink. How a character hides their feelings tells us who they are, no one shows their feelings except bad actors.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martin Landau" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/playing-a-drunk-doesn-t-mean-being-a-drunk-only-bad-actors-try-to-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/playing-a-drunk-doesn-t-mean-being-a-drunk-only-bad-actors-try-to-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83e/martin-landau-3492_character_playing-a-drunk-doesn-t-mean-being-a-dru_859156.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83e/martin-landau-3492_character_playing-a-drunk-doesn-t-mean-being-a-dru_859156.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83e/martin-landau-3492_character_playing-a-drunk-doesn-t-mean-being-a-dru_859156.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Playing a drunk doesn't mean being a drunk, only bad actors try to be drunk. A real drunk tries to be sober…” — Martin Landau", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Martin Landau", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Playing a drunk doesn't mean being...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/playing-a-drunk-doesn-t-mean-being-a-drunk-only-bad-actors-try-to-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/playing-a-drunk-doesn-t-mean-being-a-drunk-only-bad-actors-try-to-be/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```