--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As an actress, my best tools are my…" description: "\"As an actress, my best tools are my emotions and expressions.\" — Mary Steenburgen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b4/mary-steenburgen-10553_actress_as-an-actress-my-best-tools-are-my-emoti_478085.jpg" --- # As an actress, my best tools are my emotions and… ![“As an actress, my best tools are my emotions and expressions.” quote by Mary Steenburgen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b4/mary-steenburgen-10553_actress_as-an-actress-my-best-tools-are-my-emoti_478085.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b4/mary-steenburgen-10553_actress_as-an-actress-my-best-tools-are-my-emoti_478085.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b4/mary-steenburgen-10553_actress_as-an-actress-my-best-tools-are-my-emoti_478085.jpg) > “As an actress, my best tools are my emotions and expressions.” [Mary Steenburgen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-steenburgen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She identifies emotions and facial expressions as primary tools for actors to convey character. **In simple terms:** Emotions and expressions are key acting tools. Key Takeaway Master emotional expression. Themes acting performance emotion expression Mood intimate practical Type instructional reflective When to use this quote - theatre rehearsals - film auditions - character workshops - improvisation Key Concepts method acting non‑verbal communication psychology of performance Questions to Reflect On - How do you train emotional authenticity? - What role does body language play? A Different Perspective May neglect voice or physicality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Emotions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotions/) [Tools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tools/) ## Related quotes > [I've always found as an actress that the best thing to do in film or TV or theater is just to lose yourself in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mirren/i-ve-always-found-as-an-actress-that-the-best-thing-to-do-in-film-or/) [Helen Mirren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mirren/) > [I know what I'm worth as an actress: not the best in the world, but not bad either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-tautou/i-know-what-i-m-worth-as-an-actress-not-the-best-in-the-world-but-not/) [Audrey Tautou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-tautou/) > [I get to vote in the Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Director categories every year. The Academy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-fricker/i-get-to-vote-in-the-best-supporting-actress-best-supporting-actor/) [Brenda Fricker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-fricker/) > [That's how I see myself as an actress. I may not be the best in the world, but I love my craft more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hathaway/that-s-how-i-see-myself-as-an-actress-i-may-not-be-the-best-in-the/) [Anne Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hathaway/) > [I think that actresses can be in all different shapes and sizes, but it is a profession, and as an actor, your body is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebel-wilson/i-think-that-actresses-can-be-in-all-different-shapes-and-sizes-but/) [Rebel Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebel-wilson/) > [When you dance intensely, you are really aware of your physicality, and that's always great to have as a tool, when you're an actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-wasikowska/when-you-dance-intensely-you-are-really-aware-of-your-physicality-and/) [Mia Wasikowska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-wasikowska/) > [Sometimes I get a little confused because with dancing I can express my emotions with my body. With acting you have to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyson-stoner/sometimes-i-get-a-little-confused-because-with-dancing-i-can-express/) [Alyson Stoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyson-stoner/) > [“There was something in her eyes! Her eyes were expressive and from the first day that they met, they spoke to him a million…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avijeet-das/there-was-something-in-her-eyes-her-eyes-were-expressive-and-from-the/) [Avijeet Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avijeet-das/) > [I never really think of acting and directing as being separate; they are just different expressions of the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/i-never-really-think-of-acting-and-directing-as-being-separate-they/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [In a movie, it's often important to have aliens whose gestures and facial expressions can be 'read' by humans. And in the days before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/in-a-movie-it-s-often-important-to-have-aliens-whose-gestures-and/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [“Nina said, “Have regular facial expressions.” That was a command from their inventory of facetious devices they used to josh one another out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-rush/nina-said-have-regular-facial-expressions-that-was-a-command-from/) [Norman Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-rush/) > [“Nothing touches your skin of sweat (meltdown of oceanic kisses) when the purple light whispers to the moon in silent moonlit clarity”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-step/nothing-touches-your-skin-of-sweat-meltdown-of-oceanic-kisses-when/) Bear Step > [Self-education only produces expressions of self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-henri/self-education-only-produces-expressions-of-self/) [Robert Henri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-henri/) > [“I am apprehensive, Sir, that in the warmth of my feelings, I may have uttered expressions, which were too vehement. If such has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/i-am-apprehensive-sir-that-in-the-warmth-of-my-feelings-i-may-have/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [Why shouldn't I be confident? I'm well educated, I can deliver a line, and I have more than three expressions. That's good right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonakshi-sinha/why-shouldn-t-i-be-confident-i-m-well-educated-i-can-deliver-a-line/) [Sonakshi Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonakshi-sinha/) ## More by Mary Steenburgen > [Dancing in the strip club, Not the dancing, but the being naked was excruciatingly scary for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-steenburgen/dancing-in-the-strip-club-not-the-dancing-but-the-being-naked-was/) [Mary Steenburgen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-steenburgen/) > [I learned not to care what other people think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-steenburgen/i-learned-not-to-care-what-other-people-think/) [Mary Steenburgen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-steenburgen/) > [I was this person with this weird last name from New York that no one had ever heard of. But my screen test I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-steenburgen/i-was-this-person-with-this-weird-last-name-from-new-york-that-no-one/) [Mary Steenburgen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-steenburgen/) > [I love to play horrible, evil, mean people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-steenburgen/i-love-to-play-horrible-evil-mean-people/) [Mary Steenburgen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-steenburgen/) > [I wrote my first song when I was 54 years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-steenburgen/i-wrote-my-first-song-when-i-was-54-years-old/) [Mary Steenburgen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-steenburgen/) > [I have loved by far the majority of the people I've worked with and the experiences I've had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-steenburgen/i-have-loved-by-far-the-majority-of-the-people-i-ve-worked-with-and/) [Mary Steenburgen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-steenburgen/) > [I'd already made the decision before I'd even read it-just because it was John Sayles. Then when I read it, the themes were actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-steenburgen/i-d-already-made-the-decision-before-i-d-even-read-it-just-because-it/) [Mary Steenburgen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-steenburgen/) > [I wanted it to be a wonderful combination of being able to dance a little bit, not being especially good, but also playing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-steenburgen/i-wanted-it-to-be-a-wonderful-combination-of-being-able-to-dance-a/) [Mary Steenburgen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-steenburgen/) > [When you read books, you kind of create that whole world in your mind, and you go on a journey with the author of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-steenburgen/when-you-read-books-you-kind-of-create-that-whole-world-in-your-mind/) [Mary Steenburgen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-steenburgen/) > [I've done little things, including Botox, but it didn't feel right for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-steenburgen/i-ve-done-little-things-including-botox-but-it-didn-t-feel-right-for/) [Mary Steenburgen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-steenburgen/) > [If there's an addiction in the Clinton family, it's to problem solving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-steenburgen/if-there-s-an-addiction-in-the-clinton-family-it-s-to-problem-solving/) [Mary Steenburgen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-steenburgen/) > [I think, as an actor, you're constantly confronted with your fear of sticking your neck out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-steenburgen/i-think-as-an-actor-you-re-constantly-confronted-with-your-fear-of/) [Mary Steenburgen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-steenburgen/) > [Our culture loves movies and TV, which is wonderful, but there's something a little bit passive sometimes about watching, because you're looking at other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-steenburgen/our-culture-loves-movies-and-tv-which-is-wonderful-but-there-s/) [Mary Steenburgen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-steenburgen/) > [I think I did a couple of test commercials that didn't even make it on the air. That's how little I had really done.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-steenburgen/i-think-i-did-a-couple-of-test-commercials-that-didn-t-even-make-it/) [Mary Steenburgen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-steenburgen/) > [The accordion came from just having a desire to play music. Somehow, I have slowly taught myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-steenburgen/the-accordion-came-from-just-having-a-desire-to-play-music-somehow-i/) [Mary Steenburgen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-steenburgen/) [Explore all 64 Mary Steenburgen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-steenburgen/) ## More Actress quotes > [Sigourney Weaver is a wonderful person. I was so lucky to have the opportunity to meet and work with such an amazing actress. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-henn/sigourney-weaver-is-a-wonderful-person-i-was-so-lucky-to-have-the/) [Carrie Henn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-henn/) > [People forget I'm an actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-heatherton/people-forget-i-m-an-actress/) [Joey Heatherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-heatherton/) > [I adore Kelly Bishop as a human being and as an actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-gunn/i-adore-kelly-bishop-as-a-human-being-and-as-an-actress/) [Sean Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-gunn/) > [I've been told before, and I tend to believe it, I'm not like most actresses out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moira-kelly/i-ve-been-told-before-and-i-tend-to-believe-it-i-m-not-like-most/) [Moira Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moira-kelly/) > [Marilyn was a great actress, not a dumb blond bombshell. She was very smart, very astute and a good businesswoman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-schiller/marilyn-was-a-great-actress-not-a-dumb-blond-bombshell-she-was-very/) [Lawrence Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-schiller/) > [I'm an actress, not a pin-up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/i-m-an-actress-not-a-pin-up/) [Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/) > [My father was a GP; my mother was a teacher and amateur actress. My father was a bit of a storyteller, but the acting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ciaran-hinds/my-father-was-a-gp-my-mother-was-a-teacher-and-amateur-actress-my/) [Ciaran Hinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ciaran-hinds/) > [I never wished that I was a superstar. Hell, I never even wished that I was an actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-lane/i-never-wished-that-i-was-a-superstar-hell-i-never-even-wished-that-i/) [Diane Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-lane/) > [Many of the heroines from outside Karnataka have worked in my films, but the attitude and adjusting nature of top South Indian actress Nayantara…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rockline-venkatesh/many-of-the-heroines-from-outside-karnataka-have-worked-in-my-films/) [Rockline Venkatesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rockline-venkatesh/) > [There are a lot of great actresses out there. You learn to appreciate each one for what they offer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-pratt/there-are-a-lot-of-great-actresses-out-there-you-learn-to-appreciate/) [Victoria Pratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-pratt/) > [There's certain things I try to avoid, as an actress, just to keep my world from being as narrow as it could be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/famke-janssen/there-s-certain-things-i-try-to-avoid-as-an-actress-just-to-keep-my/) [Famke Janssen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/famke-janssen/) > [I never wanted to be an opera singer. I wanted to be an actress, maybe a rock singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-opolais/i-never-wanted-to-be-an-opera-singer-i-wanted-to-be-an-actress-maybe/) [Kristine Opolais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-opolais/) > [When an actor charges high fees, nobody says anything. But when an actress does the same, it becomes news.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijayashanti/when-an-actor-charges-high-fees-nobody-says-anything-but-when-an/) [Vijayashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijayashanti/) > [I am going to be a great actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivien-leigh/i-am-going-to-be-a-great-actress/) [Vivien Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivien-leigh/) > [As a black actress you've got to work doubly hard. But it doesn't ever get me to the point where I give up on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naturi-naughton/as-a-black-actress-you-ve-got-to-work-doubly-hard-but-it-doesn-t-ever/) [Naturi Naughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naturi-naughton/) Browse all 2,244 Actress quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As an actress, my best tools are my emotions and expressions.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mary Steenburgen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-steenburgen/as-an-actress-my-best-tools-are-my-emotions-and-expressions/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actress" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-steenburgen/as-an-actress-my-best-tools-are-my-emotions-and-expressions/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b4/mary-steenburgen-10553_actress_as-an-actress-my-best-tools-are-my-emoti_478085.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b4/mary-steenburgen-10553_actress_as-an-actress-my-best-tools-are-my-emoti_478085.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b4/mary-steenburgen-10553_actress_as-an-actress-my-best-tools-are-my-emoti_478085.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As an actress, my best tools are my emotions and expressions.” — Mary Steenburgen", "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": "Mary Steenburgen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-steenburgen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As an actress, my best tools...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-steenburgen/as-an-actress-my-best-tools-are-my-emotions-and-expressions/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-steenburgen/as-an-actress-my-best-tools-are-my-emotions-and-expressions/#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 } } ] } ```