--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That's where everything starts, as an…" description: "\"That's where everything starts, as an actor: you've gotta have great writing and great character development, and then you have really great materials ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf2/matt-lauria-38260_actor_that-s-where-everything-starts-as-an-act_2666765.jpg" --- # That's where everything starts, as an actor: you've gotta… ![“That's where everything starts, as an actor: you've gotta have great writing and great character development, and then you have really great materials to work from.” quote by Matt Lauria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf2/matt-lauria-38260_actor_that-s-where-everything-starts-as-an-act_2666765.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf2/matt-lauria-38260_actor_that-s-where-everything-starts-as-an-act_2666765.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf2/matt-lauria-38260_actor_that-s-where-everything-starts-as-an-act_2666765.jpg) > “That's where everything starts, as an actor: you've gotta have great writing and great character development, and then you have really great materials to work from.” [Matt Lauria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lauria/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great writing and character development are the foundation for strong acting material. **In simple terms:** Good scripts and characters enable actors to shine. Key Takeaway Focus on script quality and character depth. Themes acting writing character development craft material Mood motivated reflective Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - auditions - script analysis - character workshops - director collaborations Key Concepts Storytelling character arcs performance creative process Questions to Reflect On - How do you choose scripts that showcase your strengths? - What role does character research play in your preparation? A Different Perspective Even with great material, performance can falter without skill or direction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character development](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-development/) [Development](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/development/) [Great character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-character/) [Great Materials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-materials-2471435/) [Great writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-writing/) [Materials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/materials/) [Really great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-great/) [Starts Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/starts-actor-2471434/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-great/) ## Related quotes > [I'm super drawn to the high-end brands because they're made with such care and great materials. I really love Chanel, it's my favorite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saweetie/i-m-super-drawn-to-the-high-end-brands-because-they-re-made-with-such/) [Saweetie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saweetie/) > [The collaboration really begins once the rehearsal starts. This is when the actor takes his place, because he becomes the one who is going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-lansbury/the-collaboration-really-begins-once-the-rehearsal-starts-this-is/) [Angela Lansbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-lansbury/) > [There is no great writing, only great rewriting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-no-great-writing-only-great-rewriting/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Blade Runner was the godfather of all these fantastic movies that occur today. What's frustrating is that we're short of really great writing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ridley-scott/blade-runner-was-the-godfather-of-all-these-fantastic-movies-that/) [Ridley Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ridley-scott/) > [Writing is great because in the writing you never have to... First of all you never have to leave your home. And you never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/writing-is-great-because-in-the-writing-you-never-have-to-first-of/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [“There is only one secret to great writing and that's great writing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-thurlow/there-is-only-one-secret-to-great-writing-and-that-s-great-writing/) [Chloe Thurlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chloe-thurlow/) > [I always go for just really, hopefully, great writing and great acting, being in the company of great actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-malcomson/i-always-go-for-just-really-hopefully-great-writing-and-great-acting/) [Paula Malcomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-malcomson/) > [Great writing is great writing. It's as simple as all that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-mulgrew/great-writing-is-great-writing-it-s-as-simple-as-all-that/) [Kate Mulgrew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-mulgrew/) > [You can have good writing, but a great actor will make it feel and sound like great writing. You can have great writing, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/you-can-have-good-writing-but-a-great-actor-will-make-it-feel-and/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [There is no such thing as great writing - there is only great re-writing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/there-is-no-such-thing-as-great-writing-there-is-only-great-re-writing/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [One of the greatest things about 'Continuum' is how great the writing is; our writing room is one of the most talented ones I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-harmon/one-of-the-greatest-things-about-continuum-is-how-great-the-writing/) [Richard Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-harmon/) > [All you ever really want is a great character and great writing. As an actor, that's the juiciest sandwich you could ever ask for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-scott/all-you-ever-really-want-is-a-great-character-and-great-writing-as-an/) [Jill Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-scott/) > [Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/character-cannot-be-developed-in-ease-and-quiet/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [I feel that Pride and Prejudice is an incredibly well constructed novel on every level. The dialogue is great. The character development is great.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sittenfeld/i-feel-that-pride-and-prejudice-is-an-incredibly-well-constructed/) [Curtis Sittenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-sittenfeld/) > [Writing for others is great cos you can tailor it for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-david/writing-for-others-is-great-cos-you-can-tailor-it-for-them/) [Craig David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-david/) ## More by Matt Lauria > [My dad has this beautiful spirit of being able to create no matter where he is. He's always been so selfless with our family.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lauria/my-dad-has-this-beautiful-spirit-of-being-able-to-create-no-matter/) [Matt Lauria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lauria/) > [Here's the thing: If you're taking roles that aren't intimidating you, and I think this is a cliche that a lot of actors say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lauria/here-s-the-thing-if-you-re-taking-roles-that-aren-t-intimidating-you/) [Matt Lauria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lauria/) > [I did bully somebody. I was insecure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lauria/i-did-bully-somebody-i-was-insecure/) [Matt Lauria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lauria/) > [What so many actors are chasing after is an opportunity to evolve and dive into roles that present unique challenges and give you an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lauria/what-so-many-actors-are-chasing-after-is-an-opportunity-to-evolve-and/) [Matt Lauria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lauria/) > [Heres the thing: If youre taking roles that arent intimidating you, and I think this is a cliche that a lot of actors say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lauria/heres-the-thing-if-youre-taking-roles-that-arent-intimidating-you-and/) [Matt Lauria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lauria/) > [I have this wholesome disposition in a lot of my characters. 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You want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lauria/as-a-fighter-you-have-a-weight-cut-and-if-there-s-a-weigh-in-scene/) [Matt Lauria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lauria/) > [I don't know if I would personally want to step in the cage and either have my face caved in or cave in somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lauria/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-personally-want-to-step-in-the-cage-and/) [Matt Lauria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lauria/) [Explore all 12 Matt Lauria quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lauria/) ## 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. 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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. 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