--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To be honest, I don't think I'm an actor…" description: "\"To be honest, I don't think I'm an actor. I'm a creator - or try to be.\" — Maximilian Schell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4dd/maximilian-schell-22946_actor_to-be-honest-i-don-t-think-i-m-an-actor_21873.png" --- # To be honest, I don't think I'm an actor. I'm a creator… ![“To be honest, I don't think I'm an actor. I'm a creator - or try to be.” quote by Maximilian Schell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4dd/maximilian-schell-22946_actor_to-be-honest-i-don-t-think-i-m-an-actor_21873.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4dd/maximilian-schell-22946_actor_to-be-honest-i-don-t-think-i-m-an-actor_21873.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4dd/maximilian-schell-22946_actor_to-be-honest-i-don-t-think-i-m-an-actor_21873.png) > “To be honest, I don't think I'm an actor. I'm a creator - or try to be.” [Maximilian Schell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilian-schell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker distinguishes between performing a role and actively shaping content, emphasizing personal agency in creation over passive portrayal. **In simple terms:** Identity as creator vs. actor. Key Takeaway Creative agency matters. Themes identity creativity self‑definition authenticity purpose Mood inspired reflective Type personal insight philosophical When to use this quote - artistic pursuits - career transitions - personal branding - entrepreneurial ventures Key Concepts agency role‑vs‑creation self‑concept Practical Applications - personal storytelling - brand development Questions to Reflect On - How does defining yourself as a creator affect your work? - What limits arise when you view yourself only as an actor? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actor Creator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-creator-399687/) [Creator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creator/) [Creator Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creator-try-399688/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Think Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-actor/) [To be honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/to-be-honest/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try/) ## Related quotes > [So many actors get caught up in their technique, and to be honest, I see it really getting in the way. I see them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-butler/so-many-actors-get-caught-up-in-their-technique-and-to-be-honest-i-2/) [Gerard Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-butler/) > [I want to be honest, and even if that's scary, I know it's worth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emm-gryner/i-want-to-be-honest-and-even-if-that-s-scary-i-know-it-s-worth-it/) [Emm Gryner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emm-gryner/) > [For the actors, the talent is to serve the demands that I ask of them, to do it with naturality and truth, and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/for-the-actors-the-talent-is-to-serve-the-demands-that-i-ask-of-them/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [I hate summer, to be honest. I hate dressing. I hate the heat. I hate sweaty people getting aggressively close to you when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-weir/i-hate-summer-to-be-honest-i-hate-dressing-i-hate-the-heat-i-hate/) [Johnny Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-weir/) > [If you're going to be in the business of news and telling people the truth... you've got to be honest. You've got to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/if-you-re-going-to-be-in-the-business-of-news-and-telling-people-the/) [Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) > [I consider everyone a hero, to be honest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliot-knight/i-consider-everyone-a-hero-to-be-honest/) [Elliot Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliot-knight/) > [Nothing really scares me, to be honest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-eilish/nothing-really-scares-me-to-be-honest/) [Billie Eilish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-eilish/) > [There's no slowing down but I've got to be honest, I'm probably not going to learn French.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bishop/there-s-no-slowing-down-but-i-ve-got-to-be-honest-i-m-probably-not/) [John Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bishop/) > [I do not work for the shareholder, to be honest. I work for the customer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/i-do-not-work-for-the-shareholder-to-be-honest-i-work-for-the-customer/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) > [I'm actually pretty boring, to be honest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabby-barrett/i-m-actually-pretty-boring-to-be-honest/) [Gabby Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabby-barrett/) > [I don't do any exercise on any day, to be honest with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-solomon/i-don-t-do-any-exercise-on-any-day-to-be-honest-with-you/) [Stacey Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-solomon/) > [Congressional staff members do have a considerable amount of responsibility. But in my experience, the loyalty of the vast majority of staffers to their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-harwood/congressional-staff-members-do-have-a-considerable-amount-of/) [John Harwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-harwood/) > [To be honest, we have no control over what's going on with a movie, much less what people are going to think of it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mills/to-be-honest-we-have-no-control-over-what-s-going-on-with-a-movie/) [Mike Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mills/) > [To be honest, I never really wrapped my mind around winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/webb-simpson/to-be-honest-i-never-really-wrapped-my-mind-around-winning/) [Webb Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/webb-simpson/) > [I don't know - to be honest, I don't really model myself after anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-klattenhoff/i-don-t-know-to-be-honest-i-don-t-really-model-myself-after-anybody/) [Diego Klattenhoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-klattenhoff/) ## More by Maximilian Schell > [And it's interesting, but I'm always interested in the story behind the story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilian-schell/and-it-s-interesting-but-i-m-always-interested-in-the-story-behind/) [Maximilian Schell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilian-schell/) > [We should never forget that Hollywood was built by Europeans, and the old Jewish boys from Eastern Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilian-schell/we-should-never-forget-that-hollywood-was-built-by-europeans-and-the/) [Maximilian Schell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilian-schell/) > [As an actor, I was a fantastic rebel. Then I became a directorial rebel and understood rebels from both sides. So now I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilian-schell/as-an-actor-i-was-a-fantastic-rebel-then-i-became-a-directorial-rebel/) [Maximilian Schell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilian-schell/) > [I'm always happy when I'm left alone, but if somebody comes and is nice, then we talk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilian-schell/i-m-always-happy-when-i-m-left-alone-but-if-somebody-comes-and-is/) [Maximilian Schell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilian-schell/) > [I just think the word interview, although it is the view between two people exchanged, became a sort of cliche. You ask questions and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilian-schell/i-just-think-the-word-interview-although-it-is-the-view-between-two/) [Maximilian Schell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilian-schell/) > [I did have fun, for example, in The Black Hole which was very popular among youngsters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilian-schell/i-did-have-fun-for-example-in-the-black-hole-which-was-very-popular/) [Maximilian Schell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilian-schell/) > [Directing is like meeting a woman. You don't know her, but something strikes you, and then you just have to go into it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilian-schell/directing-is-like-meeting-a-woman-you-don-t-know-her-but-something/) [Maximilian Schell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilian-schell/) > [My mother was an actress and a director, as well. And my father was a playwright and poet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilian-schell/my-mother-was-an-actress-and-a-director-as-well-and-my-father-was-a/) [Maximilian Schell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilian-schell/) > [I am America's number-one fan. I like your food. Especially corn flakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilian-schell/i-am-america-s-number-one-fan-i-like-your-food-especially-corn-flakes/) [Maximilian Schell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilian-schell/) > [I never played the right roles, or very rarely got the right roles offered, except on stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilian-schell/i-never-played-the-right-roles-or-very-rarely-got-the-right-roles/) [Maximilian Schell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilian-schell/) > [And in reality, I don't think it's a real documentary. It's more a story of her life. It's a story of survival. It's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilian-schell/and-in-reality-i-don-t-think-it-s-a-real-documentary-it-s-more-a/) [Maximilian Schell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilian-schell/) > [Everything you do has certain significance, a certain weight. I think there is a film in everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilian-schell/everything-you-do-has-certain-significance-a-certain-weight-i-think/) [Maximilian Schell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilian-schell/) > [I think there's a poet who wrote once a tragedy by Shakespeare, a symphony by Beethoven and a thunderstorm are based on the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilian-schell/i-think-there-s-a-poet-who-wrote-once-a-tragedy-by-shakespeare-a/) [Maximilian Schell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilian-schell/) > [The interesting thing is that I found scenes which I put together which could appeal to almost every woman, or apply to almost every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilian-schell/the-interesting-thing-is-that-i-found-scenes-which-i-put-together/) [Maximilian Schell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilian-schell/) > [Music in this film is a very important part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilian-schell/music-in-this-film-is-a-very-important-part/) [Maximilian Schell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilian-schell/) [Explore all 26 Maximilian Schell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilian-schell/) ## 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. 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