--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Only a certain breed of actor should ever…" description: "\"Only a certain breed of actor should ever even try to work for Orson Welles. I'm glad I'm one of that breed.\" — Mercedes McCambridge" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/778/mercedes-mccambridge-13004_actor_only-a-certain-breed-of-actor-should-eve_1224714.png" --- # Only a certain breed of actor should ever even try to work… ![“Only a certain breed of actor should ever even try to work for Orson Welles. I'm glad I'm one of that breed.” quote by Mercedes McCambridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/778/mercedes-mccambridge-13004_actor_only-a-certain-breed-of-actor-should-eve_1224714.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/778/mercedes-mccambridge-13004_actor_only-a-certain-breed-of-actor-should-eve_1224714.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/778/mercedes-mccambridge-13004_actor_only-a-certain-breed-of-actor-should-eve_1224714.png) > “Only a certain breed of actor should ever even try to work for Orson Welles. I'm glad I'm one of that breed.” [Mercedes McCambridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-mccambridge/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Only actors who possess a specific set of skills and temperament should attempt to work with a demanding visionary like Orson Welles, and the speaker is proud to belong to that group. **In simple terms:** Only certain actors fit Welles' demands; I'm proud to be one. Key Takeaway Recognize your unique strengths before taking on challenging collaborations. Themes career self-awareness artistic integrity Mood proud confident reflective Type self‑assessment professional inspirational When to use this quote - film production - theatre rehearsals - high‑pressure creative projects Key Concepts method acting creative control visionary leadership Questions to Reflect On - Do you have the temperament for high‑pressure artistic environments? - How do you assess if a collaboration matches your strengths? A Different Perspective Not everyone can thrive under intense direction; it may limit broader opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Breed Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breed-actor-3763834/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Glad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glad/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orson-welles/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/welles/) [Welles Glad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/welles-glad-3763833/) ## Related quotes > [I was watching Orson Welles and Jean Vigo films at a ridiculously young age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brady-corbet/i-was-watching-orson-welles-and-jean-vigo-films-at-a-ridiculously/) [Brady Corbet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brady-corbet/) > [Oh yes, I dated Orson Welles. We had many encounters on both coasts. I remember the first time he saw me in a boudoir,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maila-nurmi/oh-yes-i-dated-orson-welles-we-had-many-encounters-on-both-coasts-i/) [Maila Nurmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maila-nurmi/) > [Orson Welles, one of the best of the best. One of the strongest. As strong as an animal. He somehow was pushed out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/orson-welles-one-of-the-best-of-the-best-one-of-the-strongest-as/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [“The word genius was whispered into my ear the first things I ever Heard while I was still mewling in my crib, laughs Orson…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-word-genius-was-whispered-into-my-ear-the-first-things-i-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Orson Welles was one of these people who was defying everything the doctors told him he wasn't supposed to be doing. He was really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/orson-welles-was-one-of-these-people-who-was-defying-everything-the/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) > [Good evening, ladies and gentleman. My name is Orson Welles. I am an actor. I am a writer. I am a producer. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/good-evening-ladies-and-gentleman-my-name-is-orson-welles-i-am-an/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) > [When Orson Welles was acting in 'Compulsion,' the director Richard Fleischer let him just take over and direct the courtroom scenes. To be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-osborne/when-orson-welles-was-acting-in-compulsion-the-director-richard/) [Robert Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-osborne/) > [Orson Welles was a force of nature, who just came in and wiped the slate clean. And Citizen Kane is the greatest risk-taking of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-scorsese/orson-welles-was-a-force-of-nature-who-just-came-in-and-wiped-the/) [Martin Scorsese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-scorsese/) > [Orson Welles's second 'I-did-it' should show once and for all that film making, radio and the stage are three different guys better kept separated.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-farber/orson-welles-s-second-i-did-it-should-show-once-and-for-all-that-film/) [Manny Farber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-farber/) > [Like so many people, I only remembered Orson Welles as this huge, fat, bearded figure selling wine in TV commercials. So whenever anyone said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-mckay/like-so-many-people-i-only-remembered-orson-welles-as-this-huge-fat/) [Christian McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-mckay/) > [I was nine. I saw Orson Welles in 'Julius Caesar.' It was involving, emotional, imaginative. I've never forgotten it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-prince/i-was-nine-i-saw-orson-welles-in-julius-caesar-it-was-involving/) [Harold Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-prince/) > [ \[On Orson Welles:\] When I talk to him, I feel like a plant that's been watered. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlene-dietrich/on-orson-welles-when-i-talk-to-him-i-feel-like-a-plant-that-s-been/) [Marlene Dietrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlene-dietrich/) > [If I could steal someone's dream myself, I'd have to go for one of Orson Welles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nolan/if-i-could-steal-someone-s-dream-myself-i-d-have-to-go-for-one-of/) [Christopher Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nolan/) > [It always amazed me that he was able to do it, and that Orson Welles was able to do it. I never understood it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-rydell/it-always-amazed-me-that-he-was-able-to-do-it-and-that-orson-welles/) [Mark Rydell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-rydell/) > [I wanted to meet Orson Welles. So I was like, whatever, somehow get me in on this. I'm able to get cast in it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-nelson/i-wanted-to-meet-orson-welles-so-i-was-like-whatever-somehow-get-me/) [Judd Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-nelson/) ## More by Mercedes McCambridge > [I've always had bronchitis. I've been administered the Sacrament of Death three times for it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-mccambridge/i-ve-always-had-bronchitis-i-ve-been-administered-the-sacrament-of/) [Mercedes McCambridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-mccambridge/) > [Like many alcoholics, I was a staggering woman in a chic apartment, sick and utterly disgusting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-mccambridge/like-many-alcoholics-i-was-a-staggering-woman-in-a-chic-apartment/) [Mercedes McCambridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-mccambridge/) > [While I am rehearsing a play, I try to read nothing that might distract my concentration from the work in progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-mccambridge/while-i-am-rehearsing-a-play-i-try-to-read-nothing-that-might/) [Mercedes McCambridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-mccambridge/) > [When I am rehearsing for a play, I try to read nothing that might distract my concentration from the work in progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-mccambridge/when-i-am-rehearsing-for-a-play-i-try-to-read-nothing-that-might/) [Mercedes McCambridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-mccambridge/) > [Like so many other recovered alcoholics, I am to this day bewildered that it took so long for me to understand that there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-mccambridge/like-so-many-other-recovered-alcoholics-i-am-to-this-day-bewildered/) [Mercedes McCambridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-mccambridge/) > [I find it next to impossible to remain politely silent when people prate to me about the glory of being given another chance to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-mccambridge/i-find-it-next-to-impossible-to-remain-politely-silent-when-people/) [Mercedes McCambridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-mccambridge/) > [Alcohol is a very patient drug. It will wait for the alcoholic to pick it up one more time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-mccambridge/alcohol-is-a-very-patient-drug-it-will-wait-for-the-alcoholic-to-pick/) [Mercedes McCambridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-mccambridge/) > [I have always had a lot more trouble with my truths than with my deceits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-mccambridge/i-have-always-had-a-lot-more-trouble-with-my-truths-than-with-my/) [Mercedes McCambridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-mccambridge/) > [A rich man can afford to be generous to many.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-mccambridge/a-rich-man-can-afford-to-be-generous-to-many/) [Mercedes McCambridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-mccambridge/) > [I have reached a state in life where I can buy a whole house full of chairs and can bump into them until they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-mccambridge/i-have-reached-a-state-in-life-where-i-can-buy-a-whole-house-full-of/) [Mercedes McCambridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-mccambridge/) > [I never wanted a Guardian Angel. I didn't ask for one. One was assigned to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-mccambridge/i-never-wanted-a-guardian-angel-i-didn-t-ask-for-one-one-was-assigned/) [Mercedes McCambridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-mccambridge/) > [Radio is truly the theater of the mind. The listener constructs the sets, colors them from his own palette, and sculpts and costumes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-mccambridge/radio-is-truly-the-theater-of-the-mind-the-listener-constructs-the/) [Mercedes McCambridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-mccambridge/) > [With two leftover husbands to account for, my wicked soul has just about shriveled and died](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-mccambridge/with-two-leftover-husbands-to-account-for-my-wicked-soul-has-just/) [Mercedes McCambridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-mccambridge/) > [Nobody understands that by the time the addiction has set in the alcoholic is mandated to drink ... he cannot not drink! Nobody wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-mccambridge/nobody-understands-that-by-the-time-the-addiction-has-set-in-the/) [Mercedes McCambridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-mccambridge/) > [It is a remarkably beautiful piece of home furnishing, the Oscar. I used to keep it up in front of a mirror so that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-mccambridge/it-is-a-remarkably-beautiful-piece-of-home-furnishing-the-oscar-i/) [Mercedes McCambridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-mccambridge/) [Explore all 52 Mercedes McCambridge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-mccambridge/) ## 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. 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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": "Only a certain breed of actor should ever even try to work for Orson Welles. 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