--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Acting has to reach everybody on some…" description: "\"Acting has to reach everybody on some level - it's a communication of feeling - but as far as judging the work is concerned, it is, I think, something ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e12/meryl-streep-1078_acting_acting-has-to-reach-everybody-on-some-le_661719.jpg" --- # Acting has to reach everybody on some level - it's a… ![“Acting has to reach everybody on some level - it's a communication of feeling - but as far as judging the work is concerned, it is, I think, something that actors know about.” quote by Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e12/meryl-streep-1078_acting_acting-has-to-reach-everybody-on-some-le_661719.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e12/meryl-streep-1078_acting_acting-has-to-reach-everybody-on-some-le_661719.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e12/meryl-streep-1078_acting_acting-has-to-reach-everybody-on-some-le_661719.jpg) > “Acting has to reach everybody on some level - it's a communication of feeling - but as far as judging the work is concerned, it is, I think, something that actors know about.” [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Actors must connect emotionally with audiences, yet the true test lies in their understanding of feeling beyond technical skill. **In simple terms:** Actors need to feel and convey emotions, not just perform. Key Takeaway Cultivate emotional authenticity in performance. Themes art communication emotion craft audience connection Mood reflective inquisitive artistic Type creative educational philosophical When to use this quote - theatre workshops - film rehearsals - acting classes - directorial feedback - audience reception Key Concepts Method acting emotional intelligence performance theory Questions to Reflect On - How does technique support emotional expression? - What is the balance between feeling and skill? A Different Perspective The quote may overlook the role of technical mastery and external feedback in acting success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I think actors who know their job know that's how you do it. You don't show up and make people miserable. That poor grip…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlize-theron/i-think-actors-who-know-their-job-know-that-s-how-you-do-it-you-don-t/) [Charlize Theron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlize-theron/) > [I think most of the actors that I know that I think are good are kind of funny people. There's just something about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-gregg/i-think-most-of-the-actors-that-i-know-that-i-think-are-good-are-kind/) [Clark Gregg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-gregg/) > [When I think about actors I know, I'd much rather hear about who they're shagging than what film they're doing next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-grant/when-i-think-about-actors-i-know-i-d-much-rather-hear-about-who-they/) [Hugh Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-grant/) > [I think there's so many actors out there that we see and we know as one thing but are capable of so much more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-lee-soffer/i-think-there-s-so-many-actors-out-there-that-we-see-and-we-know-as/) [Jesse Lee Soffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-lee-soffer/) > [The Dutch film industry is a pretty small community, so within Holland, I think most actors know each other and have worked with each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michiel-huisman/the-dutch-film-industry-is-a-pretty-small-community-so-within-holland-2/) [Michiel Huisman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michiel-huisman/) > [I do not communicate by words alone. In fact, rarely do I do so. My most common form of communication is through feeling. Feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/i-do-not-communicate-by-words-alone-in-fact-rarely-do-i-do-so-my-most/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [Conversation, to take another example, is one of the common pleasures of life, but not all conversation is pleasurable. The stutterer finds talking painful,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-lowen/conversation-to-take-another-example-is-one-of-the-common-pleasures/) [Alexander Lowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-lowen/) > [I shall commit my thoughts to paper, it is true; but that is a poor medium for the communication of feeling. I desire the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-shall-commit-my-thoughts-to-paper-it-is-true-but-that-is-a-poor/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I love going to the movies; I love watching good movie actors. They must know something I don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uta-hagen/i-love-going-to-the-movies-i-love-watching-good-movie-actors-they/) [Uta Hagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uta-hagen/) > [Acting is not a mystery. There's nothing that I know that other actors don't know. We all act, we're all actors, we all know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-d-onofrio/acting-is-not-a-mystery-there-s-nothing-that-i-know-that-other-actors/) [Vincent D'Onofrio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-d-onofrio/) > [It's a wonderful thing working with young actors. I know a lot of people don't like working with children. I actually adore it, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-forbes/it-s-a-wonderful-thing-working-with-young-actors-i-know-a-lot-of/) [Michelle Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-forbes/) > [The Dutch film industry is a pretty small community, so within Holland, I think most actors know each other and have worked with each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michiel-huisman/the-dutch-film-industry-is-a-pretty-small-community-so-within-holland/) [Michiel Huisman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michiel-huisman/) > [I've always slightly envied other actors I know who have different reputations. I think, 'God, you don't get people coming up to you, going,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-ve-always-slightly-envied-other-actors-i-know-who-have-different/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [“I am amazed all over again by how magnified this project's importance has become, far beyond its being a play or an artwork. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/i-am-amazed-all-over-again-by-how-magnified-this-project-s-importance/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [When I'm working, it's those actors (you know who you are) who sit around moaning that their trailer isn't big enough, or how bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-friel/when-i-m-working-it-s-those-actors-you-know-who-you-are-who-sit/) [Anna Friel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-friel/) ## More by Meryl Streep > [Sometimes it's easier for people who are in authority to be authoritarian, because people know where you stand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/sometimes-it-s-easier-for-people-who-are-in-authority-to-be/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [I do honestly think that if women were running the world there would be more investment in peace, because basically as women we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/i-do-honestly-think-that-if-women-were-running-the-world-there-would/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [My feeling about fears is, if you voice your fears, they may come true. I'm superstitious enough to believe that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/my-feeling-about-fears-is-if-you-voice-your-fears-they-may-come-true/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [The work itself is the reward, and if I choose challenging work, it'll pay me back with interest. At least I'll be interested, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/the-work-itself-is-the-reward-and-if-i-choose-challenging-work-it-ll/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [This act of empathy, that women go through from the time we're little girls - we read all of literature, all of history, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/this-act-of-empathy-that-women-go-through-from-the-time-we-re-little/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [Some men can maintain cragginess and weary masculinity. Women just get old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/some-men-can-maintain-cragginess-and-weary-masculinity-women-just-get/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [Well, I got better after this, and my entire family really did appreciate it. Usually, they're resentful of movies that I go off and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/well-i-got-better-after-this-and-my-entire-family-really-did/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [Acting is not about being someone different. It's finding the similarity in what is apparently different, then finding myself in there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/acting-is-not-about-being-someone-different-it-s-finding-the/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [I didn't really like opera. I liked cheerleading and boys and, later, smoking. So my opera career was cut short when I was 15.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/i-didn-t-really-like-opera-i-liked-cheerleading-and-boys-and-later/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [Life is all about making choices and I'm very happy with mine. I have had a wonderful time raising four children and I've also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/life-is-all-about-making-choices-and-i-m-very-happy-with-mine-i-have/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [Leave me to the thing I love. I love acting. But being called 'the greatest living actress' - a designation not even my mother…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/leave-me-to-the-thing-i-love-i-love-acting-but-being-called-the/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [I have a very busy life, and not many people who have a career and four kids go out a lot to the movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/i-have-a-very-busy-life-and-not-many-people-who-have-a-career-and/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [I go to a lot of movies where people are all around me laughing, and I feel like I'm from outer space because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/i-go-to-a-lot-of-movies-where-people-are-all-around-me-laughing-and-i/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [People say, When you have children, everything changes. But maybe things are awakened that were already there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/people-say-when-you-have-children-everything-changes-but-maybe-things/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [You have to embrace getting older](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/you-have-to-embrace-getting-older/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) [Explore all 296 Meryl Streep quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) ## More Acting 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/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [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/) > [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/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) Ryan Newman > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Acting has to reach everybody on some level - it's a communication of feeling - but as far as judging the work is concerned, it is, I think, something that actors know about.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Meryl Streep" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/acting-has-to-reach-everybody-on-some-level-it-s-a-communication-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/acting-has-to-reach-everybody-on-some-level-it-s-a-communication-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e12/meryl-streep-1078_acting_acting-has-to-reach-everybody-on-some-le_661719.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e12/meryl-streep-1078_acting_acting-has-to-reach-everybody-on-some-le_661719.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e12/meryl-streep-1078_acting_acting-has-to-reach-everybody-on-some-le_661719.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Acting has to reach everybody on some level - it's a communication of feeling - but as far as judging the…” — Meryl Streep", "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": "Meryl Streep", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Acting has to reach everybody on...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/acting-has-to-reach-everybody-on-some-level-it-s-a-communication-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/acting-has-to-reach-everybody-on-some-level-it-s-a-communication-of/#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 } } ] } ```