--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When criticism comes your way as an actor…" description: "\"When criticism comes your way as an actor they are not criticizing your writing or your painting or your piece, they are criticizing you! It is hard to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74b/meryl-streep-1078_actor_when-criticism-comes-your-way-as-an-acto_2336967.jpg" --- # When criticism comes your way as an actor they are not… ![“When criticism comes your way as an actor they are not criticizing your writing or your painting or your piece, they are criticizing you! It is hard to put that away in a place where you are not hurt.” quote by Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74b/meryl-streep-1078_actor_when-criticism-comes-your-way-as-an-acto_2336967.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74b/meryl-streep-1078_actor_when-criticism-comes-your-way-as-an-acto_2336967.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74b/meryl-streep-1078_actor_when-criticism-comes-your-way-as-an-acto_2336967.jpg) > “When criticism comes your way as an actor they are not criticizing your writing or your painting or your piece, they are criticizing you! It is hard to put that away in a place where you are not hurt.” [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. Criticism targets the performer’s personal identity more than the artwork itself, making it emotionally painful. **In simple terms:** People criticize you, not just your work. Key Takeaway Separate self from work. Themes criticism identity vulnerability Mood defensive reflective Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - theatre auditions - film set feedback - public reviews - social media comments Key Concepts self-esteem artistic integrity emotional resilience Questions to Reflect On - How can you protect your self-worth when facing harsh feedback? - What strategies help you view criticism as a tool for growth? A Different Perspective Criticism can be constructive if framed respectfully, but often feels personal. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Very often the Group actor is a critic when he's acting and an actor when he's criticizing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/very-often-the-group-actor-is-a-critic-when-he-s-acting-and-an-actor/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [Criticism comes with Celtic. If you take it on board, it can make you ill, but if you think: 'No problem', it makes you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-lambert/criticism-comes-with-celtic-if-you-take-it-on-board-it-can-make-you/) [Paul Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-lambert/) > [A critic is a person who knows the way but can't drive the car. Criticism always comes easier than craftsmanship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikas-runwal/a-critic-is-a-person-who-knows-the-way-but-can-t-drive-the-car/) [Vikas Runwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikas-runwal/) > [“We will need to find people who will provide a safe writing space for us, where criticism comes late and love and delight come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-l-barkat/we-will-need-to-find-people-who-will-provide-a-safe-writing-space-for/) [L.L. Barkat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-l-barkat/) > [You're open to minute-by-minute criticism which comes via Twitter, that starts seeping its way into your head, and it's easy to let that affect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-buck/you-re-open-to-minute-by-minute-criticism-which-comes-via-twitter/) [Joe Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-buck/) > [Criticism comes to those who stand out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/criticism-comes-to-those-who-stand-out/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Much literary criticism comes from people for whom extreme specialization is a cover for either grave cerebral inadequacy or terminal laziness, the latter being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/much-literary-criticism-comes-from-people-for-whom-extreme/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [Criticism comes with the territory when you don't win games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-rodgers/criticism-comes-with-the-territory-when-you-don-t-win-games/) [Brendan Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-rodgers/) > [I think where the criticism of videogames come from is where videogames are just Xeroxes of films, and when you get a film adaptation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-wright/i-think-where-the-criticism-of-videogames-come-from-is-where-2/) [Edgar Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-wright/) > [People who are criticizing... don't really get it, because if they did, they would like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwyneth-paltrow/people-who-are-criticizing-don-t-really-get-it-because-if-they-did/) [Gwyneth Paltrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwyneth-paltrow/) > [Criticizing reporters is like boo-ing at the Special Olympics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/criticizing-reporters-is-like-boo-ing-at-the-special-olympics/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [Never criticize someone you never personally knew. 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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. 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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 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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