--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For an actor to remain a child is rather…" description: "\"For an actor to remain a child is rather important. It's a childlike, dreamy thing, acting, if you think about it. It's the sort of thing children fant..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e4/michael-gambon-13467_acting_for-an-actor-to-remain-a-child-is-rather_1095347.png" --- # For an actor to remain a child is rather important. It's a… ![“For an actor to remain a child is rather important. It's a childlike, dreamy thing, acting, if you think about it. It's the sort of thing children fantasise about, playing cowboys and Indians in the street. I think that acting is just a highly refined development of that.” quote by Michael Gambon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e4/michael-gambon-13467_acting_for-an-actor-to-remain-a-child-is-rather_1095347.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e4/michael-gambon-13467_acting_for-an-actor-to-remain-a-child-is-rather_1095347.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e4/michael-gambon-13467_acting_for-an-actor-to-remain-a-child-is-rather_1095347.png) > “For an actor to remain a child is rather important. It's a childlike, dreamy thing, acting, if you think about it. It's the sort of thing children fantasise about, playing cowboys and Indians in the street. I think that acting is just a highly refined development of that.” [Michael Gambon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gambon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting should retain childlike wonder, as it stems from imaginative play and creativity. **In simple terms:** Acting needs childlike imagination. Key Takeaway Keep playfulness in performance. Themes creativity play authenticity Mood inspirational reflective Type creative encouraging When to use this quote - theatre rehearsals - creative workshops - education curricula Key Concepts imagination developmental psychology artistic expression Questions to Reflect On - How can you reconnect with your inner child? - What benefits does play bring to professional work? A Different Perspective Adults may struggle to access childlike mindset; fear of judgment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Childlike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childlike/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Cowboy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowboy/) [Streets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streets/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I don't concentrate about stardom as I always wanted to be an actor and remain to be the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanya-malhotra/i-don-t-concentrate-about-stardom-as-i-always-wanted-to-be-an-actor/) [Sanya Malhotra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanya-malhotra/) > [Like a heartbeat. Something inside me. Some dream. I think it's being a dreamer as a child. Dreamy kids become actors, don't they?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gambon/like-a-heartbeat-something-inside-me-some-dream-i-think-it-s-being-a/) [Michael Gambon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gambon/) > [Being a celebrity, you can remain a child for ever, almost. You get away with more; you can get too pampered and it's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geri-halliwell/being-a-celebrity-you-can-remain-a-child-for-ever-almost-you-get-away/) [Geri Halliwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geri-halliwell/) > [“I felt so much older now, so much more responsible. I guess that there were some positive outcomes: I knew more things than usual,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-sehyun-song/i-felt-so-much-older-now-so-much-more-responsible-i-guess-that-there/) [Erica Sehyun Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-sehyun-song/) > [“Remain yourself, child. If you know your own heart, you will always find one friend who doesn't lie.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-zimmer-bradley/remain-yourself-child-if-you-know-your-own-heart-you-will-always-find/) [Marion Zimmer Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-zimmer-bradley/) > [I must remain a child and pupil of the Catechism, and am glad so to remain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/i-must-remain-a-child-and-pupil-of-the-catechism-and-am-glad-so-to/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [Not to know what happened before you were born is always to remain a child. For what is a man’s life if it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-curley/not-to-know-what-happened-before-you-were-born-is-always-to-remain-a/) [Marianne Curley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-curley/) > [Never forget the importance of history. To know nothing of what happened before you took your place on earth, is to remain a child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-forget-the-importance-of-history-to-know-nothing-of-what/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“To stomach the world for any prolonged length of time, one must either remain a child or become more than a man”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lieber/to-stomach-the-world-for-any-prolonged-length-of-time-one-must-either/) Michael Lieber > [I'm not the angry, rebellious child that I was. You can remain a child for a long time. I certainly did. I was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-davis/i-m-not-the-angry-rebellious-child-that-i-was-you-can-remain-a-child/) [Patti Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-davis/) > [But we have reached a turning-point. We must make a decision: shall we remain a child-like people, giving little thought to our Future, till…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-moeller-van-den-bruck/but-we-have-reached-a-turning-point-we-must-make-a-decision-shall-we/) Arthur Moeller van den Bruck > [To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born is to remain always a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/to-be-ignorant-of-what-occurred-before-you-were-born-is-to-remain/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [To partly remain a child: that is to be really mature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yevgeny-yevtushenko/to-partly-remain-a-child-that-is-to-be-really-mature/) [Yevgeny Yevtushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yevgeny-yevtushenko/) > [“If your mother lived your life as though it were her own-never allowing you a moment of stress or frustration, routinely sleeping in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-secunda/if-your-mother-lived-your-life-as-though-it-were-her-own-never/) [Victoria Secunda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-secunda/) > [The answer can't be found in books - or be solved by bringing it to other people. Not unless you want to remain a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-keyes/the-answer-can-t-be-found-in-books-or-be-solved-by-bringing-it-to/) [Daniel Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-keyes/) ## More by Michael Gambon > [Theater actors are just tolerated. You have to be a movie star to be a celebrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gambon/theater-actors-are-just-tolerated-you-have-to-be-a-movie-star-to-be-a/) [Michael Gambon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gambon/) > [I see film roles as lovely presents that come along now and again. I feel really lucky and say thank you very much. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gambon/i-see-film-roles-as-lovely-presents-that-come-along-now-and-again-i/) [Michael Gambon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gambon/) > [I used to be gay, but I was forced to give it up, because it made my eyes water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gambon/i-used-to-be-gay-but-i-was-forced-to-give-it-up-because-it-made-my/) [Michael Gambon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gambon/) > [I have been in five Harry Potter films and never read a 'Harry Potter' book. If you are an actor, all you have is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gambon/i-have-been-in-five-harry-potter-films-and-never-read-a-harry-potter/) [Michael Gambon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gambon/) > [I can't remember any of the films I've done. You go from one to another, and they all blend in to a big mass.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gambon/i-can-t-remember-any-of-the-films-i-ve-done-you-go-from-one-to/) [Michael Gambon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gambon/) > [I live in fear of being a contented passenger. I'd rather get parts I can't play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gambon/i-live-in-fear-of-being-a-contented-passenger-i-d-rather-get-parts-i/) [Michael Gambon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gambon/) > [I promise myself that I would go and do a play every year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gambon/i-promise-myself-that-i-would-go-and-do-a-play-every-year/) [Michael Gambon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gambon/) > [Television has dried up for my generation, so it's plays and films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gambon/television-has-dried-up-for-my-generation-so-it-s-plays-and-films/) [Michael Gambon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gambon/) > [I never met my theater fans. I'm out the stage door five minutes after the curtain goes up. So that's it. I don't even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gambon/i-never-met-my-theater-fans-i-m-out-the-stage-door-five-minutes-after/) [Michael Gambon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gambon/) > [There are some actors who are rehearsal actors, and some who are not. I am not. Having said that, I don't know what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gambon/there-are-some-actors-who-are-rehearsal-actors-and-some-who-are-not-i/) [Michael Gambon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gambon/) > [I fell in love with Alan Ayckbourn the day I met him and, starting with 'The Norman Conquests,' went on to do eight plays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gambon/i-fell-in-love-with-alan-ayckbourn-the-day-i-met-him-and-starting/) [Michael Gambon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gambon/) > [I've had a private pilot's license for years and flown all round the U.K. and over to France.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gambon/i-ve-had-a-private-pilot-s-license-for-years-and-flown-all-round-the/) [Michael Gambon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gambon/) > [All actors say they're concerned about the state of the theatre, but what they're really concerned about is that there'll be less work around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gambon/all-actors-say-they-re-concerned-about-the-state-of-the-theatre-but/) [Michael Gambon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gambon/) > [I belong to quite a lot of learned societies. We collect firearms and discuss them at dinners and clubs and things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gambon/i-belong-to-quite-a-lot-of-learned-societies-we-collect-firearms-and/) [Michael Gambon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gambon/) > [Television has dried up for my generation, so its plays and films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gambon/television-has-dried-up-for-my-generation-so-its-plays-and-films/) [Michael Gambon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gambon/) [Explore all 50 Michael Gambon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gambon/) ## 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. 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