--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Acting is kind of brutal." description: "\"Acting is kind of brutal.\" — Michelle Pfeiffer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a31/michelle-pfeiffer-3639_acting_acting-is-kind-of-brutal-1723963_1723963.jpg" --- # Acting is kind of brutal. ![“Acting is kind of brutal.” quote by Michelle Pfeiffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a31/michelle-pfeiffer-3639_acting_acting-is-kind-of-brutal-1723963_1723963.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a31/michelle-pfeiffer-3639_acting_acting-is-kind-of-brutal-1723963_1723963.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a31/michelle-pfeiffer-3639_acting_acting-is-kind-of-brutal-1723963_1723963.jpg) > “Acting is kind of brutal.” [Michelle Pfeiffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-pfeiffer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting demands harsh honesty and emotional exposure, making it a brutal profession. **In simple terms:** Acting is tough and raw. Key Takeaway Prepare emotionally for demanding roles. Themes artistry vulnerability career challenges Mood intense honest Type reflective motivational When to use this quote - theatre - film set - intensive rehearsals Key Concepts performance psychology emotional labor Questions to Reflect On - How do you protect yourself from burnout? - What support systems help actors? A Different Perspective The industry can be unsupportive of mental health. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-kind-484996/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Brutal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brutal/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Kind Brutal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind-brutal-1365444/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [I think all actors have a sadomasochistic streak, because acting is kind of brutal, you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-pfeiffer/i-think-all-actors-have-a-sadomasochistic-streak-because-acting-is/) [Michelle Pfeiffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-pfeiffer/) > [“So it was with the world, restless, kind of brutal. Always going on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-barry/so-it-was-with-the-world-restless-kind-of-brutal-always-going-on/) [Sebastian Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-barry/) > [I've always used music for my acting, and I do have a kind of a very personal play list that I create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tucker/i-ve-always-used-music-for-my-acting-and-i-do-have-a-kind-of-a-very/) [Jonathan Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tucker/) > ['Whatever it takes' is my opinion of method acting and, indeed, any other kind of acting. Look at Brando and De Niro. But it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-holm/whatever-it-takes-is-my-opinion-of-method-acting-and-indeed-any-other/) [Ian Holm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-holm/) > [The fact that I got into acting at all was kind of fluke-ish. I loved movies, but I can't remember ever really wanting to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/the-fact-that-i-got-into-acting-at-all-was-kind-of-fluke-ish-i-loved/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [I booked my first series when I was 13. Acting kind of took control because I was just going from part to part at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-morgan/i-booked-my-first-series-when-i-was-13-acting-kind-of-took-control/) [Vanessa Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-morgan/) > [Acting is kind of a forced compassion, where you learn that given certain circumstances, you can feel and do things that you never thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sarandon/acting-is-kind-of-a-forced-compassion-where-you-learn-that-given/) [Susan Sarandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sarandon/) > [Acting is kind of gay. It makes you soft. You got all these people combing your hair and putting a coat over your shoulders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quinton-jackson/acting-is-kind-of-gay-it-makes-you-soft-you-got-all-these-people/) [Quinton Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quinton-jackson/) > [Acting is kind of difficult to intellectualize - it's a far more visceral experience. It's really hard to be able to think about and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-eisenberg/acting-is-kind-of-difficult-to-intellectualize-it-s-a-far-more/) [Jesse Eisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-eisenberg/) > [Acting is all about a kind of self-expression. When you take on different roles and become different characters, you have to draw upon your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-momsen/acting-is-all-about-a-kind-of-self-expression-when-you-take-on/) [Taylor Momsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-momsen/) > [Do I have any potential as an actor? I don't know. I'm still wondering. But acting has kind of taken over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-mckay/do-i-have-any-potential-as-an-actor-i-don-t-know-i-m-still-wondering/) [Christian McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-mckay/) > [I think it started since I was born, I always had a need to express myself, you know, as a human being, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-meraz/i-think-it-started-since-i-was-born-i-always-had-a-need-to-express/) [Alex Meraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-meraz/) > [Acting is kind of an escape. You get to live life as someone else, and when you're living this life as someone else, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-silvers/acting-is-kind-of-an-escape-you-get-to-live-life-as-someone-else-and/) [Diana Silvers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-silvers/) > [You think about acting kind of as an iceberg where you've got that 5% that you see... but in order to have that 5%...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tucker/you-think-about-acting-kind-of-as-an-iceberg-where-you-ve-got-that-5/) [Jonathan Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tucker/) > [That's one of my little expressions. I never really studied acting so I kind of kiddingly talk about "building your circle" and "mooding up,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sarandon/that-s-one-of-my-little-expressions-i-never-really-studied-acting-so/) [Susan Sarandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sarandon/) ## More by Michelle Pfeiffer > [I don't know if it's naivete or just narcissism, but I start out with this notion that I can do anything. It's not until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-pfeiffer/i-don-t-know-if-it-s-naivete-or-just-narcissism-but-i-start-out-with/) [Michelle Pfeiffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-pfeiffer/) > [Being from Orange County is in a lot ways very much like being from the Midwest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-pfeiffer/being-from-orange-county-is-in-a-lot-ways-very-much-like-being-from/) [Michelle Pfeiffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-pfeiffer/) > [People who are rude to waiters... I don't like that sort of thing. People who take cuts in line... it doesn't fly!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-pfeiffer/people-who-are-rude-to-waiters-i-don-t-like-that-sort-of-thing-people/) [Michelle Pfeiffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-pfeiffer/) > [For me, getting comfortable with being famous was hard - that whole side of it, the loss of anonymity, the loss of privacy. Giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-pfeiffer/for-me-getting-comfortable-with-being-famous-was-hard-that-whole-side/) [Michelle Pfeiffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-pfeiffer/) > [I've always had a very extreme personality, which gets me into major trouble, I'm always all or nothing, and I don't know the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-pfeiffer/i-ve-always-had-a-very-extreme-personality-which-gets-me-into-major/) [Michelle Pfeiffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-pfeiffer/) > [If I really want to do something, I'll go in and do whatever the director feels that he needs me to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-pfeiffer/if-i-really-want-to-do-something-i-ll-go-in-and-do-whatever-the/) [Michelle Pfeiffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-pfeiffer/) > [You know, when I am working, I take really, really good care of myself. I eat really well, and I exercise, and again, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-pfeiffer/you-know-when-i-am-working-i-take-really-really-good-care-of-myself-i/) [Michelle Pfeiffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-pfeiffer/) > [I still think people will find out that I’m really not very talented. I’m really not very good. It’s all been a big sham.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-pfeiffer/i-still-think-people-will-find-out-that-i-m-really-not-very-talented/) [Michelle Pfeiffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-pfeiffer/) > [If you think hitting 40 is liberating, wait until you hit 50; and I was surprised at how liberating it was. The anticipation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-pfeiffer/if-you-think-hitting-40-is-liberating-wait-until-you-hit-50-and-i-was/) [Michelle Pfeiffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-pfeiffer/) > [Men do not take to vanity, because they are taught at an early age that it is wrong to be vain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-pfeiffer/men-do-not-take-to-vanity-because-they-are-taught-at-an-early-age/) [Michelle Pfeiffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-pfeiffer/) > [Where I came from, the idea of going into show business was just ridiculous; in fact I didn't tell anybody because I knew people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-pfeiffer/where-i-came-from-the-idea-of-going-into-show-business-was-just/) [Michelle Pfeiffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-pfeiffer/) > [Every time I set up an interview, I say, "That's it, this is my last one. I'll do this because I committed to doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-pfeiffer/every-time-i-set-up-an-interview-i-say-that-s-it-this-is-my-last-one/) [Michelle Pfeiffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-pfeiffer/) > [I still look like a duck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-pfeiffer/i-still-look-like-a-duck/) [Michelle Pfeiffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-pfeiffer/) > [I've been working since I was 14, and my father, being very conservative, has always been strict about my having a savings account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-pfeiffer/i-ve-been-working-since-i-was-14-and-my-father-being-very/) [Michelle Pfeiffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-pfeiffer/) > [De Niro is a classic example of somebody who is iconic and who sort of effortlessly puts actors at ease the moment you meet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-pfeiffer/de-niro-is-a-classic-example-of-somebody-who-is-iconic-and-who-sort/) [Michelle Pfeiffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-pfeiffer/) [Explore all 125 Michelle Pfeiffer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-pfeiffer/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 is kind of brutal.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michelle Pfeiffer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-pfeiffer/acting-is-kind-of-brutal/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-pfeiffer/acting-is-kind-of-brutal/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a31/michelle-pfeiffer-3639_acting_acting-is-kind-of-brutal-1723963_1723963.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a31/michelle-pfeiffer-3639_acting_acting-is-kind-of-brutal-1723963_1723963.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a31/michelle-pfeiffer-3639_acting_acting-is-kind-of-brutal-1723963_1723963.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Acting is kind of brutal.” — Michelle Pfeiffer", "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": "Michelle Pfeiffer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-pfeiffer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Acting is kind of brutal.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-pfeiffer/acting-is-kind-of-brutal/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-pfeiffer/acting-is-kind-of-brutal/#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 } } ] } ```