--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was young I used to sit in the…" description: "\"When I was young I used to sit in the cinema thinking wouldn't it be great if you could have a film in which the characters were like real people inste..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef0/mike-leigh-9087_actors_when-i-was-young-i-used-to-sit-in-the-ci_1750632.png" --- # When I was young I used to sit in the cinema thinking… ![“When I was young I used to sit in the cinema thinking wouldn't it be great if you could have a film in which the characters were like real people instead of being like actors.” quote by Mike Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef0/mike-leigh-9087_actors_when-i-was-young-i-used-to-sit-in-the-ci_1750632.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef0/mike-leigh-9087_actors_when-i-was-young-i-used-to-sit-in-the-ci_1750632.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef0/mike-leigh-9087_actors_when-i-was-young-i-used-to-sit-in-the-ci_1750632.png) > “When I was young I used to sit in the cinema thinking wouldn't it be great if you could have a film in which the characters were like real people instead of being like actors.” [Mike Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leigh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker wishes films featured characters who behave authentically, like real people, rather than theatrical performances. **In simple terms:** Desires realistic characters in movies. Key Takeaway Seek authenticity in storytelling. Themes authenticity cinema character creativity Mood reflective hopeful Type observational inspirational When to use this quote - screenwriting - directing - acting workshops - film criticism Key Concepts realism method acting human experience Questions to Reflect On - How can filmmakers balance realism with dramatic structure? - What techniques make characters feel genuine? A Different Perspective Realistic portrayal may clash with narrative conventions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I tend to play characters that I can infuse with certain kinds of humour. Even the baddest guy can be funny in his own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/i-tend-to-play-characters-that-i-can-infuse-with-certain-kinds-of/) [Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/) > [I love going to the cinema and thinking you're seeing something, and you end up on a whole other planet, and you can't believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-davis/i-love-going-to-the-cinema-and-thinking-you-re-seeing-something-and/) [Garth Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-davis/) > [I like actors - such as Margaret Rutherford and Peter Lorre - who aren't afraid to over-act like real people. When I take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denholm-elliott/i-like-actors-such-as-margaret-rutherford-and-peter-lorre-who-aren-t/) [Denholm Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denholm-elliott/) > [Personally, I like all actors who are mysterious and don't have social media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karan-soni/personally-i-like-all-actors-who-are-mysterious-and-don-t-have-social/) [Karan Soni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karan-soni/) > [People have a different idea of how movies are made than they really are. On a certain level, everyone throws ideas into the hopper.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/people-have-a-different-idea-of-how-movies-are-made-than-they-really/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [I look for the essence of a story and a human angle that I think audiences can relate to. I also look at how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hrithik-roshan/i-look-for-the-essence-of-a-story-and-a-human-angle-that-i-think/) [Hrithik Roshan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hrithik-roshan/) > [I would rather portray the hero if it's a really great film. 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The more you explain things, the less intriguing and imaginable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takeshi-kitano/i-believe-you-shouldn-t-force-the-audience-s-interpretation-of-a/) [Takeshi Kitano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takeshi-kitano/) > [But in film you always watch situations or stories that you really have no relation to. A lot of times just because there's no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-hernandez/but-in-film-you-always-watch-situations-or-stories-that-you-really/) [Jay Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-hernandez/) > [I don’t mind if the character is a small character, but I would just like her to have a journey in the film. Sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-chastain/i-don-t-mind-if-the-character-is-a-small-character-but-i-would-just/) [Jessica Chastain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-chastain/) ## More by Mike Leigh > [The main problem is that the Hollywood system has already made the film before the director shoots a single frame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leigh/the-main-problem-is-that-the-hollywood-system-has-already-made-the/) [Mike Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leigh/) > [The delineation between the actor and his part is a practical matter. When the camera runs, you want the actor to be the character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leigh/the-delineation-between-the-actor-and-his-part-is-a-practical-matter/) [Mike Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leigh/) > [Films are made all over the world all the time and only a thin slice of that product is Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leigh/films-are-made-all-over-the-world-all-the-time-and-only-a-thin-slice/) [Mike Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leigh/) > [I think it's important that nobody forgets that although Hollywood commercially dominates the world cinema, in fact what comes out of the filmmaking here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leigh/i-think-it-s-important-that-nobody-forgets-that-although-hollywood/) [Mike Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leigh/) > [Life is about luck and it's about circumstances and socioeconomic conditions and all the rest of it, but you know, you can also make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leigh/life-is-about-luck-and-it-s-about-circumstances-and-socioeconomic/) [Mike Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leigh/) > [I hope I make films where you walk away . . . with work to do, arguments to have, things to worry about, things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leigh/i-hope-i-make-films-where-you-walk-away-with-work-to-do-arguments-to/) [Mike Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leigh/) > [It's an unhealthy habit to say that life is what you make of it, and if you want to be happy, then you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leigh/it-s-an-unhealthy-habit-to-say-that-life-is-what-you-make-of-it-and/) [Mike Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leigh/) > [You will find hardly any improvising on camera anywhere in my films. It's very structured, but it's all worked out from elaborate improvisations over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leigh/you-will-find-hardly-any-improvising-on-camera-anywhere-in-my-films/) [Mike Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leigh/) > [I take no notice of the trends. It has never concerned me at all. My job is to deal with what I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leigh/i-take-no-notice-of-the-trends-it-has-never-concerned-me-at-all-my/) [Mike Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leigh/) > [A lot of the reasons that I'm resistant to making films in the U.S. have nothing to do with not doing a film in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leigh/a-lot-of-the-reasons-that-i-m-resistant-to-making-films-in-the-u-s/) [Mike Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leigh/) > [But films should be voyeuristic. What else is a film if you're not snooping into somebody else's lives?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leigh/but-films-should-be-voyeuristic-what-else-is-a-film-if-you-re-not/) [Mike Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leigh/) > [I try and create for the audience something that relates to real-life experience. When you're meeting somebody for the first time, all you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leigh/i-try-and-create-for-the-audience-something-that-relates-to-real-life/) [Mike Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leigh/) > [People have been very resistant to giving me more than the standard amount of money. So I keep making films on a similar scale.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leigh/people-have-been-very-resistant-to-giving-me-more-than-the-standard/) [Mike Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leigh/) > [But actually I make films that I think are extremely sophisticated and cinematic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leigh/but-actually-i-make-films-that-i-think-are-extremely-sophisticated/) [Mike Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leigh/) > [My work requires acting at its most committed - it demands actors of enormous resilience, but also intelligence and wit. It doesn't work for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leigh/my-work-requires-acting-at-its-most-committed-it-demands-actors-of/) [Mike Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leigh/) [Explore all 75 Mike Leigh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leigh/) ## More Actors quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. 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It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/) [Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [When we watch a film as actors, you have to understand that we always see much more than what's on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/when-we-watch-a-film-as-actors-you-have-to-understand-that-we-always/) [Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/) > [As actors, you become an expert at starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-actors-you-become-an-expert-at-starting-over/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. 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Being an actor is about changing who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/a-rapper-is-about-being-completely-true-to-yourself-being-an-actor-is/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [I've been a professional actor for almost 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-been-a-professional-actor-for-almost-40-years/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [American actors are coy. We all have pricks and cunts, or are you different from the rest of us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/american-actors-are-coy-we-all-have-pricks-and-cunts-or-are-you/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) [Browse all 11,394 Actors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was young I used to sit in the cinema thinking wouldn't it be great if you could have a film in which the characters were like real people instead of being like actors.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mike Leigh" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leigh/when-i-was-young-i-used-to-sit-in-the-cinema-thinking-wouldn-t-it-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actors" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leigh/when-i-was-young-i-used-to-sit-in-the-cinema-thinking-wouldn-t-it-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef0/mike-leigh-9087_actors_when-i-was-young-i-used-to-sit-in-the-ci_1750632.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef0/mike-leigh-9087_actors_when-i-was-young-i-used-to-sit-in-the-ci_1750632.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef0/mike-leigh-9087_actors_when-i-was-young-i-used-to-sit-in-the-ci_1750632.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I was young I used to sit in the cinema thinking wouldn't it be great if you could have a film in which…” — Mike Leigh", "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": "Mike Leigh", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leigh/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I was young I used...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leigh/when-i-was-young-i-used-to-sit-in-the-cinema-thinking-wouldn-t-it-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leigh/when-i-was-young-i-used-to-sit-in-the-cinema-thinking-wouldn-t-it-be/#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 } } ] } ```