--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think people pick up on that. You use…" description: "\"I think people pick up on that. You use personal stuff and mix it all in - I definitely pull on that stuff in my acting.\" — Molly Shannon" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/018/molly-shannon-10792_acting_i-think-people-pick-up-on-that-you-use-p_2775153.png" --- # I think people pick up on that. You use personal stuff and… ![“I think people pick up on that. You use personal stuff and mix it all in - I definitely pull on that stuff in my acting.” quote by Molly Shannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/018/molly-shannon-10792_acting_i-think-people-pick-up-on-that-you-use-p_2775153.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/018/molly-shannon-10792_acting_i-think-people-pick-up-on-that-you-use-p_2775153.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/018/molly-shannon-10792_acting_i-think-people-pick-up-on-that-you-use-p_2775153.png) > “I think people pick up on that. You use personal stuff and mix it all in - I definitely pull on that stuff in my acting.” [Molly Shannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-shannon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Personal experiences enrich acting, making performances authentic. **In simple terms:** Using personal life improves acting. Key Takeaway Incorporate personal stories into art. Themes acting creativity authenticity Mood introspective playful Type artistic educational When to use this quote - theatre workshops - film auditions - improv sessions Key Concepts self‑reflection emotional truth performance technique Questions to Reflect On - How does personal material affect audience connection? - What boundaries are needed? A Different Perspective Risk of over‑exposure of private life. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Personal stuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-stuff/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Movie is an industry without job security. As soon as a job is done, you have to find a job. But I think doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-miller/movie-is-an-industry-without-job-security-as-soon-as-a-job-is-done/) [T. J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-miller/) > [Was everybody seeing this stuff and acting as though they weren't? Was insanity just a matter of dropping the act?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-kaysen/was-everybody-seeing-this-stuff-and-acting-as-though-they-weren-t-was/) [Susanna Kaysen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-kaysen/) > [All of the press and stuff - that's the scary stuff. The acting is what I got trained to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilia-clarke/all-of-the-press-and-stuff-that-s-the-scary-stuff-the-acting-is-what/) [Emilia Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emilia-clarke/) > [I was directing before I started doing 'The IT Crowd.' It wasn't something that led on after acting I guess. I was sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ayoade/i-was-directing-before-i-started-doing-the-it-crowd-it-wasn-t/) [Richard Ayoade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ayoade/) > [My preference will always be theatre because it's where my heart lies and it's what I started with and eventually I want to direct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-arterton/my-preference-will-always-be-theatre-because-it-s-where-my-heart-lies/) [Gemma Arterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-arterton/) > [The only thing I collect is art. I collect it because I like looking at it. A lot of it is really personal stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-hanna/the-only-thing-i-collect-is-art-i-collect-it-because-i-like-looking/) [Kathleen Hanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-hanna/) > [I write about so much personal stuff, it's like reading my diary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-cyrus/i-write-about-so-much-personal-stuff-it-s-like-reading-my-diary/) [Noah Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-cyrus/) > [I've always really liked the idea of an artist name, like a cover-up, even though in my music I'm being very personal in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo/i-ve-always-really-liked-the-idea-of-an-artist-name-like-a-cover-up/) MO > [If you have nothing to hide, if you're actually working for eight hours, or 10 or 12 hours, however long people decide to work,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcelo-claure/if-you-have-nothing-to-hide-if-you-re-actually-working-for-eight/) [Marcelo Claure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcelo-claure/) > [You put your personal stuff away and concentrate on the team and help out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zaza-pachulia/you-put-your-personal-stuff-away-and-concentrate-on-the-team-and-help/) [Zaza Pachulia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zaza-pachulia/) > [I hate writing about personal stuff. I don't have a Facebook page. I don't use my Twitter account. I am familiar with both, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/i-hate-writing-about-personal-stuff-i-don-t-have-a-facebook-page-i/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [I can only write about personal stuff, about my point of view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-can-only-write-about-personal-stuff-about-my-point-of-view/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I believe in open government. I've always believed in open government. I don't e-mail, however. And there's a reason: I don't want you reading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-believe-in-open-government-i-ve-always-believed-in-open-government/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [When I wrote nonfiction, my best work was the really personal stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-patchett/when-i-wrote-nonfiction-my-best-work-was-the-really-personal-stuff/) [Ann Patchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-patchett/) > [There's too much emphasis on backstory and personal stuff in music now - it's not going to make the music better if I hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-scally/there-s-too-much-emphasis-on-backstory-and-personal-stuff-in-music/) [Alex Scally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-scally/) ## More by Molly Shannon > [I want to do something I feel like I can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-shannon/i-want-to-do-something-i-feel-like-i-can-do/) [Molly Shannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-shannon/) > [I feel like there is this resurgence of amazing roles for women. It's because TV is so good - there are amazing parts for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-shannon/i-feel-like-there-is-this-resurgence-of-amazing-roles-for-women-it-s/) [Molly Shannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-shannon/) > [I went to drama school at New York University.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-shannon/i-went-to-drama-school-at-new-york-university/) [Molly Shannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-shannon/) > [I really love having lots of down time with my kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-shannon/i-really-love-having-lots-of-down-time-with-my-kids/) [Molly Shannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-shannon/) > [The clothes, the shoes, the gold belts and the necklaces always click me into the character, for sure. You could not feel the character,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-shannon/the-clothes-the-shoes-the-gold-belts-and-the-necklaces-always-click/) [Molly Shannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-shannon/) > [I'm no way one of those comedians who want to do drama. I really do love comedies. I hope to go back to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-shannon/i-m-no-way-one-of-those-comedians-who-want-to-do-drama-i-really-do/) [Molly Shannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-shannon/) > [I think things get a lot better after high school. I think the ones that struggle during that time tend to have better experiences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-shannon/i-think-things-get-a-lot-better-after-high-school-i-think-the-ones/) [Molly Shannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-shannon/) > [The three words every woman really longs to hear: I'll clean up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-shannon/the-three-words-every-woman-really-longs-to-hear-i-ll-clean-up/) [Molly Shannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-shannon/) > [I'm so respectful of good writing. It's the blueprint for the movie. You have to have that script there because, if you don't, you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-shannon/i-m-so-respectful-of-good-writing-it-s-the-blueprint-for-the-movie/) [Molly Shannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-shannon/) > [People would be like, 'Oh, 'Saturday Night Live' is such a stepping stone!' And I remember being like, 'A stepping stone?! This is my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-shannon/people-would-be-like-oh-saturday-night-live-is-such-a-stepping-stone/) [Molly Shannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-shannon/) > [Without a doubt, the worst part of being a mom is having to floss my kids' teeth every night. It's so tedious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-shannon/without-a-doubt-the-worst-part-of-being-a-mom-is-having-to-floss-my/) [Molly Shannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-shannon/) > [The love of a parent, that connection, it's eternal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-shannon/the-love-of-a-parent-that-connection-it-s-eternal/) [Molly Shannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-shannon/) > [I went to NYU drama school, so I was a very serious actress. I used to do monologues with a Southern accent, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-shannon/i-went-to-nyu-drama-school-so-i-was-a-very-serious-actress-i-used-to/) [Molly Shannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-shannon/) > [When I was on 'Saturday Night Live,' all I did was work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-shannon/when-i-was-on-saturday-night-live-all-i-did-was-work/) [Molly Shannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-shannon/) > [I'm very driven by writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-shannon/i-m-very-driven-by-writing/) [Molly Shannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-shannon/) [Explore all 63 Molly Shannon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-shannon/) ## 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": "I think people pick up on that. 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