--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Actors can be many things - vain, venal…" description: "\"Actors can be many things - vain, venal, self-serving, obnoxious, bullies - but all of the good ones are great storytellers.\" — Paul Bettany" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/394/paul-bettany-9309_actor_actors-can-be-many-things-vain-venal-sel_219930.jpg" --- # Actors can be many things - vain, venal, self-serving… ![“Actors can be many things - vain, venal, self-serving, obnoxious, bullies - but all of the good ones are great storytellers.” quote by Paul Bettany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/394/paul-bettany-9309_actor_actors-can-be-many-things-vain-venal-sel_219930.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/394/paul-bettany-9309_actor_actors-can-be-many-things-vain-venal-sel_219930.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/394/paul-bettany-9309_actor_actors-can-be-many-things-vain-venal-sel_219930.jpg) > “Actors can be many things - vain, venal, self-serving, obnoxious, bullies - but all of the good ones are great storytellers.” [Paul Bettany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bettany/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Actors may have flaws, but the best excel at storytelling, highlighting the power of narrative. **In simple terms:** Great actors are compelling storytellers despite flaws. Key Takeaway Focus on storytelling craft. Themes acting flaws storytelling talent Mood analytical appreciative Type critical observational When to use this quote - typecasting - celebrity culture - media criticism Key Concepts narrative theory performance art character study Questions to Reflect On - What makes a story compelling? - How do actors overcome personal flaws? A Different Perspective Flaws can affect public perception. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Actors Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors-things-1278042/) [Bullies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bullies/) [Bullies Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bullies-good-2249868/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Great Storytellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-storytellers-925134/) [Many](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/many/) [Storytellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storytellers/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) ## Related quotes > [Actors can be many things - vain, venal, self-serving, obnoxious, bullies - but all of the good ones are great storytellers. I wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bettany/actors-can-be-many-things-vain-venal-self-serving-obnoxious-bullies-2/) [Paul Bettany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bettany/) > [As a child, I was fortunate enough to be close to family members who were - and still are - great storytellers. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-l-martin/as-a-child-i-was-fortunate-enough-to-be-close-to-family-members-who/) [Jesse L. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-l-martin/) > [We will continue to raise the bar for our audience, investing in great storytellers and reflecting the authentic faces and voices of the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/channing-dungey/we-will-continue-to-raise-the-bar-for-our-audience-investing-in-great/) [Channing Dungey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/channing-dungey/) > [Listen to great storytellers; slowly, you will learn about voice, timing, tension, structure, climax - all the things you need to tell stories that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmen-agra-deedy/listen-to-great-storytellers-slowly-you-will-learn-about-voice-timing/) [Carmen Agra Deedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmen-agra-deedy/) > [I don't want to infantilize the actor; I want to empower the actor. Actors can be many things, but all of the really good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bettany/i-don-t-want-to-infantilize-the-actor-i-want-to-empower-the-actor/) [Paul Bettany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bettany/) > [I think that's why we do well with 'Property Brothers.' It's our charisma with each other and with the audience. We've always been great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-scott/i-think-that-s-why-we-do-well-with-property-brothers-it-s-our/) [Jonathan Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-scott/) > [My favourite writers are always great storytellers, like Bruce Springsteen; I adore Bruce Springsteen. I feel like he doesn't beat around the bush, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-fender/my-favourite-writers-are-always-great-storytellers-like-bruce/) [Sam Fender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-fender/) > [My biggest problem in my life is I'm cheap and I didn't hire a publicist. In every awkward interview, normally actors get these things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pattinson/my-biggest-problem-in-my-life-is-i-m-cheap-and-i-didn-t-hire-a/) [Robert Pattinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pattinson/) > [I'd love to tell actors about all the things they don't need to worry about. Less is more. If you have it inside, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigourney-weaver/i-d-love-to-tell-actors-about-all-the-things-they-don-t-need-to-worry/) [Sigourney Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigourney-weaver/) > [I think people imitate actors - things they've seen in a movie or on TV, and before you know it, they're doing something with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-barney/i-think-people-imitate-actors-things-they-ve-seen-in-a-movie-or-on-tv/) [Tina Barney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-barney/) > [Actors always have things that they're not thrilled about on a show and have a hobby of bellyaching about those things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-cryer/actors-always-have-things-that-they-re-not-thrilled-about-on-a-show/) [Jon Cryer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-cryer/) > [People forget that we are character actors and we can do other things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/people-forget-that-we-are-character-actors-and-we-can-do-other-things/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [I remember all the kids picking their chosen career paths and I was thinking, If I'm an actor I can be an astronaut and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lowell/i-remember-all-the-kids-picking-their-chosen-career-paths-and-i-was/) [Chris Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lowell/) > [I think actors who take things too far are funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-norris/i-think-actors-who-take-things-too-far-are-funny/) [Dean Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-norris/) > [I went to theater school in Toronto for four years and grew up around actors, and things like headshots could cost you from $500…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mena-massoud/i-went-to-theater-school-in-toronto-for-four-years-and-grew-up-around/) [Mena Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/) ## More by Paul Bettany > [I really like telling stories. When I was a kid, I wanted to write songs. In quite a fundamental, gratifying, childish way, I enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bettany/i-really-like-telling-stories-when-i-was-a-kid-i-wanted-to-write/) [Paul Bettany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bettany/) > [I feel like the world we live in seems to be full of an increasingly grey area, but the culture that we live in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bettany/i-feel-like-the-world-we-live-in-seems-to-be-full-of-an-increasingly/) [Paul Bettany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bettany/) > [The only thing I think I can be accused of about paparazzi is being really naive. I didnt think about it coming along with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bettany/the-only-thing-i-think-i-can-be-accused-of-about-paparazzi-is-being/) [Paul Bettany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bettany/) > [I was bullied about everything, from the way I looked to the fact that my father had been a dancer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bettany/i-was-bullied-about-everything-from-the-way-i-looked-to-the-fact-that/) [Paul Bettany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bettany/) > [No one I know works in the industry. No, that's not true - Liv Tyler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bettany/no-one-i-know-works-in-the-industry-no-that-s-not-true-liv-tyler/) [Paul Bettany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bettany/) > [For some ungodly reason, I end up being naked in a lot of stuff. But there is a certain grace and kudos that come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bettany/for-some-ungodly-reason-i-end-up-being-naked-in-a-lot-of-stuff-but/) [Paul Bettany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bettany/) > [I'm sure some people have an absolute grasp of where they are in their careers. I just don't think about it that much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bettany/i-m-sure-some-people-have-an-absolute-grasp-of-where-they-are-in/) [Paul Bettany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bettany/) > [I'm never late, and I love that. Because when you've got three kids and a life to be living, and somebody's half an hour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bettany/i-m-never-late-and-i-love-that-because-when-you-ve-got-three-kids-and/) [Paul Bettany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bettany/) > [There are lots of people that make movies. It's not just the director.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bettany/there-are-lots-of-people-that-make-movies-it-s-not-just-the-director/) [Paul Bettany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bettany/) > [I know great actors whom nothing has ever happened for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bettany/i-know-great-actors-whom-nothing-has-ever-happened-for/) [Paul Bettany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bettany/) > [But I feel truly wowed by the architecture and the meaning of the architecture if you get lost in it and think about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bettany/but-i-feel-truly-wowed-by-the-architecture-and-the-meaning-of-the/) [Paul Bettany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bettany/) > [I loved working with Peter Weir. I think he's one of the greats and will be remembered as one of the greats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bettany/i-loved-working-with-peter-weir-i-think-he-s-one-of-the-greats-and/) [Paul Bettany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bettany/) > [I feel safe in saying this, and that is that Peter Weir is without a doubt one of the greatest filmmakers of all time.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bettany/i-feel-safe-in-saying-this-and-that-is-that-peter-weir-is-without-a/) [Paul Bettany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bettany/) > [I was born a Catholic and now I'm a lapsed Catholic. I'm something but I'm not a believer any more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bettany/i-was-born-a-catholic-and-now-i-m-a-lapsed-catholic-i-m-something-but/) [Paul Bettany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bettany/) > [My relationship with 'Star Wars' is that I'm old enough that I saw it when it first came out - 'A New Hope,' that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bettany/my-relationship-with-star-wars-is-that-i-m-old-enough-that-i-saw-it/) [Paul Bettany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bettany/) [Explore all 74 Paul Bettany quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bettany/) ## 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. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [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/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! 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