--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I come down as an actor and my marks are…" description: "\"I come down as an actor and my marks are already laid out on the floor - somebody else organized what I'm going to do. I think, why am I here? And why ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d4/paul-bettany-9309_actors_i-come-down-as-an-actor-and-my-marks-are_3144082.jpg" --- # I come down as an actor and my marks are already laid out… ![“I come down as an actor and my marks are already laid out on the floor - somebody else organized what I'm going to do. I think, why am I here? And why I'm here is to express the words with some sort of vague emotion and make them seem real. I wanted to go back to how it was before.” quote by Paul Bettany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d4/paul-bettany-9309_actors_i-come-down-as-an-actor-and-my-marks-are_3144082.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d4/paul-bettany-9309_actors_i-come-down-as-an-actor-and-my-marks-are_3144082.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d4/paul-bettany-9309_actors_i-come-down-as-an-actor-and-my-marks-are_3144082.jpg) > “I come down as an actor and my marks are already laid out on the floor - somebody else organized what I'm going to do. I think, why am I here? And why I'm here is to express the words with some sort of vague emotion and make them seem real. I wanted to go back to how it was before.” [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. He feels his acting is pre‑directed, questioning purpose and seeking authentic emotion in performance. **In simple terms:** He wonders why he acts and wants genuine feeling. Key Takeaway Seek roles that let you create, not just follow. Themes identity purpose authenticity artistic expression Mood contemplative melancholic Type reflective philosophical When to use this quote - audition prep - character development - directorial collaboration - personal reflection Key Concepts existentialism method acting creative autonomy Questions to Reflect On - What does authenticity mean to you as an actor? - How can you balance direction with personal expression? A Different Perspective He may be over‑introspecting, limiting spontaneity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor Marks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-marks-5615011/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Come Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/come-actor-956229/) [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Emotion Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion-make-1159074/) [Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mark/) [Marks Laid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marks-laid-5615013/) [Organized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organized/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Somebody Organized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/somebody-organized-5615012/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Vague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vague/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) ## Related quotes > [So what if Brian made me feel like fireworks were going off inside me. He could also make me feel like a big fat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-gilbert-murdock/so-what-if-brian-made-me-feel-like-fireworks-were-going-off-inside-me/) [Catherine Gilbert Murdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-gilbert-murdock/) > [As soon as you try to eliminate a thought or emotion, you make it stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/as-soon-as-you-try-to-eliminate-a-thought-or-emotion-you-make-it/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) > [Love is not blind to those who control the emotion,and make the things right and do right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariane-corbito/love-is-not-blind-to-those-who-control-the-emotion-and-make-the/) [Mariane Corbito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariane-corbito/) > [“Open displays of emotion make me more uncomfortable than itching powder in a pair of sandpaper panties,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lila-monroe/open-displays-of-emotion-make-me-more-uncomfortable-than-itching/) [Lila Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lila-monroe/) > [In anything you do, if you don't let your emotion take over you, you can make the better decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-garcia/in-anything-you-do-if-you-don-t-let-your-emotion-take-over-you-you/) [Ryan Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-garcia/) > [If you want to make someone feel emotion, you have to make them let go. Listening to something is an act of surrender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/if-you-want-to-make-someone-feel-emotion-you-have-to-make-them-let-go/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [I always give one actor an emotion to make it very easy so he or she can root to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baran-odar/i-always-give-one-actor-an-emotion-to-make-it-very-easy-so-he-or-she/) [Baran Odar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baran-odar/) > [There are so many people who come to me to be an actor, but I select only those people who I feel can fit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dev-anand/there-are-so-many-people-who-come-to-me-to-be-an-actor-but-i-select/) [Dev Anand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dev-anand/) > [There are many projects that come an actor's way, and one cannot say yes to all of them. Reasons of saying no vary all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taapsee-pannu/there-are-many-projects-that-come-an-actor-s-way-and-one-cannot-say/) [Taapsee Pannu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taapsee-pannu/) > [The profession is rife with fear about your age, about your validly, longevity, appearance. It's vanity, and it's hard to sort of avoid all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barratt/the-profession-is-rife-with-fear-about-your-age-about-your-validly/) [Julian Barratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barratt/) > [That's what's so satisfying about acting. You can come as prepared as you like, but there's no accounting for what's going to come at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-oyelowo/that-s-what-s-so-satisfying-about-acting-you-can-come-as-prepared-as/) [David Oyelowo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-oyelowo/) > [I come in as an actor, having read through the script a few times, made a couple of character-choices, thinking I'm going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-graae/i-come-in-as-an-actor-having-read-through-the-script-a-few-times-made/) [Jason Graae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-graae/) > [You come back with an actor for the second time only when you had a successful and creatively satisfying experience the first time round.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-krishna-acharya/you-come-back-with-an-actor-for-the-second-time-only-when-you-had-a/) [Vijay Krishna Acharya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-krishna-acharya/) > [Have you heard anything useful come out of an actor's mouth lately?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-willis/have-you-heard-anything-useful-come-out-of-an-actor-s-mouth-lately/) [Bruce Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-willis/) > [Real quality in roles is very hard to come by. Any actor or actress will tell you that. Great movies are hard to come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-hunter/real-quality-in-roles-is-very-hard-to-come-by-any-actor-or-actress/) [Holly Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-hunter/) ## 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/) > [Actors can be many things - vain, venal, self-serving, obnoxious, bullies - but all of the good ones are great storytellers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bettany/actors-can-be-many-things-vain-venal-self-serving-obnoxious-bullies/) [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/) [Explore all 74 Paul Bettany quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bettany/) ## More Actors quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. 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. 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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": "I come down as an actor and my marks are already laid out on the floor - somebody else organized what I'm going to do. I think, why am I here? And why I'm here is to express the words with some sort of vague emotion and make them seem real. 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