--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Acting is many things. Acting is playing…" description: "\"Acting is many things. Acting is playing lines, of course, but it's much more profound than that. Acting is truth-telling, and trying to find the truth..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/279/paul-greengrass-31417_acting_acting-is-many-things-acting-is-playing_1356198.jpg" --- # Acting is many things. Acting is playing lines, of course… ![“Acting is many things. Acting is playing lines, of course, but it's much more profound than that. Acting is truth-telling, and trying to find the truth in a human situation, which will be sketched out by a screenwriter with all the skill that a screenwriter can do; but in the end, that's just the…” quote by Paul Greengrass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/279/paul-greengrass-31417_acting_acting-is-many-things-acting-is-playing_1356198.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/279/paul-greengrass-31417_acting_acting-is-many-things-acting-is-playing_1356198.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/279/paul-greengrass-31417_acting_acting-is-many-things-acting-is-playing_1356198.jpg) > “Acting is many things. Acting is playing lines, of course, but it's much more profound than that. Acting is truth-telling, and trying to find the truth in a human situation, which will be sketched out by a screenwriter with all the skill that a screenwriter can do; but in the end, that's just the map of the journey. The actor's job is to divine and embody the truth, and find it.” [Paul Greengrass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-greengrass/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting transcends reciting lines; it is a quest to discover and embody truth within human stories, guided by the script as a roadmap. **In simple terms:** Acting is a search for truth beyond the script. Key Takeaway Seek truth in every role. Themes acting truth storytelling embodiment creative process Mood introspective inspired Type artistic philosophical When to use this quote - theatre - film - personal growth - emotional intelligence Key Concepts method acting narrative truth character study screenwriting Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance script guidance with personal truth? - When does truth become subjective in performance? A Different Perspective Reliance on script may limit spontaneous authenticity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/) [Profound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profound/) [Screenwriters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/screenwriters/) [Skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skills/) [Telling the truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telling-the-truth/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [I've always loved the collaborative side of filmmaking, and there's a lot of things I can do in the acting side of things in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/i-ve-always-loved-the-collaborative-side-of-filmmaking-and-there-s-a/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [One of the great things about acting is you can do things that in real life would get you in trouble. I think that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shannon/one-of-the-great-things-about-acting-is-you-can-do-things-that-in/) [Michael Shannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shannon/) > [I think what I enjoy most about playing Zoey is the fact that she's a lot more comfortable and open than I am. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-moss/i-think-what-i-enjoy-most-about-playing-zoey-is-the-fact-that-she-s-a/) [Elisabeth Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-moss/) > [I always have a rule that acting is acting and truth is truth and you just go out there and you do it. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-woods/i-always-have-a-rule-that-acting-is-acting-and-truth-is-truth-and-you/) [James Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-woods/) > [Wisdom consists in speaking and acting the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/wisdom-consists-in-speaking-and-acting-the-truth/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [In fear we are acting on fiction and in love we are acting on truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gerber/in-fear-we-are-acting-on-fiction-and-in-love-we-are-acting-on-truth/) [Richard Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gerber/) > [The most significant piece of advice my father gave me early on about acting was, don't get caught acting. Really believe in what you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiefer-sutherland/the-most-significant-piece-of-advice-my-father-gave-me-early-on-about/) [Kiefer Sutherland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiefer-sutherland/) > [A lot of people think I'm cynical when I talk about acting. The truth of the matter is, I just don't want someone to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-tamblyn/a-lot-of-people-think-i-m-cynical-when-i-talk-about-acting-the-truth/) [Amber Tamblyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-tamblyn/) > [Acting is all about truth and honesty, and the sensitivity that's capable of transporting you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-kretschmann/acting-is-all-about-truth-and-honesty-and-the-sensitivity-that-s/) [Thomas Kretschmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-kretschmann/) > [I just want to keep working, really. I just want to keep acting. 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Whenever I am playing a character, I use my real life experiences, which puts me on the line of reliving some of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-holker/acting-whenever-i-am-playing-a-character-i-use-my-real-life/) [Allison Holker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-holker/) > [When you're acting, playing the bad guy, you get a chance to open up this box inside and look at all the bad things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-kemp/when-you-re-acting-playing-the-bad-guy-you-get-a-chance-to-open-up/) [Martin Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-kemp/) > [I hope to be acting until I'm playing the role of Grandma, and I'd like to branch out in film - producing, directing, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/america-ferrera/i-hope-to-be-acting-until-i-m-playing-the-role-of-grandma-and-i-d/) [America Ferrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/america-ferrera/) > [Acting is nothing more or less than playing. The idea is to humanize life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/acting-is-nothing-more-or-less-than-playing-the-idea-is-to-humanize/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) ## More by Paul Greengrass > [You sort of can't talk about the post production unless you talk about what comes first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-greengrass/you-sort-of-can-t-talk-about-the-post-production-unless-you-talk/) [Paul Greengrass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-greengrass/) > [Why are people saying it's too soon? Like the people on that flight, we need to agree about what to do about terrorism. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-greengrass/why-are-people-saying-it-s-too-soon-like-the-people-on-that-flight-we/) [Paul Greengrass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-greengrass/) > [That's one of the central challenges we face - how to stay true to events and compress the fundamentals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-greengrass/that-s-one-of-the-central-challenges-we-face-how-to-stay-true-to/) [Paul Greengrass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-greengrass/) > [All directors make films in individual ways. But the classical kind of view of filmmaking is that you have a script and it's very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-greengrass/all-directors-make-films-in-individual-ways-but-the-classical-kind-of/) [Paul Greengrass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-greengrass/) > [I always try and bring screenplay, shooting and editing into a sort of symbiotic - as close into alignment as you possibly can get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-greengrass/i-always-try-and-bring-screenplay-shooting-and-editing-into-a-sort-of/) [Paul Greengrass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-greengrass/) > [Remembering is painful, it's difficult, but it can be inspiring and it can give wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-greengrass/remembering-is-painful-it-s-difficult-but-it-can-be-inspiring-and-it/) [Paul Greengrass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-greengrass/) > [There's a film you write, there's a film you shoot, and there's a film that you cut - and they're all different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-greengrass/there-s-a-film-you-write-there-s-a-film-you-shoot-and-there-s-a-film/) [Paul Greengrass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-greengrass/) > [I think when you think of my films, I think hopefully you think of an extreme sort of real unfolding, real-time, performed, feeling semi-improvised,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-greengrass/i-think-when-you-think-of-my-films-i-think-hopefully-you-think-of-an/) [Paul Greengrass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-greengrass/) > [There's a script, then you're going to shoot the script and then you cut that and then that's the end of the film. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-greengrass/there-s-a-script-then-you-re-going-to-shoot-the-script-and-then-you/) [Paul Greengrass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-greengrass/) > [The people who went on that airplane were unexceptional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-greengrass/the-people-who-went-on-that-airplane-were-unexceptional/) [Paul Greengrass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-greengrass/) > [The actor's job is to divine and embody the truth, and find it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-greengrass/the-actor-s-job-is-to-divine-and-embody-the-truth-and-find-it/) [Paul Greengrass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-greengrass/) > [In the end, it's acting, it's not real. But every director will tell you that you have to create conditions that create tension, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-greengrass/in-the-end-it-s-acting-it-s-not-real-but-every-director-will-tell-you/) [Paul Greengrass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-greengrass/) > [Most of the films that I've written, made in my life, I've written. Not all, but most I would say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-greengrass/most-of-the-films-that-i-ve-written-made-in-my-life-i-ve-written-not/) [Paul Greengrass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-greengrass/) > [You're trying to create a screenplay and your screenplay is there to give you a structure, rigidity, situational awareness, who the characters are, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-greengrass/you-re-trying-to-create-a-screenplay-and-your-screenplay-is-there-to/) [Paul Greengrass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-greengrass/) > [You face challenges and you have to make choices. You're weighing the necessary responsibility toward reality and authenticity and of course the need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-greengrass/you-face-challenges-and-you-have-to-make-choices-you-re-weighing-the/) [Paul Greengrass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-greengrass/) [Explore all 16 Paul Greengrass quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-greengrass/) ## 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. 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