--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was terrorized by the emotional…" description: "\"I was terrorized by the emotional requirements of being an actor. Acting is like letting your pants down; you're exposed.\" — Paul Newman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cc/paul-newman-2526_acting_i-was-terrorized-by-the-emotional-requir_2389388.png" --- # I was terrorized by the emotional requirements of being an… ![“I was terrorized by the emotional requirements of being an actor. Acting is like letting your pants down; you're exposed.” quote by Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cc/paul-newman-2526_acting_i-was-terrorized-by-the-emotional-requir_2389388.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cc/paul-newman-2526_acting_i-was-terrorized-by-the-emotional-requir_2389388.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cc/paul-newman-2526_acting_i-was-terrorized-by-the-emotional-requir_2389388.png) > “I was terrorized by the emotional requirements of being an actor. Acting is like letting your pants down; you're exposed.” [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting exposes personal vulnerabilities, making the performer feel emotionally naked. **In simple terms:** Acting is emotionally exposing. Key Takeaway Embrace vulnerability to deepen performance. Themes art vulnerability performance Mood introspective candid Type artistic philosophical When to use this quote - theatre rehearsals - film sets - improv workshops - personal coaching Key Concepts emotional honesty self-awareness creative risk Questions to Reflect On - What does emotional exposure reveal about self? - How can actors protect themselves while staying open? A Different Perspective Audience expectations may pressure authenticity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actor Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-acting-310176/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Emotional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional/) [Emotional Requirements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional-requirements-5946466/) [Exposed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exposed/) [Pants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pants/) [Requirements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/requirements/) [Terrorized Emotional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorized-emotional-5946465/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [Acting is like letting your pants down; you're exposed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/acting-is-like-letting-your-pants-down-you-re-exposed/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [So you go on and on, with this intellectual fly down, your underwear exposed, and toilette paper hanging out the back of your pants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-green/so-you-go-on-and-on-with-this-intellectual-fly-down-your-underwear/) [Hank Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-green/) > [I’m going to be exposed, aren’t I? (Acheron) I don’t know. You planning on dropping your pants around me? If so, warn me first.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-m-going-to-be-exposed-aren-t-i-acheron-i-don-t-know-you-planning-on/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [What's important about an actor is his acting, not his life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-price/what-s-important-about-an-actor-is-his-acting-not-his-life/) [Vincent Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-price/) > [Sigmund Freud said we act out our own dreams, but if you are only an actor you are not acting out your own dream.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/sigmund-freud-said-we-act-out-our-own-dreams-but-if-you-are-only-an/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) > [The Irish Catholic side was married to the life of an actor and I found out acting could be a form of prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-neeson/the-irish-catholic-side-was-married-to-the-life-of-an-actor-and-i/) [Liam Neeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-neeson/) > [I guess I was a child actor. Acting was one of the things I did alongside going to school: I'd be playing guitar, I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michiel-huisman/i-guess-i-was-a-child-actor-acting-was-one-of-the-things-i-did/) [Michiel Huisman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michiel-huisman/) > [I didn't want to be a movie star, I wanted to be an actor. Because acting is what I fell in love with, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-bautista/i-didn-t-want-to-be-a-movie-star-i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-because/) [Dave Bautista](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-bautista/) > [TV has an extensive reach which takes you through the remotest place so I won't deny that it did play a pivotal role in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prachi-desai/tv-has-an-extensive-reach-which-takes-you-through-the-remotest-place/) [Prachi Desai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prachi-desai/) > [What I always wanted to get seen as was as a good actor, when it was the acting I was doing. When I'm writing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-alda/what-i-always-wanted-to-get-seen-as-was-as-a-good-actor-when-it-was/) [Alan Alda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-alda/) > [I act, but I'm not necessarily an actor. Acting is just the first thing people see when they look at me. So I'd like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-centineo/i-act-but-i-m-not-necessarily-an-actor-acting-is-just-the-first-thing/) [Noah Centineo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-centineo/) > [I mean, I'm an actor when I'm acting, and the rest of the time, I'm just a guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wahl/i-mean-i-m-an-actor-when-i-m-acting-and-the-rest-of-the-time-i-m-just/) [Ken Wahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wahl/) > [I don't know how to play myself. I'm not interested enough in myself. That's just not how I was educated. That's not how I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stoll/i-don-t-know-how-to-play-myself-i-m-not-interested-enough-in-myself/) [Corey Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stoll/) > [I still consider myself a young actor, I'm 34; I still view it as the beginning of my career. You can get infatuated with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sarsgaard/i-still-consider-myself-a-young-actor-i-m-34-i-still-view-it-as-the/) [Peter Sarsgaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sarsgaard/) > [For so many years, I've been an actor acting in other people's movies, and in 'Unstoppable,' I'm producing it, and I have an opportunity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-cameron/for-so-many-years-i-ve-been-an-actor-acting-in-other-people-s-movies/) [Kirk Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-cameron/) ## More by Paul Newman > [George Roy Hill, Redford, and I have been looking for a script to do together for 13 years. We haven't been able to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/george-roy-hill-redford-and-i-have-been-looking-for-a-script-to-do/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [An actor has to evaluate his own abilities and be honest with himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/an-actor-has-to-evaluate-his-own-abilities-and-be-honest-with-himself/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [When the idea came up, (Newman's Own) I said, "Are you crazy? Stick my face on the label of salad dressing?" And then, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/when-the-idea-came-up-newman-s-own-i-said-are-you-crazy-stick-my-face/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [When you see the right thing to do, you'd better do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/when-you-see-the-right-thing-to-do-you-d-better-do-it/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [In racing, the fastest person wins. It is very simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/in-racing-the-fastest-person-wins-it-is-very-simple/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [I never ask my wife about my flaws. Instead I try to get her to ignore them and concentrate on my sense of humor.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/i-never-ask-my-wife-about-my-flaws-instead-i-try-to-get-her-to-ignore/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [I would like it if people would think that beyond Newman, there's a spirit that takes action, a heart, and a talent that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/i-would-like-it-if-people-would-think-that-beyond-newman-there-s-a/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [What we got here is a failure to communicate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/what-we-got-here-is-a-failure-to-communicate/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [Newman's first law: It is useless to put on your brakes when you're upside down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/newman-s-first-law-it-is-useless-to-put-on-your-brakes-when-you-re/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [A feud should live a full and colorful life, and then it should die a natural death and be forgotten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/a-feud-should-live-a-full-and-colorful-life-and-then-it-should-die-a/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [People like to do what they used to do after they've stopped being able to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/people-like-to-do-what-they-used-to-do-after-they-ve-stopped-being/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [We've polluted the stratosphere with these chlorine and bromine compounds, and because it's now colder, and because we have this change in the climate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/we-ve-polluted-the-stratosphere-with-these-chlorine-and-bromine/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [I am convinced that a person is entitled to as much privacy as he wants. It should be his privilege to keep certain areas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/i-am-convinced-that-a-person-is-entitled-to-as-much-privacy-as-he/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [For some players, luck itself is an art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/for-some-players-luck-itself-is-an-art/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [I can eat fifty eggs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/i-can-eat-fifty-eggs/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) [Explore all 162 Paul Newman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 was terrorized by the emotional requirements of being an actor. 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