--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I found American actors quite scary…" description: "\"I found American actors quite scary because they're brilliant actors and brilliantly funny, and they never stopped once you wound them up... off they w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48c/peter-capaldi-2535_actors_i-found-american-actors-quite-scary-beca_2755514.jpg" --- # I found American actors quite scary because they're… ![“I found American actors quite scary because they're brilliant actors and brilliantly funny, and they never stopped once you wound them up... off they went and they just deliver fantastic stuff.” quote by Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48c/peter-capaldi-2535_actors_i-found-american-actors-quite-scary-beca_2755514.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48c/peter-capaldi-2535_actors_i-found-american-actors-quite-scary-beca_2755514.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48c/peter-capaldi-2535_actors_i-found-american-actors-quite-scary-beca_2755514.jpg) > “I found American actors quite scary because they're brilliant actors and brilliantly funny, and they never stopped once you wound them up... off they went and they just deliver fantastic stuff.” [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He finds American actors both terrifying and impressive because of their brilliance and humor, and they continue delivering great performances despite provocation. **In simple terms:** American actors are brilliant, funny, and relentless. Key Takeaway Appreciate talent that thrives under pressure. Themes humor performance culture celebrity Mood admiring intrigued Type observational celebratory When to use this quote - Film festivals - theater productions - media interviews - cross‑cultural collaborations Key Concepts Comedy acting entertainment Questions to Reflect On - How does fear of talent affect your own creativity? - What can you learn from relentless performers? A Different Perspective Talent can be intimidating when it feels overwhelming. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brilliant/) [Fantastic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantastic/) [Wounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wounds/) ## Related quotes > [When you have actors like Salman, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Kareena Kapoor Khan, you life as a director is easier because they are such brilliant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir-khan/when-you-have-actors-like-salman-nawazuddin-siddiqui-and-kareena/) [Kabir Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir-khan/) > [Martin Sheen is my pinup! And Allison Janney, oh my God. They're brilliant actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-thompson/martin-sheen-is-my-pinup-and-allison-janney-oh-my-god-they-re/) [Sophie Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-thompson/) > [There isn't really a theatre culture in L.A., which is odd when there are so many brilliant actors there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raza-jaffrey/there-isn-t-really-a-theatre-culture-in-l-a-which-is-odd-when-there/) [Raza Jaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raza-jaffrey/) > [People who do not have funny in them are not funny when they read funny lines. Sorry. Just doesn't work that way. Seriously, this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dobkin/people-who-do-not-have-funny-in-them-are-not-funny-when-they-read/) [David Dobkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-dobkin/) > [When you're surrounded by brilliant actors, and teachers who challenge you to go beyond what you thought you were capable of, that's got to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-buckley/when-you-re-surrounded-by-brilliant-actors-and-teachers-who-challenge/) [Jessie Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-buckley/) > [I get to watch stories I wrote brought to life by the most brilliant actors in cinema.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-claremont/i-get-to-watch-stories-i-wrote-brought-to-life-by-the-most-brilliant/) [Chris Claremont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-claremont/) > [From a very young age, I wanted to get up on stage whenever I went to the theatre - the actors just seemed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-williams/from-a-very-young-age-i-wanted-to-get-up-on-stage-whenever-i-went-to/) [Olivia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-williams/) > [I'm making it up as I go along, like everyone else. There probably are some actors who are quite methodical or at least take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-parker/i-m-making-it-up-as-i-go-along-like-everyone-else-there-probably-are/) [Jamie Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-parker/) > [Each of the actors is quite different, but they're all living in the same world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/each-of-the-actors-is-quite-different-but-they-re-all-living-in-the/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > ['Friends' is easy to dismiss, but it's really good television - the art with which those actors play with comedy shouldn't be denigrated. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-elliott/friends-is-easy-to-dismiss-but-it-s-really-good-television-the-art/) [Marianne Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-elliott/) > [I am quite an easy going person so I get along with my co-actors quite easily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmin-bhasin/i-am-quite-an-easy-going-person-so-i-get-along-with-my-co-actors/) [Jasmin Bhasin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmin-bhasin/) > [ With that incredible voice that he \[Alan Rickman\] could play like a sort of wonderful instrument, like a cello or something. He played his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mirren/with-that-incredible-voice-that-he-alan-rickman-could-play-like-a/) [Helen Mirren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mirren/) > [Like most actors, I'm quite shy, so I liked being other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-front/like-most-actors-i-m-quite-shy-so-i-liked-being-other-people/) [Rebecca Front](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-front/) > [I thought his performance was absolutely wonderful and had said so, but he seemed, as actors quite often are when they first see something,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-schlesinger/i-thought-his-performance-was-absolutely-wonderful-and-had-said-so/) [John Schlesinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-schlesinger/) > [American actors are coy. 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/) ## More by Peter Capaldi > [Being asked to play 'The Doctor' is an amazing privilege. Like the Doctor himself I find myself in a state of utter terror and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/being-asked-to-play-the-doctor-is-an-amazing-privilege-like-the/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [I never really think of acting and directing as being separate; they are just different expressions of the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/i-never-really-think-of-acting-and-directing-as-being-separate-they/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [I've only lost my temper three times in my whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/i-ve-only-lost-my-temper-three-times-in-my-whole-life/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [Comic-Con is so legendary, so a great thrill to be invited along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/comic-con-is-so-legendary-so-a-great-thrill-to-be-invited-along/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [It'll be sad not to be Doctor Who anymore because that's an incredible thing to wake up in the morning and go, 'Oh, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/it-ll-be-sad-not-to-be-doctor-who-anymore-because-that-s-an/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [The Americans just have a great sort of wit about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/the-americans-just-have-a-great-sort-of-wit-about-them/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [ I knew Richard E. Grant, and I went to him and said "Would you like to \[play Kafka in the film\]?" and he said… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/i-knew-richard-e-grant-and-i-went-to-him-and-said-would-you-like-to/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [It was great being brought up in a Glasgow working-class tenement. It wasn't miserable, and it wasn't poverty stricken. It felt very safe, full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/it-was-great-being-brought-up-in-a-glasgow-working-class-tenement-it/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > ['Atlantic City' is very good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/atlantic-city-is-very-good/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [It's one thing getting the job of Doctor Who, which is wonderful. And then the next thing they say to you is, 'We're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/it-s-one-thing-getting-the-job-of-doctor-who-which-is-wonderful-and/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [One of the very, very exciting things I have found here in L.A. is that no one talks to you about being Scottish. Whereas,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/one-of-the-very-very-exciting-things-i-have-found-here-in-l-a-is-that/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [Everybody loves monsters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/everybody-loves-monsters/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [I think the nice thing about 'Doctor Who' is whether people like it or don't like it, somewhere, someone loves you and will always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/i-think-the-nice-thing-about-doctor-who-is-whether-people-like-it-or/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [Even though I am a lifelong 'Doctor Who' fan, I've not played him since I was nine. I downloaded old scripts and practised those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/even-though-i-am-a-lifelong-doctor-who-fan-i-ve-not-played-him-since/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [I'm not an extravagant man. The fact that I can have a coffee out whenever I want still makes me feel grateful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/i-m-not-an-extravagant-man-the-fact-that-i-can-have-a-coffee-out/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) [Explore all 162 Peter Capaldi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) ## 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. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [When we watch a film as actors, you have to understand that we always see much more than what's on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/when-we-watch-a-film-as-actors-you-have-to-understand-that-we-always/) [Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/) > [As actors, you become an expert at starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-actors-you-become-an-expert-at-starting-over/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [A rapper is about being completely true to yourself. Being an actor is about changing who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/a-rapper-is-about-being-completely-true-to-yourself-being-an-actor-is/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [I've been a professional actor for almost 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-been-a-professional-actor-for-almost-40-years/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [American actors are coy. 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 found American actors quite scary because they're brilliant actors and brilliantly funny, and they never stopped once you wound them up... off they went and they just deliver fantastic stuff.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Peter Capaldi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/i-found-american-actors-quite-scary-because-they-re-brilliant-actors/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actors" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/i-found-american-actors-quite-scary-because-they-re-brilliant-actors/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48c/peter-capaldi-2535_actors_i-found-american-actors-quite-scary-beca_2755514.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48c/peter-capaldi-2535_actors_i-found-american-actors-quite-scary-beca_2755514.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48c/peter-capaldi-2535_actors_i-found-american-actors-quite-scary-beca_2755514.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I found American actors quite scary because they're brilliant actors and brilliantly funny, and they never…” — Peter Capaldi", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Peter Capaldi", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I found American actors quite scary...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/i-found-american-actors-quite-scary-because-they-re-brilliant-actors/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/i-found-american-actors-quite-scary-because-they-re-brilliant-actors/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```