--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every actor starts out saying, 'I can…" description: "\"Every actor starts out saying, 'I can play anything in the world: I'm only 25, but I can be a man 70 years old. I'll put on a gray wig and do it.' But ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb9/peter-graves-33183_be-a-man_every-actor-starts-out-saying-i-can-play_1655870.jpg" --- # Every actor starts out saying, 'I can play anything in the… ![“Every actor starts out saying, 'I can play anything in the world: I'm only 25, but I can be a man 70 years old. I'll put on a gray wig and do it.' But nobody hires you for that. You have to play yourself on the screen.” quote by Peter Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb9/peter-graves-33183_be-a-man_every-actor-starts-out-saying-i-can-play_1655870.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb9/peter-graves-33183_be-a-man_every-actor-starts-out-saying-i-can-play_1655870.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb9/peter-graves-33183_be-a-man_every-actor-starts-out-saying-i-can-play_1655870.jpg) > “Every actor starts out saying, 'I can play anything in the world: I'm only 25, but I can be a man 70 years old. I'll put on a gray wig and do it.' But nobody hires you for that. You have to play yourself on the screen.” [Peter Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-graves/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early actors overestimate versatility; true success comes from authentic self‑representation on screen **In simple terms:** Being authentic matters more than playing any role Key Takeaway Stay true to yourself on screen Themes authenticity career growth typecasting Mood inspirational candid Type advice reflective When to use this quote - auditions - casting decisions - career pivots Key Concepts acting industry personal branding Questions to Reflect On - How can you showcase authenticity? - When is versatility advantageous? A Different Perspective Industry may value versatility in some cases ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Jadon Sancho, he's very good at 'Call of Duty: Warzone.' 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I had to step up.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zaza-pachulia/losing-my-dad-made-me-more-mature-being-an-only-child-i-didn-t-have/) [Zaza Pachulia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zaza-pachulia/) > [My friends, let us try to follow the Saviour's steps; let us remember all day long what it is to be men; that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/my-friends-let-us-try-to-follow-the-saviour-s-steps-let-us-remember/) [Charles Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/) > [Men will cease to be fools only when they cease to be men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/men-will-cease-to-be-fools-only-when-they-cease-to-be-men/) [Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/) > [Feminist theory has left an indelible mark on my own critical—and creative—thinking . . . 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I'm really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-green/just-leaving-the-brotherhood-i-have-made-at-georgia-the-staff-and-all/) [A. J. Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-green/) > [I closed my own jazz bar so I could be a man who can write novels as I like. I was pleased about that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/i-closed-my-own-jazz-bar-so-i-could-be-a-man-who-can-write-novels-as/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [But if you will recall the history of our civil troubles, you will see half the nation bathe itself, out of piety, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/but-if-you-will-recall-the-history-of-our-civil-troubles-you-will-see/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) ## More by Peter Graves > [In drama, you're interacting with other actors to tell the story. The camera is like the theater: it's the artistic fourth wall. In a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-graves/in-drama-you-re-interacting-with-other-actors-to-tell-the-story-the/) [Peter Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-graves/) > [People have asked me whether I have a science background. No, but I have a great curiosity about the kinds of things we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-graves/people-have-asked-me-whether-i-have-a-science-background-no-but-i/) [Peter Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-graves/) > [Every actor starting out wants to be famous. One of my dreams was always to go to Paris, walk up the Champs Elysees, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-graves/every-actor-starting-out-wants-to-be-famous-one-of-my-dreams-was/) [Peter Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-graves/) > [I'm trying to get through life without really knowing about computers, but I don't know if I am going to make it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-graves/i-m-trying-to-get-through-life-without-really-knowing-about-computers/) [Peter Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-graves/) > [It takes a while to establish a character. Richard Boone once told me he didn't really get the character in 'Have Gun - Will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-graves/it-takes-a-while-to-establish-a-character-richard-boone-once-told-me/) [Peter Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-graves/) > [I resent the label on cigarettes. If they're going to warn you, why don't they put the same sign at the entrance to every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-graves/i-resent-the-label-on-cigarettes-if-they-re-going-to-warn-you-why-don/) [Peter Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-graves/) > [I'm proud of 'Mission: Impossible.' It made me famous beyond my wildest dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-graves/i-m-proud-of-mission-impossible-it-made-me-famous-beyond-my-wildest/) [Peter Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-graves/) > [You cannot simplify human intelligence, emotion, and growth. To watch the frills and furbelows of a human psyche is fascinating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-graves/you-cannot-simplify-human-intelligence-emotion-and-growth-to-watch/) [Peter Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-graves/) > [Most shows get dumped by the networks, do a couple of years in syndication, then they're in the vault. 'Mission: Impossible' has never been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-graves/most-shows-get-dumped-by-the-networks-do-a-couple-of-years-in/) [Peter Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-graves/) > [I think we were born 6 feet tall and then started to grow from there. My dad's not particularly tall - only 5 feet,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-graves/i-think-we-were-born-6-feet-tall-and-then-started-to-grow-from-there/) [Peter Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-graves/) > [You can do bad parts in good pictures or good parts in bad pictures and maybe get a little personal satisfaction. But the key…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-graves/you-can-do-bad-parts-in-good-pictures-or-good-parts-in-bad-pictures/) [Peter Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-graves/) > [I don't know the secret of 'Mission: Impossible''s success. If I did, I'd have probably produced a couple of TV series, made myself rich,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-graves/i-don-t-know-the-secret-of-mission-impossible-s-success-if-i-did-i-d/) [Peter Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-graves/) > [I, personally, like good clothes. I appreciate a fine tailored suit, and I'm impressed with the expansion of color in men's wardrobes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-graves/i-personally-like-good-clothes-i-appreciate-a-fine-tailored-suit-and/) [Peter Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-graves/) > [I had several turtles before they were in. People seemed to think they were funny. Now everyone is wearing them practically every place. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-graves/i-had-several-turtles-before-they-were-in-people-seemed-to-think-they/) [Peter Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-graves/) [Explore all 15 Peter Graves quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-graves/) ## 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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I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [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/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Every actor starts out saying, 'I can play anything in the world: I'm only 25, but I can be a man 70 years old. I'll put on a gray wig and do it.' But nobody hires you for that. 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