--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I tend to want to go quite big in my…" description: "\"I tend to want to go quite big in my acting, which you just cannot do in front of a camera. It's taken me a while to learn how to pull it back.\" — Phoe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e14/phoebe-fox-11394_acting_i-tend-to-want-to-go-quite-big-in-my-act_408354.jpg" --- # I tend to want to go quite big in my acting, which you… ![“I tend to want to go quite big in my acting, which you just cannot do in front of a camera. It's taken me a while to learn how to pull it back.” quote by Phoebe Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e14/phoebe-fox-11394_acting_i-tend-to-want-to-go-quite-big-in-my-act_408354.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e14/phoebe-fox-11394_acting_i-tend-to-want-to-go-quite-big-in-my-act_408354.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e14/phoebe-fox-11394_acting_i-tend-to-want-to-go-quite-big-in-my-act_408354.jpg) > “I tend to want to go quite big in my acting, which you just cannot do in front of a camera. It's taken me a while to learn how to pull it back.” [Phoebe Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-fox/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting on camera requires restraint; overacting loses authenticity and can alienate viewers. **In simple terms:** Big acting must be toned down on screen. Key Takeaway Modulate performance for the medium. Themes acting self media authenticity Mood reflective professional Type inspirational educational When to use this quote - film auditions - stage rehearsals - on‑set direction Key Concepts performance theory camera dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you find the balance between intensity and subtlety? - What techniques help translate stage energy to screen? A Different Perspective Over‑control can stifle creativity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Camera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camera/) [Cameras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cameras/) ## Related quotes > [I've got quite big legs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-doherty/i-ve-got-quite-big-legs/) [Matt Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-doherty/) > [I've done quite a few big American films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/i-ve-done-quite-a-few-big-american-films/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) > [It does not mean that in the process of a small screen, I do small acting, or if I do a big screen project,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-kay-menon/it-does-not-mean-that-in-the-process-of-a-small-screen-i-do-small/) [Kay Kay Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-kay-menon/) > [It's incredible how big a part of my acting career music has become. I get asked about it all the time, and I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/it-s-incredible-how-big-a-part-of-my-acting-career-music-has-become-i/) [Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) > [My first big acting performance was in the Marilyn Monroe biography piece, and it required frontal nudity. I talked to Mira Sorvino, my co-star,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/my-first-big-acting-performance-was-in-the-marilyn-monroe-biography/) [Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/) > [There's a subtleness to camera work. You can really create intimate moments on camera, and sometimes that requires a little more precision from an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-reynolds/there-s-a-subtleness-to-camera-work-you-can-really-create-intimate/) [Corey Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-reynolds/) > [I like acting too much and it's too, I'm just too busy doing that and I'm too hungry for it, to get behind the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-weisz/i-like-acting-too-much-and-it-s-too-i-m-just-too-busy-doing-that-and/) [Rachel Weisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-weisz/) > [I have been trying to retire to the back of the camera for quite a few years, and in 1970, when I first started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/i-have-been-trying-to-retire-to-the-back-of-the-camera-for-quite-a/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [Women who are clever actresses have longevity because they're amazing actors, not because the camera loves them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-fox/women-who-are-clever-actresses-have-longevity-because-they-re-amazing/) [Phoebe Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-fox/) > [The camera course was a bit crap. But when I was in drama school, I wasn't interested. I wanted to be a stage actress.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-fox/the-camera-course-was-a-bit-crap-but-when-i-was-in-drama-school-i/) [Phoebe Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-fox/) > [I don't like to move the camera that much anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-tucci/i-don-t-like-to-move-the-camera-that-much-anyway/) [Stanley Tucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-tucci/) > [It is the photographer, not the camera, that is the instrument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-the-photographer-not-the-camera-that-is-the-instrument/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Since a camera is something too heavy for women and initially made for men, you need a good cameraman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitra-farahani/since-a-camera-is-something-too-heavy-for-women-and-initially-made/) Mitra Farahani > [I have a way to photograph. You work with space, you have a camera, you have a frame, and then a fraction of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastiao-salgado/i-have-a-way-to-photograph-you-work-with-space-you-have-a-camera-you/) [Sebastiao Salgado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastiao-salgado/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) ## More by Phoebe Fox > [My parents are actors as well, so I grew up around that world. It was always a very romantic, mythical world. They did a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-fox/my-parents-are-actors-as-well-so-i-grew-up-around-that-world-it-was/) [Phoebe Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-fox/) > [I remember my parents were always around, and that was glorious, but as an adult and as an actor I look back now and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-fox/i-remember-my-parents-were-always-around-and-that-was-glorious-but-as/) [Phoebe Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-fox/) > [Women who are clever actresses have longevity because they're amazing actors, not because the camera loves them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-fox/women-who-are-clever-actresses-have-longevity-because-they-re-amazing/) [Phoebe Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-fox/) > [When you are the lead, you feel that if you mess it up the whole film can fall around you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-fox/when-you-are-the-lead-you-feel-that-if-you-mess-it-up-the-whole-film/) [Phoebe Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-fox/) > [I get told I have a 'period' face quite often. Maybe it's the pale skin but I get a lot of pre-Forties posh roles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-fox/i-get-told-i-have-a-period-face-quite-often-maybe-it-s-the-pale-skin/) [Phoebe Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-fox/) > [Why is it so unusual to see someone who's not a size eight on screen?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-fox/why-is-it-so-unusual-to-see-someone-who-s-not-a-size-eight-on-screen/) [Phoebe Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-fox/) > [I know the fact I've worked continuously since drama school means I fit a stereotype - the ingenue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-fox/i-know-the-fact-i-ve-worked-continuously-since-drama-school-means-i/) [Phoebe Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-fox/) > [I'd always wanted to go to drama school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-fox/i-d-always-wanted-to-go-to-drama-school/) [Phoebe Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-fox/) > [I'd love to play a villain! I always end up playing people that are quite goody-two- shoes. I would love to play someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-fox/i-d-love-to-play-a-villain-i-always-end-up-playing-people-that-are/) [Phoebe Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-fox/) > [Because we have more women in power now, frankly we are less likely to go to war. It's not in our nature really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-fox/because-we-have-more-women-in-power-now-frankly-we-are-less-likely-to/) [Phoebe Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-fox/) > [The camera course was a bit crap. But when I was in drama school, I wasn't interested. I wanted to be a stage actress.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-fox/the-camera-course-was-a-bit-crap-but-when-i-was-in-drama-school-i/) [Phoebe Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-fox/) > [I would love to see an adaptation of 'Less' by Andrew Sean Greer. It has all the things I want in a film; love,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-fox/i-would-love-to-see-an-adaptation-of-less-by-andrew-sean-greer-it-has/) [Phoebe Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-fox/) > [I admire anyone who takes risks, especially in a creative sense, and who doesn't play it safe. Those are the people who keep things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-fox/i-admire-anyone-who-takes-risks-especially-in-a-creative-sense-and/) [Phoebe Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-fox/) > [There are centuries worth of conditioning telling us that the thing that gives women status or importance is beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-fox/there-are-centuries-worth-of-conditioning-telling-us-that-the-thing/) [Phoebe Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-fox/) > [I'd really like to make my own work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-fox/i-d-really-like-to-make-my-own-work/) [Phoebe Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-fox/) [Explore all 60 Phoebe Fox quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-fox/) ## 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. 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 tend to want to go quite big in my acting, which you just cannot do in front of a camera. 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