--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Believe me, when an actress is told that…" description: "\"Believe me, when an actress is told that her very name is synonymous with bad acting, she's had it.\" — Piper Laurie" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a20/piper-laurie-32811_acting_believe-me-when-an-actress-is-told-that_2602078.png" --- # Believe me, when an actress is told that her very name is… ![“Believe me, when an actress is told that her very name is synonymous with bad acting, she's had it.” quote by Piper Laurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a20/piper-laurie-32811_acting_believe-me-when-an-actress-is-told-that_2602078.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a20/piper-laurie-32811_acting_believe-me-when-an-actress-is-told-that_2602078.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a20/piper-laurie-32811_acting_believe-me-when-an-actress-is-told-that_2602078.png) > “Believe me, when an actress is told that her very name is synonymous with bad acting, she's had it.” [Piper Laurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piper-laurie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An actress resists being labeled a bad performer, defending her talent and identity. **In simple terms:** She refuses to accept a negative label. Key Takeaway Stand up against unfair criticism. Themes self‑esteem reputation industry pressure Mood defiant confident Type cinematic motivational When to use this quote - career challenges - personal integrity - public perception Key Concepts identity performance media criticism Questions to Reflect On - How do you respond to criticism? - Can a single label define you? A Different Perspective Labels can limit opportunities if internalized. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actresses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actresses/) [Bad acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-acting/) ## Related quotes > [When you spend your entire life as a child actress, being told where to go and where to stand, you're performing constantly for people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-dunst/when-you-spend-your-entire-life-as-a-child-actress-being-told-where/) [Kirsten Dunst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-dunst/) > [I really believe that what I do as an actress is my God-given talent. This is my calling, not my career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-bassett/i-really-believe-that-what-i-do-as-an-actress-is-my-god-given-talent/) [Angela Bassett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-bassett/) > [I've never really seen myself as an actress. I told myself, 'I'm not going to get a job where I need to put on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-kok/i-ve-never-really-seen-myself-as-an-actress-i-told-myself-i-m-not/) Ann Kok > [I'm not used to being asked what I want to talk about. That's why I'm an actress. Get told what to do, stand on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-scott-thomas/i-m-not-used-to-being-asked-what-i-want-to-talk-about-that-s-why-i-m/) [Kristin Scott Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-scott-thomas/) > [My Mother's an actress, and she's always told me, "Boy, you're an actor." I would look forward to seeing if I'm any good. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/my-mother-s-an-actress-and-she-s-always-told-me-boy-you-re-an-actor-i/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [I can't tell you how disheartening it is to be told to go home because the director is filming you from behind and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-riseborough/i-can-t-tell-you-how-disheartening-it-is-to-be-told-to-go-home/) [Andrea Riseborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-riseborough/) > [Faked enthusiasm is worse than bad acting - it is bad acting with the intent to deceive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-bennett/faked-enthusiasm-is-worse-than-bad-acting-it-is-bad-acting-with-the/) [Bo Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-bennett/) > [I have an appreciation for what some people would call "bad acting," but which I think can be much more real than the overly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-labruce/i-have-an-appreciation-for-what-some-people-would-call-bad-acting-but/) [Bruce LaBruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-labruce/) > [I've often said that I can forgive a shoddy screenplay or bad acting, but I can never forgive bad politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir-khan/i-ve-often-said-that-i-can-forgive-a-shoddy-screenplay-or-bad-acting/) [Kabir Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir-khan/) > [The belief, not only of the socialist but of those so-called liberals who are diligently preparing the way for them is that by due…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/the-belief-not-only-of-the-socialist-but-of-those-so-called-liberals/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [The art of acting is not to act. Once you show them more, what you show them, in fact is bad acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/the-art-of-acting-is-not-to-act-once-you-show-them-more-what-you-show/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [“is not good for one's morals to see bad acting. Besides,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/is-not-good-for-one-s-morals-to-see-bad-acting-besides/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Just because we're on schedule is no reason to shoot bad acting. Someone once said to me, 'You're inconsiderate.' And I said, 'Inconsiderate? Bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-winger/just-because-we-re-on-schedule-is-no-reason-to-shoot-bad-acting/) [Debra Winger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-winger/) > [It is not good for one's morals to see bad acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/it-is-not-good-for-one-s-morals-to-see-bad-acting/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [That's why there's so much bad acting out there, because you could see actors watching themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/that-s-why-there-s-so-much-bad-acting-out-there-because-you-could-see/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) ## More by Piper Laurie > [If I had stayed in Hollywood, I would have killed myself. Or someone would have done it for me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piper-laurie/if-i-had-stayed-in-hollywood-i-would-have-killed-myself-or-someone/) [Piper Laurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piper-laurie/) > [I was so flattered to be asked to be in the movies - the idea of being paid to act was heady stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piper-laurie/i-was-so-flattered-to-be-asked-to-be-in-the-movies-the-idea-of-being/) [Piper Laurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piper-laurie/) > [I'm one of those people who has always been a bridesmaid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piper-laurie/i-m-one-of-those-people-who-has-always-been-a-bridesmaid/) [Piper Laurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piper-laurie/) > [Ive always felt robbed of something by people not knowing I was a Jew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piper-laurie/ive-always-felt-robbed-of-something-by-people-not-knowing-i-was-a-jew/) [Piper Laurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piper-laurie/) > [And even then when you take it, you've got to take it with your whole heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piper-laurie/and-even-then-when-you-take-it-you-ve-got-to-take-it-with-your-whole/) [Piper Laurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piper-laurie/) > [I had highfalutin ideas about being a serious actress when I was 16, 17, and first signed at Universal. I was so flattered to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piper-laurie/i-had-highfalutin-ideas-about-being-a-serious-actress-when-i-was-16/) [Piper Laurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piper-laurie/) > [It took a long time, but I have learned that you just can't take anything you want out of life without putting something back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piper-laurie/it-took-a-long-time-but-i-have-learned-that-you-just-can-t-take/) [Piper Laurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piper-laurie/) > [I've always felt robbed of something by people not knowing I was a Jew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piper-laurie/i-ve-always-felt-robbed-of-something-by-people-not-knowing-i-was-a-jew/) [Piper Laurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piper-laurie/) > [One thing is certain. The old Piper Laurie is no more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piper-laurie/one-thing-is-certain-the-old-piper-laurie-is-no-more/) [Piper Laurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piper-laurie/) > [Back then, everyone was Lana and Rock. No one had ethnic names.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piper-laurie/back-then-everyone-was-lana-and-rock-no-one-had-ethnic-names/) [Piper Laurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piper-laurie/) > [And if real life was like the movies, I should have lived happily ever after.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piper-laurie/and-if-real-life-was-like-the-movies-i-should-have-lived-happily-ever/) [Piper Laurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piper-laurie/) > [I dropped the script in the fireplace, called my agent and said, they can jail me, sue me, but I'm never acting again, unless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piper-laurie/i-dropped-the-script-in-the-fireplace-called-my-agent-and-said-they/) [Piper Laurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piper-laurie/) > [The fact is, I never wanted to be a movie star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piper-laurie/the-fact-is-i-never-wanted-to-be-a-movie-star/) [Piper Laurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piper-laurie/) > [I never forget, remember that. Not an action, not a name, not a face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piper-laurie/i-never-forget-remember-that-not-an-action-not-a-name-not-a-face/) [Piper Laurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piper-laurie/) [Explore all 15 Piper Laurie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piper-laurie/) ## 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": "Believe me, when an actress is told that her very name is synonymous with bad acting, she's had it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Piper Laurie" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piper-laurie/believe-me-when-an-actress-is-told-that-her-very-name-is-synonymous/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piper-laurie/believe-me-when-an-actress-is-told-that-her-very-name-is-synonymous/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a20/piper-laurie-32811_acting_believe-me-when-an-actress-is-told-that_2602078.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a20/piper-laurie-32811_acting_believe-me-when-an-actress-is-told-that_2602078.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a20/piper-laurie-32811_acting_believe-me-when-an-actress-is-told-that_2602078.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Believe me, when an actress is told that her very name is synonymous with bad acting, she's had it.” — Piper Laurie", "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": "Piper Laurie", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piper-laurie/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Believe me, when an actress is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piper-laurie/believe-me-when-an-actress-is-told-that-her-very-name-is-synonymous/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piper-laurie/believe-me-when-an-actress-is-told-that-her-very-name-is-synonymous/#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 } } ] } ```