--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It doesn't matter what people think about…" description: "\"It doesn't matter what people think about you, so long as they get the play through your performance. Only a few not very good actors go in for self-ad..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/148/prunella-scales-12397_actors_it-doesn-t-matter-what-people-think-abou_120211.jpg" --- # It doesn't matter what people think about you, so long as… ![“It doesn't matter what people think about you, so long as they get the play through your performance. Only a few not very good actors go in for self-advertisement.” quote by Prunella Scales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/148/prunella-scales-12397_actors_it-doesn-t-matter-what-people-think-abou_120211.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/148/prunella-scales-12397_actors_it-doesn-t-matter-what-people-think-abou_120211.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/148/prunella-scales-12397_actors_it-doesn-t-matter-what-people-think-abou_120211.jpg) > “It doesn't matter what people think about you, so long as they get the play through your performance. Only a few not very good actors go in for self-advertisement.” [Prunella Scales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prunella-scales/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Performance should be judged on its impact, not on the actor’s self-promotion; true art speaks for itself regardless of external opinion. **In simple terms:** Art’s value lies in its effect, not the artist’s hype. Key Takeaway Impact outweighs self‑advertising. Themes art criticism authenticity performance Mood thoughtful encouraging Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - reviewing a play without reading the actor’s bio - evaluating a musician’s work independent of their social media presence Key Concepts ego vs. art audience perception Practical Applications - focus on audience feedback when creating - avoid excessive self‑promotion in early career stages Questions to Reflect On - When does self‑promotion become a distraction from the work? - How can creators balance visibility with artistic integrity? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Good actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-actors/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Performance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performance/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [No actor wants to play someone else's performance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/no-actor-wants-to-play-someone-else-s-performance/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [It's funny when you know you're playing two characters and you're aware of how you have to play each one into your performance of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-dornan/it-s-funny-when-you-know-you-re-playing-two-characters-and-you-re/) [Jamie Dornan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-dornan/) > [I go to the theatre expecting to have a good time. 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They're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-murray/i-came-out-of-the-old-second-city-in-chicago-chicago-actors-are-more/) [Bill Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-murray/) > [When you work with a good actor, there is this natural rapport and chemistry that develops over time. 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Eight will mean the show's been rather a success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prunella-scales/i-always-say-i-want-to-die-on-the-eighth-curtain-call-eight-will-mean/) [Prunella Scales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prunella-scales/) > [John Cleese is a very fast worker and a highly disciplined one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prunella-scales/john-cleese-is-a-very-fast-worker-and-a-highly-disciplined-one/) [Prunella Scales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prunella-scales/) > [My elder son and his wife keep bees, and my younger son has bees, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prunella-scales/my-elder-son-and-his-wife-keep-bees-and-my-younger-son-has-bees-too/) [Prunella Scales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prunella-scales/) > [I'm not a very assertive person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prunella-scales/i-m-not-a-very-assertive-person/) [Prunella Scales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prunella-scales/) > [The people you learn most from are the audiences, which is why I'm always best on my last night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prunella-scales/the-people-you-learn-most-from-are-the-audiences-which-is-why-i-m/) [Prunella Scales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prunella-scales/) > [In 1940 my mum took a job as under-matron at her old school, which had been evacuated from Eastbourne to Windermere; I got a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prunella-scales/in-1940-my-mum-took-a-job-as-under-matron-at-her-old-school-which-had/) [Prunella Scales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prunella-scales/) > [I've always been fascinated by dialects and accents. In fact, I've rarely played straight English parts. I play character parts - and always will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prunella-scales/i-ve-always-been-fascinated-by-dialects-and-accents-in-fact-i-ve/) [Prunella Scales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prunella-scales/) > [In our profession if you've got an ugly mark or there's anything that cosmetic surgery can do for you I think it's absolutely fine.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prunella-scales/in-our-profession-if-you-ve-got-an-ugly-mark-or-there-s-anything-that/) [Prunella Scales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prunella-scales/) > [When I had started commuting into London for theatre school, I'd had to sell my uncle's stamp collection for £300.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prunella-scales/when-i-had-started-commuting-into-london-for-theatre-school-i-d-had/) [Prunella Scales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prunella-scales/) > [I love live theatre, it's always thrilling and exciting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prunella-scales/i-love-live-theatre-it-s-always-thrilling-and-exciting/) [Prunella Scales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prunella-scales/) > [I'd love to play Constance in 'King John' or Paulina in 'The Winter's Tale.' I'd like to go on working till I drop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prunella-scales/i-d-love-to-play-constance-in-king-john-or-paulina-in-the-winter-s/) [Prunella Scales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prunella-scales/) > [I stayed a year in the sixth form and there was talk of Cambridge, but I wanted to go to drama school. 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