Acting Quote by Rex Harrison
“Acting is bad acting if the actor himself gets emotional in the act of making the audience cry. The object is to make the audience cry, but not cry yourself. The emotion has to be inside the actor, not outside. If you stand there weeping and wailing, all your emotions will go down your shirt and nothing will go out to your audience. Audience control is really about the actor”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Television talk show, 1975
An actor must channel emotion internally, not display it overtly, to evoke audience tears without personal breakdown.
In simple terms: Actors should control emotions internally for performance.
Key Takeaway
Master internal emotional control.
Themes
acting
emotion
performance
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
artistic
instructional
When to use this quote
- theatre
- film acting
- stagecraft
Key Concepts
method acting
emotional regulation
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance authenticity and control?
- Can vulnerability enhance performance?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on internal control may stifle authenticity.
