--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For an actor to be working at all is a…" description: "\"For an actor to be working at all is a kind of miracle, because most actors aren't. So it's just silly for a working actor to say, 'Oh, I don't care if..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8e/richard-chamberlain-37708_actor_for-an-actor-to-be-working-at-all-is-a-k_579099.jpg" --- # For an actor to be working at all is a kind of miracle… ![“For an actor to be working at all is a kind of miracle, because most actors aren't. So it's just silly for a working actor to say, 'Oh, I don't care if anybody knows I'm gay' especially if you're a leading man. Personally, I wouldn't advise a gay leading man-type actor to come out,” quote by Richard Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8e/richard-chamberlain-37708_actor_for-an-actor-to-be-working-at-all-is-a-k_579099.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8e/richard-chamberlain-37708_actor_for-an-actor-to-be-working-at-all-is-a-k_579099.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8e/richard-chamberlain-37708_actor_for-an-actor-to-be-working-at-all-is-a-k_579099.jpg) > “For an actor to be working at all is a kind of miracle, because most actors aren't. So it's just silly for a working actor to say, 'Oh, I don't care if anybody knows I'm gay' especially if you're a leading man. Personally, I wouldn't advise a gay leading man-type actor to come out,” [Richard Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-chamberlain/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A gay leading actor faces career risk by being open about sexuality due to industry bias. **In simple terms:** Being openly gay can hurt a leading actor's career. Key Takeaway Consider timing and context before coming out. Themes LGBTQ+ visibility career risk industry bias Mood thoughtful cautious Type personal professional When to use this quote - casting decisions - public relations - personal branding Key Concepts Film studies social psychology media representation Questions to Reflect On - Is it better to hide or be authentic? - How does audience perception affect career? A Different Perspective Some audiences now embrace authenticity over image. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Miracle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miracle/) [Silly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silly/) [Working actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-actor/) ## Related quotes > [Personally, I wouldn't advise a gay leading man-type actor to come out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-chamberlain/personally-i-wouldn-t-advise-a-gay-leading-man-type-actor-to-come-out/) [Richard Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-chamberlain/) > [You know, working as an actor, I'm always working within my own imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-know-working-as-an-actor-i-m-always-working-within-my-own/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Voice work is fun. But about three-quarters of the things you enjoy about acting are just not there. You're not working with another actor;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/voice-work-is-fun-but-about-three-quarters-of-the-things-you-enjoy/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [When I came to Mumbai, I knew that I am an actor but I am not a working actor. To keep this actor alive,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-banerjee/when-i-came-to-mumbai-i-knew-that-i-am-an-actor-but-i-am-not-a/) [Abhishek Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-banerjee/) > [When people are bothering you constantly when you're trying to do just a simple thing that humans do every day but they won't let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/when-people-are-bothering-you-constantly-when-you-re-trying-to-do/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [“My basic profession is as an actor, and I have learnt much about life through working as an actor. Working as an actor is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-dhyan-giten/my-basic-profession-is-as-an-actor-and-i-have-learnt-much-about-life/) [Swami Dhyan Giten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-dhyan-giten/) > [I think L.A.'s terrific. You fly an hour and a half and you're in the mountains in three feet of powder. I also think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-patterson/i-think-l-a-s-terrific-you-fly-an-hour-and-a-half-and-you-re-in-the/) [Scott Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-patterson/) > [I happen to be one of those lucky people who says that she's a working actor. And to always be working is very fulfilling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamlyn-tomita/i-happen-to-be-one-of-those-lucky-people-who-says-that-she-s-a/) [Tamlyn Tomita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamlyn-tomita/) > [There are movies where actors aren't characters but movie stars, being cool beyond belief throughout the whole movie. That is what it is. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-bale/there-are-movies-where-actors-aren-t-characters-but-movie-stars-being/) [Christian Bale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-bale/) > [Actors aren't all the same. They have very different skills. There are actors of intellect who are very thoughtful about everything they do... and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/actors-aren-t-all-the-same-they-have-very-different-skills-there-are/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) > [People are very uncomfortable when you call actors artists because there are a lot of actors out there that aren't artists - there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-gavaris/people-are-very-uncomfortable-when-you-call-actors-artists-because/) [Jordan Gavaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-gavaris/) > [If the actors aren't reacting the way people would react, that's where you step into disbelief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-green/if-the-actors-aren-t-reacting-the-way-people-would-react-that-s-where/) [Misha Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-green/) > [“Who me? God, no, I'm terrible . . . " Then, just as an experiment, I say, "And, besides, I don't think I'm good-looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/who-me-god-no-i-m-terrible-then-just-as-an-experiment-i-say-and/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [Character actors aren't a brand in the same way that high-profile leading men are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-molina/character-actors-aren-t-a-brand-in-the-same-way-that-high-profile/) [Alfred Molina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-molina/) > [I can understand why people get annoyed at being remembered for one thing, but a lot of actors aren't remembered for anything. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-walters/i-can-understand-why-people-get-annoyed-at-being-remembered-for-one/) [Julie Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-walters/) ## More by Richard Chamberlain > [I suppose everyone tells little white lies. Quite often they're necessary to make someone feel better or prevent feelings from being hurt. Whoppers? No,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-chamberlain/i-suppose-everyone-tells-little-white-lies-quite-often-they-re/) [Richard Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-chamberlain/) > [Despite all the wonderful advances that have been made, it's still dangerous for an actor to talk about that in our extremely misguided culture.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-chamberlain/despite-all-the-wonderful-advances-that-have-been-made-it-s-still/) [Richard Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-chamberlain/) > [Nothing is secret once you tell anyone. If you want to keep it quiet - don't tell a soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-chamberlain/nothing-is-secret-once-you-tell-anyone-if-you-want-to-keep-it-quiet/) [Richard Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-chamberlain/) > [I've learned, I think, to be able to distinguish between the necessary and the unnecessary as far as my limited outside time is concerned.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-chamberlain/i-ve-learned-i-think-to-be-able-to-distinguish-between-the-necessary/) [Richard Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-chamberlain/) > [I pattern my actions and life after what I want. No two people are alike. You might admire attributes in others, but use these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-chamberlain/i-pattern-my-actions-and-life-after-what-i-want-no-two-people-are/) [Richard Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-chamberlain/) > [I am not a romantic leading man anymore so I don't need to nurture that public image anymore. I can talk about it now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-chamberlain/i-am-not-a-romantic-leading-man-anymore-so-i-don-t-need-to-nurture/) [Richard Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-chamberlain/) > [Personally, I wouldn't advise a gay leading man-type actor to come out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-chamberlain/personally-i-wouldn-t-advise-a-gay-leading-man-type-actor-to-come-out/) [Richard Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-chamberlain/) > [Over a long period of time, living as if you were someone else is no fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-chamberlain/over-a-long-period-of-time-living-as-if-you-were-someone-else-is-no/) [Richard Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-chamberlain/) > [I actually feel sorry for people who have a lot of illusions in their head about what gay is. I mean, I know some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-chamberlain/i-actually-feel-sorry-for-people-who-have-a-lot-of-illusions-in-their/) [Richard Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-chamberlain/) > ['Handsome' means many things to many people. If people consider me handsome, I feel flattered - and have my parents to thank for it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-chamberlain/handsome-means-many-things-to-many-people-if-people-consider-me/) [Richard Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-chamberlain/) > [I consider myself a religious person. God is something very personal with me and I don't flaunt religion in conversation with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-chamberlain/i-consider-myself-a-religious-person-god-is-something-very-personal/) [Richard Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-chamberlain/) [Explore all 12 Richard Chamberlain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-chamberlain/) ## 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! 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/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. 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": "For an actor to be working at all is a kind of miracle, because most actors aren't. So it's just silly for a working actor to say, 'Oh, I don't care if anybody knows I'm gay' especially if you're a leading man. 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