--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't know what its like for most…" description: "\"I don't know what its like for most actors, but really clearly for myself acting has always been the fulfilment of personal fantasies. It isn't just ar..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81f/richard-dreyfuss-11788_acting_i-don-t-know-what-its-like-for-most-acto_878136.jpg" --- # I don't know what its like for most actors, but really… ![“I don't know what its like for most actors, but really clearly for myself acting has always been the fulfilment of personal fantasies. It isn't just art, its about being a person I've always wanted to be, or being in a situation, or being a hero.” quote by Richard Dreyfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81f/richard-dreyfuss-11788_acting_i-don-t-know-what-its-like-for-most-acto_878136.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81f/richard-dreyfuss-11788_acting_i-don-t-know-what-its-like-for-most-acto_878136.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81f/richard-dreyfuss-11788_acting_i-don-t-know-what-its-like-for-most-acto_878136.jpg) > “I don't know what its like for most actors, but really clearly for myself acting has always been the fulfilment of personal fantasies. It isn't just art, its about being a person I've always wanted to be, or being in a situation, or being a hero.” [Richard Dreyfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dreyfuss/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting fulfills personal fantasies, allowing one to become an idealized self or hero. **In simple terms:** Acting lets you live imagined roles. Key Takeaway Use art to explore identity. Themes creativity identity fantasy Mood introspective inspirational Type reflective philosophical When to use this quote - theatre - film - personal development Key Concepts psychology performance art self-actualization Questions to Reflect On - How do actors maintain self‑identity? - What risks arise from living through characters? A Different Perspective Overidentification with roles can blur personal boundaries. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Fulfilment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-fulfilment-1023704/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Actors Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors-really/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hero/) [Like Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-actors/) [Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situation/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) ## Related quotes > [I think, like most actors, it's really exciting to be challenged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-macfarlane/i-think-like-most-actors-it-s-really-exciting-to-be-challenged/) [Luke Macfarlane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-macfarlane/) > [That's how I like to do it with actors, have them really go for it and I'll tell them when it's too much. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-payne/that-s-how-i-like-to-do-it-with-actors-have-them-really-go-for-it-and/) [Alexander Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-payne/) > [I look up to Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon. I'm a huge fan of their work. 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Jodie Foster was the exception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lester/child-actors-going-on-to-become-adult-actors-never-really-works-apart/) [Mark Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lester/) > [People have a different idea of how movies are made than they really are. On a certain level, everyone throws ideas into the hopper.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/people-have-a-different-idea-of-how-movies-are-made-than-they-really/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [Personally, I like all actors who are mysterious and don't have social media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karan-soni/personally-i-like-all-actors-who-are-mysterious-and-don-t-have-social/) [Karan Soni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karan-soni/) > [There are so many great actors, but I really have a lot of respect for Johnny Depp. I've seen a lot of movies with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-speleers/there-are-so-many-great-actors-but-i-really-have-a-lot-of-respect-for/) [Ed Speleers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-speleers/) > [As much as it's nice to step into that massive world of Hollywood and be a big, famous actor, I prefer the career of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-elba/as-much-as-it-s-nice-to-step-into-that-massive-world-of-hollywood-and/) [Idris Elba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idris-elba/) > [We've had no problems with the actors, but we keep a really loose set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-farrelly/we-ve-had-no-problems-with-the-actors-but-we-keep-a-really-loose-set/) [Peter Farrelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-farrelly/) > [I really respect versatile actors, so I'd really like to throw myself in the deep end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samara-weaving/i-really-respect-versatile-actors-so-i-d-really-like-to-throw-myself/) [Samara Weaving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samara-weaving/) ## More by Richard Dreyfuss > [Trump is an intemperate, mean-spirited, lying bully. If a man like that asked you for permission to marry your daughter, what would your answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dreyfuss/trump-is-an-intemperate-mean-spirited-lying-bully-if-a-man-like-that/) [Richard Dreyfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dreyfuss/) > [Television is hypnotic, and it hides among the furniture of your living room. It doesn't reveal itself, but it distorts everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dreyfuss/television-is-hypnotic-and-it-hides-among-the-furniture-of-your/) [Richard Dreyfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dreyfuss/) > [There is one solution to all of our problems: Teaching our kids clarity of thought and political representation in democracy. That's it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dreyfuss/there-is-one-solution-to-all-of-our-problems-teaching-our-kids/) [Richard Dreyfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dreyfuss/) > [We mistake politics for legislative debate. You can be passionate without being personal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dreyfuss/we-mistake-politics-for-legislative-debate-you-can-be-passionate/) [Richard Dreyfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dreyfuss/) > [Wake up and live. It's a fast world out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dreyfuss/wake-up-and-live-it-s-a-fast-world-out-there/) [Richard Dreyfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dreyfuss/) > [I took the part in 'Mr. Holland's Opus' because no one had ever asked me to play 'a life' before. I get to age…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dreyfuss/i-took-the-part-in-mr-holland-s-opus-because-no-one-had-ever-asked-me/) [Richard Dreyfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dreyfuss/) > [I spoke so much about being a manic-depressive. I want to bring everyone back to my earliest memories of this companion of mine. Some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dreyfuss/i-spoke-so-much-about-being-a-manic-depressive-i-want-to-bring/) [Richard Dreyfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dreyfuss/) > [The happiest I ever been was when I was a struggling actor. I've had big houses and small houses. I always had work available…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dreyfuss/the-happiest-i-ever-been-was-when-i-was-a-struggling-actor-i-ve-had/) [Richard Dreyfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dreyfuss/) > [Happiness has a bad rap. People say it shouldn't be your goal in life. Oh, yes it should.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dreyfuss/happiness-has-a-bad-rap-people-say-it-shouldn-t-be-your-goal-in-life/) [Richard Dreyfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dreyfuss/) > [I said to my doctor, 'You gotta testme, there's something wrong with me that I would be behaving this way.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dreyfuss/i-said-to-my-doctor-you-gotta-testme-there-s-something-wrong-with-me/) [Richard Dreyfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dreyfuss/) > [We didn't get along, me and Bill Murray. But I've got to give it to him: I don't like him, but he makes me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dreyfuss/we-didn-t-get-along-me-and-bill-murray-but-i-ve-got-to-give-it-to-him/) [Richard Dreyfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dreyfuss/) > [Politics has become beyond acceptable when it comes to humanity. People are just frozen in falsehood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dreyfuss/politics-has-become-beyond-acceptable-when-it-comes-to-humanity/) [Richard Dreyfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dreyfuss/) > [To teach our kids how to run our country, before they are called upon to run our country . . . if we don't,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dreyfuss/to-teach-our-kids-how-to-run-our-country-before-they-are-called-upon/) [Richard Dreyfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dreyfuss/) > [I think I'm turning into a libertarian. I'm not part of the gaggle of Hollywood liberals. I gaggle for no one, and I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dreyfuss/i-think-i-m-turning-into-a-libertarian-i-m-not-part-of-the-gaggle-of/) [Richard Dreyfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dreyfuss/) > [We need to get back to reasoning and thinking things through. The future generation is being brought up in greed and without a true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dreyfuss/we-need-to-get-back-to-reasoning-and-thinking-things-through-the/) [Richard Dreyfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dreyfuss/) [Explore all 58 Richard Dreyfuss quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dreyfuss/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 don't know what its like for most actors, but really clearly for myself acting has always been the fulfilment of personal fantasies. 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