---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think I”m a very good actor…"
description: "\"I don't think I”m a very good actor. Everything is very tentative and at a certain point you click in and just feel the spirit move you. I can be posse..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/249/river-phoenix-11883_actors_i-don-t-think-i-m-a-very-good-actor-ever_1126450.jpg"
---

#  I don't think I”m a very good actor. Everything is very…

![“I don't think I”m a very good actor. Everything is very tentative and at a certain point you click in and just feel the spirit move you. I can be possessed really well.” quote by River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/249/river-phoenix-11883_actors_i-don-t-think-i-m-a-very-good-actor-ever_1126450.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/249/river-phoenix-11883_actors_i-don-t-think-i-m-a-very-good-actor-ever_1126450.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/249/river-phoenix-11883_actors_i-don-t-think-i-m-a-very-good-actor-ever_1126450.jpg)

> “I don't think I”m a very good actor. Everything is very tentative and at a certain point you click in and just feel the spirit move you. I can be possessed really well.”

[River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He doubts his acting skill but feels a spiritual possession when fully immersed in a role, suggesting authenticity over technique.

**In simple terms:** He feels most authentic when he feels possessed by the character.

Key Takeaway

Embrace moments of deep immersion.

Themes

self‑doubt authenticity spirituality

Mood

introspective hopeful

Type

inspirational philosophical

When to use this quote

- theatre auditions
- method acting
- creative workshops

Key Concepts

acting presence flow

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you cultivate that feeling reliably?
- What practices help you access deeper immersion?

A Different Perspective

Reliance on feeling can be unpredictable and hard to reproduce.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Good actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-actors/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/)

## Related quotes

> [You feel the spirit move you. I can be possessed really well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/you-feel-the-spirit-move-you-i-can-be-possessed-really-well/)

[River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/)

> [“God knows who we became when we masturbated. It was like our desire was a spirit that possessed us and took over.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-o-neill/god-knows-who-we-became-when-we-masturbated-it-was-like-our-desire/)

[Heather O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-o-neill/)

> [“Ere long, however, the daemon was wrestling with him once more; he was seized by that “terrible spirit of unrest” which drove him “like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-zweig/ere-long-however-the-daemon-was-wrestling-with-him-once-more-he-was/)

[Stefan Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-zweig/)

> [I'm the mother of two daughters, one of whom is going to get possessed. It's really spooky and great. I'm shooting it right now.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/i-m-the-mother-of-two-daughters-one-of-whom-is-going-to-get-possessed/)

[Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/)

> [The first - the most obvious test of a true social entrepreneur - is are they possessed, really possessed by an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-drayton/the-first-the-most-obvious-test-of-a-true-social-entrepreneur-is-are/)

[Bill Drayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-drayton/)

> [I just want to do the best possible job with everything that I do. But I'm far more concerned with being a good father…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-wahlberg/i-just-want-to-do-the-best-possible-job-with-everything-that-i-do-but/)

[Mark Wahlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-wahlberg/)

> [I like the fact that Chris Rock is one of the best stand ups ever and still is a really good actor. And a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-dugan/i-like-the-fact-that-chris-rock-is-one-of-the-best-stand-ups-ever-and/)

Dennis Dugan

> [Christoph Waltz is stunning, an insanely nice guy. He is not only a ridiculously good actor, he’s also funny, helpful &amp; a good colleague.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pattinson/christoph-waltz-is-stunning-an-insanely-nice-guy-he-is-not-only-a/)

[Robert Pattinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pattinson/)

> [Sometimes, I even recite the role to the actor if it's not clear. And I beg them not to imitate me, because I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-leone/sometimes-i-even-recite-the-role-to-the-actor-if-it-s-not-clear-and-i/)

[Sergio Leone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-leone/)

> [In order to be able to work with somebody in acting, you've first got to think that person's a good actor before you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-dekay/in-order-to-be-able-to-work-with-somebody-in-acting-you-ve-first-got/)

[Tim DeKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-dekay/)

> [I'm not a good actor, I can play myself and a much gayer version of myself. That's my range.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-tosh/i-m-not-a-good-actor-i-can-play-myself-and-a-much-gayer-version-of/)

[Daniel Tosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-tosh/)

> [To me, a lot of what makes a good actor is not what a teacher tells you to do but how you respond when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenne-headly/to-me-a-lot-of-what-makes-a-good-actor-is-not-what-a-teacher-tells/)

[Glenne Headly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenne-headly/)

> [In my theater days I assumed that you had to get rid of yourself to do a character well, and I don’t think I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-day/in-my-theater-days-i-assumed-that-you-had-to-get-rid-of-yourself-to/)

[Charlie Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-day/)

> [For people who want to get into the voiceover industry, even if you want to get into commercial, you need to become a really,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-bergen/for-people-who-want-to-get-into-the-voiceover-industry-even-if-you/)

[Bob Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-bergen/)

> [When you work with a good actor, there is this natural rapport and chemistry that develops over time. That chemistry helps your characters come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aamir-khan/when-you-work-with-a-good-actor-there-is-this-natural-rapport-and/)

[Aamir Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aamir-khan/)

## More by River Phoenix

> [I've always felt somewhat out of place with other kids my own age", said River. "I was constantly reminded by people's reaction to our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/i-ve-always-felt-somewhat-out-of-place-with-other-kids-my-own-age/)

[River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/)

> [Although I can't stop all cruelty to living creatures on the planet, I can be kinder to every living creature in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/although-i-can-t-stop-all-cruelty-to-living-creatures-on-the-planet-i/)

[River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/)

> [It's a great feeling to think that I can be a friend to so many people through my movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/it-s-a-great-feeling-to-think-that-i-can-be-a-friend-to-so-many/)

[River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/)

> [I really like acting because you can create a character. You can make someone who has never existed before. That's neat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/i-really-like-acting-because-you-can-create-a-character-you-can-make/)

[River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/)

> [I wouldn't eat a hamburger for 40,000 dollars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/i-wouldn-t-eat-a-hamburger-for-40-000-dollars/)

[River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/)

> [Sometimes I wish I wasn't as conscious as I am. It would be so much easier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/sometimes-i-wish-i-wasn-t-as-conscious-as-i-am-it-would-be-so-much/)

[River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/)

> [I'm a minor, stupid talent compared to my brother (Joaquin).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/i-m-a-minor-stupid-talent-compared-to-my-brother-joaquin/)

[River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/)

> [I don't want to get into the habit of thinking about my career because when it comes down to it, it's not that important.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/i-don-t-want-to-get-into-the-habit-of-thinking-about-my-career/)

[River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/)

> [Vegetarianism is a link to perfection and peace. But it's a small link. There are lots of other issues: apartheid , vivisection, political prisoners,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/vegetarianism-is-a-link-to-perfection-and-peace-but-it-s-a-small-link/)

[River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/)

> [I feel that there are great minds up there who would like to see what I can do with an Oscar nomination. I guess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/i-feel-that-there-are-great-minds-up-there-who-would-like-to-see-what/)

[River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/)

> [Rich kids gave us their old clothes. They were the best clothes we ever had. We were these very pure, naive, poor children. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/rich-kids-gave-us-their-old-clothes-they-were-the-best-clothes-we/)

[River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/)

> [We were constantly moving to different countries and adjusting to new things. It was such a free feeling. I'm glad I didn't have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/we-were-constantly-moving-to-different-countries-and-adjusting-to-new/)

[River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/)

> [I'd like to play every type of character, but only once. I like to expierence things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/i-d-like-to-play-every-type-of-character-but-only-once-i-like-to/)

[River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/)

> [I sometimes lie, especially about personal things, because what does it matter? I am a kind of minute commodity. My name is no longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/i-sometimes-lie-especially-about-personal-things-because-what-does-it/)

[River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/)

> [I did my best work in The Mosquito Coast. I know it wasn't such a big hit, but for me it was more meaningful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/i-did-my-best-work-in-the-mosquito-coast-i-know-it-wasn-t-such-a-big/)

[River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/)

[Explore all 57 River Phoenix quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/)

## 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": "I don't think I”m a very good actor. Everything is very tentative and at a certain point you click in and just feel the spirit move you. I can be possessed really well.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "River Phoenix"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/i-don-t-think-i-m-a-very-good-actor-everything-is-very-tentative-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Actor"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/i-don-t-think-i-m-a-very-good-actor-everything-is-very-tentative-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/249/river-phoenix-11883_actors_i-don-t-think-i-m-a-very-good-actor-ever_1126450.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/249/river-phoenix-11883_actors_i-don-t-think-i-m-a-very-good-actor-ever_1126450.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/249/river-phoenix-11883_actors_i-don-t-think-i-m-a-very-good-actor-ever_1126450.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I don't think I”m a very good actor. Everything is very tentative and at a certain point you click in and…” — River Phoenix",
                "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": "River Phoenix",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I don't think I”m a very...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/i-don-t-think-i-m-a-very-good-actor-everything-is-very-tentative-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/i-don-t-think-i-m-a-very-good-actor-everything-is-very-tentative-and/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
