--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Some actors get by with behaving, not…" description: "\"Some actors get by with behaving, not acting. You've got to sell the effect. I act more in the 'Nightmare' movies because it's not like me. I'm acting,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/159/robert-englund-2458_act_some-actors-get-by-with-behaving-not-act_3187711.jpg" --- # Some actors get by with behaving, not acting. You've got… ![“Some actors get by with behaving, not acting. You've got to sell the effect. I act more in the 'Nightmare' movies because it's not like me. I'm acting, not reacting.” quote by Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/159/robert-englund-2458_act_some-actors-get-by-with-behaving-not-act_3187711.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/159/robert-englund-2458_act_some-actors-get-by-with-behaving-not-act_3187711.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/159/robert-englund-2458_act_some-actors-get-by-with-behaving-not-act_3187711.jpg) > “Some actors get by with behaving, not acting. You've got to sell the effect. I act more in the 'Nightmare' movies because it's not like me. I'm acting, not reacting.” [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting requires conveying genuine emotion, not just following a script; authenticity sells the effect. **In simple terms:** True acting is about authentic expression. Key Takeaway Focus on genuine feeling, not just performance. Themes acting authenticity performance Mood intense reflective Type artistic practical When to use this quote - auditions - film scenes - live theater Key Concepts method acting emotional truth selling effect Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance authenticity and character? - What limits does this approach have? A Different Perspective Risk of over‑identifying with a role. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Movies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movies/) [Nightmare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nightmare/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [When it's just a few scenes and a couple of actors behaving in a room, I feel very confident with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-rapp/when-it-s-just-a-few-scenes-and-a-couple-of-actors-behaving-in-a-room/) [Adam Rapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-rapp/) > [Have you noticed ... there is never any third act in a nightmare? They bring you to a climax of terror and then leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-beerbohm/have-you-noticed-there-is-never-any-third-act-in-a-nightmare-they/) [Max Beerbohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-beerbohm/) > [You just need to put yourself in someone else's shoes and then see how they feel and then you will understand why they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/navid-negahban/you-just-need-to-put-yourself-in-someone-else-s-shoes-and-then-see/) [Navid Negahban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/navid-negahban/) > [Good acting is about reacting, not tryingto express something, but reacting to a situation as the character.I don't like acting acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jarmusch/good-acting-is-about-reacting-not-tryingto-express-something-but/) [Jim Jarmusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jarmusch/) > [If you know why someone is doing what they're doing, why they're behaving the way they are, then that's your job to reveal that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/if-you-know-why-someone-is-doing-what-they-re-doing-why-they-re/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [Life is all about ass; you're either covering it,laughing it off, kicking it, kissing it, busting it, trying to get a piece of it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-all-about-ass-you-re-either-covering-it-laughing-it-off/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [At some point you have to stop acting as though life is happening to you and acknowledge the ways you are happening to it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-michaels/at-some-point-you-have-to-stop-acting-as-though-life-is-happening-to/) [Jillian Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-michaels/) > [“A great many grown-up and intelligent people believe, or pretend to believe, that by behaving in a friendly and accommodating way to our attackers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bowman/a-great-many-grown-up-and-intelligent-people-believe-or-pretend-to/) James Bowman > [Happiness comes from knowing what you truly value, and behaving in a way that's consistent with those beliefs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-rowe/happiness-comes-from-knowing-what-you-truly-value-and-behaving-in-a/) [Mike Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-rowe/) > [“We need to get our minds right, because right now we are behaving as if we are out of our right minds.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-wallace/we-need-to-get-our-minds-right-because-right-now-we-are-behaving-as/) [Carlos Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-wallace/) > [In a world where people want answers immediately, I'm behaving a lot of the time in ways that contradict certain people's beliefs, or normally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matty-healy/in-a-world-where-people-want-answers-immediately-i-m-behaving-a-lot/) [Matty Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matty-healy/) > [I always laugh a lot when I see the dramas that I end up doing. I see myself behaving very seriously and I'm like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gael-garcia-bernal/i-always-laugh-a-lot-when-i-see-the-dramas-that-i-end-up-doing-i-see/) [Gael Garcia Bernal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gael-garcia-bernal/) > [We have recognized that the world is changing. How your children are behaving, how their friends are behaving. What they consume and what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-packer/we-have-recognized-that-the-world-is-changing-how-your-children-are/) [James Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-packer/) > [It's risky because any number of things are going to happen that nobody can foresee. But right now everybody is the left is playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/it-s-risky-because-any-number-of-things-are-going-to-happen-that/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [So long as God reveals Himself, or doesn't, He is behaving like God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/so-long-as-god-reveals-himself-or-doesn-t-he-is-behaving-like-god/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) ## More by Robert Englund > [There's plenty of great stuff out there. I think it's just what we do is we all spend our allowance on the thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/there-s-plenty-of-great-stuff-out-there-i-think-it-s-just-what-we-do/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [I was quite a snob when I was a theatre actor earlier in my career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/i-was-quite-a-snob-when-i-was-a-theatre-actor-earlier-in-my-career/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [Any film you make is a crap shoot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/any-film-you-make-is-a-crap-shoot/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [I didn't make good money on 'Nightmare' until part three. I eventually got some nice merchandising checks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/i-didn-t-make-good-money-on-nightmare-until-part-three-i-eventually/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [I used to drive up from theatre in Michigan to Stratford, Ontario to watch every show. I idolized the actors from Stratford. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/i-used-to-drive-up-from-theatre-in-michigan-to-stratford-ontario-to/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [I make a star's salary when I do horror, because I can still open a movie in Italy or Spain or Germany.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/i-make-a-star-s-salary-when-i-do-horror-because-i-can-still-open-a/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [Surfing is real private. It's a solo, loner sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/surfing-is-real-private-it-s-a-solo-loner-sport/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [I've worked with pythons and such in a couple of movies, and I had to wrangle around, but I was okay. Still, if I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/i-ve-worked-with-pythons-and-such-in-a-couple-of-movies-and-i-had-to/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [I was trained to serve the writer and director as an actor before I serve myself. Not to say that's gotten in my way,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/i-was-trained-to-serve-the-writer-and-director-as-an-actor-before-i/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [I do a lot of stuff in my career, but I like to keep a hand in horror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/i-do-a-lot-of-stuff-in-my-career-but-i-like-to-keep-a-hand-in-horror/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [By the time I'm out of makeup, I'm ready to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/by-the-time-i-m-out-of-makeup-i-m-ready-to-act/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [The roughest make-up I ever wore was for 'Phantom of the Opera' because the phantom's face was all disfigured, and he's trying to pass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/the-roughest-make-up-i-ever-wore-was-for-phantom-of-the-opera-because/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [I don't choose roles. I go where I'm wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/i-don-t-choose-roles-i-go-where-i-m-wanted/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [I'm at that stage in my career, especially now where I go where I am wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/i-m-at-that-stage-in-my-career-especially-now-where-i-go-where-i-am/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [Jeff Bridges taught me a lot about how to keep a scene fresh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/jeff-bridges-taught-me-a-lot-about-how-to-keep-a-scene-fresh/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) [Explore all 165 Robert Englund quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) ## More Act quotes > [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/) > [Teachers' unions don't act in the interest of most teachers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sal-khan/teachers-unions-don-t-act-in-the-interest-of-most-teachers/) [Sal Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sal-khan/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [People take years learning how to act; it's a skill, not just a job. If I tried it out and thought I'd be OK,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-fimmel/people-take-years-learning-how-to-act-it-s-a-skill-not-just-a-job-if/) [Travis Fimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-fimmel/) > [Self-discipline is an act of cultivation. It require you to connect today's actions to tomorrow's results. There's a season for sowing a season for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ryan-blair/self-discipline-is-an-act-of-cultivation-it-require-you-to-connect/) [Gary Ryan Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ryan-blair/) > [“Don’t turn your face away. Once you’ve seen, you can no longer act like you don’t know. Open your eyes to the truth. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vashti-quiroz-vega/don-t-turn-your-face-away-once-you-ve-seen-you-can-no-longer-act-like/) Vashti Quiroz-Vega > [I always advise people not to act upon the advice that I give them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/i-always-advise-people-not-to-act-upon-the-advice-that-i-give-them/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [I have no interest in watching myself act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wesley/i-have-no-interest-in-watching-myself-act/) [Paul Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wesley/) > [“Don't wait, just sweat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/don-t-wait-just-sweat/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [I do believe some people can naturally act and don't know it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-arnold/i-do-believe-some-people-can-naturally-act-and-don-t-know-it/) [Andrea Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-arnold/) > [Regardless of what I do, whether I write a book or whether I act or whether I host, I'll always do stand-up comedy because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-mandel/regardless-of-what-i-do-whether-i-write-a-book-or-whether-i-act-or/) [Howie Mandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-mandel/) > [On 'Workaholics,' I feel like I'm just hanging out with my buddies being filmed, but on 'Mindy,' I'm around professional funny people who act.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anders-holm/on-workaholics-i-feel-like-i-m-just-hanging-out-with-my-buddies-being/) [Anders Holm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anders-holm/) > [I'm not an artist, and I want to take risks, and when the possibility of failure occurs, it's because the idea is all exciting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/i-m-not-an-artist-and-i-want-to-take-risks-and-when-the-possibility/) [Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/) > [I don't have a huge amount of gear, but on the software side, I have a number of plug-in chains that act as abstracted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hopkins/i-don-t-have-a-huge-amount-of-gear-but-on-the-software-side-i-have-a/) [Jon Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hopkins/) > [I honestly didn't know that I wanted to act until I was probably 12.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-rae-mayo/i-honestly-didn-t-know-that-i-wanted-to-act-until-i-was-probably-12/) [Miranda Rae Mayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-rae-mayo/) Browse all 1,802 Act quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Some actors get by with behaving, not acting. 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