--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: (Guy) Pearce, as the hero, makes the…" description: "\"(Guy) Pearce, as the hero, makes the mistake of trying to give a good and realistic performance. (Jeremy) Irons at least knows what kind of movie he's ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/639/roger-ebert-655_failure_guy-pearce-as-the-hero-makes-the-mistake_969477.jpg" --- # (Guy) Pearce, as the hero, makes the mistake of trying to… ![“(Guy) Pearce, as the hero, makes the mistake of trying to give a good and realistic performance. (Jeremy) Irons at least knows what kind of movie he's in, and hams it up accordingly.” quote by Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/639/roger-ebert-655_failure_guy-pearce-as-the-hero-makes-the-mistake_969477.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/639/roger-ebert-655_failure_guy-pearce-as-the-hero-makes-the-mistake_969477.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/639/roger-ebert-655_failure_guy-pearce-as-the-hero-makes-the-mistake_969477.jpg) > “(Guy) Pearce, as the hero, makes the mistake of trying to give a good and realistic performance. (Jeremy) Irons at least knows what kind of movie he's in, and hams it up accordingly.” [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Criticizes an actor’s attempt at realism while praising another’s self‑aware performance. **In simple terms:** One actor overacts, another embraces the film’s tone. Key Takeaway Recognize when realism suits a role. Themes acting film criticism performance Mood analytical critical Type review opinion When to use this quote - casting decisions - director vision - audience perception Key Concepts method acting self‑awareness genre expectations Questions to Reflect On - When does over‑acting enhance a film? - How does self‑awareness affect performance? A Different Perspective Realism isn’t always effective. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hero/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Performances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performances/) ## Related quotes > [I had such a big crush on Jeremy Irons when I was growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-fitzgerald/i-had-such-a-big-crush-on-jeremy-irons-when-i-was-growing-up/) [Tara Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-fitzgerald/) > [I don't want to give a cool appraisal of Jeremy Irons. I just want to boil him in oil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-barber/i-don-t-want-to-give-a-cool-appraisal-of-jeremy-irons-i-just-want-to/) [Lynn Barber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-barber/) > [ I was too young to understand who Sam\[uel L.\] Jackson was or who Bruce Willis was, who Jeremy Irons was at the time. All… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldis-hodge/i-was-too-young-to-understand-who-sam-uel-l-jackson-was-or-who-bruce/) [Aldis Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldis-hodge/) > [One day I was in school, and the next I was acting opposite Jeremy Irons. That's how quickly it happened. I was in class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-headey/one-day-i-was-in-school-and-the-next-i-was-acting-opposite-jeremy/) [Lena Headey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-headey/) > [I want to make every kind of movie that I can make. I don't really care if they're big or small.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-slate/i-want-to-make-every-kind-of-movie-that-i-can-make-i-don-t-really/) [Jenny Slate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-slate/) > [Whatever kind of movie it is, youre going to be more into it when you care more about the drama, or youll have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-wilson/whatever-kind-of-movie-it-is-youre-going-to-be-more-into-it-when-you/) [Luke Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-wilson/) > [“I don’t know what kind of movie would put their locations scout up at a YMCA, but if I had to guess I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/i-don-t-know-what-kind-of-movie-would-put-their-locations-scout-up-at/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [I would love to do a 'Vicky Donor' kind of movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angad-bedi/i-would-love-to-do-a-vicky-donor-kind-of-movie/) [Angad Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angad-bedi/) > [In America there's no way I can make the kind of movie I like to make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-chan/in-america-there-s-no-way-i-can-make-the-kind-of-movie-i-like-to-make/) [Jackie Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-chan/) > [I'll do any kind of movie, as long as it's a good version of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-duplass/i-ll-do-any-kind-of-movie-as-long-as-it-s-a-good-version-of-it/) [Mark Duplass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-duplass/) > [Breaking Away' was a great experience. It's the kind of movie that engenders a lot of goodwill from people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-christopher/breaking-away-was-a-great-experience-it-s-the-kind-of-movie-that/) Dennis Christopher > [Sometimes one of my ways of choosing movies that I want to do is if it's the kind of movie I would have gone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/sometimes-one-of-my-ways-of-choosing-movies-that-i-want-to-do-is-if/) [Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/) > [But we all have experiences of having a truly good time after watching a movie that is not thought-provoking, don't we? I do too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-je-hoon/but-we-all-have-experiences-of-having-a-truly-good-time-after/) [Lee Je-hoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-je-hoon/) > [Well, it's kind of like that classic sort of trajectory in this kind of movie where there's conflict and they're estranged and they kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-louise-parker/well-it-s-kind-of-like-that-classic-sort-of-trajectory-in-this-kind/) [Mary-Louise Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-louise-parker/) > [It's my first sort of commercial attempt, but it made sense for me because I'm not that kind of guy and I'm not going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/it-s-my-first-sort-of-commercial-attempt-but-it-made-sense-for-me/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) ## More by Roger Ebert > [It goes to show you how we in the press so often miss the big stories that are right under our noses. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-goes-to-show-you-how-we-in-the-press-so-often-miss-the-big-stories/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [It is an interesting law of romance that a truly strong woman will choose a strong man who disagrees with her over a weak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-is-an-interesting-law-of-romance-that-a-truly-strong-woman-will/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [I am, beneath everything else, a fan. I was fixed in this mode as a young boy and am awed by people who take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/i-am-beneath-everything-else-a-fan-i-was-fixed-in-this-mode-as-a/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [“We’d had a revelation. This was the direction American movies should take: into idiosyncratic characters, into dialogue with an ear for the vulgar and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/we-d-had-a-revelation-this-was-the-direction-american-movies-should/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [“Most courtroom movies feel it necessary to end with a clear-cut verdict. But 12 Angry Men never states whether the defendant is innocent or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/most-courtroom-movies-feel-it-necessary-to-end-with-a-clear-cut/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [What every human being should do is eat a vegetarian diet based on whole foods. Period. That's it. Animal protein is bad for you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/what-every-human-being-should-do-is-eat-a-vegetarian-diet-based-on/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [I value the kind of prayer when you stand at the edge of the sea, or beneath a tree, or smell a flower, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/i-value-the-kind-of-prayer-when-you-stand-at-the-edge-of-the-sea-or/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [“One of my delights in these books, on the other hand, has been to include movies not often cited as “great”—some because they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/one-of-my-delights-in-these-books-on-the-other-hand-has-been-to/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [A movie isn't good or bad based on its politics. It's usually good or bad for other reasons, though you might agree or disagree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/a-movie-isn-t-good-or-bad-based-on-its-politics-it-s-usually-good-or/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [It is human nature to look away from illness. We don't enjoy a reminder of our own fragile mortality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-is-human-nature-to-look-away-from-illness-we-don-t-enjoy-a/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [ Gene \[Siskel\] often mentioned something François Truffaut once told him: the most beautiful sight in a movie theater is to walk down to the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/gene-siskel-often-mentioned-something-fran-ois-truffaut-once-told-him/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [A movie is not about what it is about. It is about how it is about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/a-movie-is-not-about-what-it-is-about-it-is-about-how-it-is-about-it/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [James Cameron's films have always been distinguished by ground-breaking technical excellence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/james-cameron-s-films-have-always-been-distinguished-by-ground/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [Friends don't let Jackasses drink and drive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/friends-don-t-let-jackasses-drink-and-drive/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [I think we have to get beyond the idea that we have to categorize people. We can now have action movies with two stars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/i-think-we-have-to-get-beyond-the-idea-that-we-have-to-categorize/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) [Explore all 427 Roger Ebert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) ## 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": "(Guy) Pearce, as the hero, makes the mistake of trying to give a good and realistic performance. (Jeremy) Irons at least knows what kind of movie he's in, and hams it up accordingly.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Roger Ebert" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/guy-pearce-as-the-hero-makes-the-mistake-of-trying-to-give-a-good-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/guy-pearce-as-the-hero-makes-the-mistake-of-trying-to-give-a-good-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/639/roger-ebert-655_failure_guy-pearce-as-the-hero-makes-the-mistake_969477.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/639/roger-ebert-655_failure_guy-pearce-as-the-hero-makes-the-mistake_969477.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/639/roger-ebert-655_failure_guy-pearce-as-the-hero-makes-the-mistake_969477.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“(Guy) Pearce, as the hero, makes the mistake of trying to give a good and realistic performance. (Jeremy)…” — Roger Ebert", "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": "Roger Ebert", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "(Guy) Pearce, as the hero, makes...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/guy-pearce-as-the-hero-makes-the-mistake-of-trying-to-give-a-good-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/guy-pearce-as-the-hero-makes-the-mistake-of-trying-to-give-a-good-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 } } ] } ```