--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think like an actor when I'm acting…" description: "\"I think like an actor when I'm acting, and I think like a director when I'm directing.\" — Roger Rees" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96a/roger-rees-8378_acting_i-think-like-an-actor-when-i-m-acting-an_2757498.jpg" --- # I think like an actor when I'm acting, and I think like a… ![“I think like an actor when I'm acting, and I think like a director when I'm directing.” quote by Roger Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96a/roger-rees-8378_acting_i-think-like-an-actor-when-i-m-acting-an_2757498.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96a/roger-rees-8378_acting_i-think-like-an-actor-when-i-m-acting-an_2757498.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96a/roger-rees-8378_acting_i-think-like-an-actor-when-i-m-acting-an_2757498.jpg) > “I think like an actor when I'm acting, and I think like a director when I'm directing.” [Roger Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rees/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An actor adopts a character’s mindset while acting; a director adopts a broader perspective when directing. **In simple terms:** Think as a performer, think as a leader. Key Takeaway Switch mindsets appropriately. Themes leadership performance perspective Mood analytical inspirational Type professional philosophical When to use this quote - theatre production - film directing - team management Key Concepts role theory creative direction Questions to Reflect On - How do you transition between roles smoothly? - What strategies help maintain clarity? A Different Perspective Balancing roles may cause identity confusion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-think/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Directing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directing/) [Director](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/director/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Like Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-actor/) [Like Director](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-director-764339/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [I'm very old-school. I like a director to direct me. I like to be the actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-leo/i-m-very-old-school-i-like-a-director-to-direct-me-i-like-to-be-the/) [Melissa Leo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-leo/) > [You don't have to like an actor to do a scene with him. You don't have to like a director. But it's just better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-crowe/you-don-t-have-to-like-an-actor-to-do-a-scene-with-him-you-don-t-have/) [Russell Crowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-crowe/) > [I would like to be an actor, but I really would like to be a director of feature films. That's what I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-dennison/i-would-like-to-be-an-actor-but-i-really-would-like-to-be-a-director/) [Julian Dennison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-dennison/) > [As a director, I wouldn't like me as an actor. As an actor, I wouldn't like me as a director.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/as-a-director-i-wouldn-t-like-me-as-an-actor-as-an-actor-i-wouldn-t/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [I always like being a director in terms of giving acting notes and punching up on the fly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-besser/i-always-like-being-a-director-in-terms-of-giving-acting-notes-and/) [Matt Besser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-besser/) > [I really have very little aspirations about acting because I think that probably the best things have come and gone. I would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/i-really-have-very-little-aspirations-about-acting-because-i-think/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [I don't think I'm great at acting. I think I'm great at directing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-joan-hart/i-don-t-think-i-m-great-at-acting-i-think-i-m-great-at-directing/) [Melissa Joan Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-joan-hart/) > [I feel like what Director Bong is so amazing at is taking so many things and presenting them to you - never telling you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-collins/i-feel-like-what-director-bong-is-so-amazing-at-is-taking-so-many/) [Lily Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-collins/) > [In acting, you are fulfilled if you give justice to your role... if you are able to do a credible performance and touch the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-hutton/in-acting-you-are-fulfilled-if-you-give-justice-to-your-role-if-you/) [Timothy Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-hutton/) > [Steven Spielberg seems to have wanted to be a director from 13. He put his dog in a certain position and made him eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-brooks/steven-spielberg-seems-to-have-wanted-to-be-a-director-from-13-he-put/) [Albert Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-brooks/) > [I think a lot of people, if they get the opportunity to do some acting, they think, 'I might be a star.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kareem-abdul-jabbar/i-think-a-lot-of-people-if-they-get-the-opportunity-to-do-some-acting/) [Kareem Abdul-Jabbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kareem-abdul-jabbar/) > [You bring out a lot of your own thoughts and attitudes when acting. I think a great deal of it has to do with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginger-rogers/you-bring-out-a-lot-of-your-own-thoughts-and-attitudes-when-acting-i/) [Ginger Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginger-rogers/) > [“One of the common themes you will read in interview after interview is the call to keep fighting for your vision. This is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-silverstein/one-of-the-common-themes-you-will-read-in-interview-after-interview/) [Melissa Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-silverstein/) > [“If you think that you can hide what your interests are, what your prurient interests are, what your noble interests are, what your fascinations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fincher/if-you-think-that-you-can-hide-what-your-interests-are-what-your/) [David Fincher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fincher/) > [It doesn't matter who's directing, or who's doing the movie; there are a ton of things that can go wrong, and they do all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-hauer/it-doesn-t-matter-who-s-directing-or-who-s-doing-the-movie-there-are/) [Rutger Hauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-hauer/) ## More by Roger Rees > [No lens is quick enough to track the movement of the human body. The molecules are always moving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rees/no-lens-is-quick-enough-to-track-the-movement-of-the-human-body-the/) [Roger Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rees/) > ['Nicholas Nickleby' was the best example, where 43 people could make an audience of 1,500 look at a fingernail at any given moment. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rees/nicholas-nickleby-was-the-best-example-where-43-people-could-make-an/) [Roger Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rees/) > [My first acquaintance with 'Peter Pan' was back when I lived in South London. I was at art school, and I needed to earn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rees/my-first-acquaintance-with-peter-pan-was-back-when-i-lived-in-south/) [Roger Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rees/) > [I've often thought I'm a short music hall comedian stuck in a leading man's body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rees/i-ve-often-thought-i-m-a-short-music-hall-comedian-stuck-in-a-leading/) [Roger Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rees/) > [The loser, the fool, is embraced in England because there is a recognition of silliness there that allows a person to keep his ambitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rees/the-loser-the-fool-is-embraced-in-england-because-there-is-a/) [Roger Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rees/) > [Sometimes the most excruciating experiences in rehearsals and performances yield the most beautiful work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rees/sometimes-the-most-excruciating-experiences-in-rehearsals-and/) [Roger Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rees/) > [Rattigan's world demanded unwavering trust in principles, loyalty, and virtue. At the time of this play - Rattigan was writing this play in 1947…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rees/rattigan-s-world-demanded-unwavering-trust-in-principles-loyalty-and/) [Roger Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rees/) > [Everything happens every night for this audience, and it's a very special occasion to come to the theatre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rees/everything-happens-every-night-for-this-audience-and-it-s-a-very/) [Roger Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rees/) > [Some of the finest Shakespeare has been done recently by college theater programs. I'll tell you what these young kids have: They have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rees/some-of-the-finest-shakespeare-has-been-done-recently-by-college/) [Roger Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rees/) > [Anything I do is as theatrical as I can get it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rees/anything-i-do-is-as-theatrical-as-i-can-get-it/) [Roger Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rees/) > [When it was announced I had won the Tony Award, I was in Bangkok doing a movie with Judi Dench. I remember coming back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rees/when-it-was-announced-i-had-won-the-tony-award-i-was-in-bangkok-doing/) [Roger Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rees/) > [Now, of course, we know there has been an end to apartheid in South Africa, but what excited me was seeing it in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rees/now-of-course-we-know-there-has-been-an-end-to-apartheid-in-south/) [Roger Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rees/) > [I am an anthologist, you see. I sort of make anthologies for people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rees/i-am-an-anthologist-you-see-i-sort-of-make-anthologies-for-people/) [Roger Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rees/) > [If you live in the States, you have to join a gym.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rees/if-you-live-in-the-states-you-have-to-join-a-gym/) [Roger Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rees/) > [I do one thing Gielgud didn't: I play the ukulele.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rees/i-do-one-thing-gielgud-didn-t-i-play-the-ukulele/) [Roger Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rees/) [Explore all 81 Roger Rees quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rees/) ## 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. 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