--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The approach to acting is always the…" description: "\"The approach to acting is always the same, you try to figure who the guy is and then you try to transition your way into his way of thinking and moving..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a9/ron-perlman-7226_acting_the-approach-to-acting-is-always-the-sam_3048253.jpg" --- # The approach to acting is always the same, you try to… ![“The approach to acting is always the same, you try to figure who the guy is and then you try to transition your way into his way of thinking and moving through the world. The rest of it is just accoutrements, you don't play the makeup, you play the guy. If you're not wearing makeup, you just play…” quote by Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a9/ron-perlman-7226_acting_the-approach-to-acting-is-always-the-sam_3048253.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a9/ron-perlman-7226_acting_the-approach-to-acting-is-always-the-sam_3048253.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a9/ron-perlman-7226_acting_the-approach-to-acting-is-always-the-sam_3048253.jpg) > “The approach to acting is always the same, you try to figure who the guy is and then you try to transition your way into his way of thinking and moving through the world. The rest of it is just accoutrements, you don't play the makeup, you play the guy. If you're not wearing makeup, you just play the guy.” [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting focuses on embodying the character’s mind, not superficial aspects. **In simple terms:** Play the character, not the costume. Key Takeaway Prioritize inner truth of role. Themes acting character immersion method Mood analytical creative Type artistic professional When to use this quote - theatre - film - role preparation Key Concepts psychology performance art Questions to Reflect On - How do you access a character’s mindset? - What helps you stay in role? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on technique can hinder authenticity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-try-308487/) [Approach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach/) [Approach Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach-acting-285265/) [Figures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/figures/) [Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guy/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Makeup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/makeup/) [Makeup Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/makeup-play-1187585/) [Moving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-guy-297939/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Transition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transition/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Way of thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way-of-thinking/) [Wearing makeup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wearing-makeup/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes I wear makeup while I play - I did it during the World Cup because the cameras were always on us, but for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-mcdonald/sometimes-i-wear-makeup-while-i-play-i-did-it-during-the-world-cup/) [Jessica McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-mcdonald/) > [One of the things I love about stage makeup is I get to play up my eyes even more than usual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barrett-wilbert-weed/one-of-the-things-i-love-about-stage-makeup-is-i-get-to-play-up-my/) [Barrett Wilbert Weed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barrett-wilbert-weed/) > [I asked, 'What is this guy?' They said, he's part-fish, part-bird, maybe a bit of lizard, and you don't have to go through five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-rush/i-asked-what-is-this-guy-they-said-he-s-part-fish-part-bird-maybe-a/) [Geoffrey Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-rush/) > [My whole mantra is, "Go big or go home." I don't want to just play a guy who dresses up. I want to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/my-whole-mantra-is-go-big-or-go-home-i-don-t-want-to-just-play-a-guy/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [Lead by example. Women often wait for permission instead of acting, and I try to encourage bold action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belinda-johnson/lead-by-example-women-often-wait-for-permission-instead-of-acting-and/) [Belinda Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belinda-johnson/) > [I think that various styles and methods and approaches are an invention of people who don't understand the process of acting and who try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-kingsley/i-think-that-various-styles-and-methods-and-approaches-are-an/) [Ben Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-kingsley/) > [When you're acting, you can try your own ideas and be free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/storm-reid/when-you-re-acting-you-can-try-your-own-ideas-and-be-free/) [Storm Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/storm-reid/) > [It's kind of funny, with all of the different outlets that come from acting that you could try, I would love to direct and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imogen-poots/it-s-kind-of-funny-with-all-of-the-different-outlets-that-come-from/) [Imogen Poots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imogen-poots/) > [If I wasn't acting, I'd try and be a footballer. I wouldn't be a musician because I can't write my own music. Realistically, I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-blackley/if-i-wasn-t-acting-i-d-try-and-be-a-footballer-i-wouldn-t-be-a/) [Jamie Blackley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-blackley/) > [One of my main techniques for acting is I try to know almost nothing beyond the words that I have to say, because that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-bauer-van-straten/one-of-my-main-techniques-for-acting-is-i-try-to-know-almost-nothing/) [Kristin Bauer van Straten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-bauer-van-straten/) > [I started studying at 26. Before that, I never thought of acting as something that I would ever try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gale-harold/i-started-studying-at-26-before-that-i-never-thought-of-acting-as/) [Gale Harold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gale-harold/) > [I did an internship in the Silicon Valley during the Internet boom. I couldn't imagine sitting in a cubicle the rest of my life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-chon/i-did-an-internship-in-the-silicon-valley-during-the-internet-boom-i/) [Justin Chon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-chon/) > [In acting, I always try to go back to what would actually be the real situation, the real human behavior in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/in-acting-i-always-try-to-go-back-to-what-would-actually-be-the-real/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) > [I was about to get a degree in economics when I accepted that I'd be a lousy businessman, and if I didn't give acting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-gallagher/i-was-about-to-get-a-degree-in-economics-when-i-accepted-that-i-d-be/) [Peter Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-gallagher/) > [When I'm not acting, I try to be normal, play golf, play hockey. It's funny because you're in this little bubble when you're working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-kitsch/when-i-m-not-acting-i-try-to-be-normal-play-golf-play-hockey-it-s/) [Taylor Kitsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-kitsch/) ## More by Ron Perlman > [I've been a professional actor for almost 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-been-a-professional-actor-for-almost-40-years/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [I just think that there are those people that their resolve is strengthened by what it is that's keeping them down, and there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-just-think-that-there-are-those-people-that-their-resolve-is/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [I've always felt there were aspects of me that were monstrous, and you can either hide from it or confront it, embrace it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-always-felt-there-were-aspects-of-me-that-were-monstrous-and-you/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [I've never been pigeonholed and I've experienced so many different kinds of skin - what man will do and won't do, what you should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-never-been-pigeonholed-and-i-ve-experienced-so-many-different/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [I never direct myself, because I don't like working with me. I would punch me in the mouth if I had to take my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-never-direct-myself-because-i-don-t-like-working-with-me-i-would/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [It's nice to get paid for therapy rather than having to pay $240 an hour for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/it-s-nice-to-get-paid-for-therapy-rather-than-having-to-pay-240-an/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [I've had biker clubs reach out to me whenever they knew I was in their city.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-had-biker-clubs-reach-out-to-me-whenever-they-knew-i-was-in/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [Season 4 can be deadly for a show that's been a hit show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/season-4-can-be-deadly-for-a-show-that-s-been-a-hit-show/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [I like playing interesting people, I like playing slightly twisted people. I like playing people who have large appetites who are kind of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-like-playing-interesting-people-i-like-playing-slightly-twisted/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [I've always wanted to have my own studio because this is a way for me to finally take all things that I've always dreamt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-always-wanted-to-have-my-own-studio-because-this-is-a-way-for-me/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [I've never worked with a tail, that I can remember. But there's so much I can't remember.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-never-worked-with-a-tail-that-i-can-remember-but-there-s-so-much/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [The luxury of television is that you get more than one shot at who you think the guy is that you're playing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/the-luxury-of-television-is-that-you-get-more-than-one-shot-at-who/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [I feel as though my criteria are based more on how challenging the role is, it doesn't have to fit into any particular profile,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-feel-as-though-my-criteria-are-based-more-on-how-challenging-the/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [I'm fully aware that things that resonate and become real hits are the exception to the rule, so much so that I've wired myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-m-fully-aware-that-things-that-resonate-and-become-real-hits-are/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [Each character represents a different color on the big palette of what this ultimate painting is going to look like, who your guy is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/each-character-represents-a-different-color-on-the-big-palette-of/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) [Explore all 93 Ron Perlman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) ## 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": "The approach to acting is always the same, you try to figure who the guy is and then you try to transition your way into his way of thinking and moving through the world. The rest of it is just accoutrements, you don't play the makeup, you play the guy. 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