--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I suddenly think the job of acting is a…" description: "\"I suddenly think the job of acting is a difficult one. It's not as flip, irrelevant and shallow a calling as I thought it was in the Eighties.\" — Rowan..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/685/rowan-atkinson-3883_acting_i-suddenly-think-the-job-of-acting-is-a_1271966.png" --- # I suddenly think the job of acting is a difficult one… ![“I suddenly think the job of acting is a difficult one. It's not as flip, irrelevant and shallow a calling as I thought it was in the Eighties.” quote by Rowan Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/685/rowan-atkinson-3883_acting_i-suddenly-think-the-job-of-acting-is-a_1271966.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/685/rowan-atkinson-3883_acting_i-suddenly-think-the-job-of-acting-is-a_1271966.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/685/rowan-atkinson-3883_acting_i-suddenly-think-the-job-of-acting-is-a_1271966.png) > “I suddenly think the job of acting is a difficult one. It's not as flip, irrelevant and shallow a calling as I thought it was in the Eighties.” [Rowan Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-atkinson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He reflects that acting is more complex and demanding than he previously imagined, requiring depth and responsibility. **In simple terms:** Acting is harder than it seems. Key Takeaway Respect the craft’s depth. Themes career art self-awareness growth responsibility Mood thoughtful introspective Type artistic professional When to use this quote - theatre work - film auditions - skill training - career planning Key Concepts method acting personal development industry expectations Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of acting challenge you most? - How can you prepare for its demands? A Different Perspective The profession can be emotionally draining. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Eighties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eighties/) [Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Compared to boxing, acting is more difficult. I have learnt martial arts and boxing since childhood. So, they were easier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritika-singh/compared-to-boxing-acting-is-more-difficult-i-have-learnt-martial/) [Ritika Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritika-singh/) > [I think acting is the most difficult one among all the performing arts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-yo-honey-singh/i-think-acting-is-the-most-difficult-one-among-all-the-performing-arts/) [Yo Yo Honey Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-yo-honey-singh/) > [Stage acting is a very difficult thing - and I've learned a lot and have a long way to go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-strangis/stage-acting-is-a-very-difficult-thing-and-i-ve-learned-a-lot-and/) [Ralph Strangis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-strangis/) > [“Acting is not as difficult as you may think. People are born natural actors and play many parts on the stage of life. Everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-michael-stoller/acting-is-not-as-difficult-as-you-may-think-people-are-born-natural/) Bryan Michael Stoller > [Acting can be a difficult business. When I was younger, if my mates were doing better than me, I might be a little bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-beesley/acting-can-be-a-difficult-business-when-i-was-younger-if-my-mates/) [Max Beesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-beesley/) > [When you act you realise acting is not that difficult - the other technicalities are, like the mark, angle, light, etc. So you just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/badshah/when-you-act-you-realise-acting-is-not-that-difficult-the-other/) [Badshah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/badshah/) > [Yeah, acting is very difficult. As much as I love it, and the challenge of it, I'm so often just terrified by it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/yeah-acting-is-very-difficult-as-much-as-i-love-it-and-the-challenge/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [Acting is the most difficult job in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manoj-bajpayee/acting-is-the-most-difficult-job-in-the-world/) [Manoj Bajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manoj-bajpayee/) > [To step into acting was not that difficult a transition to make. What was difficult was the work and the practice that went into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/to-step-into-acting-was-not-that-difficult-a-transition-to-make-what/) [Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/) > [Acting is so difficult for me that, unless the work is of a certain stature in my mind, unless I reach the expectations I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-seymour-hoffman/acting-is-so-difficult-for-me-that-unless-the-work-is-of-a-certain/) [Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/) > [“Watch the actors who are on a very high frequency, very alert to everything and very much in touch with their feelings -- simple.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beckett/watch-the-actors-who-are-on-a-very-high-frequency-very-alert-to/) Michael Beckett > [Doing interviews after a game, you can't give your true emotions. You can't tap into them. So when you do that for so long,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nnamdi-asomugha/doing-interviews-after-a-game-you-can-t-give-your-true-emotions-you/) [Nnamdi Asomugha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nnamdi-asomugha/) > [After 'The Real Thing,' I thought about giving up acting because it's difficult to have a rich life outside your work when you're an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-ehle/after-the-real-thing-i-thought-about-giving-up-acting-because-it-s/) [Jennifer Ehle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-ehle/) > [I've never found acting that difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-ve-never-found-acting-that-difficult/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [Technically, the green screen acting can be difficult because there's something worse than a tennis ball on the end of a stick; it's an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-o-mara/technically-the-green-screen-acting-can-be-difficult-because-there-s/) [Jason O'Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-o-mara/) ## More by Rowan Atkinson > [Without wanting to claim that I'm really like James Bond I would certainly prefer to be thought of as closer to James Bond than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-atkinson/without-wanting-to-claim-that-i-m-really-like-james-bond-i-would/) [Rowan Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-atkinson/) > [Get that right, then- if you get the quality right, then the marketability or whatever; your ability to sell videos or your ability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-atkinson/get-that-right-then-if-you-get-the-quality-right-then-the/) [Rowan Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-atkinson/) > [Funny things tend not to happen to me. I am not a natural comic. I need to think about things a lot before I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-atkinson/funny-things-tend-not-to-happen-to-me-i-am-not-a-natural-comic-i-need/) [Rowan Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-atkinson/) > [Nope, I don't enjoy work generally. Not because I'm lazy; it's just all so stressful and worrying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-atkinson/nope-i-don-t-enjoy-work-generally-not-because-i-m-lazy-it-s-just-all/) [Rowan Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-atkinson/) > [A law which attempts to say you can criticise and ridicule ideas as long as they are not religious ideas is a very peculiar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-atkinson/a-law-which-attempts-to-say-you-can-criticise-and-ridicule-ideas-as/) [Rowan Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-atkinson/) > [The path of my life is strewn with cow pats from the devil's own satanic herd!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-atkinson/the-path-of-my-life-is-strewn-with-cow-pats-from-the-devil-s-own/) [Rowan Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-atkinson/) > [I would never be a television presenter. It's not something I could ever do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-atkinson/i-would-never-be-a-television-presenter-it-s-not-something-i-could/) [Rowan Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-atkinson/) > [To criticise a person for their race is a manifestly irrational and ridiculous. But to criticise their religion - that is a right. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-atkinson/to-criticise-a-person-for-their-race-is-a-manifestly-irrational-and/) [Rowan Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-atkinson/) > [But I always feel that whatever I do, I could do better. I suppose it is perfectionism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-atkinson/but-i-always-feel-that-whatever-i-do-i-could-do-better-i-suppose-it/) [Rowan Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-atkinson/) > [Apart from the fact that your physical ability starts to decline, I also think someone in their fifties being childlike becomes a little sad.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-atkinson/apart-from-the-fact-that-your-physical-ability-starts-to-decline-i/) [Rowan Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-atkinson/) > [“To criticize a person for their race is manifestly irrational and ridiculous, but to criticize their religion, that is a right. That is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-atkinson/to-criticize-a-person-for-their-race-is-manifestly-irrational-and/) [Rowan Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-atkinson/) > [But, actually, so many of the clerics that I've met, particularly the Church of England clerics, are people of such extraordinary smugness and arrogance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-atkinson/but-actually-so-many-of-the-clerics-that-i-ve-met-particularly-the/) [Rowan Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-atkinson/) > [I'm not really a writer, so my main problem always is finding the writing talent to write something of the caliber that you would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-atkinson/i-m-not-really-a-writer-so-my-main-problem-always-is-finding-the/) [Rowan Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-atkinson/) > [I'm not a collector. I don't like the toy cupboard syndrome that causes so many good cars to evaporate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-atkinson/i-m-not-a-collector-i-don-t-like-the-toy-cupboard-syndrome-that/) [Rowan Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-atkinson/) > [If you're a serious actor, it's when you know you're going to die tomorrow that you really start to feel it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-atkinson/if-you-re-a-serious-actor-it-s-when-you-know-you-re-going-to-die/) [Rowan Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-atkinson/) [Explore all 120 Rowan Atkinson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-atkinson/) ## 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 > [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": "I suddenly think the job of acting is a difficult one. 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