--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think any good actor is an anarchist…" description: "\"I think any good actor is an anarchist. They have to be.\" — Sam Rockwell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f3/sam-rockwell-14764_actor_i-think-any-good-actor-is-an-anarchist-t_569003.jpg" --- # I think any good actor is an anarchist. They have to be. ![“I think any good actor is an anarchist. They have to be.” quote by Sam Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f3/sam-rockwell-14764_actor_i-think-any-good-actor-is-an-anarchist-t_569003.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f3/sam-rockwell-14764_actor_i-think-any-good-actor-is-an-anarchist-t_569003.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f3/sam-rockwell-14764_actor_i-think-any-good-actor-is-an-anarchist-t_569003.jpg) > “I think any good actor is an anarchist. They have to be.” [Sam Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rockwell/) ## 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 embracing chaos and rejecting conventions, akin to anarchist ideals. **In simple terms:** Good actors thrive by breaking rules. Key Takeaway Embrace creative freedom. Themes creativity rebellion craft Mood reflective inspired Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - improvisation - role preparation - experimental theatre Key Concepts theatre method acting Questions to Reflect On - What boundaries do you push in your art? - Can structure coexist with rebellion? A Different Perspective Anarchist comparison may oversimplify disciplined training. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Anarchist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anarchist/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Well, I think I'm a good actor, without being boastful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-cribbins/well-i-think-i-m-a-good-actor-without-being-boastful/) [Bernard Cribbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-cribbins/) > [Obama is a very good actor. He knows how to play it. And he is very adept at creating this ''Obama'' - this character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-voight/obama-is-a-very-good-actor-he-knows-how-to-play-it-and-he-is-very/) [Jon Voight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-voight/) > [“That era provided a profusion of wonderful actors and actresses to admire—and not always the ones remembered by posterity. Take Joel McCrea, for instance,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wagner/that-era-provided-a-profusion-of-wonderful-actors-and-actresses-to/) [Robert Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wagner/) > [For people who want to get into the voiceover industry, even if you want to get into commercial, you need to become a really,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-bergen/for-people-who-want-to-get-into-the-voiceover-industry-even-if-you/) [Bob Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-bergen/) > [When you work with a good actor, there is this natural rapport and chemistry that develops over time. That chemistry helps your characters come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aamir-khan/when-you-work-with-a-good-actor-there-is-this-natural-rapport-and/) [Aamir Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aamir-khan/) > [I was never ambitious to be a good actor. I just love doing it and I seem to be quite suited for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-helmond/i-was-never-ambitious-to-be-a-good-actor-i-just-love-doing-it-and-i/) [Katherine Helmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-helmond/) > [I am not from a film family. I don't know much, but I definitely knew that if I want to be a good enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ileana-d-cruz/i-am-not-from-a-film-family-i-don-t-know-much-but-i-definitely-knew/) [Ileana D'Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ileana-d-cruz/) > [I respond in the moment which is what makes me a good actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-crowe/i-respond-in-the-moment-which-is-what-makes-me-a-good-actor/) [Russell Crowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-crowe/) > [One scene is enough for a good actor to leave his mark in any film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mukesh-tiwari/one-scene-is-enough-for-a-good-actor-to-leave-his-mark-in-any-film/) [Mukesh Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mukesh-tiwari/) > [People are confusing me with a good actor when I'm just a good mimic. When someone asks me to play a nun from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jemima-kirke/people-are-confusing-me-with-a-good-actor-when-i-m-just-a-good-mimic/) [Jemima Kirke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jemima-kirke/) > [The thing is, I love a great death scene - no good actor doesn't. Sorry, any actor, I should say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-gregg/the-thing-is-i-love-a-great-death-scene-no-good-actor-doesn-t-sorry/) [Clark Gregg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-gregg/) > [I think it's good for an actor to bounce between stuff on camera and stuff in theatre. If I could do half and half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-madden/i-think-it-s-good-for-an-actor-to-bounce-between-stuff-on-camera-and/) [Richard Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-madden/) > [I'm not a very good actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-a-very-good-actor/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want to be a good actor more than anything - someone you can respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/logan-lerman/i-want-to-be-a-good-actor-more-than-anything-someone-you-can-respect/) [Logan Lerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/logan-lerman/) > [In my theater days I assumed that you had to get rid of yourself to do a character well, and I don’t think I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-day/in-my-theater-days-i-assumed-that-you-had-to-get-rid-of-yourself-to/) [Charlie Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-day/) ## More by Sam Rockwell > [I remember being very influenced by 'Taxi Driver', and also Tommy Lee Jones in 'Coal Miner's Daughter' a little bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rockwell/i-remember-being-very-influenced-by-taxi-driver-and-also-tommy-lee/) [Sam Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rockwell/) > [I'm originally from San Francisco. I might move there some day. But, I like L.A., I have fun in L.A. It's a fun town…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rockwell/i-m-originally-from-san-francisco-i-might-move-there-some-day-but-i/) [Sam Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rockwell/) > [I sometimes can't do movies just for the money. I really can't. I mean, I've tried. Believe me, I'd love to just take the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rockwell/i-sometimes-can-t-do-movies-just-for-the-money-i-really-can-t-i-mean/) [Sam Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rockwell/) > [I've done a lot of sorts of films that are under the radar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rockwell/i-ve-done-a-lot-of-sorts-of-films-that-are-under-the-radar/) [Sam Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rockwell/) > [I had a great time with John Duigan he's pretty amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rockwell/i-had-a-great-time-with-john-duigan-he-s-pretty-amazing/) [Sam Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rockwell/) > [I have a constant sort of melancholy approach to acting that fuels me. I want to do everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rockwell/i-have-a-constant-sort-of-melancholy-approach-to-acting-that-fuels-me/) [Sam Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rockwell/) > [I think people are happier when they have structure, you know? You realize that as you get older. You have to have rituals and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rockwell/i-think-people-are-happier-when-they-have-structure-you-know-you/) [Sam Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rockwell/) > [You hit 41 and you don't burn calories like you used to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rockwell/you-hit-41-and-you-don-t-burn-calories-like-you-used-to/) [Sam Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rockwell/) > [In theatre you can't ad lib, so you want to pick really good material, like David Mamet or Shakespeare or whatever. You want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rockwell/in-theatre-you-can-t-ad-lib-so-you-want-to-pick-really-good-material/) [Sam Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rockwell/) > [I've done so many independents for so many years. Leads that nobody's seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rockwell/i-ve-done-so-many-independents-for-so-many-years-leads-that-nobody-s/) [Sam Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rockwell/) > [I copied everything I did in Galaxy Quest from Bill Paxton in Aliens, I owe him some credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rockwell/i-copied-everything-i-did-in-galaxy-quest-from-bill-paxton-in-aliens/) [Sam Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rockwell/) > [I think of myself as a journeyman actor. I've got some talent and I work hard, but people like Brando or Pacino - those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rockwell/i-think-of-myself-as-a-journeyman-actor-i-ve-got-some-talent-and-i/) [Sam Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rockwell/) > [You want to make a little money, and sometimes you want to play some really great parts. Sometimes they don't always coincide, or co-exist.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rockwell/you-want-to-make-a-little-money-and-sometimes-you-want-to-play-some/) [Sam Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rockwell/) > [Good acting is good acting, however you learn it. Some people who haven't studied are amazing. Some people like Leonardo DiCaprio are naturally gifted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rockwell/good-acting-is-good-acting-however-you-learn-it-some-people-who-haven/) [Sam Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rockwell/) > [I'm not going to just do a dumb zombie movie, although I love zombie movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rockwell/i-m-not-going-to-just-do-a-dumb-zombie-movie-although-i-love-zombie/) [Sam Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rockwell/) [Explore all 45 Sam Rockwell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rockwell/) ## 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": "I think any good actor is an anarchist. 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