--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Acting is a subtle combination of hiding…" description: "\"Acting is a subtle combination of hiding and revealing yourself, and as I'm not an extrovert, this is painful for me.\" — Sarah Lancashire" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50e/sarah-lancashire-5243_acting_acting-is-a-subtle-combination-of-hiding_134578.png" --- # Acting is a subtle combination of hiding and revealing… ![“Acting is a subtle combination of hiding and revealing yourself, and as I'm not an extrovert, this is painful for me.” quote by Sarah Lancashire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50e/sarah-lancashire-5243_acting_acting-is-a-subtle-combination-of-hiding_134578.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50e/sarah-lancashire-5243_acting_acting-is-a-subtle-combination-of-hiding_134578.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50e/sarah-lancashire-5243_acting_acting-is-a-subtle-combination-of-hiding_134578.png) > “Acting is a subtle combination of hiding and revealing yourself, and as I'm not an extrovert, this is painful for me.” [Sarah Lancashire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lancashire/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting forces an introvert to expose themselves, creating discomfort due to the clash between personal nature and performance demands. **In simple terms:** Acting feels painful for introverts. Key Takeaway Find ways to balance authenticity and performance. Themes performance introversion vulnerability Mood anxious determined Type personal reflective When to use this quote - theatre work - public speaking - self‑development Key Concepts self‑expression stagecraft Questions to Reflect On - How can introverts protect themselves? - What strategies help you feel safe on stage? A Different Perspective The tension may limit artistic growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Subtle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-subtle-458447/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Extrovert Painful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extrovert-painful-1535909/) [Hiding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hiding/) [Hiding Revealing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hiding-revealing-1535910/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [Revealing Extrovert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revealing-extrovert-1535911/) [Subtle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subtle/) [Yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yourself/) ## Related quotes > [If the character is getting mad, getting upset or getting turned on, you're getting to see that in the facial tones and the skin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-rooker/if-the-character-is-getting-mad-getting-upset-or-getting-turned-on/) [Michael Rooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-rooker/) > [I learnt to keep my acting subtle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raashi-khanna/i-learnt-to-keep-my-acting-subtle/) [Raashi Khanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raashi-khanna/) > [The ego is a subtle wall around you. It does not allow anybody to enter into you. You feel protected, secure, but this security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/the-ego-is-a-subtle-wall-around-you-it-does-not-allow-anybody-to/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [The more subtle and elegant you are in hiding your plot points, the better you are as a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/the-more-subtle-and-elegant-you-are-in-hiding-your-plot-points-the/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [Actors are bloody marvelous at hiding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lancashire/actors-are-bloody-marvelous-at-hiding/) [Sarah Lancashire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lancashire/) > [I've always been leery of comical artists because I think oftentimes they're hiding the fact that they're not that talented. 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Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [It's More Attention Hiding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-more-attention-hiding/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People are in denial all the time, hiding things. 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If you want to speak, get up in front of the microphone and speak, don't sit in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/heckling-is-an-act-of-cowardice-if-you-want-to-speak-get-up-in-front/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) > [We are all potentially such sick men. The sanest and best of us are of one clay with lunatics and prison-inmates. And whenever we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/we-are-all-potentially-such-sick-men-the-sanest-and-best-of-us-are-of/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) ## More by Sarah Lancashire > [Now that I'm in my late 40s, I'm trying to make up for a little bit of lost musicals time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lancashire/now-that-i-m-in-my-late-40s-i-m-trying-to-make-up-for-a-little-bit-of/) [Sarah Lancashire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lancashire/) > [It started at 49 with 'Tango in Halifax' and then 'Happy Valley.' I can't complain at a time when most actors are disappearing. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lancashire/it-started-at-49-with-tango-in-halifax-and-then-happy-valley-i-can-t/) [Sarah Lancashire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lancashire/) > [It's a joy doing 'Tango.' I'd do it till the day I die, frankly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lancashire/it-s-a-joy-doing-tango-i-d-do-it-till-the-day-i-die-frankly/) [Sarah Lancashire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lancashire/) > [Sometimes it's necessary for soaps to hang on to an audience by sensationalizing, but it's a beast I don't understand any more, an art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lancashire/sometimes-it-s-necessary-for-soaps-to-hang-on-to-an-audience-by/) [Sarah Lancashire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lancashire/) > [Watching your own work doesn't get any easier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lancashire/watching-your-own-work-doesn-t-get-any-easier/) [Sarah Lancashire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lancashire/) > [If someone was walking round in a T-shirt with Sarah Lancashire on it, I'd find that very disturbing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lancashire/if-someone-was-walking-round-in-a-t-shirt-with-sarah-lancashire-on-it/) [Sarah Lancashire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lancashire/) > ['Tango' is very much an ensemble piece and I was devastated when I read the script.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lancashire/tango-is-very-much-an-ensemble-piece-and-i-was-devastated-when-i-read/) [Sarah Lancashire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lancashire/) > [I come from a line of women who can bake, so I think I've inherited a bit of family knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lancashire/i-come-from-a-line-of-women-who-can-bake-so-i-think-i-ve-inherited-a/) [Sarah Lancashire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lancashire/) > [I own a copy of the original 'Talking Heads' by Alan Bennett, which I purchased many years ago shortly after they were first broadcast.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lancashire/i-own-a-copy-of-the-original-talking-heads-by-alan-bennett-which-i/) [Sarah Lancashire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lancashire/) > [The writing is only ever the attractive thing about a part. And also if all the elements within the writing come together - the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lancashire/the-writing-is-only-ever-the-attractive-thing-about-a-part-and-also/) [Sarah Lancashire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lancashire/) > [Age affects us all in the workplace. We all get a little less appealing as we get older, unfortunately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lancashire/age-affects-us-all-in-the-workplace-we-all-get-a-little-less/) [Sarah Lancashire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lancashire/) > [I just hold out for pieces where I immediately feel an emotional connection with a part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lancashire/i-just-hold-out-for-pieces-where-i-immediately-feel-an-emotional/) [Sarah Lancashire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lancashire/) > [You have to have brilliant people to work opposite, and then it does become like a real tennis match and this is our sport.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lancashire/you-have-to-have-brilliant-people-to-work-opposite-and-then-it-does/) [Sarah Lancashire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lancashire/) > [I do have a slightly rebellious streak in me, I'm afraid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lancashire/i-do-have-a-slightly-rebellious-streak-in-me-i-m-afraid/) [Sarah Lancashire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lancashire/) > [Anyone who has to be accountable in a time when resources are shrinking, where transparency is necessary, where the pressures are greater, is going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lancashire/anyone-who-has-to-be-accountable-in-a-time-when-resources-are/) [Sarah Lancashire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lancashire/) [Explore all 102 Sarah Lancashire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lancashire/) ## More Acting quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. 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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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