--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's weird that you have to work really…" description: "\"It's weird that you have to work really, really hard just to be real or normal. Everybody's got their different techniques, but what makes a really goo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbe/scoot-mcnairy-25678_actors_it-s-weird-that-you-have-to-work-really_995700.jpg" --- # It's weird that you have to work really, really hard just… ![“It's weird that you have to work really, really hard just to be real or normal. Everybody's got their different techniques, but what makes a really good actor is somebody who's really believable.” quote by Scoot McNairy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbe/scoot-mcnairy-25678_actors_it-s-weird-that-you-have-to-work-really_995700.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbe/scoot-mcnairy-25678_actors_it-s-weird-that-you-have-to-work-really_995700.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbe/scoot-mcnairy-25678_actors_it-s-weird-that-you-have-to-work-really_995700.jpg) > “It's weird that you have to work really, really hard just to be real or normal. Everybody's got their different techniques, but what makes a really good actor is somebody who's really believable.” [Scoot McNairy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scoot-mcnairy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Achieving authenticity in performance requires intense effort and personal technique; believability defines a great actor. **In simple terms:** Hard work creates genuine performance. Key Takeaway Invest effort to be believable. Themes authenticity craft effort Mood determined reflective Type advice insightful When to use this quote - auditions - theatre rehearsals - film sets - improvisation workshops Key Concepts method acting personal technique believability Questions to Reflect On - What personal technique helps you feel most authentic? - How do you balance effort with spontaneity? A Different Perspective Hard work may not guarantee success if external factors dominate. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actor Somebody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-somebody-894076/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Being real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-real/) [Believable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believable/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Good actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-actor/) [Good actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-actors/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Normal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/normal/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real Normal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-normal-1795165/) [Really Believable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-believable-1893070/) [Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technique/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Weird Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weird-work-250853/) ## Related quotes > [The thing about astroturfing is that it can be really believable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-quinn/the-thing-about-astroturfing-is-that-it-can-be-really-believable/) [Zoe Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-quinn/) > [My goal in life is to bring to the screen really believable depictions that make you think, "Damn, I have to look within myself."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romany-malco/my-goal-in-life-is-to-bring-to-the-screen-really-believable/) [Romany Malco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romany-malco/) > [It turns out that good actors can make anything believable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-haggis/it-turns-out-that-good-actors-can-make-anything-believable/) [Paul Haggis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-haggis/) > [It's weird to take your work into a room and everybody reads it. Then comes the terror part, the dissection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-shires/it-s-weird-to-take-your-work-into-a-room-and-everybody-reads-it-then/) [Amanda Shires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-shires/) > [Yeah, there have been porn stars in literally every single movie Ive ever been in, so it was not weird to work with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-rogen/yeah-there-have-been-porn-stars-in-literally-every-single-movie-ive/) [Seth Rogen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-rogen/) > [What's weird is that I work with these directors and then I start channeling them. I kind of turn into them a bit -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-bell/what-s-weird-is-that-i-work-with-these-directors-and-then-i-start/) [Jamie Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-bell/) > [I'm very awkward when I have time off. I don't know what to do with myself. It's weird not to work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-kutcher/i-m-very-awkward-when-i-have-time-off-i-don-t-know-what-to-do-with/) [Ashton Kutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-kutcher/) > [Put your weird in your work!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-victore/put-your-weird-in-your-work/) [James Victore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-victore/) > [“So you're a little weird? Work it! A little different? OWN it! Better to be a nerd than one of the herd!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-hale/so-you-re-a-little-weird-work-it-a-little-different-own-it-better-to/) [Mandy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-hale/) > [I have a problem when people say something's real or not real, or normal or abnormal. The meaning of those words for me is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-burton/i-have-a-problem-when-people-say-something-s-real-or-not-real-or/) [Tim Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-burton/) > [I'm dating a girl who's pretty levelheaded. She's a nurse. She's a real, normal girl. Which is what I need because my life isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-chesney/i-m-dating-a-girl-who-s-pretty-levelheaded-she-s-a-nurse-she-s-a-real/) [Kenny Chesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-chesney/) > [There aren't often plus size, very real normal women in film. It's never their story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-macdonald/there-aren-t-often-plus-size-very-real-normal-women-in-film-it-s/) [Danielle Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-macdonald/) > [I'm just trying to be real in my normal life, just trying to enjoy the journey with all the obstacles and all the good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-moreno/i-m-just-trying-to-be-real-in-my-normal-life-just-trying-to-enjoy-the/) [Brandon Moreno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-moreno/) > [Whenever you see people talking about how real they are or how normal they are, it seems odd to have that self awareness that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/whenever-you-see-people-talking-about-how-real-they-are-or-how-normal/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [I don't get to go to the super fancy stores unless I am in L.A. so you stay pretty real and normal that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-preston/i-don-t-get-to-go-to-the-super-fancy-stores-unless-i-am-in-l-a-so-you/) [Kelly Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-preston/) ## More by Scoot McNairy > [I just want to keep laying down really great, strong characters, and the more I go unrecognized, the better job I feel I'm doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scoot-mcnairy/i-just-want-to-keep-laying-down-really-great-strong-characters-and/) [Scoot McNairy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scoot-mcnairy/) > [I guess through my learning disability, through dyslexia, I've always been a visual learner - I take in everything through my eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scoot-mcnairy/i-guess-through-my-learning-disability-through-dyslexia-i-ve-always/) [Scoot McNairy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scoot-mcnairy/) > [I really love Andrew Dominik's movies. When you work with someone whose movies you really love and who you have a lot of admiration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scoot-mcnairy/i-really-love-andrew-dominik-s-movies-when-you-work-with-someone/) [Scoot McNairy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scoot-mcnairy/) > [I make different choices in regards to the stories I want to be a part of. In my mind, it's a totally different medium.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scoot-mcnairy/i-make-different-choices-in-regards-to-the-stories-i-want-to-be-a/) [Scoot McNairy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scoot-mcnairy/) > [I did theater as a kid, more of an after-school program. But every night I would put on a movie and fall asleep to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scoot-mcnairy/i-did-theater-as-a-kid-more-of-an-after-school-program-but-every/) [Scoot McNairy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scoot-mcnairy/) > [I love L.A. It was an awesome place to spend my 20s, full of creative people, but I never wanted to stay there. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scoot-mcnairy/i-love-l-a-it-was-an-awesome-place-to-spend-my-20s-full-of-creative/) [Scoot McNairy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scoot-mcnairy/) > [I want my career to grow gradually. There's still so much for me to learn. I'm just trying to take these opportunities to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scoot-mcnairy/i-want-my-career-to-grow-gradually-there-s-still-so-much-for-me-to/) [Scoot McNairy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scoot-mcnairy/) > [I did not have a computer until recently. I'm not really a computer person; I'm really hands-on. I can't make it work if it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scoot-mcnairy/i-did-not-have-a-computer-until-recently-i-m-not-really-a-computer/) [Scoot McNairy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scoot-mcnairy/) > [In no way do I want to draw attention to myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scoot-mcnairy/in-no-way-do-i-want-to-draw-attention-to-myself/) [Scoot McNairy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scoot-mcnairy/) > [I've been asked, 'What was your big break?' I don't feel like I've had a big break. It's been a slow, slow break.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scoot-mcnairy/i-ve-been-asked-what-was-your-big-break-i-don-t-feel-like-i-ve-had-a/) [Scoot McNairy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scoot-mcnairy/) > [My experience with working with really great actors is you don't have to act. All you have to do is listen. And, that's sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scoot-mcnairy/my-experience-with-working-with-really-great-actors-is-you-don-t-have/) [Scoot McNairy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scoot-mcnairy/) > [To book commercials, you do something to get to a callback, and once you get to the callback, you've got three minutes to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scoot-mcnairy/to-book-commercials-you-do-something-to-get-to-a-callback-and-once/) [Scoot McNairy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scoot-mcnairy/) > [I had a love for photography, which of course rolled into cinematography.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scoot-mcnairy/i-had-a-love-for-photography-which-of-course-rolled-into/) [Scoot McNairy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scoot-mcnairy/) > [I can watch anybody all day long if they're really doing what they're doing. I have a fascination with human behavior, watching people talk,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scoot-mcnairy/i-can-watch-anybody-all-day-long-if-they-re-really-doing-what-they-re/) [Scoot McNairy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scoot-mcnairy/) > [Not all pictures but some pictures you're like, "Wow, I wish I could be there" or you feel like you are there. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scoot-mcnairy/not-all-pictures-but-some-pictures-you-re-like-wow-i-wish-i-could-be/) [Scoot McNairy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scoot-mcnairy/) [Explore all 22 Scoot McNairy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scoot-mcnairy/) ## 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": "It's weird that you have to work really, really hard just to be real or normal. 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