---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think you get the most honest…"
description: "\"I think you get the most honest performances when an actor shows up to set with their lines memorized. That's a very important thing that a lot of peop..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/061/shailene-woodley-4258_actors_i-think-you-get-the-most-honest-performa_1385121.jpg"
---

#  I think you get the most honest performances when an actor…

![“I think you get the most honest performances when an actor shows up to set with their lines memorized. That's a very important thing that a lot of people seem to forget.” quote by Shailene Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/061/shailene-woodley-4258_actors_i-think-you-get-the-most-honest-performa_1385121.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/061/shailene-woodley-4258_actors_i-think-you-get-the-most-honest-performa_1385121.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/061/shailene-woodley-4258_actors_i-think-you-get-the-most-honest-performa_1385121.jpg)

> “I think you get the most honest performances when an actor shows up to set with their lines memorized. That's a very important thing that a lot of people seem to forget.”

[Shailene Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailene-woodley/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Memorizing lines leads to authentic performances; actors often neglect this discipline.

**In simple terms:** Knowing lines well creates honesty on screen.

Key Takeaway

Study your role thoroughly for genuine acting.

Themes

discipline authenticity craft

Mood

thoughtful professional

Type

advice instructional

When to use this quote

- theatre
- film sets
- auditions
- rehearsals

Key Concepts

method acting preparation

Questions to Reflect On

- How does preparation affect spontaneity?
- What balance yields the best performance?

A Different Perspective

Memorization can limit spontaneity if overemphasized.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Important things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-things/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Performances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performances/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/)

## Related quotes

> [I think you get the most honest performances when an actor shows up to set with their lines memorized. That's a very important thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailene-woodley/i-think-you-get-the-most-honest-performances-when-an-actor-shows-up-2/)

[Shailene Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailene-woodley/)

> [I don't think it's necessary to be an actor to get great performances out of an actor. But I do think it helps me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/i-don-t-think-it-s-necessary-to-be-an-actor-to-get-great-performances/)

[Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/)

> [I'm a dude that shows up and reads lines and says them to another person who's saying lines that they memorized. I don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-roumie/i-m-a-dude-that-shows-up-and-reads-lines-and-says-them-to-another/)

[Jonathan Roumie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-roumie/)

> [When I did plays in high school and college, I never remember memorizing my lines, but once I had blocking, I had all my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-gerwig/when-i-did-plays-in-high-school-and-college-i-never-remember/)

[Greta Gerwig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-gerwig/)

> [Don't try to be just like some other singer hitting it big - find your own style and be honest in your performances. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-bennett/don-t-try-to-be-just-like-some-other-singer-hitting-it-big-find-your/)

[Tony Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-bennett/)

> [I make films from the heart. I want to concentrate on the job of doing great and honest performances, and I'm gonna get better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-abraham/i-make-films-from-the-heart-i-want-to-concentrate-on-the-job-of-doing/)

[John Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-abraham/)

> [I remember I got an ALMA award for an actor being on three shows simultaneously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-gomez/i-remember-i-got-an-alma-award-for-an-actor-being-on-three-shows/)

[Ian Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-gomez/)

> [As an actor, to go and see those shows - great plays like 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?' and Clifford Odets's 'Golden Boy' -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keegan-allen/as-an-actor-to-go-and-see-those-shows-great-plays-like-who-s-afraid/)

[Keegan Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keegan-allen/)

> [Actors always direct themselves. A good actor shows up onset ready, especially in television, and you've done your homework and you know your character.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-emmerich/actors-always-direct-themselves-a-good-actor-shows-up-onset-ready/)

[Noah Emmerich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-emmerich/)

> [Statistics are like miniskirts: They give you good ideas but hide the important things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ebbe-skovdahl/statistics-are-like-miniskirts-they-give-you-good-ideas-but-hide-the/)

Ebbe Skovdahl

> [You know, right now, the most important thing in my life is to make sure you understand that, first of all, I thank God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-ray-vaughan/you-know-right-now-the-most-important-thing-in-my-life-is-to-make/)

[Stevie Ray Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-ray-vaughan/)

> [In a world without Chevron, very little would change except perhaps the most important things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gorsuch/in-a-world-without-chevron-very-little-would-change-except-perhaps/)

Neil Gorsuch

> [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/)

[Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/)

> [There are more important things to focus on in life than how you look.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arden-cho/there-are-more-important-things-to-focus-on-in-life-than-how-you-look/)

[Arden Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arden-cho/)

> [In some circles where very heavy people think they have very heavy brains, words like "charming" and "clever" and "pretty" are all put-downs; all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/in-some-circles-where-very-heavy-people-think-they-have-very-heavy/)

[Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/)

## More by Shailene Woodley

> [I'd always wanted to do a film than TV show because film is always where my heart has been. I like diving into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailene-woodley/i-d-always-wanted-to-do-a-film-than-tv-show-because-film-is-always/)

[Shailene Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailene-woodley/)

> [If I'm passionate about something, I'll do everything I can to be a part of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailene-woodley/if-i-m-passionate-about-something-i-ll-do-everything-i-can-to-be-a/)

[Shailene Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailene-woodley/)

> [I had never been to Hawaii, and now I say that my body is from L.A. but my heart is from Hawaii, because I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailene-woodley/i-had-never-been-to-hawaii-and-now-i-say-that-my-body-is-from-l-a-but/)

[Shailene Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailene-woodley/)

> [I never thought Hollywood is the life I want to do. I thought acting is the life I want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailene-woodley/i-never-thought-hollywood-is-the-life-i-want-to-do-i-thought-acting/)

[Shailene Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailene-woodley/)

> [I'm always like 'I'm too skinny, I can't gain weight, even when I try.' I'd like to try to not let that get to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailene-woodley/i-m-always-like-i-m-too-skinny-i-can-t-gain-weight-even-when-i-try-i/)

[Shailene Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailene-woodley/)

> [Everything that I own and use are in a carry-on suitcase,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailene-woodley/everything-that-i-own-and-use-are-in-a-carry-on-suitcase/)

[Shailene Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailene-woodley/)

> [You turn on the shower or you do whatever, but especially right now with the drought in California, there are so many resources that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailene-woodley/you-turn-on-the-shower-or-you-do-whatever-but-especially-right-now/)

[Shailene Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailene-woodley/)

> [It doesn't matter how much more you have in your bank; if 50,000 people show up to your opponents' rallies and you only have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailene-woodley/it-doesn-t-matter-how-much-more-you-have-in-your-bank-if-50-000/)

[Shailene Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailene-woodley/)

> [I choose to surround myself with happy human beings. I went through the angsty period. I think every single person does. I think it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailene-woodley/i-choose-to-surround-myself-with-happy-human-beings-i-went-through/)

[Shailene Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailene-woodley/)

> [I'd like to be like a hummingbird. You see them every now and then. You don't see them everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailene-woodley/i-d-like-to-be-like-a-hummingbird-you-see-them-every-now-and-then-you/)

[Shailene Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailene-woodley/)

> [I'm a pretty romantic person, I love little notes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailene-woodley/i-m-a-pretty-romantic-person-i-love-little-notes/)

[Shailene Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailene-woodley/)

> [My only real insecurities in high school were having such long legs and thick hair — things I’m so very grateful for now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailene-woodley/my-only-real-insecurities-in-high-school-were-having-such-long-legs/)

[Shailene Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailene-woodley/)

> [Every single morning you wake up with the opportunity to be yourself, or be the idea of someone else. For me it is all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailene-woodley/every-single-morning-you-wake-up-with-the-opportunity-to-be-yourself/)

[Shailene Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailene-woodley/)

> [I think the best way to become a character is by osmosis as opposed to thinking directly about stuff. The more material that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailene-woodley/i-think-the-best-way-to-become-a-character-is-by-osmosis-as-opposed/)

[Shailene Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailene-woodley/)

> [The day the process of acting becomes something that I dread is the end. Obviously, why would you do something that you hate? I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailene-woodley/the-day-the-process-of-acting-becomes-something-that-i-dread-is-the/)

[Shailene Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailene-woodley/)

[Explore all 113 Shailene Woodley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailene-woodley/)

## 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 you get the most honest performances when an actor shows up to set with their lines memorized. That's a very important thing that a lot of people seem to forget.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Shailene Woodley"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailene-woodley/i-think-you-get-the-most-honest-performances-when-an-actor-shows-up/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Actor"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailene-woodley/i-think-you-get-the-most-honest-performances-when-an-actor-shows-up/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/061/shailene-woodley-4258_actors_i-think-you-get-the-most-honest-performa_1385121.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/061/shailene-woodley-4258_actors_i-think-you-get-the-most-honest-performa_1385121.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/061/shailene-woodley-4258_actors_i-think-you-get-the-most-honest-performa_1385121.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I think you get the most honest performances when an actor shows up to set with their lines memorized…” — Shailene Woodley",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Shailene Woodley",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailene-woodley/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I think you get the most...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailene-woodley/i-think-you-get-the-most-honest-performances-when-an-actor-shows-up/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailene-woodley/i-think-you-get-the-most-honest-performances-when-an-actor-shows-up/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
