--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For me acting is pretending. It's…" description: "\"For me acting is pretending. It's illuminating my human struggle - trying to grow and have the courage to be filmed while figuring things out.\" — Sheri..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b7/sherilyn-fenn-6002_acting_for-me-acting-is-pretending-it-s-illumin_1163253.png" --- # For me acting is pretending. It's illuminating my human… ![“For me acting is pretending. It's illuminating my human struggle - trying to grow and have the courage to be filmed while figuring things out.” quote by Sherilyn Fenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b7/sherilyn-fenn-6002_acting_for-me-acting-is-pretending-it-s-illumin_1163253.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b7/sherilyn-fenn-6002_acting_for-me-acting-is-pretending-it-s-illumin_1163253.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b7/sherilyn-fenn-6002_acting_for-me-acting-is-pretending-it-s-illumin_1163253.png) > “For me acting is pretending. It's illuminating my human struggle - trying to grow and have the courage to be filmed while figuring things out.” [Sherilyn Fenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherilyn-fenn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting is a pretense that reveals human struggle, requiring courage to be filmed while figuring things out. **In simple terms:** Acting pretends to expose human struggle. Key Takeaway Use acting to explore and confront personal challenges. Themes authenticity courage creativity Mood reflective inspirational Type artistic psychological When to use this quote - theatre - film - workshop sessions Key Concepts performance art self‑exploration Questions to Reflect On - What does vulnerability bring to performance? - How to maintain authenticity on camera? A Different Perspective May blur line between self and role. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Figuring things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/figuring-things/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) ## Related quotes > [Acting is not pretending or lying. It's finding a side of yourself that's the character and ignoring your other sides. And there's a side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/acting-is-not-pretending-or-lying-it-s-finding-a-side-of-yourself/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [That's what acting is. You're pretending to be someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saoirse-ronan/that-s-what-acting-is-you-re-pretending-to-be-someone-else/) [Saoirse Ronan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saoirse-ronan/) > [He often felt that too many people lived their lives acting and pretending,wearing masks and losing themselves in the process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/he-often-felt-that-too-many-people-lived-their-lives-acting-and/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [For me, it's just acting. It's pretending. The best actors are children, and children don't do research. You never see a child going, 'I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/for-me-it-s-just-acting-it-s-pretending-the-best-actors-are-children/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [I always think of the character as being me. But me wearing a 'coat', which may be a different way of speaking, moving or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-melamed/i-always-think-of-the-character-as-being-me-but-me-wearing-a-coat/) [Fred Melamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-melamed/) > [Acting is pretending to be someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-paquin/acting-is-pretending-to-be-someone-else/) [Anna Paquin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-paquin/) > [When I'm acting, I'm pretending to be someone else, but when I fish, I'm just Robson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robson-green/when-i-m-acting-i-m-pretending-to-be-someone-else-but-when-i-fish-i-m/) [Robson Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robson-green/) > [I had to figure out my own faith. That was something I figured out a while ago when I was 18. But I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-evans/i-had-to-figure-out-my-own-faith-that-was-something-i-figured-out-a/) [Anthony Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-evans/) > [I sat for a moment, figuring things out, then decided to stay there. If I was on the floor, I couldn't fall down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-harrison/i-sat-for-a-moment-figuring-things-out-then-decided-to-stay-there-if/) [Kim Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-harrison/) > [My books depend on someone in danger, putting pieces together and figuring things out. They do a lot of thinking, and that gets lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/my-books-depend-on-someone-in-danger-putting-pieces-together-and/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [I've learned that sometimes love is not enough. You can have a soul mate and be madly in love with that person, but it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-simpson/i-ve-learned-that-sometimes-love-is-not-enough-you-can-have-a-soul/) [Jessica Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-simpson/) > [I've always been driven, and I like the creative aspect of figuring things out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-purdy/i-ve-always-been-driven-and-i-like-the-creative-aspect-of-figuring/) [Amy Purdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-purdy/) > [I spent ages figuring out things like viewpoint, how you tell the story, and so on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/i-spent-ages-figuring-out-things-like-viewpoint-how-you-tell-the/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [I was always interested in figuring things out. I'd do experiments, like combining things I found around the house to see what would happen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-alda/i-was-always-interested-in-figuring-things-out-i-d-do-experiments/) [Alan Alda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-alda/) > [I am private because I'm still figuring things out. I'm young! I'm making it up as I go!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-williams/i-am-private-because-i-m-still-figuring-things-out-i-m-young-i-m/) [Allison Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-williams/) ## More by Sherilyn Fenn > [I began to use my sensitivity. And I realized I wasn't weird because I cried a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherilyn-fenn/i-began-to-use-my-sensitivity-and-i-realized-i-wasn-t-weird-because-i/) [Sherilyn Fenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherilyn-fenn/) > [That was cool, getting to work with Ryan Gosling. I knew he was going to be a huge star after I saw him in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherilyn-fenn/that-was-cool-getting-to-work-with-ryan-gosling-i-knew-he-was-going/) [Sherilyn Fenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherilyn-fenn/) > [Yes, I can do the cherry stem trick. All girls in my high school could do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherilyn-fenn/yes-i-can-do-the-cherry-stem-trick-all-girls-in-my-high-school-could/) [Sherilyn Fenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherilyn-fenn/) > [I'm absolutely an Elizabeth Taylor fan!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherilyn-fenn/i-m-absolutely-an-elizabeth-taylor-fan/) [Sherilyn Fenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherilyn-fenn/) > [Having my son, it's such a sense of completion as a woman; it's put me at peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherilyn-fenn/having-my-son-it-s-such-a-sense-of-completion-as-a-woman-it-s-put-me/) [Sherilyn Fenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherilyn-fenn/) > [I'm very strong and very confident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherilyn-fenn/i-m-very-strong-and-very-confident/) [Sherilyn Fenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherilyn-fenn/) > [I don't think I could ever do a network sitcom because the humor is often based on some trite circumstance. I don't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherilyn-fenn/i-don-t-think-i-could-ever-do-a-network-sitcom-because-the-humor-is/) [Sherilyn Fenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherilyn-fenn/) > [In a perfect world, I could be doing some bigger films and balance that with some independent films because they seem to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherilyn-fenn/in-a-perfect-world-i-could-be-doing-some-bigger-films-and-balance/) [Sherilyn Fenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherilyn-fenn/) > [I'm still just a loud-mouth girl from Michigan. I thought I might've grown out of that, but people are always reminding me that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherilyn-fenn/i-m-still-just-a-loud-mouth-girl-from-michigan-i-thought-i-might-ve/) [Sherilyn Fenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherilyn-fenn/) > [I don't flirt and I don't play the people that I'm meeting with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherilyn-fenn/i-don-t-flirt-and-i-don-t-play-the-people-that-i-m-meeting-with/) [Sherilyn Fenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherilyn-fenn/) > [When I was little, I didn't have dreams to be an actress or a star; I wanted to be a mom, have a house…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherilyn-fenn/when-i-was-little-i-didn-t-have-dreams-to-be-an-actress-or-a-star-i/) [Sherilyn Fenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherilyn-fenn/) > [Every time I think I'd want a huge, huge career, I realize I'd go crazy under that kind of scrutiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherilyn-fenn/every-time-i-think-i-d-want-a-huge-huge-career-i-realize-i-d-go-crazy/) [Sherilyn Fenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherilyn-fenn/) > [Harrison Ford... I love him. He's a man's man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherilyn-fenn/harrison-ford-i-love-him-he-s-a-man-s-man/) [Sherilyn Fenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherilyn-fenn/) > [I loved doing 'Gilmore Girls.' I love Amy Sherman-Palladino. I'd do anything with her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherilyn-fenn/i-loved-doing-gilmore-girls-i-love-amy-sherman-palladino-i-d-do/) [Sherilyn Fenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherilyn-fenn/) > [The beauty of age is we grow, we learn. We have more wisdom. And as much as the youth-glorifying Hollywood would like us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherilyn-fenn/the-beauty-of-age-is-we-grow-we-learn-we-have-more-wisdom-and-as-much/) [Sherilyn Fenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherilyn-fenn/) [Explore all 100 Sherilyn Fenn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherilyn-fenn/) ## 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": "For me acting is pretending. 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