--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I feel like acting's a really good excuse…" description: "\"I feel like acting's a really good excuse because I just get to pretend to do everything and then back out if I don't like it.\" — Sophie Cookson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/sophie-cookson-19030_acting_i-feel-like-acting-s-a-really-good-excus_2043356.jpg" --- # I feel like acting's a really good excuse because I just… ![“I feel like acting's a really good excuse because I just get to pretend to do everything and then back out if I don't like it.” quote by Sophie Cookson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/sophie-cookson-19030_acting_i-feel-like-acting-s-a-really-good-excus_2043356.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/sophie-cookson-19030_acting_i-feel-like-acting-s-a-really-good-excus_2043356.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/sophie-cookson-19030_acting_i-feel-like-acting-s-a-really-good-excus_2043356.jpg) > “I feel like acting's a really good excuse because I just get to pretend to do everything and then back out if I don't like it.” [Sophie Cookson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-cookson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting provides a safe space to explore identities, but it can also be an escape from commitment. **In simple terms:** Acting lets you try roles safely. Key Takeaway Use acting to learn, not avoid. Themes identity exploration commitment Mood reflective candid Type psychological motivational When to use this quote - career decisions - personal growth - creative practice Key Concepts theatre psychology Questions to Reflect On - When does role‑playing become avoidance? - How can you translate insights into real life? A Different Perspective It may prevent confronting real issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ## Related quotes > [NO, its okay, just pretend you dont even know me. Its not like were dating or anything. Oh WAIT... We are...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/broken-soul/no-its-okay-just-pretend-you-dont-even-know-me-its-not-like-were/) [Broken Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/broken-soul/) > [I'll just pretend until you get here ^\_^](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-copeland/i-ll-just-pretend-until-you-get-here/) [Rachel Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-copeland/) > [I used to literally come home from school and write three songs a day at my desk, about nothing that was going on in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maisie-peters/i-used-to-literally-come-home-from-school-and-write-three-songs-a-day/) [Maisie Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maisie-peters/) > [“Never give up on who you love, just pretend that you did!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-gabryelle-dos-santos/never-give-up-on-who-you-love-just-pretend-that-you-did/) Amanda gabryelle dos santos > [“Honestly, I don’t think people ever get un-screwed-up. I think it’s just, how well can you pretend to be someone else, and how long.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-lillis/honestly-i-don-t-think-people-ever-get-un-screwed-up-i-think-it-s/) [J.C. Lillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-lillis/) > [Just go on to what you pretend is your life but please don't die on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rise-against/just-go-on-to-what-you-pretend-is-your-life-but-please-don-t-die-on-me/) [Rise Against](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rise-against/) > [It's hard to believe that you're really here, so I just pretend that you're not here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edie-brickell/it-s-hard-to-believe-that-you-re-really-here-so-i-just-pretend-that/) [Edie Brickell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edie-brickell/) > [“Just pretend,” Kronos insisted. “Once he’s in human form and sitting next to you, I’ll jump out”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/just-pretend-kronos-insisted-once-he-s-in-human-form-and-sitting-next/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [I'm not confident at all. You just pretend you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-whitmore/i-m-not-confident-at-all-you-just-pretend-you-are/) [Laura Whitmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-whitmore/) > [I like acting. I really like acting. The career, it can keep you interested. With 'Entourage,' the characters are living a lifestyle that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debi-mazar/i-like-acting-i-really-like-acting-the-career-it-can-keep-you/) [Debi Mazar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debi-mazar/) > [I always have to pretend I'm somebody else to give the best performance. It kind of feels like I'm acting; it's definitely an exaggerated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-ware/i-always-have-to-pretend-i-m-somebody-else-to-give-the-best/) [Jessie Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-ware/) > [I think everyone's journey through this crazy, weird, wild, wonderful area of work named acting is really their own. And if you're going for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-linney/i-think-everyone-s-journey-through-this-crazy-weird-wild-wonderful/) [Laura Linney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-linney/) > [When I was a teenager I loved acting, but I really just loved it for myself. I didn't like the fact that anyone else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/when-i-was-a-teenager-i-loved-acting-but-i-really-just-loved-it-for/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) > [A lot of what I do outside acting is really just for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-silvers/a-lot-of-what-i-do-outside-acting-is-really-just-for-me/) [Diana Silvers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-silvers/) > [I definitely want to be acting and I'm really happy that I found the opportunity to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-nash/i-definitely-want-to-be-acting-and-i-m-really-happy-that-i-found-the/) [Kate Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-nash/) ## More by Sophie Cookson > [I really feel our job as actors is to find a human experience in the character. So, for me, genre comes second; it's about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-cookson/i-really-feel-our-job-as-actors-is-to-find-a-human-experience-in-the/) [Sophie Cookson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-cookson/) > [Mark Strong is an amazing person. I just kind of enjoyed watching him. He is just so calm, dedicated, professional, and an absolute gent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-cookson/mark-strong-is-an-amazing-person-i-just-kind-of-enjoyed-watching-him/) [Sophie Cookson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-cookson/) > [I dream about my teeth, losing a tooth, which I think means that you want control back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-cookson/i-dream-about-my-teeth-losing-a-tooth-which-i-think-means-that-you/) [Sophie Cookson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-cookson/) > [I love reading and learning. With acting, I get to put all that into my work and still get to do my homework and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-cookson/i-love-reading-and-learning-with-acting-i-get-to-put-all-that-into-my/) [Sophie Cookson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-cookson/) > [It's been a long time since I've done any karaoke. Probably, I actually think 'Living On a Prayer' was the last one I've done,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-cookson/it-s-been-a-long-time-since-i-ve-done-any-karaoke-probably-i-actually/) [Sophie Cookson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-cookson/) > [Sometimes relationships are short, sometimes long, sometimes they're very deep and intense, and drama school is a hell of a learning curve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-cookson/sometimes-relationships-are-short-sometimes-long-sometimes-they-re/) [Sophie Cookson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-cookson/) > [In the next five years, I'd absolutely love to do theater. I went to drama school and that's where the focus lies. I'd definitely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-cookson/in-the-next-five-years-i-d-absolutely-love-to-do-theater-i-went-to/) [Sophie Cookson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-cookson/) > [I think, for me, the main thing is feeling comfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-cookson/i-think-for-me-the-main-thing-is-feeling-comfortable/) [Sophie Cookson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-cookson/) > [The times you have off are equally as important as the times you're working. You need to rebuild, fill up again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-cookson/the-times-you-have-off-are-equally-as-important-as-the-times-you-re/) [Sophie Cookson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-cookson/) > [I think I've always enjoyed a challenge and I like being pushed and I like being stretched to the absolute limit. I think a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-cookson/i-think-i-ve-always-enjoyed-a-challenge-and-i-like-being-pushed-and-i/) [Sophie Cookson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-cookson/) > [I was at Edinburgh doing history of art, Spanish and Arabic. I was originally supposed to do Italian instead of Arabic but when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-cookson/i-was-at-edinburgh-doing-history-of-art-spanish-and-arabic-i-was/) [Sophie Cookson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-cookson/) > [Evening, I've just got myself some really nice black suede boots and big black leather Acne jacket. So oversized jacket, skinny jeans, and boots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-cookson/evening-i-ve-just-got-myself-some-really-nice-black-suede-boots-and/) [Sophie Cookson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-cookson/) > [I used to be terrified of a particular film - I can't remember what it was called. It was set in a forest, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-cookson/i-used-to-be-terrified-of-a-particular-film-i-can-t-remember-what-it/) [Sophie Cookson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-cookson/) > [We all have the same core emotions of love, jealousy, rage - it's just how they're expressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-cookson/we-all-have-the-same-core-emotions-of-love-jealousy-rage-it-s-just/) [Sophie Cookson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-cookson/) > [I feel like with a movie you know your whole journey, and even though little minutiae might change, you're able to get a better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-cookson/i-feel-like-with-a-movie-you-know-your-whole-journey-and-even-though/) [Sophie Cookson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-cookson/) [Explore all 33 Sophie Cookson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-cookson/) ## 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": "I feel like acting's a really good excuse because I just get to pretend to do everything and then back out if I don't like it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sophie Cookson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-cookson/i-feel-like-acting-s-a-really-good-excuse-because-i-just-get-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-cookson/i-feel-like-acting-s-a-really-good-excuse-because-i-just-get-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/sophie-cookson-19030_acting_i-feel-like-acting-s-a-really-good-excus_2043356.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/sophie-cookson-19030_acting_i-feel-like-acting-s-a-really-good-excus_2043356.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/sophie-cookson-19030_acting_i-feel-like-acting-s-a-really-good-excus_2043356.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I feel like acting's a really good excuse because I just get to pretend to do everything and then back out…” — Sophie Cookson", "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": "Sophie Cookson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-cookson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I feel like acting's a really...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-cookson/i-feel-like-acting-s-a-really-good-excuse-because-i-just-get-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-cookson/i-feel-like-acting-s-a-really-good-excuse-because-i-just-get-to/#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 } } ] } ```