--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most important thing you can teach…" description: "\"The most important thing you can teach actors is to understand plays.\" — Stella Adler" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d3/stella-adler-11807_actors_the-most-important-thing-you-can-teach-a_933881.jpg" --- # The most important thing you can teach actors is to… ![“The most important thing you can teach actors is to understand plays.” quote by Stella Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d3/stella-adler-11807_actors_the-most-important-thing-you-can-teach-a_933881.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d3/stella-adler-11807_actors_the-most-important-thing-you-can-teach-a_933881.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d3/stella-adler-11807_actors_the-most-important-thing-you-can-teach-a_933881.jpg) > “The most important thing you can teach actors is to understand plays.” [Stella Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-adler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding the structure and intent of a play is essential for actors to embody characters authentically. **In simple terms:** Know the play to act well. Key Takeaway Study the script deeply before performance. Themes acting theatre education interpretation craft Mood instructive professional encouraging Type educational practical inspirational When to use this quote - rehearsals - script workshops - director collaborations Key Concepts dramatic analysis character motivation textual fidelity Questions to Reflect On - How does script knowledge shape your performance? - When should intuition outweigh analysis? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on intellect may stifle spontaneity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Important things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-things/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Plays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plays/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [Your job as actors is to understand the size of what you say, to understand what's beneath the word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-adler/your-job-as-actors-is-to-understand-the-size-of-what-you-say-to/) [Stella Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-adler/) > [I think people need to understand that with plays and with cinema, when you hear about it, call and get a ticket then or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/i-think-people-need-to-understand-that-with-plays-and-with-cinema/) [Alfre Woodard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfre-woodard/) > [I do not want actors and actresses to understand my plays. That is not necessary. If they will only pronounce the correct sounds I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/i-do-not-want-actors-and-actresses-to-understand-my-plays-that-is-not/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [I understand the plays, the depth, the routes, the splits and everything. I just feel good that I can make some plays. Definitely, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavon-austin/i-understand-the-plays-the-depth-the-routes-the-splits-and-everything/) [Tavon Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavon-austin/) > [When we watch a film as actors, you have to understand that we always see much more than what's on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/when-we-watch-a-film-as-actors-you-have-to-understand-that-we-always/) [Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/) > [It certainly helps, I think, with some actors to understand the process of acting. You see what extraordinary pressure they're under, there's a huge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-atkinson/it-certainly-helps-i-think-with-some-actors-to-understand-the-process/) [Rowan Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-atkinson/) > [Some are in it for the money, which is fine. Some of them are in it to be a movie star; that's another reason.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-friend/some-are-in-it-for-the-money-which-is-fine-some-of-them-are-in-it-to/) [Rupert Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-friend/) > [Improv is a very big thing for me. The thing with actors is I do not understand at all how they do what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/improv-is-a-very-big-thing-for-me-the-thing-with-actors-is-i-do-not/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [I love actors and I understand what has to happen within a scene. Any scene is an acting scene and actors never act alone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/i-love-actors-and-i-understand-what-has-to-happen-within-a-scene-any/) [Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/) > [My husband is a director, and I understand what it takes to direct. It's a skill set where you have to be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-rosenberg/my-husband-is-a-director-and-i-understand-what-it-takes-to-direct-it/) [Melissa Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-rosenberg/) > [Developing aesthetic sense is vital for actors. They must understand that there is no small role, only small actors. A good actor will do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajiv-menon/developing-aesthetic-sense-is-vital-for-actors-they-must-understand/) [Rajiv Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajiv-menon/) > [It's my goal to help actors achieve their best work, and I think I speak the same language as actors, so I understand how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arden/it-s-my-goal-to-help-actors-achieve-their-best-work-and-i-think-i/) [Michael Arden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arden/) > [It's our job as actors to make it look like it's not manufactured. If you have two actors who understand their characters - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cavill/it-s-our-job-as-actors-to-make-it-look-like-it-s-not-manufactured-if/) [Henry Cavill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cavill/) > [My true role is to get actors to understand what the camera is doing and what my intent is so they don't waste their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nutter/my-true-role-is-to-get-actors-to-understand-what-the-camera-is-doing/) [David Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nutter/) > [I don't do plays without jokes anymore. I've retired from those plays. I think it's bad manners to invite people to sit in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-nighy/i-don-t-do-plays-without-jokes-anymore-i-ve-retired-from-those-plays/) [Bill Nighy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-nighy/) ## More by Stella Adler > [Acting is in everything but the words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-adler/acting-is-in-everything-but-the-words/) [Stella Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-adler/) > [To grow: that is your deepest and truest need when you say, 'I want to be an actor.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-adler/to-grow-that-is-your-deepest-and-truest-need-when-you-say-i-want-to/) [Stella Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-adler/) > [The actor has to develop his body. The actor has to work on his voice. But the most important thing the actor has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-adler/the-actor-has-to-develop-his-body-the-actor-has-to-work-on-his-voice/) [Stella Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-adler/) > [Our heritage as actors goes back thousands of years, and we have to feel as comfortable in the clothes, and the language of Sophocles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-adler/our-heritage-as-actors-goes-back-thousands-of-years-and-we-have-to/) [Stella Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-adler/) > [Your curse is that you have chosen a form that requires endless study … It means you have to read, you have to observe,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-adler/your-curse-is-that-you-have-chosen-a-form-that-requires-endless-study/) [Stella Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-adler/) > [If you can't take both sides, it means you can only play yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-adler/if-you-can-t-take-both-sides-it-means-you-can-only-play-yourself/) [Stella Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-adler/) > [“That spark has to be kept alive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-adler/that-spark-has-to-be-kept-alive/) [Stella Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-adler/) > [It's not enough to have talent. You have to have a talent for your talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-adler/it-s-not-enough-to-have-talent-you-have-to-have-a-talent-for-your/) [Stella Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-adler/) > [It's not important to know who you are. It's important to know what you do, and then to do it like hercules!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-adler/it-s-not-important-to-know-who-you-are-it-s-important-to-know-what/) [Stella Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-adler/) > [Your job as actors is to understand the size of what you say, to understand what's beneath the word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-adler/your-job-as-actors-is-to-understand-the-size-of-what-you-say-to/) [Stella Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-adler/) > [You'll begin to act when you can forget your technique - when it is so securely inside you that you need not call upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-adler/you-ll-begin-to-act-when-you-can-forget-your-technique-when-it-is-so/) [Stella Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-adler/) > [Life is boring. The weather is boring. Actors must not be boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-adler/life-is-boring-the-weather-is-boring-actors-must-not-be-boring/) [Stella Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-adler/) > [The word theatre comes from the Greeks. It means the seeing place. It is the place people come to see the truth about life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-adler/the-word-theatre-comes-from-the-greeks-it-means-the-seeing-place-it/) [Stella Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-adler/) > [You act with your soul. That's why you all want to be actors, because your souls are not used up by life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-adler/you-act-with-your-soul-that-s-why-you-all-want-to-be-actors-because/) [Stella Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-adler/) > [Acting can be the healthiest profession in the world, because it allows you to do things you can't do in real life. It allows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-adler/acting-can-be-the-healthiest-profession-in-the-world-because-it/) [Stella Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-adler/) [Explore all 57 Stella Adler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-adler/) ## 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! 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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": "The most important thing you can teach actors is to understand plays.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stella Adler" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-adler/the-most-important-thing-you-can-teach-actors-is-to-understand-plays/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-adler/the-most-important-thing-you-can-teach-actors-is-to-understand-plays/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d3/stella-adler-11807_actors_the-most-important-thing-you-can-teach-a_933881.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d3/stella-adler-11807_actors_the-most-important-thing-you-can-teach-a_933881.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d3/stella-adler-11807_actors_the-most-important-thing-you-can-teach-a_933881.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The most important thing you can teach actors is to understand plays.” — Stella Adler", "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": "Stella Adler", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-adler/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The most important thing you can...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-adler/the-most-important-thing-you-can-teach-actors-is-to-understand-plays/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-adler/the-most-important-thing-you-can-teach-actors-is-to-understand-plays/#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 } } ] } ```