--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At least when you're acting you can be…" description: "\"At least when you're acting you can be someone. In front of the camera you have to be yourself. And who am I?\" — Stephen Rea" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/033/stephen-rea-19522_acting_at-least-when-you-re-acting-you-can-be-s_2202086.jpg" --- # At least when you're acting you can be someone. In front… ![“At least when you're acting you can be someone. In front of the camera you have to be yourself. And who am I?” quote by Stephen Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/033/stephen-rea-19522_acting_at-least-when-you-re-acting-you-can-be-s_2202086.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/033/stephen-rea-19522_acting_at-least-when-you-re-acting-you-can-be-s_2202086.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/033/stephen-rea-19522_acting_at-least-when-you-re-acting-you-can-be-s_2202086.jpg) > “At least when you're acting you can be someone. In front of the camera you have to be yourself. And who am I?” [Stephen Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-rea/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting allows authenticity; being on camera requires genuine self‑presentation. **In simple terms:** Be true to yourself when performing. Key Takeaway Embrace authenticity in creative work. Themes identity creativity performance self‑expression Mood reflective inspirational Type artistic motivational When to use this quote - theatre auditions - film sets - personal branding - public speaking Key Concepts method acting self‑awareness authenticity Questions to Reflect On - What does “being yourself” mean in a scripted role? - How do you balance personal truth with character demands? A Different Perspective Self‑presentation can be pressured by industry expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Camera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camera/) ## Related quotes > [I know what it means to sit in that chair for four or five hours. For me, it's actually thrilling because I get to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-sammel/i-know-what-it-means-to-sit-in-that-chair-for-four-or-five-hours-for/) [Richard Sammel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-sammel/) > [Making a pretty picture, an image, is a completely different thing from acting to camera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-chan/making-a-pretty-picture-an-image-is-a-completely-different-thing-from/) [Gemma Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-chan/) > [Sometimes you're watching a great film actor, and if you stand 10 feet away from them, you're like, 'God, they're terrible. They're not doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-wittrock/sometimes-you-re-watching-a-great-film-actor-and-if-you-stand-10-feet/) [Finn Wittrock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-wittrock/) > [I could never imagine myself acting in front of a camera or doing anything in front of the camera. I was a very shy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/disha-patani/i-could-never-imagine-myself-acting-in-front-of-a-camera-or-doing/) [Disha Patani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/disha-patani/) > [I've been acting since I was 2 and have always been on camera but doing a video is different because when you're acting, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corbin-bleu/i-ve-been-acting-since-i-was-2-and-have-always-been-on-camera-but/) [Corbin Bleu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corbin-bleu/) > [I just love the whole art form of acting, of being in front of a camera and playing different things. Not that I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-dice-clay/i-just-love-the-whole-art-form-of-acting-of-being-in-front-of-a/) [Andrew Dice Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-dice-clay/) > [The camera does not like acting. The camera is only interested in filming behaviour. So you damn well learn your lines until you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-kingsley/the-camera-does-not-like-acting-the-camera-is-only-interested-in/) [Ben Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-kingsley/) > [When you're modeling you're actually acting for the camera and the photographer. It's more fun, too because there are no lines to memorize.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-margolis/when-you-re-modeling-you-re-actually-acting-for-the-camera-and-the/) [Cindy Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-margolis/) > [Learning about acting for camera is really quite exciting to engage with and deal with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-blagden/learning-about-acting-for-camera-is-really-quite-exciting-to-engage/) [George Blagden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-blagden/) > [The play is the source, it is orchestrated with words. In a movie, you are not dealing with as much as that. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/the-play-is-the-source-it-is-orchestrated-with-words-in-a-movie-you/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [When you're acting in front of a camera, you can really give all of your emotions with your eyes so the camera can see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-rush/when-you-re-acting-in-front-of-a-camera-you-can-really-give-all-of/) [Joshua Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-rush/) > [With film acting, and often when the camera comes very close, you just have to think about something and the camera will pick it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-wilson/with-film-acting-and-often-when-the-camera-comes-very-close-you-just/) [Ruth Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-wilson/) > [Generally, there's a lot of ad-lib involved with live TV and things like that, whereas with acting in front of the camera, it was,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edge/generally-there-s-a-lot-of-ad-lib-involved-with-live-tv-and-things/) [Edge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edge/) > [I'm really shy with my acting when it's off, because the camera gives me an excuse to be in character, whereas otherwise I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-fehr/i-m-really-shy-with-my-acting-when-it-s-off-because-the-camera-gives/) [Brendan Fehr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-fehr/) > [My first time acting for camera really was for Steven Spielberg in War Horse. I was trained in theater and I was actually working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-irvine/my-first-time-acting-for-camera-really-was-for-steven-spielberg-in/) [Jeremy Irvine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-irvine/) ## More by Stephen Rea > [I am afraid of death, scared by it. I already don't know whether I exist or not. So dying really terrifies me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-rea/i-am-afraid-of-death-scared-by-it-i-already-don-t-know-whether-i/) [Stephen Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-rea/) > [I don't feel ashamed of my wife's political background, and I don't think she should either. I feel that the people who administered the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-rea/i-don-t-feel-ashamed-of-my-wife-s-political-background-and-i-don-t/) [Stephen Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-rea/) > [I have never been to a brothel. I don't think I could go into one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-rea/i-have-never-been-to-a-brothel-i-don-t-think-i-could-go-into-one/) [Stephen Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-rea/) > [You do small movies because the script is good and because you believe in the director. You don't care about the money. And when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-rea/you-do-small-movies-because-the-script-is-good-and-because-you/) [Stephen Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-rea/) > [That was the beginning of modern acting for me. You don't have to tell a camera everything. It gets bored if you do and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-rea/that-was-the-beginning-of-modern-acting-for-me-you-don-t-have-to-tell/) [Stephen Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-rea/) > [When you're playing the part of a saxophone or a trumpet player, both of which I have done, it would be nice to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-rea/when-you-re-playing-the-part-of-a-saxophone-or-a-trumpet-player-both/) [Stephen Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-rea/) > [The worst thing for an actor is a director that gets on your nerves and says things that actually confuse you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-rea/the-worst-thing-for-an-actor-is-a-director-that-gets-on-your-nerves/) [Stephen Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-rea/) > [We didn't have a television, so I grew up with books. This isn't to suggest I'm an intellectual, but I do read a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-rea/we-didn-t-have-a-television-so-i-grew-up-with-books-this-isn-t-to/) [Stephen Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-rea/) > [My kids act all the time and its exactly what I used to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-rea/my-kids-act-all-the-time-and-its-exactly-what-i-used-to-do/) [Stephen Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-rea/) > [I think great art is always ambiguous and can't be pinned down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-rea/i-think-great-art-is-always-ambiguous-and-can-t-be-pinned-down/) [Stephen Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-rea/) > [My kids act all the time and it's exactly what I used to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-rea/my-kids-act-all-the-time-and-it-s-exactly-what-i-used-to-do/) [Stephen Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-rea/) > [If you're playing a lead, you're shaping the movie. When you're playing a supporting role, you've got only a moment to make it count.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-rea/if-you-re-playing-a-lead-you-re-shaping-the-movie-when-you-re-playing/) [Stephen Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-rea/) > [You have to know who you are, if you don't you have nightmares.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-rea/you-have-to-know-who-you-are-if-you-don-t-you-have-nightmares/) [Stephen Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-rea/) > [I'd like to own a movie camera - a proper one, with film, not a digital thing. Celluloid has more character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-rea/i-d-like-to-own-a-movie-camera-a-proper-one-with-film-not-a-digital/) [Stephen Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-rea/) > [People ask me to smile for the camera, but somehow it always comes out gloomy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-rea/people-ask-me-to-smile-for-the-camera-but-somehow-it-always-comes-out/) [Stephen Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-rea/) [Explore all 32 Stephen Rea quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-rea/) ## 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": "At least when you're acting you can be someone. In front of the camera you have to be yourself. 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