--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think it's worse for actors, though…" description: "\"I think it's worse for actors, though, because people have to choose you. As a director, I get to choose the actors, but most of the time, actors have ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98f/terry-gilliam-7704_actors_i-think-it-s-worse-for-actors-though-bec_2458005.jpg" --- # I think it's worse for actors, though, because people have… ![“I think it's worse for actors, though, because people have to choose you. As a director, I get to choose the actors, but most of the time, actors have to be chosen in order to work.” quote by Terry Gilliam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98f/terry-gilliam-7704_actors_i-think-it-s-worse-for-actors-though-bec_2458005.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98f/terry-gilliam-7704_actors_i-think-it-s-worse-for-actors-though-bec_2458005.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98f/terry-gilliam-7704_actors_i-think-it-s-worse-for-actors-though-bec_2458005.jpg) > “I think it's worse for actors, though, because people have to choose you. As a director, I get to choose the actors, but most of the time, actors have to be chosen in order to work.” [Terry Gilliam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gilliam/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Actors depend on external selection, limiting their agency compared to directors who can choose talent. **In simple terms:** Actors are chosen, not choosing. Key Takeaway Seek roles that align with your strengths and network actively. Themes career control selection agency Mood reflective critical Type advice industry insight When to use this quote - audition process - casting decisions - career planning - self‑promotion - collaboration Key Concepts power dynamics industry structure creative autonomy Questions to Reflect On - How can actors increase their own agency? - What strategies can directors use to broaden casting choices? A Different Perspective Directors also face constraints like budget and studio mandates, limiting their freedom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [In films and TV, actors get chosen based on their capabilities, charisma and the image they carry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suhasini-mulay/in-films-and-tv-actors-get-chosen-based-on-their-capabilities/) [Suhasini Mulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suhasini-mulay/) > [I choose my actors well and get to know the quirks of their personalities - and, most of all, I share humor with them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-cukor/i-choose-my-actors-well-and-get-to-know-the-quirks-of-their/) [George Cukor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-cukor/) > [One has to be honest to the story and choose actors accordingly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boney-kapoor/one-has-to-be-honest-to-the-story-and-choose-actors-accordingly/) [Boney Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boney-kapoor/) > [As is the case with politicians, actors are chosen by people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rishi-kapoor/as-is-the-case-with-politicians-actors-are-chosen-by-people/) [Rishi Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rishi-kapoor/) > [I guess I probably see myself as a director. If I had to choose, I think that that's the aspect of the process that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-swanberg/i-guess-i-probably-see-myself-as-a-director-if-i-had-to-choose-i/) [Joe Swanberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-swanberg/) > [ This film \[ Blue is the Warmest Color\] actually is the result of me talking with my producer Vincent \[Maraval\]. I gave him a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdellatif-kechiche/this-film-blue-is-the-warmest-color-actually-is-the-result-of-me/) [Abdellatif Kechiche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdellatif-kechiche/) > [Then I usually leave the choice of the second assistant director and any other assistant directors to the first assistant director, who will choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-frankenheimer/then-i-usually-leave-the-choice-of-the-second-assistant-director-and/) [John Frankenheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-frankenheimer/) > [ It was very important to me to choose a director like Gary \[Ross\], whose instincts come from character, who's a storyteller, and who puts… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-jacobson/it-was-very-important-to-me-to-choose-a-director-like-gary-ross-whose/) [Nina Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-jacobson/) > [It is important to choose your director and co-stars well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-fernandez/it-is-important-to-choose-your-director-and-co-stars-well/) [Jacqueline Fernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-fernandez/) > [As a director, you should choose a project that will educate you and enrich your life, because you're going to be doing it for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-marshall/as-a-director-you-should-choose-a-project-that-will-educate-you-and/) [Rob Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-marshall/) > [I understand why the gay community wants to embrace actors who are out. People want to be represented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheyenne-jackson/i-understand-why-the-gay-community-wants-to-embrace-actors-who-are/) [Cheyenne Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheyenne-jackson/) > [It's smart to have a set of younger actors. People don't always want to look at me. They want to look at other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/it-s-smart-to-have-a-set-of-younger-actors-people-don-t-always-want/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [I do not believe that artists or actors and people should be out there like voicing their full-blown opinions on politics because, let's face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kid-rock/i-do-not-believe-that-artists-or-actors-and-people-should-be-out/) [Kid Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kid-rock/) > [So there's a lot of people tied into believing that the traditional response to the authorship question. In terms of actors, some people get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-rylance/so-there-s-a-lot-of-people-tied-into-believing-that-the-traditional/) [Mark Rylance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-rylance/) > [My favorite actors are people who I don't know anything about, and I can project any character onto them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-bomer/my-favorite-actors-are-people-who-i-don-t-know-anything-about-and-i/) [Matt Bomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-bomer/) ## More by Terry Gilliam > [The English are such a frightened, nervous, insecure group of people - they no longer rule the world!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gilliam/the-english-are-such-a-frightened-nervous-insecure-group-of-people/) [Terry Gilliam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gilliam/) > [Well, I really want to encourage a kind of fantasy, a kind of magic. I love the term magic realism, whoever invented it –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gilliam/well-i-really-want-to-encourage-a-kind-of-fantasy-a-kind-of-magic-i/) [Terry Gilliam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gilliam/) > [I was doing political cartoons and getting angry to the point where I felt I was going to have to start making and throwing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gilliam/i-was-doing-political-cartoons-and-getting-angry-to-the-point-where-i/) [Terry Gilliam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gilliam/) > [I'm trying to escape by forming my own kind of world. Basically, I'm trying to encourage others to do the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gilliam/i-m-trying-to-escape-by-forming-my-own-kind-of-world-basically-i-m/) [Terry Gilliam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gilliam/) > [Hyperbole is something Id better avoid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gilliam/hyperbole-is-something-id-better-avoid/) [Terry Gilliam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gilliam/) > [I was getting frustrated with America. It's interesting how as simple a thing as, like, letting your hair grow longer changed in the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gilliam/i-was-getting-frustrated-with-america-it-s-interesting-how-as-simple/) [Terry Gilliam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gilliam/) > [I'm overwhelmed by writers. Most people aren't impressed by writers, but if you can draw a cartoon or a picture, they think you're magic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gilliam/i-m-overwhelmed-by-writers-most-people-aren-t-impressed-by-writers/) [Terry Gilliam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gilliam/) > [Nobody went to see Tideland! I was hoping people would get angry about it but those that saw it didn't want to talk about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gilliam/nobody-went-to-see-tideland-i-was-hoping-people-would-get-angry-about/) [Terry Gilliam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gilliam/) > [Fantasy isn't just a jolly escape: It's an escape, but into something far more extreme than reality, or normality. It's where things are more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gilliam/fantasy-isn-t-just-a-jolly-escape-it-s-an-escape-but-into-something/) [Terry Gilliam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gilliam/) > [It's hard for me to worry about the studios losing money. I'm not very sympathetic to their money problems, because they certainly haven't been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gilliam/it-s-hard-for-me-to-worry-about-the-studios-losing-money-i-m-not-very/) [Terry Gilliam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gilliam/) > [Hyperbole is something I'd better avoid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gilliam/hyperbole-is-something-i-d-better-avoid/) [Terry Gilliam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gilliam/) > [When it came to slaughtering sacred cows with such crude yet perfect musical precision, there was no one better than Frank. I wonder what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gilliam/when-it-came-to-slaughtering-sacred-cows-with-such-crude-yet-perfect/) [Terry Gilliam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gilliam/) > [I've given up asking questions. l merely float on a tsunami of acceptance of anything life throws at me ... and marvel stupidly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gilliam/i-ve-given-up-asking-questions-l-merely-float-on-a-tsunami-of/) [Terry Gilliam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gilliam/) > [You know the hardest thing to do in Hollywood is burn bridges. There is usually some sucker who still likes me. There is usually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gilliam/you-know-the-hardest-thing-to-do-in-hollywood-is-burn-bridges-there/) [Terry Gilliam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gilliam/) > [Once the voices are in your head, it's either make a movie or kill a lot of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gilliam/once-the-voices-are-in-your-head-it-s-either-make-a-movie-or-kill-a/) [Terry Gilliam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gilliam/) [Explore all 88 Terry Gilliam quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gilliam/) ## More Actors quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/) [Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [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/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [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/) > [As actors, you become an expert at starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-actors-you-become-an-expert-at-starting-over/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [A rapper is about being completely true to yourself. Being an actor is about changing who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/a-rapper-is-about-being-completely-true-to-yourself-being-an-actor-is/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [I've been a professional actor for almost 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-been-a-professional-actor-for-almost-40-years/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [American actors are coy. We all have pricks and cunts, or are you different from the rest of us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/american-actors-are-coy-we-all-have-pricks-and-cunts-or-are-you/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) [Browse all 11,394 Actors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think it's worse for actors, though, because people have to choose you. 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