--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I found that with Rooney, her instincts…" description: "\"I found that with Rooney, her instincts in films was always to underplay and to sort of reduce down what was necessary to bring you in - a sense of eco..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff2/todd-haynes-2626_actors_i-found-that-with-rooney-her-instincts-i_1924863.jpg" --- # I found that with Rooney, her instincts in films was… ![“I found that with Rooney, her instincts in films was always to underplay and to sort of reduce down what was necessary to bring you in - a sense of economy, a sense of scale, which just seemed to understand the medium so well. When you see that in a younger actor, I always think it speaks to…” quote by Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff2/todd-haynes-2626_actors_i-found-that-with-rooney-her-instincts-i_1924863.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff2/todd-haynes-2626_actors_i-found-that-with-rooney-her-instincts-i_1924863.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff2/todd-haynes-2626_actors_i-found-that-with-rooney-her-instincts-i_1924863.jpg) > “I found that with Rooney, her instincts in films was always to underplay and to sort of reduce down what was necessary to bring you in - a sense of economy, a sense of scale, which just seemed to understand the medium so well. When you see that in a younger actor, I always think it speaks to incredible knowledge. I can't exactly figure out where that comes from, that confidence to know how to be quiet.” [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Haynes admires Rooney’s subtle acting, noting her ability to convey depth through restraint, showing mastery of cinematic economy. **In simple terms:** Rooney’s quiet performance shows deep skill. Key Takeaway Value subtlety in performance. Themes acting cinema subtlety Mood appreciative analytical Type critical observational When to use this quote - film direction - acting workshops - casting decisions - performance analysis Key Concepts economy of expression medium mastery Questions to Reflect On - How can restraint enhance storytelling? - When does underplaying hinder clarity? A Different Perspective Quietness may be misread as lack of emotion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-think/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economy/) [Figures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/figures/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Found](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/found/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Incredibles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incredibles/) [Instinct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instinct/) [Instincts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instincts/) [Know how](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-how/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Medium Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medium-younger-2978762/) [Mediums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mediums/) [Quiet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quiet/) [Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rooney/) [Rooney Instincts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rooney-instincts-2978760/) [Scales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scales/) [Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [Younger Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/younger-actor-1412605/) ## Related quotes > [On set I keep myself to myself; I'd rather the director speak up. I'm not gonna direct a younger actor. I think the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-oldman/on-set-i-keep-myself-to-myself-i-d-rather-the-director-speak-up-i-m/) [Gary Oldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-oldman/) > [I think when you're younger, as an actor you have much more of a notion that you are doing something to the audience. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-riegert/i-think-when-you-re-younger-as-an-actor-you-have-much-more-of-a/) [Peter Riegert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-riegert/) > [I've really had good luck working with younger actors. Every younger actor that I have worked with has always been really on top of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/i-ve-really-had-good-luck-working-with-younger-actors-every-younger/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) > [It's so rare, especially as a younger actor, to find a role where it's not just one-dimensional and it's not just a stock leading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-bomer/it-s-so-rare-especially-as-a-younger-actor-to-find-a-role-where-it-s/) [Matt Bomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-bomer/) > [The reason I've never gone for pilot season even as a younger actor, and wouldn't entertain that sort of thing now, is the idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/the-reason-i-ve-never-gone-for-pilot-season-even-as-a-younger-actor/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [As a younger actor, my motivation may have been 'Do you want that job or don't you?' Now it's 'Do you want to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-mcintyre/as-a-younger-actor-my-motivation-may-have-been-do-you-want-that-job/) [Liam McIntyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-mcintyre/) > [I remember a time when I was younger, when if you had to see an actor, you had to go to the theatre and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-rohit-shetty/i-remember-a-time-when-i-was-younger-when-if-you-had-to-see-an-actor/) [Vikram Rohit Shetty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-rohit-shetty/) > [As a younger actor you want to be approved of, you want to gain respect, be admired. All of those things. To say: 'This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-scott-thomas/as-a-younger-actor-you-want-to-be-approved-of-you-want-to-gain/) [Kristin Scott Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-scott-thomas/) > [When I was a younger actor, I was very immersed in it, very "method" and all that. Now, I don't give a hoot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/when-i-was-a-younger-actor-i-was-very-immersed-in-it-very-method-and/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [When I was a younger actor, I would try to keep it serious all day. But I have found, later on, that the lighter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/when-i-was-a-younger-actor-i-would-try-to-keep-it-serious-all-day-but/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [I think when I was a younger actor, I did carry that stuff home. When I did ...And Justice For All, I was afraid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/i-think-when-i-was-a-younger-actor-i-did-carry-that-stuff-home-when-i/) [Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) > [As a younger actor coming up, I wanted to be in films. There's something special about being on film sets; there's an excitement; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-croasdell/as-a-younger-actor-coming-up-i-wanted-to-be-in-films-there-s/) [Adam Croasdell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-croasdell/) > [When I look at myself as a younger actor, I see what a tight ass I was. I had a pretty big shadow because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-douglas/when-i-look-at-myself-as-a-younger-actor-i-see-what-a-tight-ass-i-was/) [Michael Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-douglas/) > [One of the things that I'd like to get back to that I did as a younger actor was to work on, you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-gibson/one-of-the-things-that-i-d-like-to-get-back-to-that-i-did-as-a/) [Thomas Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gibson/) > [It's funny - sometimes people think we, as actors, have this wide range of choices of the roles we're doing, and in a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-o-malley/it-s-funny-sometimes-people-think-we-as-actors-have-this-wide-range/) [Mike O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-o-malley/) ## More by Todd Haynes > [I had really loving parents and a happy childhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/i-had-really-loving-parents-and-a-happy-childhood/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) > [I don't know if I ever entertained an academic career, nor did I ever think I'd become a feature film-maker in the market.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/i-don-t-know-if-i-ever-entertained-an-academic-career-nor-did-i-ever/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) > [Feminist theory has left an indelible mark on my own critical—and creative—thinking . . . For me, everything I questioned about what it meant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/feminist-theory-has-left-an-indelible-mark-on-my-own-critical-and/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) > [I don't think there's any more synesthetic medium than film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/i-don-t-think-there-s-any-more-synesthetic-medium-than-film/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) > [I'm used to always having struggles getting finances together and keeping precarious budgets alive in the independent film world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/i-m-used-to-always-having-struggles-getting-finances-together-and/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) > [It's funny: I don't feel like I have any particular privileged feeling for the Fifties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/it-s-funny-i-don-t-feel-like-i-have-any-particular-privileged-feeling/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) > [I'm drawn to female characters; not all of them are strong characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/i-m-drawn-to-female-characters-not-all-of-them-are-strong-characters/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) > [Looking at photographs of New York in 1952, you find a powerfully pre-Eisenhower era - sagging, tired, distressed - and the palette is slightly dissonant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/looking-at-photographs-of-new-york-in-1952-you-find-a-powerfully-pre/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) > [I think many of the ideas that opened up in the '60s got implemented in the '70s and that certain minority voices that were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/i-think-many-of-the-ideas-that-opened-up-in-the-60s-got-implemented/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) > ['Evil Urges' has some stuff in it that's unbelievable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/evil-urges-has-some-stuff-in-it-that-s-unbelievable/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) > [Films like 'The Godfather,' 'Chinatown' and 'The Exorcist' brought a realism and currency and understatement to their genres that we wanted for 'Mildred Pierce.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/films-like-the-godfather-chinatown-and-the-exorcist-brought-a-realism/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) > [There were interesting ways that queerness could hide out and get played out pre-Stonewall. It is part of a vast history that is getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/there-were-interesting-ways-that-queerness-could-hide-out-and-get/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) > [It's very funny because every time I make a movie, and I've heard this re-echoed by other filmmakers and actors I have worked with,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/it-s-very-funny-because-every-time-i-make-a-movie-and-i-ve-heard-this/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) > [What was so interesting about the glam era was that it was about bisexuality and breaking down the boundaries between gays and straights, breaking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/what-was-so-interesting-about-the-glam-era-was-that-it-was-about/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) > [My films have often looked at the whole dilemma of identity as a straitjacket for people, for societies, for cultures, for historical moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/my-films-have-often-looked-at-the-whole-dilemma-of-identity-as-a/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) [Explore all 157 Todd Haynes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) ## 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 found that with Rooney, her instincts in films was always to underplay and to sort of reduce down what was necessary to bring you in - a sense of economy, a sense of scale, which just seemed to understand the medium so well. When you see that in a younger actor, I always think it speaks to incredible knowledge. I can't exactly figure out where that comes from, that confidence to know how to be quiet.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Todd Haynes" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/i-found-that-with-rooney-her-instincts-in-films-was-always-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actors" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/i-found-that-with-rooney-her-instincts-in-films-was-always-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff2/todd-haynes-2626_actors_i-found-that-with-rooney-her-instincts-i_1924863.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff2/todd-haynes-2626_actors_i-found-that-with-rooney-her-instincts-i_1924863.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff2/todd-haynes-2626_actors_i-found-that-with-rooney-her-instincts-i_1924863.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I found that with Rooney, her instincts in films was always to underplay and to sort of reduce down what was…” — Todd Haynes", "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": "Todd Haynes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I found that with Rooney, her...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/i-found-that-with-rooney-her-instincts-in-films-was-always-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/i-found-that-with-rooney-her-instincts-in-films-was-always-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 } } ] } ```