--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The trick to being a good actor is…" description: "\"The trick to being a good actor is getting so involved in your character that the camera disappears, the 50 bored guys eating doughnuts disappear, frie..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/391/val-kilmer-3242_acting_the-trick-to-being-a-good-actor-is-getti_2103475.jpg" --- # The trick to being a good actor is getting so involved in… ![“The trick to being a good actor is getting so involved in your character that the camera disappears, the 50 bored guys eating doughnuts disappear, friends disappear. To get to that point when you don't have to think about it, you're just acting and reacting in those circumstances.” quote by Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/391/val-kilmer-3242_acting_the-trick-to-being-a-good-actor-is-getti_2103475.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/391/val-kilmer-3242_acting_the-trick-to-being-a-good-actor-is-getti_2103475.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/391/val-kilmer-3242_acting_the-trick-to-being-a-good-actor-is-getti_2103475.jpg) > “The trick to being a good actor is getting so involved in your character that the camera disappears, the 50 bored guys eating doughnuts disappear, friends disappear. To get to that point when you don't have to think about it, you're just acting and reacting in those circumstances.” [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An actor achieves authenticity by immersing fully, allowing external distractions to fade, resulting in natural performance. **In simple terms:** Deep immersion creates authentic acting. Key Takeaway Fully commit to your role. Themes acting focus presence Mood focused determined Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - rehearsal - stage performance - film sets - mindfulness training Key Concepts method acting psychology performance art Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain self‑awareness while acting? - What techniques help you stay present without losing self? A Different Perspective Over‑immersion may blur personal boundaries. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Bored](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bored/) [Cameras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cameras/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Eating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eating/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Good actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-actors/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Working with good actors is a pleasure as acting is all about reacting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/supriya-pathak/working-with-good-actors-is-a-pleasure-as-acting-is-all-about-reacting/) [Supriya Pathak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/supriya-pathak/) > [That's the thing about acting is that it's reacting to what's going on around you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-g/that-s-the-thing-about-acting-is-that-it-s-reacting-to-what-s-going/) [Becky G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-g/) > [To me, acting is reacting. An emotional person will react quickly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dharmendra/to-me-acting-is-reacting-an-emotional-person-will-react-quickly/) [Dharmendra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dharmendra/) > [All the theories that acting is reacting to imaginary circumstances as though they are real, and directing is turning psychology into behavior, those are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-nichols/all-the-theories-that-acting-is-reacting-to-imaginary-circumstances/) [Mike Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-nichols/) > [Improv as an actor makes you present in the moment. You listen, you're attentive. You're not acting so much as reacting, which is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-fillion/improv-as-an-actor-makes-you-present-in-the-moment-you-listen-you-re/) [Nathan Fillion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-fillion/) > [Good acting is about reacting, not tryingto express something, but reacting to a situation as the character.I don't like acting acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jarmusch/good-acting-is-about-reacting-not-tryingto-express-something-but/) [Jim Jarmusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jarmusch/) > [Acting to me is always reacting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-tracy/acting-to-me-is-always-reacting/) [Spencer Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-tracy/) > [I'm more interested in knowing my cues than my lines. If you know what your cues are, then you know what your reaction is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-root/i-m-more-interested-in-knowing-my-cues-than-my-lines-if-you-know-what/) [Stephen Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-root/) > [Acting is reacting, and it's always easier to react when someone is doing a good job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/acting-is-reacting-and-it-s-always-easier-to-react-when-someone-is/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [I think chemistry is about not acting, but reacting, and not talking, but listening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/i-think-chemistry-is-about-not-acting-but-reacting-and-not-talking/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) > [Acting is reacting. That's when acting is great - when you say something, somebody said something, they make a face, they pose, they use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/acting-is-reacting-that-s-when-acting-is-great-when-you-say-something/) [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) > [The enemy resembles us. Therefore, he needs to be approached not as an assembly of 'targets' to be destroyed one by one; but as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-van-creveld/the-enemy-resembles-us-therefore-he-needs-to-be-approached-not-as-an/) [Martin Van Creveld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-van-creveld/) > [Acting is reacting... there's a magic when you're working with another actor. With voice acting, you're doing it alone, all in your head. So,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-keaton/acting-is-reacting-there-s-a-magic-when-you-re-working-with-another/) [Josh Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-keaton/) > [That's what acting is. You're not alone. It's reacting. That's what we do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-leo/that-s-what-acting-is-you-re-not-alone-it-s-reacting-that-s-what-we-do/) [Melissa Leo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-leo/) > [Activist: not as much acting as it is reacting- which is my story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-gingrich-jones/activist-not-as-much-acting-as-it-is-reacting-which-is-my-story/) [Candace Gingrich-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-gingrich-jones/) ## More by Val Kilmer > [I'm a better person when I'm preparing for a role, when I'm studying a role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/i-m-a-better-person-when-i-m-preparing-for-a-role-when-i-m-studying-a/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [A lot of old guys in movies are like cowboys - they talk like cowboys and they dress like cowboys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/a-lot-of-old-guys-in-movies-are-like-cowboys-they-talk-like-cowboys/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [I'm very wary of news on television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/i-m-very-wary-of-news-on-television/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [Youth is seen as everything. You don't know anything when you're young. It's great being older, just having a more balanced perspective. I wake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/youth-is-seen-as-everything-you-don-t-know-anything-when-you-re-young/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [It's a really weird thing, modern divorce. I found out I was getting divorced on television. That was kind of weird.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/it-s-a-really-weird-thing-modern-divorce-i-found-out-i-was-getting/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [I was in love with Tina Goodman since I was three and her parents came popping out of the trash cans. I think it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/i-was-in-love-with-tina-goodman-since-i-was-three-and-her-parents/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [Without deadlines and restrictions I just tend to become preoccupied with other things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/without-deadlines-and-restrictions-i-just-tend-to-become-preoccupied/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [Do what you like to do so well that someone will pay you wages for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/do-what-you-like-to-do-so-well-that-someone-will-pay-you-wages-for-it/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [Hollywood's like a warehouse. It's just a place that you go. What's interesting in the warehouse has to do with the creative people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/hollywood-s-like-a-warehouse-it-s-just-a-place-that-you-go-what-s/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [I don't believe in death. I think it's just a state of mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/i-don-t-believe-in-death-i-think-it-s-just-a-state-of-mind/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [Acting is very immediate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/acting-is-very-immediate/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [There are lots of actors who are awful people, but nobody talks about them being awful because they've made billions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/there-are-lots-of-actors-who-are-awful-people-but-nobody-talks-about/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [Mark Twain had a way of telling stories that shifts your consciousness away from labels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/mark-twain-had-a-way-of-telling-stories-that-shifts-your/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [I've found that Hollywood's a really honest business. They don't pull any punches. They tell you exactly what you want-I want the fake breasts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/i-ve-found-that-hollywood-s-a-really-honest-business-they-don-t-pull/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [There was such a relationship between the buffalo and the American Indian - the Indians would eat them, live inside their pelts, use every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/there-was-such-a-relationship-between-the-buffalo-and-the-american/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) [Explore all 135 Val Kilmer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) ## 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": "The trick to being a good actor is getting so involved in your character that the camera disappears, the 50 bored guys eating doughnuts disappear, friends disappear. 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