--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most actors can't make any kind of living." description: "\"Most actors can't make any kind of living.\" — Viggo Mortensen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b00/viggo-mortensen-1554_actor_most-actors-can-t-make-any-kind-of-livin_46273.jpg" --- # Most actors can't make any kind of living. ![“Most actors can't make any kind of living.” quote by Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b00/viggo-mortensen-1554_actor_most-actors-can-t-make-any-kind-of-livin_46273.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b00/viggo-mortensen-1554_actor_most-actors-can-t-make-any-kind-of-livin_46273.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b00/viggo-mortensen-1554_actor_most-actors-can-t-make-any-kind-of-livin_46273.jpg) > “Most actors can't make any kind of living.” [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Highlights the precarious financial reality for many performers, emphasizing that talent alone often doesn't guarantee sustainable income. **In simple terms:** Acting is financially unstable for most. Key Takeaway Artistic careers can be economically risky. Themes economic insecurity artistic labor career volatility industry competition Mood cautious realistic Type observation cautionary When to use this quote - seeking stable income - career planning - budgeting for freelancers - evaluating alternative income streams Key Concepts sustainability market demand Practical Applications - financial counseling for artists - diversifying income sources Questions to Reflect On - How can actors mitigate financial instability? - What alternative income models exist for performers? A Different Perspective Some actors achieve high earnings through strategic branding and multiple revenue streams, challenging the notion that most cannot make a living. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [Be kind to the living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcbride/be-kind-to-the-living/) [James McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcbride/) > [“And I have no idea how to be kind to myself. Living, as a general enterprise, seems unkind beyond belief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/and-i-have-no-idea-how-to-be-kind-to-myself-living-as-a-general/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [“To show love to the dead, we must be kind to the living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/to-show-love-to-the-dead-we-must-be-kind-to-the-living/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I think that you can't make a movie without a script. But you also can't make movies without actors. You also can't make movies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-frankenheimer/i-think-that-you-can-t-make-a-movie-without-a-script-but-you-also-can/) [John Frankenheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-frankenheimer/) > [Sometimes, people don't make the kind of films you want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saqib-saleem/sometimes-people-don-t-make-the-kind-of-films-you-want-to-do/) [Saqib Saleem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saqib-saleem/) > [I want to make every kind of movie that I can make. I don't really care if they're big or small.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-slate/i-want-to-make-every-kind-of-movie-that-i-can-make-i-don-t-really/) [Jenny Slate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-slate/) > [“Every person has lots of ingredients to make them into what is always a one of-a-kind creation.We are all imperfect genetic stews.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-goldberg-sloan/every-person-has-lots-of-ingredients-to-make-them-into-what-is-always-2/) [Holly Goldberg Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-goldberg-sloan/) > [I make the kind of music I like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-sheik/i-make-the-kind-of-music-i-like/) [Duncan Sheik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-sheik/) > [In America there's no way I can make the kind of movie I like to make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-chan/in-america-there-s-no-way-i-can-make-the-kind-of-movie-i-like-to-make/) [Jackie Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-chan/) > [GOD make me the kind of person you want me to be...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/das/god-make-me-the-kind-of-person-you-want-me-to-be/) Das > [“Every person has lots of ingredients to make them into what is always a one-of-a-kind creation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-goldberg-sloan/every-person-has-lots-of-ingredients-to-make-them-into-what-is-always/) [Holly Goldberg Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-goldberg-sloan/) > [“We’ll make another kind of empire”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/we-ll-make-another-kind-of-empire/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [“Because… you make me the kind of person I’ve always wished I was.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-roux/because-you-make-me-the-kind-of-person-i-ve-always-wished-i-was/) [Abigail Roux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-roux/) > [Most of the brothers don't make the kind of scratch I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedric-maxwell/most-of-the-brothers-don-t-make-the-kind-of-scratch-i-do/) Cedric Maxwell > [I am trying to make the kind of film that I would be happy to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajkumar-hirani/i-am-trying-to-make-the-kind-of-film-that-i-would-be-happy-to-see/) [Rajkumar Hirani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajkumar-hirani/) ## More by Viggo Mortensen > [Speaking more than one language and living in a multicultural family and environment did not seem like anything but what it was: the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/speaking-more-than-one-language-and-living-in-a-multicultural-family/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [We all experience many freakish and unexpected events - you have to be open to suffering a little. The philosopher Schopenhauer talked about how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/we-all-experience-many-freakish-and-unexpected-events-you-have-to-be/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [As far as money goes, there's a saying in Denmark: 'Your last suit doesn't have any pockets.' You can't take it with you. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/as-far-as-money-goes-there-s-a-saying-in-denmark-your-last-suit-doesn/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [Most movies are lucky to have one moment, one shot that you look at and you always remember that moment and that scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/most-movies-are-lucky-to-have-one-moment-one-shot-that-you-look-at/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [I like stories that leave you wanting more, leave you wondering, but don't tell you everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/i-like-stories-that-leave-you-wanting-more-leave-you-wondering-but/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [Usually the characters I play are men of few words, who communicate in non-verbal ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/usually-the-characters-i-play-are-men-of-few-words-who-communicate-in/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [You do need to get lucky, no matter how talented you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/you-do-need-to-get-lucky-no-matter-how-talented-you-are/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [When I was a little boy, I rode, but I didn't own horses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/when-i-was-a-little-boy-i-rode-but-i-didn-t-own-horses/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [I realise how important it is to use the time I have. I respect people who want to do that by watching television. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/i-realise-how-important-it-is-to-use-the-time-i-have-i-respect-people/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [When I land in a country and they ask for 'occupation,' I always just put 'artist.' I think that covers all of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/when-i-land-in-a-country-and-they-ask-for-occupation-i-always-just/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [I was born in New York but as a baby moved to Venezuela and Argentina. I've also lived in Denmark, where my father's from.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/i-was-born-in-new-york-but-as-a-baby-moved-to-venezuela-and-argentina/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [People are becoming more intimately acquainted with people who are different than them - it's not so unusual anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/people-are-becoming-more-intimately-acquainted-with-people-who-are/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [There might be people out there who wouldn't hire me because they thought I should keep my mouth shut, but I'm not aware of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/there-might-be-people-out-there-who-wouldn-t-hire-me-because-they/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [Bernie Sanders has inspired millions of people in this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/bernie-sanders-has-inspired-millions-of-people-in-this-country/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [When I make a movie, I don't break it down and analyze it. I could but it would get in the way of doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/when-i-make-a-movie-i-don-t-break-it-down-and-analyze-it-i-could-but/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) [Explore all 228 Viggo Mortensen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) ## 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! 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/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. 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": "Most actors can't make any kind of living.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Viggo Mortensen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/most-actors-can-t-make-any-kind-of-living/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/most-actors-can-t-make-any-kind-of-living/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b00/viggo-mortensen-1554_actor_most-actors-can-t-make-any-kind-of-livin_46273.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b00/viggo-mortensen-1554_actor_most-actors-can-t-make-any-kind-of-livin_46273.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b00/viggo-mortensen-1554_actor_most-actors-can-t-make-any-kind-of-livin_46273.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Most actors can't make any kind of living.” — Viggo Mortensen", "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": "Viggo Mortensen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Most actors can't make any kind...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/most-actors-can-t-make-any-kind-of-living/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/most-actors-can-t-make-any-kind-of-living/#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 } } ] } ```