--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Any actor will tell you, as soon as your…" description: "\"Any actor will tell you, as soon as your ego and your vanity come into the mix, it destroys your work. Completely destroys it.\" — Viola Davis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f87/viola-davis-1174_actor_any-actor-will-tell-you-as-soon-as-your_1115088.png" --- # Any actor will tell you, as soon as your ego and your… ![“Any actor will tell you, as soon as your ego and your vanity come into the mix, it destroys your work. Completely destroys it.” quote by Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f87/viola-davis-1174_actor_any-actor-will-tell-you-as-soon-as-your_1115088.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f87/viola-davis-1174_actor_any-actor-will-tell-you-as-soon-as-your_1115088.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f87/viola-davis-1174_actor_any-actor-will-tell-you-as-soon-as-your_1115088.png) > “Any actor will tell you, as soon as your ego and your vanity come into the mix, it destroys your work. Completely destroys it.” [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ego and vanity poison artistic work, destroying authenticity and performance quality. **In simple terms:** Ego ruins creative work. Key Takeaway Check ego, stay humble. Themes humility authenticity creativity Mood reflective motivational Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - theatre rehearsals - film sets - creative collaborations - personal branding Key Concepts psychology of art performance studies Questions to Reflect On - How do you keep confidence without ego? - What practices maintain artistic humility? A Different Perspective Some confidence is needed for artistic presence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Ego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ego/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Vanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vanity/) ## Related quotes > [Every sinew in my body came together in one perfect whole. But those who have ever experienced that feeling, and it doesn't happen very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cooper-cronk/every-sinew-in-my-body-came-together-in-one-perfect-whole-but-those/) Cooper Cronk > [People call me a theater actor, but I'm just an actor. But I tell my friends all the time - especially a lot that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/people-call-me-a-theater-actor-but-i-m-just-an-actor-but-i-tell-my/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [In the end, self-indulgence is very much about your ego and your vanity and your own id. The more you can indulge in it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-winding-refn/in-the-end-self-indulgence-is-very-much-about-your-ego-and-your/) [Nicolas Winding Refn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-winding-refn/) > [“The whole business is built on ego,vanity,self-satisfaction , and its total crap to pretend its not”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-michael/the-whole-business-is-built-on-ego-vanity-self-satisfaction-and-its/) [George Michael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-michael/) > [HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-shilts/hiv-is-certainly-character-building-it-s-made-me-see-all-of-the/) [Randy Shilts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-shilts/) > [If I ever tried to take credit for what God deserves the credit, He would be displeased with me, and I'm more interested in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/if-i-ever-tried-to-take-credit-for-what-god-deserves-the-credit-he/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) > [The whole business is built on ego, vanity, self-satisfaction, and it's total crap to pretend it's not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-michael/the-whole-business-is-built-on-ego-vanity-self-satisfaction-and-it-s/) [George Michael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-michael/) > [I always go up to a senior actor and tell them 'It's an honour to work with you' before we start shooting our first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zayed-khan/i-always-go-up-to-a-senior-actor-and-tell-them-it-s-an-honour-to-work/) [Zayed Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zayed-khan/) > [I've had the opportunity to work as an actor and tell stories that transform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malik-yoba/i-ve-had-the-opportunity-to-work-as-an-actor-and-tell-stories-that/) [Malik Yoba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malik-yoba/) > [As an actor, what I can do is tell the truth. At least, I hope I can tell the truth - a dramatic truth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-drake/as-an-actor-what-i-can-do-is-tell-the-truth-at-least-i-hope-i-can/) [Larry Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-drake/) > [If my son was an actor I would tell him, "Don't let people know as much about you as I let people know about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-rapaport/if-my-son-was-an-actor-i-would-tell-him-don-t-let-people-know-as-much/) [Michael Rapaport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-rapaport/) > [It was the reason why I became an actor - to tell new stories - and I stick to that, which is how I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rana-daggubati/it-was-the-reason-why-i-became-an-actor-to-tell-new-stories-and-i/) [Rana Daggubati](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rana-daggubati/) > [The fundamental job of the actor is to tell about the human condition, to be a voice for the truest ideas and deepest emotions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-grey/the-fundamental-job-of-the-actor-is-to-tell-about-the-human-condition/) [Joel Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-grey/) > [I think any actor will tell you that they always assume they'll never work again, so every job becomes important. But Better Call Saul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-fabian/i-think-any-actor-will-tell-you-that-they-always-assume-they-ll-never/) [Patrick Fabian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-fabian/) > [Any actor will tell you there's more of a schedule to doing a television show. That's why you'll notice a lot of big movie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-marsden/any-actor-will-tell-you-there-s-more-of-a-schedule-to-doing-a/) [Jason Marsden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-marsden/) ## More by Viola Davis > [I look back at pictures of myself and I remember thinking, "I was so fat when I was growing up. I was 165 pounds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-look-back-at-pictures-of-myself-and-i-remember-thinking-i-was-so/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I am not a glam woman - this definitely is a mask I put on for the public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-am-not-a-glam-woman-this-definitely-is-a-mask-i-put-on-for-the/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I was bullied at school. The black girl in Central Falls, Rhode Island, in 1973. There'd be 8 or 10 boys; I would count…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-was-bullied-at-school-the-black-girl-in-central-falls-rhode-island/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [That's why there's so much bad acting out there, because you could see actors watching themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/that-s-why-there-s-so-much-bad-acting-out-there-because-you-could-see/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I want my work to reflect my level of gifts and talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-want-my-work-to-reflect-my-level-of-gifts-and-talent/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I don’t want anyone putting any limits on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-don-t-want-anyone-putting-any-limits-on-me/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [ I think that's why August \[Wilson\] named her Rose \[in "Fences"\]; I really do. She's a rose in her sweetness and her kindness and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-think-that-s-why-august-wilson-named-her-rose-in-fences-i-really-do/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [When you're working as an actor, you don't think that when you get out of school, it's going to be so hard to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/when-you-re-working-as-an-actor-you-don-t-think-that-when-you-get-out/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I suffered from low self-esteem for much of my life. And now to feel like maybe something that I'm projecting or saying could mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-suffered-from-low-self-esteem-for-much-of-my-life-and-now-to-feel/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I tell my daughter every morning, 'Now, what are the two most important parts of you?' And she says, 'My head and my heart.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-tell-my-daughter-every-morning-now-what-are-the-two-most-important/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I started a production company out of necessity, the need for great narratives for actors of color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-started-a-production-company-out-of-necessity-the-need-for-great/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [That's always the biggest surprise when people meet me: how buoyant I am and how fun and light I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/that-s-always-the-biggest-surprise-when-people-meet-me-how-buoyant-i/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [When you're working as an actor, you don't think that when you get out of school, it's going to be so hard to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/when-you-re-working-as-an-actor-you-don-t-think-that-when-you-get-out-2/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [ It was hard, that confrontation scene \[in "Fences"\], that was a hard one. I felt like it was relentless, I never felt like I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/it-was-hard-that-confrontation-scene-in-fences-that-was-a-hard-one-i/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I am addicted to any facial product that's anti-aging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-am-addicted-to-any-facial-product-that-s-anti-aging/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) [Explore all 279 Viola Davis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) ## 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": "Any actor will tell you, as soon as your ego and your vanity come into the mix, it destroys your work. Completely destroys it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Viola Davis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/any-actor-will-tell-you-as-soon-as-your-ego-and-your-vanity-come-into/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/any-actor-will-tell-you-as-soon-as-your-ego-and-your-vanity-come-into/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f87/viola-davis-1174_actor_any-actor-will-tell-you-as-soon-as-your_1115088.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f87/viola-davis-1174_actor_any-actor-will-tell-you-as-soon-as-your_1115088.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f87/viola-davis-1174_actor_any-actor-will-tell-you-as-soon-as-your_1115088.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Any actor will tell you, as soon as your ego and your vanity come into the mix, it destroys your work…” — Viola Davis", "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": "Viola Davis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Any actor will tell you, as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/any-actor-will-tell-you-as-soon-as-your-ego-and-your-vanity-come-into/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/any-actor-will-tell-you-as-soon-as-your-ego-and-your-vanity-come-into/#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 } } ] } ```