--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think most people understand…" description: "\"I don't think most people understand acting, even the people who call themselves savvy, even actors.\" — Viola Davis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51d/viola-davis-1174_acting_i-don-t-think-most-people-understand-act_3171514.png" --- # I don't think most people understand acting, even the… ![“I don't think most people understand acting, even the people who call themselves savvy, even actors.” quote by Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51d/viola-davis-1174_acting_i-don-t-think-most-people-understand-act_3171514.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51d/viola-davis-1174_acting_i-don-t-think-most-people-understand-act_3171514.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51d/viola-davis-1174_acting_i-don-t-think-most-people-understand-act_3171514.png) > “I don't think most people understand acting, even the people who call themselves savvy, even actors.” [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. Many people, including self‑proclaimed experts and actors, misunderstand the craft of acting. **In simple terms:** People often misjudge acting. Key Takeaway Seek deeper understanding of the craft. Themes acting misunderstanding expertise Mood reflective critical Type observational analytical When to use this quote - theatre workshops - casting decisions - director‑actor communication - audition preparation Key Concepts craft perception authenticity Questions to Reflect On - How does personal experience shape your view of acting? - What assumptions limit your appreciation of the craft? A Different Perspective Even knowledgeable observers can hold biased views. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I still have a lot of faith that there's very few people who are savvy enough to actually produce a good sounding copy of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-tweedy/i-still-have-a-lot-of-faith-that-there-s-very-few-people-who-are/) [Jeff Tweedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-tweedy/) > [I think people are more savvy about cooking, food and dining. I notice they are looking for more value for their money - not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-cora/i-think-people-are-more-savvy-about-cooking-food-and-dining-i-notice/) [Cat Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-cora/) > [Most actors don't understand acting. I think it's an art form that craft is out the window. I don't think people get it at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/most-actors-don-t-understand-acting-i-think-it-s-an-art-form-that/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [The music industry is something that I'm still trying to understand. With acting, I've been doing it for so long that I understand every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keke-palmer/the-music-industry-is-something-that-i-m-still-trying-to-understand/) [Keke Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keke-palmer/) > [I understand acting and I understand actors. I don't really understand the world of celebrity. That's just bizarre. Those sorts of elements I'm at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-neill/i-understand-acting-and-i-understand-actors-i-don-t-really-understand/) [Sam Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-neill/) > [I think acting really helps as a director. It's just no question, because you totally understand the acting process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/i-think-acting-really-helps-as-a-director-it-s-just-no-question/) [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) > [I always used to pretend to be different characters - cowboys, that sort of thing. I used to think that the Indians lived over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneurin-barnard/i-always-used-to-pretend-to-be-different-characters-cowboys-that-sort/) [Aneurin Barnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aneurin-barnard/) > [I can't even tell anyone how it feels when I'm acting, I don't mean to say that I don't have to try. 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People don't need to be hit on the head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-owen/i-think-there-is-a-lot-of-overexplaining-both-in-writing-and-acting/) [Clive Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-owen/) > [If you look up the definition of stand-up comedy, it's funny on purpose. A little bit of pressure there. It's basically acting. You're telling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltrip/if-you-look-up-the-definition-of-stand-up-comedy-it-s-funny-on/) [Michael Waltrip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltrip/) > [The less you associate with some people, the more your life will improve. Any time you tolerate mediocrity in others, it increases your mediocrity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/the-less-you-associate-with-some-people-the-more-your-life-will/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [I was painfully shy as a child; I was dyslexic. I had a single mother who's an immigrant. I just didn't believe acting was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaya-scodelario/i-was-painfully-shy-as-a-child-i-was-dyslexic-i-had-a-single-mother/) [Kaya Scodelario](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaya-scodelario/) > [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/) ## 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 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. 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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": "I don't think most people understand acting, even the people who call themselves savvy, even actors.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Viola Davis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-don-t-think-most-people-understand-acting-even-the-people-who-call/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-don-t-think-most-people-understand-acting-even-the-people-who-call/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51d/viola-davis-1174_acting_i-don-t-think-most-people-understand-act_3171514.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51d/viola-davis-1174_acting_i-don-t-think-most-people-understand-act_3171514.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51d/viola-davis-1174_acting_i-don-t-think-most-people-understand-act_3171514.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't think most people understand acting, even the people who call themselves savvy, even actors.” — 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": "I don't think most people understand...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-don-t-think-most-people-understand-acting-even-the-people-who-call/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-don-t-think-most-people-understand-acting-even-the-people-who-call/#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 } } ] } ```