Greater Quote by Vivien Leigh
“One is just an interpreter of what the playwright thinks, and therefore the greater the playwright, the more satisfying it is to act in the plays.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Theatre Magazine, 1945
An actor's fulfillment depends on the playwright's depth; greater playwrights provide richer material for performance.
In simple terms: Actors thrive on strong writing.
Key Takeaway
Seek roles with profound scripts.
Themes
acting
interpretation
playwrights
Mood
reflective
appreciative
Type
artistic
professional
When to use this quote
- stage productions
- film adaptations
- rehearsals
- character study
Key Concepts
dramatic depth
creative collaboration
Questions to Reflect On
- How does a playwright's vision shape your performance?
- What makes a script feel satisfying to embody?
A Different Perspective
Even great playwrights may have obscure or dated language that challenges modern actors.
![“An actor and a [theatre] director are both what I would call interpreters of work. We interpret a work, just as a musician will interpret a composer's work, we interpret the work of a playwright. We are servants of the theatre and I've always believed that. We must serve what has been written…” quote by George Ogilvie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7a7/george-ogilvie-34528_actors_an-actor-and-a-theatre-director-are-both_3214543.jpg)
![“I don't like realism. We already know the real facts about li[fe], most of the basic facts. I'm not interested in repeating what we already know. We know about sex, about violence, about murder, about war. All these things, by the time we're 18, we're up to here. From there on we need…” quote by Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/143/ray-bradbury-75_enough_i-don-t-like-realism-we-already-know-the_239875.jpg)
![“I remember once, I read in a horoscope, because I'm an Aries, I read this terrible thing, which really affected me, which said, "You will never be original. You will always be an interpreter." (Laughs) I thought, "Oh my God." You know, I had to live with that on my back for [all my life].” quote by Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/745/andy-serkis-1548_affected_i-remember-once-i-read-in-a-horoscope-be_196174.jpg)
