--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The actor's role in the community is…" description: "\"The actor's role in the community is quite unlike anyone else's. Businessmen, for example, don't take their clothes off or cry in front of strangers in..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/858/wallace-shawn-7437_actor_the-actor-s-role-in-the-community-is-qui_159295.jpg" --- # The actor's role in the community is quite unlike anyone… ![“The actor's role in the community is quite unlike anyone else's. Businessmen, for example, don't take their clothes off or cry in front of strangers in the course of their work. Actors do.” quote by Wallace Shawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/858/wallace-shawn-7437_actor_the-actor-s-role-in-the-community-is-qui_159295.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/858/wallace-shawn-7437_actor_the-actor-s-role-in-the-community-is-qui_159295.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/858/wallace-shawn-7437_actor_the-actor-s-role-in-the-community-is-qui_159295.jpg) > “The actor's role in the community is quite unlike anyone else's. Businessmen, for example, don't take their clothes off or cry in front of strangers in the course of their work. Actors do.” [Wallace Shawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-shawn/) ## 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 unique vulnerability and emotional exposure actors bring to public life, unlike most professions. **In simple terms:** Actors show emotions publicly, unlike most jobs. Key Takeaway Recognize the courage in emotional openness. Themes vulnerability performance human connection Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - theater work - public speaking - community events - teaching Key Concepts emotional labor public authenticity role immersion Questions to Reflect On - How does vulnerability affect audience trust? - When is emotional exposure appropriate? A Different Perspective Not all audiences appreciate raw emotional displays. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Businessman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/businessman/) [Businessmen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/businessmen/) [Clothes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clothes/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Cry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cry/) [Stranger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stranger/) [Strangers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strangers/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [Koizumi was not rooted in Japan's rightwing nationalist tradition: he was a pragmatist and a populist. Abe, in contrast, is a rightwing nationalist. Unlike…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-jacques/koizumi-was-not-rooted-in-japan-s-rightwing-nationalist-tradition-he/) [Martin Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-jacques/) > [John Dos Passos, Raymond Carver, Flaubert and William Maxwell were all very influential when I first started writing. Now, the writers I'm most interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-dee/john-dos-passos-raymond-carver-flaubert-and-william-maxwell-were-all/) [Jonathan Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-dee/) > [As an actor, one's role is very much to respond and react to the situation within the context of the character and his world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-bhabha/as-an-actor-one-s-role-is-very-much-to-respond-and-react-to-the/) [Satya Bhabha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-bhabha/) > [The part I like best was my role in 'Blood and Sand.' If I had died, I would have liked to be remembered as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolph-valentino/the-part-i-like-best-was-my-role-in-blood-and-sand-if-i-had-died-i/) [Rudolph Valentino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolph-valentino/) > [If I see an actor in a role that is really terrifying, no matter how many times I meet him socially, I'm still frightened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/if-i-see-an-actor-in-a-role-that-is-really-terrifying-no-matter-how/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [As an actor, I would call it a role where you get to stretch out a bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-otto/as-an-actor-i-would-call-it-a-role-where-you-get-to-stretch-out-a-bit/) [Miranda Otto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-otto/) > [The bad thing about being with an actor is that the role he's in stays with him all the time. The good thing about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-field/the-bad-thing-about-being-with-an-actor-is-that-the-role-he-s-in/) [Sally Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-field/) > [Acting is characterization, the process of two entities merging-the actor and the role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-scott/acting-is-characterization-the-process-of-two-entities-merging-the/) [George C. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-scott/) > [I'm not a critic. I'm an actor. I see the role I get given on the page. I try to bring it to life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-jones/i-m-not-a-critic-i-m-an-actor-i-see-the-role-i-get-given-on-the-page/) [Finn Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-jones/) > [For an actor to have a role that they're recognized and remembered for over the years, it's unusual. It's very lucky if it happens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-armstrong/for-an-actor-to-have-a-role-that-they-re-recognized-and-remembered/) [Curtis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-armstrong/) > [“They were ready to sell people a future in exchange for their past... They wanted to compel him to cast his life away and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/they-were-ready-to-sell-people-a-future-in-exchange-for-their-past/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [But, as an actor, the role that I enjoyed, in terms of really understanding and appreciating this profession, was Anoop Singh's 'Qissa'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rasika-dugal/but-as-an-actor-the-role-that-i-enjoyed-in-terms-of-really/) [Rasika Dugal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rasika-dugal/) > [I started taping my dad's auditions when I was 11, when he was auditioning actors for one of his movies. I would see, over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-dallas-howard/i-started-taping-my-dad-s-auditions-when-i-was-11-when-he-was/) [Bryce Dallas Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-dallas-howard/) > [We have a long way to go in the world in all industries. If I'm in the situation where I have equal experience to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-chastain/we-have-a-long-way-to-go-in-the-world-in-all-industries-if-i-m-in-the/) [Jessica Chastain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-chastain/) > [I am a very versatile actor and can do any role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prachi-desai/i-am-a-very-versatile-actor-and-can-do-any-role/) [Prachi Desai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prachi-desai/) ## More by Wallace Shawn > [Acting is an escape from the boring person that I am in real life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-shawn/acting-is-an-escape-from-the-boring-person-that-i-am-in-real-life/) [Wallace Shawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-shawn/) > [You can go to a play that is enjoyable because it's funny, and then on the next night you can go to a play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-shawn/you-can-go-to-a-play-that-is-enjoyable-because-it-s-funny-and-then-on/) [Wallace Shawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-shawn/) > [From being a writer of plays, it was not that surprising that somebody thought of giving me a job as an actor. After I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-shawn/from-being-a-writer-of-plays-it-was-not-that-surprising-that-somebody/) [Wallace Shawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-shawn/) > [I have more free time than a lot of individuals, so, instead of talking, I sometimes write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-shawn/i-have-more-free-time-than-a-lot-of-individuals-so-instead-of-talking/) [Wallace Shawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-shawn/) > [My personal life is lived as 'me,' but my professional life is lived as other people. In other words, when I go to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-shawn/my-personal-life-is-lived-as-me-but-my-professional-life-is-lived-as/) [Wallace Shawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-shawn/) > [There's nothing regular about my life at all, really. I don't keep a regular schedule and every day is different. It's all rather chaotic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-shawn/there-s-nothing-regular-about-my-life-at-all-really-i-don-t-keep-a/) [Wallace Shawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-shawn/) > [I am recognized a lot for 'Clueless,' but I am recognized a great deal for 'The Princess Bride.' I don't know... maybe everybody who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-shawn/i-am-recognized-a-lot-for-clueless-but-i-am-recognized-a-great-deal/) [Wallace Shawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-shawn/) > [Sleep: a poor substitute for caffeine!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-shawn/sleep-a-poor-substitute-for-caffeine/) [Wallace Shawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-shawn/) > [I'm a very lucky man. It's a beautiful thing for a writer, to see people allowing your words to enter their own unconscious and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-shawn/i-m-a-very-lucky-man-it-s-a-beautiful-thing-for-a-writer-to-see/) [Wallace Shawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-shawn/) > [And my singing, I don't think I could sing Wagner or opera, but I could probably carry a tune. I was in a musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-shawn/and-my-singing-i-don-t-think-i-could-sing-wagner-or-opera-but-i-could/) [Wallace Shawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-shawn/) > [I think I'm trying to write truthfully about life, and naturalism, or the way people normally talk in movies, is a convention. It's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-shawn/i-think-i-m-trying-to-write-truthfully-about-life-and-naturalism-or/) [Wallace Shawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-shawn/) > [I'm trying to write truthfully about life, and naturalism, or the way people normally talk in movies, is a convention. The way I write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-shawn/i-m-trying-to-write-truthfully-about-life-and-naturalism-or-the-way/) [Wallace Shawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-shawn/) > [When I was first starting to write plays, I quite literally had never heard of the idea of studying playwriting. I wouldn't have studied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-shawn/when-i-was-first-starting-to-write-plays-i-quite-literally-had-never/) [Wallace Shawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-shawn/) > [When I was a child, I did always feel that people were hiding things, and that they weren't expressing their true feelings. When adults…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-shawn/when-i-was-a-child-i-did-always-feel-that-people-were-hiding-things/) [Wallace Shawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-shawn/) > [Even with my wife, I find sharing soup is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-shawn/even-with-my-wife-i-find-sharing-soup-is-hard/) [Wallace Shawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-shawn/) [Explore all 91 Wallace Shawn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-shawn/) ## 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! 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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": "The actor's role in the community is quite unlike anyone else's. Businessmen, for example, don't take their clothes off or cry in front of strangers in the course of their work. 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