--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An actor that tells you that they have…" description: "\"An actor that tells you that they have real choices between material is, for the most part, lying. There are very few people that have opportunities. B..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/163/walton-goggins-13029_actor_an-actor-that-tells-you-that-they-have-r_692821.jpg" --- # An actor that tells you that they have real choices… ![“An actor that tells you that they have real choices between material is, for the most part, lying. There are very few people that have opportunities. But what you do have where I am in my career, is saying no to the things that seem repetitious. For me, I always look for material that allows me to…” quote by Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/163/walton-goggins-13029_actor_an-actor-that-tells-you-that-they-have-r_692821.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/163/walton-goggins-13029_actor_an-actor-that-tells-you-that-they-have-r_692821.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/163/walton-goggins-13029_actor_an-actor-that-tells-you-that-they-have-r_692821.jpg) > “An actor that tells you that they have real choices between material is, for the most part, lying. There are very few people that have opportunities. But what you do have where I am in my career, is saying no to the things that seem repetitious. For me, I always look for material that allows me to bring my worldview to it. And those opportunities, since the beginning of The Shield, have grown exponentially.” [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Actors often claim they have many options, but true choice is limited; saying no to repetitive work lets them pursue meaningful projects that reflect their worldview, leading to growth. **In simple terms:** Actors have limited choices; rejecting repetitive roles opens meaningful opportunities. Key Takeaway Reject repetitive work to pursue meaningful roles. Themes career choice authenticity growth Mood reflective determined optimistic Type advice career philosophical When to use this quote - audition decisions - script selection - career planning - personal branding Key Concepts agency artistic integrity career strategy Questions to Reflect On - How can you identify roles that align with your worldview? - What risks arise from repeatedly saying no? A Different Perspective Opportunities may still be constrained by industry realities and typecasting. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Worldview](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worldview/) ## Related quotes > [I don't really have choices in the material I get. So I have to make the choices in the way I play the characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-dornan/i-don-t-really-have-choices-in-the-material-i-get-so-i-have-to-make/) [Jamie Dornan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-dornan/) > [I built my career more by saying no than saying yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mirella-freni/i-built-my-career-more-by-saying-no-than-saying-yes/) [Mirella Freni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mirella-freni/) > [I get to do my own thing with music. I get to write the songs and sing the songs. As an actor, you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/i-get-to-do-my-own-thing-with-music-i-get-to-write-the-songs-and-sing/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) > [I like approbation. Any actor who tells you they don't is lying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/i-like-approbation-any-actor-who-tells-you-they-don-t-is-lying/) [Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/) > [Any actor who tells you that they have become the people they play, unless they’re clearly diagnosed as a schizophrenic, is bullshitting you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-oldman/any-actor-who-tells-you-that-they-have-become-the-people-they-play/) [Gary Oldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-oldman/) > [Going after a part in Hollywood is like being a gladiator in ancient Rome. When it comes down to getting a role, you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-rhys-meyers/going-after-a-part-in-hollywood-is-like-being-a-gladiator-in-ancient/) [Jonathan Rhys Meyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-rhys-meyers/) > [There's something about getting onstage in a play where the actor tells the story, beginning, middle, and end, the way they want to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-lowes/there-s-something-about-getting-onstage-in-a-play-where-the-actor/) [Katie Lowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-lowes/) > [Any actor who tells you that he makes choices, absolutely, is wrong. You find work and work finds you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/any-actor-who-tells-you-that-he-makes-choices-absolutely-is-wrong-you/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [It's about something that I'm extremely passionate about: exploring other cultures, how Americans are perceived by other cultures and how we perceive other cultures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/it-s-about-something-that-i-m-extremely-passionate-about-exploring/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [I wish we had a more open discourse. It's just a shame that with our 24-hour news media and the Internet, people have become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-james/i-wish-we-had-a-more-open-discourse-it-s-just-a-shame-that-with-our/) [Jim James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-james/) > [“The Myth of Sisyphus makes us wonder if we too are like the ones who are so distracted making friends with important people, staying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-morrison/the-myth-of-sisyphus-makes-us-wonder-if-we-too-are-like-the-ones-who/) [Jon Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-morrison/) > [We talk a lot about how abortion is a medical procedure, but actually if you look at what the other side is doing, they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-northup/we-talk-a-lot-about-how-abortion-is-a-medical-procedure-but-actually/) [Nancy Northup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-northup/) > [I would say most comedians have a very cynical worldview of the way the world can work. It's almost like if you didn't, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-quinn/i-would-say-most-comedians-have-a-very-cynical-worldview-of-the-way/) [Colin Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-quinn/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) ## More by Walton Goggins > [ Quentin \[Taranino\] will say, "We've got it, but we're gonna do it one more time. Why?" And then, the entire cast and crew chimes… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/quentin-taranino-will-say-we-ve-got-it-but-we-re-gonna-do-it-one-more/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [If you ever get the opportunity to work with Quentin Tarantino, you had better believe that it will be an experience of extremes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/if-you-ever-get-the-opportunity-to-work-with-quentin-tarantino-you/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [Success in TV-showmaking is just a matter of being authentic and doing the best you can, and you hope that people watch it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/success-in-tv-showmaking-is-just-a-matter-of-being-authentic-and/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [T I was doing Predators, this new movie for FOX simultaneously, and this character that I play in the movie is "Walter Stands," and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/t-i-was-doing-predators-this-new-movie-for-fox-simultaneously-and/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [Unfortunately, when you're the king of the hill, there's really only one way to go, and that's down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/unfortunately-when-you-re-the-king-of-the-hill-there-s-really-only/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [Like everybody, I've had a lot of pain in my life and I'm a work in progress. You must have a true desire to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/like-everybody-i-ve-had-a-lot-of-pain-in-my-life-and-i-m-a-work-in/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [No, but there are people I grew up with from the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains that would give any person on 'Justified'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/no-but-there-are-people-i-grew-up-with-from-the-foothills-of-the-blue/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [You can go to a history class with one teacher and want to stick a pencil in your throat, and then go to another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/you-can-go-to-a-history-class-with-one-teacher-and-want-to-stick-a/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [I aimlessly travel, meaning I have no agenda other than to get small in the world, be quiet and observe people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/i-aimlessly-travel-meaning-i-have-no-agenda-other-than-to-get-small/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [I think I've made a career out of making despicable people likable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/i-think-i-ve-made-a-career-out-of-making-despicable-people-likable/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [I find that I have no problem getting a table at a restaurant when I walk in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/i-find-that-i-have-no-problem-getting-a-table-at-a-restaurant-when-i/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [I'm drawn to villains that are three-dimensional and raw and that I can kind of see in my own life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/i-m-drawn-to-villains-that-are-three-dimensional-and-raw-and-that-i/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [We want to see ourselves reflected in our heroes. Unfortunately most of us don't look like Arnold Schwarzenegger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/we-want-to-see-ourselves-reflected-in-our-heroes-unfortunately-most/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [But probably my favorite music, believe it or not, is sad music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/but-probably-my-favorite-music-believe-it-or-not-is-sad-music/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [Sadly, in this country - maybe this is in the history of the world, really - it's the urban experience versus the bucolic experience.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/sadly-in-this-country-maybe-this-is-in-the-history-of-the-world/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) [Explore all 52 Walton Goggins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) ## 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": "An actor that tells you that they have real choices between material is, for the most part, lying. There are very few people that have opportunities. But what you do have where I am in my career, is saying no to the things that seem repetitious. For me, I always look for material that allows me to bring my worldview to it. And those opportunities, since the beginning of The Shield, have grown exponentially.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Walton Goggins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/an-actor-that-tells-you-that-they-have-real-choices-between-material/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/an-actor-that-tells-you-that-they-have-real-choices-between-material/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/163/walton-goggins-13029_actor_an-actor-that-tells-you-that-they-have-r_692821.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/163/walton-goggins-13029_actor_an-actor-that-tells-you-that-they-have-r_692821.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/163/walton-goggins-13029_actor_an-actor-that-tells-you-that-they-have-r_692821.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“An actor that tells you that they have real choices between material is, for the most part, lying. There are…” — Walton Goggins", "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": "Walton Goggins", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "An actor that tells you that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/an-actor-that-tells-you-that-they-have-real-choices-between-material/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/an-actor-that-tells-you-that-they-have-real-choices-between-material/#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 } } ] } ```