--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you know what it is before you even…" description: "\"If you know what it is before you even start, it's not as interesting. Central to being an actor is pretending, and the adventure of it all. That's why..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08f/willem-dafoe-4486_actor_if-you-know-what-it-is-before-you-even-s_2953904.jpg" --- # If you know what it is before you even start, it's not as… ![“If you know what it is before you even start, it's not as interesting. Central to being an actor is pretending, and the adventure of it all. That's why you become a junkie for different kinds of situations. I try to attach myself to people who really inspire me, and directors who are really…” quote by Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08f/willem-dafoe-4486_actor_if-you-know-what-it-is-before-you-even-s_2953904.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08f/willem-dafoe-4486_actor_if-you-know-what-it-is-before-you-even-s_2953904.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08f/willem-dafoe-4486_actor_if-you-know-what-it-is-before-you-even-s_2953904.jpg) > “If you know what it is before you even start, it's not as interesting. Central to being an actor is pretending, and the adventure of it all. That's why you become a junkie for different kinds of situations. I try to attach myself to people who really inspire me, and directors who are really passionate. That way, I can give myself more fully and trust the impulse behind why the film is being made, and I can be a little more irresponsible in finding out what the character is. I have to worry less about what the character means if I trust the director.” [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An actor thrives on uncertainty, inspiration, and trusting the director, allowing freedom to explore character beyond strict analysis. **In simple terms:** Freedom in acting through trust. Key Takeaway Trust the director. Themes acting inspiration trust improvisation Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical creative When to use this quote - theatre - film set - collaboration - personal growth Key Concepts method acting creative risk Questions to Reflect On - How does trust shape performance? - What risks come from being “irresponsible”? A Different Perspective Over-reliance on director may limit personal interpretation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actor Pretending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-pretending-497106/) [Adventure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventure/) [Central Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/central-actor-4031236/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Different kinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-kinds/) [Directors Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors-really-979336/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Impulse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impulse/) [Inspire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspire/) [Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting/) [Junkie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/junkie/) [Junkie Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/junkie-different-1806431/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Passionate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passionate/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Pretending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretending/) [Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situation/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/) [Worry less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry-less/) ## Related quotes > [Central to being an actor is pretending, and the adventure of it all. That's why you become a junkie for different kinds of situations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/central-to-being-an-actor-is-pretending-and-the-adventure-of-it-all/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [The child has a primary need to be regarded and respected as the person he really is at any given time, and as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/the-child-has-a-primary-need-to-be-regarded-and-respected-as-the/) [Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/) > [I try to attach myself to people who really inspire me, and directors who are really passionate. That way, I can give myself more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/i-try-to-attach-myself-to-people-who-really-inspire-me-and-directors/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [When you get many opportunities early on, and you have people who have been working for a while counting on you, you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-crudup/when-you-get-many-opportunities-early-on-and-you-have-people-who-have/) [Billy Crudup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-crudup/) > [You're literally being an actor - you're pretending - and that's not what I like to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-stewart/you-re-literally-being-an-actor-you-re-pretending-and-that-s-not-what/) [Kristen Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-stewart/) > [A magician is only an actor - an actor pretending to be a magician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-houdini/a-magician-is-only-an-actor-an-actor-pretending-to-be-a-magician/) [Harry Houdini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-houdini/) > [Being singer is different than being an actor, where you call up sources from your own experience that you can apply to whatever Shakespeare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/being-singer-is-different-than-being-an-actor-where-you-call-up/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Some of us are interested in directors, but really the vast majority of us are interested in actors. You experience the films through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-boyle/some-of-us-are-interested-in-directors-but-really-the-vast-majority/) [Danny Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-boyle/) > [ J.C. \[Chandor\] was the kind of energy we were looking for, so we decided to get behind it with all of our effort. That… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/j-c-chandor-was-the-kind-of-energy-we-were-looking-for-so-we-decided/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [When you work with directors who really love actors, who love their contribution, it feels amazing. But sometimes when you work with directors, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-negga/when-you-work-with-directors-who-really-love-actors-who-love-their/) [Ruth Negga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-negga/) > [I would love to just keep working with really great directors who really inspire me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-bomer/i-would-love-to-just-keep-working-with-really-great-directors-who/) [Matt Bomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-bomer/) > [Television in America is so elaborate. There are so many remote cranes, and they have all the toys to play with. The directors are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franka-potente/television-in-america-is-so-elaborate-there-are-so-many-remote-cranes/) [Franka Potente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franka-potente/) > [For 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona,' for example, Woody Allen is one of the greatest American directors, and we really had a very good working relationship.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-cruz/for-vicky-cristina-barcelona-for-example-woody-allen-is-one-of-the/) [Penelope Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-cruz/) > [Female directors really do need to support each other. Too many times I've been led to believe that my direct competition was other women,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-phang/female-directors-really-do-need-to-support-each-other-too-many-times/) [Jennifer Phang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-phang/) > [There's a bunch of directors that I really admire, and Australian ones as well. It would be nice to do a film at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-wasikowska/there-s-a-bunch-of-directors-that-i-really-admire-and-australian-ones/) [Mia Wasikowska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-wasikowska/) ## More by Willem Dafoe > [I was doing community theater, and I was always interested in acting, but I was also interested in sports. I was interested in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/i-was-doing-community-theater-and-i-was-always-interested-in-acting/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [I knew very little about 'Spider-Man'. I grew up more in the 'Superman' generation. 'Spider-Man' - I didn't know so much. But it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/i-knew-very-little-about-spider-man-i-grew-up-more-in-the-superman/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [When you have something to work with, then you fly with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/when-you-have-something-to-work-with-then-you-fly-with-it/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [When I was a kid I was very interested in the idea of the will, finding out what you're capable of. I liked those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/when-i-was-a-kid-i-was-very-interested-in-the-idea-of-the-will/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [Film is an editor's medium. You can create very good raw material and they can make it horrible, or you can do not so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/film-is-an-editor-s-medium-you-can-create-very-good-raw-material-and/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [I'm more interested in talking about what I do. And I don't think people are interested in my personal life. I've never had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/i-m-more-interested-in-talking-about-what-i-do-and-i-don-t-think/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [ Mounting those red stairs \[in Cannes\] is something I've done with a very different intention many times. So it's interesting any time you witness… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/mounting-those-red-stairs-in-cannes-is-something-i-ve-done-with-a/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [In films you do a scene, you play around with it and unless you're doing a lot of reshooting, which no one has the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/in-films-you-do-a-scene-you-play-around-with-it-and-unless-you-re/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [For every role, you have to always find a different way to approach it, one that's specific and suits what the key is. Every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/for-every-role-you-have-to-always-find-a-different-way-to-approach-it/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [Celebrity is okay as long as you know it's not about you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/celebrity-is-okay-as-long-as-you-know-it-s-not-about-you/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [All the time, as an actor, you want to be asking what's next and where things are going. If you're not asking those questions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/all-the-time-as-an-actor-you-want-to-be-asking-what-s-next-and-where/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [I'm learning in my old age that the only thing you can do to keep your sanity is to stay in the moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/i-m-learning-in-my-old-age-that-the-only-thing-you-can-do-to-keep/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [I was watching 'Wild at Heart,' and I can honestly say I did nothing for that apart from show up!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/i-was-watching-wild-at-heart-and-i-can-honestly-say-i-did-nothing-for/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [Truth is, generally I like film festivals; somewhere at some level there's an exchange of ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/truth-is-generally-i-like-film-festivals-somewhere-at-some-level/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [I don't think people are interested in my personal life. I've never had a Hollywood life. I've always been a worker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/i-don-t-think-people-are-interested-in-my-personal-life-i-ve-never/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) [Explore all 110 Willem Dafoe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) ## 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": "If you know what it is before you even start, it's not as interesting. Central to being an actor is pretending, and the adventure of it all. That's why you become a junkie for different kinds of situations. I try to attach myself to people who really inspire me, and directors who are really passionate. 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