Acting is the work of an actor or actress, which is a person in theatre, television, film, or any other storytelling medium who tells the story by portraying a character and, usually, speaking or singing the written text or play.

Quotes on Acting.

Arranged alphabetically by author.

• For an actress to be a success she must have the face of Venus, the brains of Minerva, the grace of Terpsichore, the memory of Macaulay, the figure of Juno, and the hide of a rhinoceros.
  • Ethel Barrymore quoted in George Jean Nathan's The Theatre in the fifties

• ACTOR: A professional exhibitionist who manufactures emotions in a manner convincing enough to earn a living, generally by reciting the daily specials to restaurant patrons.
  • Rick Bayan, The Cynic's Dictionary

• It's not whether you really cry. It's whether the audience thinks you are crying.
  • Ingrid Bergman, Halliwell's Filmgoer's and Video Viewer's Companion

• For the theatre one needs long arms; it is better to have them too long than too short. An artiste with short arms can never, never make a fine gesture.
  • Sarah Bernhardt, Memories of My Life, Ch. 6

• An actor's a guy, who if you ain't talking about him, ain't listening.
  • Marlon Brando, The Observer (1956)

• Acting is the expression of a neurotic impulse. It's a bum's life. Quitting acting, that's the sign of maturity.
  • Marlon Brando, Halliwell's Filmgoer's and Video Viewer's Companion

• Acting is the least mysterious of all crafts. Whenever we want something from somebody or when we want to hide something or pretend, we're acting. Most people do it all day long.
  • Marlon Brando, as quoted in The New York Times (2 July 2004)

• To grasp the full significance of life is the actor's duty, to interpret it is his problem, and to express it his dedication.
  • Marlon Brando

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Mon Jul 6 19:05:00 2009