Harriet Walter Quotes

Powerful Harriet Walter for Daily Growth

About Harriet Walter

Harriet Walter, a prolific British playwright and actress, was born on February 6, 1950, in London, England. Known for her rich and insightful portrayals of complex women, she has significantly contributed to modern theatre and literature. Walter's passion for storytelling emerged early in life, nurtured by a family that valued education and the arts. She attended North London Collegiate School, where her love for drama was fostered. Upon graduation, she pursued her acting career at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, later joining the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC). As an actress, Walter gained widespread acclaim for her performances in renowned productions such as 'Antony and Cleopatra' and 'Hamlet.' Her exceptional talent caught the attention of the industry, leading to roles in films like 'The Lion in Winter,' 'Sense and Sensibility,' and 'The Theory of Everything.' In 1987, Walter made her playwriting debut with 'Blue/Orange,' a powerful exploration of mental health, race, and power dynamics. The play was critically acclaimed, earning numerous awards and recognition for its thought-provoking themes and compelling characters. Following the success of 'Blue/Orange,' Walter continued to write plays that delved into complex societal issues, such as gender politics ('Trelawny of the Wells'), religious extremism ('The Vote'), and the challenges faced by women in the entertainment industry ('In Extremis'). Throughout her career, Harriet Walter has demonstrated a profound ability to capture human emotions and societal struggles on stage. Her work continues to inspire and provoke thought, solidifying her status as one of the most influential playwrights of our time.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"We're not born wise, we're born curious."

The quote underscores that human beings are innately inquisitive, rather than naturally wise. It suggests that our inherent curiosity drives us to explore, learn, and gain wisdom throughout our lives. Wisdom is something acquired, not an innate trait we possess at birth. This perspective encourages a lifelong learning mindset, where individuals actively seek knowledge and understanding in order to grow and improve.


"I don't think there's anything more interesting than the question: who am I?"

This quote by Harriet Walter emphasizes the profound curiosity and introspection inherent in human nature, as we strive to understand our own identity. It suggests that unraveling our personality, passions, strengths, weaknesses, and life's purpose is a captivating journey that each individual embarks upon. This quest for self-discovery serves as the foundation for personal growth, self-awareness, and ultimately, living an authentic and fulfilling life.


"Acting is about truth and emotions, not just about technique."

This quote emphasizes that acting, despite its technical aspects, is primarily a means to convey authentic emotions and truth. It suggests that an actor's main goal should be to create a genuine and moving portrayal of a character, rather than focusing solely on the mastery of techniques for their own sake. In other words, the soul of acting lies in evoking real feelings and uncovering emotional truth within each role, rather than simply delivering polished performances.


"I always find it very difficult to describe how I act because I never really know what I do."

This quote suggests that Harriet Walters finds it challenging to explain her actions or behavior, possibly because she is not fully aware of them herself. It hints at a level of introspection and self-understanding that is not always clear or easily articulated. Her statements imply a self-awareness that is rooted in the unconscious and intuitive rather than conscious and deliberate. This can be a sign of deep, thoughtful individuals who are comfortable with their inner world and may find expressing it to others challenging due to its complexity and subtlety.


"I think a good actor is someone who can make you believe that they're real and human in some way."

This quote emphasizes the importance of authenticity and relatability in acting. A good actor, according to Harriet Walter, is one who can convincingly portray a character as if they were genuine individuals, creating a sense of reality and humanity that resonates with audiences. The key lies in evoking belief and emotional connection from viewers, making them forget that they are watching a performance. This notion highlights the power of acting to transport us into different worlds and experiences, reinforcing the idea that a great actor embodies their characters truthfully and passionately, thereby elevating the art of storytelling.


I came up almost completely through the subsidised theatre. I have never been absolutely at the market interface, where I've got to sell my wares or die - I've always been protected from that.

- Harriet Walter

Die, Through, Always, Interface

My centre of who I thought I was was never very consciously about being beautiful or attractive - I think I'm one of those people who's actually grown into their looks.

- Harriet Walter

Thought, I Think, Very, Centre

I read, I gossip, I do crosswords. I think chatting with friends is relaxing. I've picked them up all through my life - if you live long enough, you end up with quite a large circle.

- Harriet Walter

My Life, Through, I Think, Picked

Romance is about investing in the future - with older people, there is less time for happy ever after.

- Harriet Walter

Happy, Romance, Less Time, Older People

I've been blessed with pretty strong stamina and healthy genes, so I'd call myself sensible. I've had regular mammograms ever since I found a lump in my breast when I was 30. Thankfully, all was well.

- Harriet Walter

Strong, Been, Mammograms, Stamina

Love is different at different stages of your life.

- Harriet Walter

Love, Your, Stages, Love Is

Some people are instantly brilliant. The Kenneth Branaghs of this world are ready-formed actors at 23 - he has used his success in lots of different ways - but there are people out there for whom acting is: 'Ooh, I can get on the telly and be famous.'

- Harriet Walter

Some, Ooh, Different Ways, Kenneth

I'm childish and silly. Most people tease me because I'm a bit daft.

- Harriet Walter

Silly, Most, Daft, Tease

I think I have a deep-seated fear of being misunderstood. Or being misjudged.

- Harriet Walter

Think, I Think, Being, Misunderstood

I'm very aware that after you've played Cleopatra, there's not a lot that can top that in this sphere, so it means that I want to almost change the sphere I work in rather completely because I will always be comparing it to Cleopatra.

- Harriet Walter

Rather, Very, Almost, Sphere

I've been taking lessons in Damehood from Judi Dench. Being a Dame is useful in restaurants, hotels, and restaurants, Judi says, but you have to get someone else to do the booking.

- Harriet Walter

Been, Dench, Booking, Dame

I've witnessed the survival of the theatre several times when it was meant to be dying.

- Harriet Walter

Theatre, Meant, Witnessed, Meant To Be

I yearn to make a really good, intelligent movie before I die: I don't completely rule out the possibility, but in Hollywood, I'm not bankable.

- Harriet Walter

Die, Hollywood, Movie, Possibility

I've found a much better love life in older age.

- Harriet Walter

Love, Better, Found, Love Life

I'm not very good at going to sleep, and that's probably my worst problem. I don't need much more than seven and a half hours, but I probably get six. I take all my problems to bed with me and fret. I can't switch off.

- Harriet Walter

Bed, Very, Half, Switch

I vote, but I don't feel that I'm achieving much when I do.

- Harriet Walter

Achieving, Feel, Much, Vote

My strangest experience was my six words in 'Star Wars.' I've had more fanmail from that than anything I've ever done.

- Harriet Walter

Star, Six, Star Wars, Strangest

I decided I was going to play Cleopatra as someone with a brain. She's kept Egypt, this tiny country, in a balance of power with the almighty Roman empire, and she's done it through force of personality.

- Harriet Walter

Play, Country, Through, Empire

As I have got older, I have become easier on myself. It's about realising things can't be perfect.

- Harriet Walter

Myself, Perfect, About, Realising

Male playwrights, on the whole, are probably more interested in male characters. They need women characters to be the women in their lives or to be the domestic difficulty.

- Harriet Walter

More, Need, Lives, Playwrights

I'm no longer the young woman I was playing before, and I'm in a profession where that continuum that is me is irrelevant to most people - they're meeting me for the first time, seeing me for the first time, and they're seeing an old woman, so that's what I've got to start being.

- Harriet Walter

Woman, Young, Irrelevant, Young Woman

I'm an oversharer but selective about who I share with.

- Harriet Walter

Share, About, Who, Selective

I lived with my mother all my life until she died, and I don't really think I knew her, because I was always using her as my mother, if you know what I mean.

- Harriet Walter

My Life, Think, Always, All My Life

Where does an actress go after playing Cleopatra's magnificent death? Why didn't Shakespeare write more - and more powerful - roles for mature women?

- Harriet Walter

Death, Mature, Actress, Shakespeare

The language is always powerful in Shakespeare, but with 'Antony and Cleopatra,' the speeches are so big and muscular and rich - exhausting to speak, actually.

- Harriet Walter

Big, Always, Muscular, Shakespeare

I've done a lot of Shakespeare over the years. You start to realise how the plays fit together; he's always using pieces from one and slotting them into others.

- Harriet Walter

Always, Over, Using, Shakespeare

Caring less about what people think is a big thing for me.

- Harriet Walter

Caring, Think, Big, Big Thing

Cleopatra was exhausting to play, but also completely exhilarating. She creates her own energy.

- Harriet Walter

Play, She, Exhilarating, Cleopatra

I just like watching people who really are not self-conscious, who aren't aware, because I fear that one could become too self-conscious, too artful, as an actor. Sometimes if you look at somebody, you can extrapolate from their exterior what might be happening in their interior. I'm nosy.

- Harriet Walter

Watching, Sometimes, Exterior

I do think that there are certain parts, if you are lucky enough to play them, that are bigger than you, and they stretch you. I don't think you become a bigger person, but you develop certain muscles you didn't have before.

- Harriet Walter

Play, Think, Lucky, Parts

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