Rory Kinnear Quotes

Powerful Rory Kinnear for Daily Growth

About Rory Kinnear

Rory Kinnear (born October 17, 1978) is an acclaimed English actor who has made significant contributions to both stage and screen performances. Born in Greenwich, London, he grew up in a family with a strong theatrical background – his father was the renowned actor Roy Kinnear, and his sister is the actress Alice Kinnear. Kinnear's interest in acting was sparked during his time at Durham University where he studied English. After graduating, he trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, before making his professional stage debut in 2001. His breakthrough role came in 2003 when he played the title character in "Hamlet" at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield. Kinnear's film career started in 2004 with a small part in "Vanity Fair." However, it was his portrayal of Bill Tanner, the Chief of Staff to M, James Bond's superior, in the James Bond film series from 2006 onwards that brought him international recognition. His stage work has been equally impressive, earning him several Olivier Award nominations. In 2014, he won an Olivier for Best Actor for his performance as Thomas Cromwell in "Wolf Hall." His other notable theatre roles include Richard III in Shakespeare's play of the same name and Macbeth in "Macbeth" at the National Theatre. Kinnear's versatility extends beyond acting, as he has also worked as a voice actor for video games and audiobooks, including his role as Corvo Attano in the game series "Dishonored." Despite his busy career, Kinnear remains humble and grounded. His commitment to his craft and dedication to bringing characters to life on stage and screen make him a respected figure in the world of acting.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The power of words is enormous; they can do a great deal of good or a great deal of harm."

This quote emphasizes that the influence of words can be immense, as they have the potential to either foster positivity or spread negativity. Words, when used effectively, can inspire, heal, educate, and promote understanding. However, when misused, they can cause pain, confusion, and harm. It's a reminder of the importance of responsible communication in our daily interactions and discourse.


"Acting is about empathy, understanding, and making choices."

Rory Kinnear's quote emphasizes that acting is a profound exercise in empathy, emotional intelligence, and decision-making. By empathizing with characters, actors gain an intuitive understanding of their motivations, feelings, and thoughts. This understanding allows them to portray these complexities authentically on screen or stage. The choices they make during the performance reflect the character's actions, dialogue, and overall presence, thereby bringing the character to life for the audience. In essence, acting is a creative exploration of human emotions and behavior through the art of making informed choices guided by empathy and understanding.


"It's always an honor to be part of something that has got a real heart, and I think that's the case with 'Skyfall.'"

This quote by Rory Kinnear emphasizes the importance of being involved in projects that are deeply meaningful and authentic. He suggests that working on a production like "Skyfall," which has a strong emotional core, is not just a professional honor but also a personal one, as it resonates with genuine emotions and values. This sentiment highlights the significance of creativity that comes from the heart, making art more impactful and memorable for both creators and audiences alike.


"I think there's something quite wonderful about working on a project for a long time and then seeing it come together."

This quote expresses the profound sense of fulfillment that comes from investing considerable effort, patience, and dedication into a project over an extended period and eventually witnessing its successful completion. It suggests a deep appreciation for the creative process, emphasizing the transformative power of perseverance and hard work in bringing ideas to fruition.


"The more you can make a character your own and feel comfortable in their skin, the better it is."

This quote by Rory Kinnear emphasizes the importance of immersing oneself completely into a character during acting, to the point where the performer feels at ease and authentic in portraying them. By becoming one with the character, an actor can deliver a more convincing and effective performance, thereby creating a richer and more compelling experience for the audience. This is achieved through understanding the motivations, emotions, and experiences of the character, enabling the actor to connect deeply and bring the character to life on stage or screen.


For a while, I dallied with the idea of the law - I didn't really know what it was, but I thought it sounded sensible. And as a child, I wanted to be a goalkeeper. Or a butcher.

- Rory Kinnear

Law, Thought, Idea, Goalkeeper

The nice thing about doing a weekly record is you're rehearsing all week and working on getting the script better. Come Friday, when it's time to actually film it, you feel like you've done most of the work!

- Rory Kinnear

Doing, Week, About, Friday

There are a lot of actors out there who are able to engage with something in themselves which isn't necessarily their brain. But personally I find it very intellectually satisfying: doing your research and then burrowing as deeply into character as you can. I'm a naturally inquisitive person, too, and acting does feed into that.

- Rory Kinnear

Doing, Very, Your, Satisfying

However democratic and egalitarian we kid ourselves into thinking society might be, I think that sense of entitlement operates as basically and viciously as it always did.

- Rory Kinnear

Think, Always, However, Entitlement

The more rarefied a life you live, the easier it is to think that those who don't share it could be demonised. To find the common humanity becomes more of a struggle the more you surround yourself with nice things.

- Rory Kinnear

Think, More, Could, Struggle

Without being overtly political about it, if people with severe disabilities are calculated in societal terms purely as a monetised unit, in terms of how much they cost in terms of care, you lose an important sense of who they are and the effect they have.

- Rory Kinnear

Political, About, Purely, Societal

If you look at a painting that you love by one of the great masters, every time you go back to it, you see something different - a different attitude or brushstroke. 'Hamlet' is like an entire gallery of old masters.

- Rory Kinnear

Love, Like, Hamlet, Every Time

Because my dad died when I was young, and I have a severely disabled sister, I couldn't really push the envelope at home.

- Rory Kinnear

Young, Died, Dad, Envelope

I'm not a snob... there's room for entertainment that reaches a lot of people and can be really good, but you don't just have to be one kind of actor.

- Rory Kinnear

People, Kind, Entertainment, Snob

When I was 15, I was asked to do 'Cyrano de Bergerac' at school, and it fundamentally changed my life. It's obviously an extraordinarily diverse and potentially electrifying part. It's a big leading part, and I hadn't really played anything like that before; I was the one doing the comedy side bit.

- Rory Kinnear

My Life, Doing, Big, Extraordinarily

Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I hadn't become an actor. If perhaps I'd stayed on at university and become an academic.

- Rory Kinnear

Sometimes, Actor, University, I Wonder

I'm not that bothered about press nights as an actor or, particularly, by what people say about me, because I see myself as a reasonably small cog.

- Rory Kinnear

Myself, Small, Particularly, Reasonably

I'm glad to have shown myself able to do other things rather than people thinking, 'Oh, he'll just do the same as his dad.' Dad was a brilliant actor, but it just so happened he was five foot five and a half, fat and bald.

- Rory Kinnear

Other, Rather, Half, Bald

When I was about 12, I spent the summer writing four plays on my dad's old typewriter for a school play competition. And I wrote little comic bits at secondary school and at university.

- Rory Kinnear

Play, Plays, Dad, Secondary

I love music, and I once thought about doing a choral scholarship, but the people put me off.

- Rory Kinnear

Love, Thought, Doing, Scholarship

Drama aids self-discovery like nothing else. In removing it from our schools, we remove the inestimable benefits of it from our society. No amount of studying oxbow lakes was ever going to help me emotionally through the death of my father.

- Rory Kinnear

Death, Through, Benefits, Lakes

It's quite easy for schisms to develop in societies, in villages, cities or countries.

- Rory Kinnear

Cities, Villages, Quite, Societies

Both Othello and Iago seem a bit cracked. If you spend 15 years being responsible for death and destruction, that sense of suppressed horror is strong.

- Rory Kinnear

Strong, Horror, Othello, Suppressed

I used to go to Sheen High Street with my dad on a Saturday, and there was a butcher next door to the fishmonger. I hated the smell of the fishmonger, but I found the smell of the butcher's much more appealing. And I liked the big knives. I thought it looked like a decent job.

- Rory Kinnear

Door, Big, Next, Knives

If you lose a parent, no matter at what age, every five or 10 years you have a different way of missing them and a different way of getting on with your life.

- Rory Kinnear

Parent, Lose, Different Way, Missing

When you're 15, you're not really talking about the vicissitudes of fate and failed love and poetry and swordfighting - not a lot is necessarily touching on your own personal experience.

- Rory Kinnear

Love, Fate, Touching, Personal Experience

Had my dad not been short and fat and balding, there's no doubt his career would have been very different. But he could do lots of stuff and made a very good career out of it. He had an incredible work ethic because he lost his father when he was very young, and the family had to pull together.

- Rory Kinnear

Career, Been, Very, Ethic

I sort of understand why there is a brotherhood of Hamlets. It's a nice part of acting; you do get to be part of gangs.

- Rory Kinnear

Understand, Why, Part, Gangs

I think having a dispassionate eye is a good way of making art. When you don't know the structures of a place, you are unencumbered.

- Rory Kinnear

Art, Think, Making, Structures

I always loved acting - though what I did in my teens was probably more eclat than elan. But I wasn't sure about doing it professionally.

- Rory Kinnear

Doing, Always, Sure, Professionally

In some ways, I've been left with this great 'idolic' image of my father, but there's a sense of absence, too. You miss his advice and, also, his getting to know the person I have become.

- Rory Kinnear

Some, Absence, Been, Miss

Having gone to a public school, I thought I knew about posh people. But I didn't know anything until I went to Oxford.

- Rory Kinnear

Thought, Posh, Having, Oxford

I get antsy if a year goes by without doing a play. I don't go to the gym, so this is my way of trying to live longer.

- Rory Kinnear

Play, Doing, Year, Gym

The truth is that from the age of 14, I felt about 40, and for that reason, I felt that I would never succeed as an actor until my looks caught up with my actual age.

- Rory Kinnear

Reason, Caught, Actual, Truth Is

I'd not really ever expected to play anything like 'Hamlet.' I hadn't seen myself as a natural Hamlet, whatever a natural Hamlet is, and I quickly realised there is no such thing.

- Rory Kinnear

Play, Natural, Realised, Hamlet

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