"I can remember when nobody believed an actor and didn't care what he believed"

Lionel Barrymore's quote, "I can remember when nobody believed an actor and didn't care what he believed", shows a historic point of view on the role of stars and public perception of their opinions and personal beliefs. To interpret this quote even more, it's essential to think about the social and cultural context in which Barrymore, a prominent actor from the early to mid-20th century, was speaking.

Barrymore's declaration highlights a time when stars were mostly seen as performers, whose primary function was to carry out and embody characters on phase or screen, rather than public figures whose opinions might influence social views or politics. During that era, the craft of acting was typically viewed as a simple façade, with actors viewed as impersonators instead of genuine influencers or thinkers. Audiences were mostly thinking about the characters stars depicted instead of their personal convictions or insights.

The expression "no one thought a star" suggests a suspicion or dismissiveness toward stars' insights and reliability outside their performative functions. This viewpoint indicates that society didn't anticipate or worth actors' voices on personal, political, or social problems. The latter part, "didn't care what he believed", reinforces the idea that actors' individual beliefs were considered unimportant to their expert contributions.

On the other hand, today, actors typically hold substantial public impact, with platforms that enable them to share personal beliefs and supporter for social causes. The contemporary audience regularly takes note of celebs' positions on concerns, valuing their viewpoints and using them to help form public discourse.

Barrymore's quote hence welcomes reflection on the progressing role of actors in society, from mere entertainers to influential public figures. It highlights a shift in how we perceive the intersection of performance, personal belief, and public impact, exposing more comprehensive cultural modifications in the relationship in between celebrity and authority.