"I don't call myself an artist. I act. That's what I do"
About this Quote
The subtext is a critique of how the word "artist" gets used as social currency. In Hollywood and adjacent spaces, "artist" can imply depth, virtue, suffering, even exemption from ordinary accountability. Strus strips that away and keeps the contract simple: judge me by the craft, not by the aura. It's also a subtle defense against the flattening of public persona. An "artist" is expected to have a brandable inner life. An actor can be private, plural, and professionally compartmentalized.
Context matters: actors are routinely asked to explain themselves in grand terms, especially in press cycles that turn process into content. Strus's phrasing resists that commodification. The rhythm helps, too. The blunt, declarative cadence mirrors rehearsal-room discipline: no mysticism, no mission statement, just an action repeated until it's true. In a moment when everyone is supposed to be a visionary, she makes a case for being a worker.
Quote Details
| Topic | Movie |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
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Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Strus, Lusia. (2026, January 16). I don't call myself an artist. I act. That's what I do. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-dont-call-myself-an-artist-i-act-thats-what-i-do-87310/
Chicago Style
Strus, Lusia. "I don't call myself an artist. I act. That's what I do." FixQuotes. January 16, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-dont-call-myself-an-artist-i-act-thats-what-i-do-87310/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"I don't call myself an artist. I act. That's what I do." FixQuotes, 16 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-dont-call-myself-an-artist-i-act-thats-what-i-do-87310/. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.








