"So many actors have sheer guts, will, and determination; they just need some preparation"
About this Quote
The line also smuggles in Ratzenberger’s own biography. He’s a guy audiences recognize from long-running, tightly produced work (Cheers) and from Pixar’s famously disciplined voice-casting culture. Those worlds reward reliability: hitting marks, taking direction, being funny on command, landing the same emotional beat for take 12. In that context, “preparation” isn’t just memorizing lines; it’s professionalism. It’s showing up with choices, knowing your rhythm, understanding the story you’re serving, and being ready to repeat it without losing freshness.
There’s a democratizing subtext too. Ratzenberger isn’t gatekeeping talent as some mystical spark reserved for the chosen. He’s saying the baseline ingredients are widespread; the differentiator is learnable. That’s both encouraging and quietly merciless: if the problem is preparation, the excuse pool dries up. The quote flatters the dream while reminding you the job is a job - and work is the part that doesn’t get applauded.
Quote Details
| Topic | Motivational |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Ratzenberger, John. (2026, January 15). So many actors have sheer guts, will, and determination; they just need some preparation. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/so-many-actors-have-sheer-guts-will-and-147192/
Chicago Style
Ratzenberger, John. "So many actors have sheer guts, will, and determination; they just need some preparation." FixQuotes. January 15, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/so-many-actors-have-sheer-guts-will-and-147192/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"So many actors have sheer guts, will, and determination; they just need some preparation." FixQuotes, 15 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/so-many-actors-have-sheer-guts-will-and-147192/. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.


