In acting, what does the phrase "chew the scenery" mean? Is it deragot

Question:Yes it would be considered derogatory because "chewing the scenery" means someone is over acting, over emoting, and simply acting to draw attention to themselves as actors, not as the character. The idea is that an actor is in such an unreal frenzy that they appear as if they might start biting chunks out of the set.

Occasionally ( but rarely) someone might use it as almost praise suggesting that an actor is very energetic and active.

Some people say the line was invented by the New York columnist Dorothy Parker in one of her reviews.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Yes it would be considered derogatory because "chewing the scenery" means someone is over acting, over emoting, and simply acting to draw attention to themselves as actors, not as the character. The idea is that an actor is in such an unreal frenzy that they appear as if they might start biting chunks out of the set.

Occasionally ( but rarely) someone might use it as almost praise suggesting that an actor is very energetic and active.

Some people say the line was invented by the New York columnist Dorothy Parker in one of her reviews.

It means to overact

Yes. It essentially means "overacting" -- too "over the top" and not appropriate for the mood and intent of the scene.

Mostly it's an actor thinking that emotion is just shouting or being hysterical or loud without any sense of character or motivation.

yes it means to over act the scene. over the top /