---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I really liked the idea of playing that…"
description: "\"I really liked the idea of playing that kind of optimistic, super-intense, go-get-'em spirit combined with being a little bit of an outsider. I am real..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/779/amy-poehler-1084_actresses_i-really-liked-the-idea-of-playing-that_3173839.jpg"
---

#  I really liked the idea of playing that kind of…

![“I really liked the idea of playing that kind of optimistic, super-intense, go-get-'em spirit combined with being a little bit of an outsider. I am really drawn to girls of that age in general, who believe they can be a waitress, scientist, actress, a dentist, a zookeeper...and who really aren't…” quote by Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/779/amy-poehler-1084_actresses_i-really-liked-the-idea-of-playing-that_3173839.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/779/amy-poehler-1084_actresses_i-really-liked-the-idea-of-playing-that_3173839.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/779/amy-poehler-1084_actresses_i-really-liked-the-idea-of-playing-that_3173839.jpg)

> “I really liked the idea of playing that kind of optimistic, super-intense, go-get-'em spirit combined with being a little bit of an outsider. I am really drawn to girls of that age in general, who believe they can be a waitress, scientist, actress, a dentist, a zookeeper...and who really aren't boy-crazy.”

[Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Embrace an outsider’s optimism and ambition, encouraging girls to pursue any career without conforming to stereotypes.

**In simple terms:** Support bold, unconventional aspirations in young women.

Key Takeaway

Encourage girls to follow any dream, regardless of norms.

Themes

empowerment gender career aspirations

Mood

encouraging optimistic

Type

inspirational motivational

When to use this quote

- school mentorship
- media representation
- family encouragement
- career counseling

Key Concepts

confidence building role modeling stereotype challenge

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you model non‑traditional career paths?
- What barriers do girls face in pursuing their dreams?

A Different Perspective

Societal pressures may still limit opportunities despite encouragement.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Actresses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actresses/) [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Bits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bits/) [Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boys/) [Crazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crazy/) [Dentist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dentist/) [Ems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ems/) [Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girl/) [Idea Playing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea-playing-513614/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Intense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intense/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Kind Optimistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind-optimistic-1771952/) [Liked Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liked-idea/) [Little bit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-bit/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Optimistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimistic/) [Optimistic Super](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimistic-super-5788028/) [Outsiders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outsiders/) [Playing Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-kind-1213036/) [Scientist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientist/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Waitress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waitress/) [Zookeepers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zookeepers-212422/)

## Related quotes

> [For me, I really liked the idea of playing a non-superhero on a superhero show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-henwick/for-me-i-really-liked-the-idea-of-playing-a-non-superhero-on-a/)

[Jessica Henwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-henwick/)

> [I liked the idea of playing for a huge club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-mari/i-liked-the-idea-of-playing-for-a-huge-club/)

[Pablo Mari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-mari/)

> [I really liked the idea of playing - I won't say the underdog - but characters who have a lot of conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-henry/i-really-liked-the-idea-of-playing-i-won-t-say-the-underdog-but/)

[Joshua Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-henry/)

> [ \[The taxidermist is\] a historian, dealing with an animal's past; the zookeeper is a politician, dealing with an animal's present; and everyone else is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-martel/the-taxidermist-is-a-historian-dealing-with-an-animal-s-past-the/)

[Yann Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-martel/)

> [I'm less upset with politicians than the media. I feel like politicians, there is a certain, inherent - you know, the way I always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/i-m-less-upset-with-politicians-than-the-media-i-feel-like/)

[Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/)

> [The only creature on earth whose natural habitat is a zoo is the zookeeper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/the-only-creature-on-earth-whose-natural-habitat-is-a-zoo-is-the/)

[Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/)

> [Basically I wake up in the morning and I think everything's going to be great. I'm really kind of optimistic, and I look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-black/basically-i-wake-up-in-the-morning-and-i-think-everything-s-going-to/)

[Lewis Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-black/)

> [I err on the side of a kind of optimistic agnostic sense that there's something that put us all here - some energy or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-romanek/i-err-on-the-side-of-a-kind-of-optimistic-agnostic-sense-that-there-s/)

[Mark Romanek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-romanek/)

> [“since I got into politics, I still think I have the best job in the world (some days) and why, despite the rise of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/since-i-got-into-politics-i-still-think-i-have-the-best-job-in-the/)

[Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/)

> [Modest, kind or optimistic people often smile more than snobbish, unkind or pessimistic people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/modest-kind-or-optimistic-people-often-smile-more-than-snobbish/)

[Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/)

> [I think that Stripe generally is comprised of the kind of people who believe in technology or are kind of optimistic about its effect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-collison/i-think-that-stripe-generally-is-comprised-of-the-kind-of-people-who/)

[Patrick Collison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-collison/)

> [As an actor, I love playing something kind of outside of who I am as a real person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-prentice/as-an-actor-i-love-playing-something-kind-of-outside-of-who-i-am-as-a/)

[Justin Prentice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-prentice/)

> [I want to keep playing at the kind of level where I'll get respect from everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pau-gasol/i-want-to-keep-playing-at-the-kind-of-level-where-i-ll-get-respect/)

[Pau Gasol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pau-gasol/)

> [I think the reason I'm an actress is because I love playing kind of a more extreme people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-mccarthy/i-think-the-reason-i-m-an-actress-is-because-i-love-playing-kind-of-a/)

[Melissa McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-mccarthy/)

> [I don't know if anybody knows this, but Serena's my favorite player. Just playing against her is kind of like a dream for me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-osaka/i-don-t-know-if-anybody-knows-this-but-serena-s-my-favorite-player/)

[Naomi Osaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-osaka/)

## More by Amy Poehler

> [When youre a stay-at-home mother you have to pretend its really boring, but its not. Its enriching and fulfilling, and an amazing experience. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/when-youre-a-stay-at-home-mother-you-have-to-pretend-its-really/)

[Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/)

> [I hope and assume that every good comedy writer, no matter the age, has a moment where they discover how great Cheers is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/i-hope-and-assume-that-every-good-comedy-writer-no-matter-the-age-has/)

[Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/)

> [I also think if you're an actor and you can improvise, when you go on an audition and you can improvise you're just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/i-also-think-if-you-re-an-actor-and-you-can-improvise-when-you-go-on/)

[Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/)

> [It seems a strange thing, but once I was able to get past that kind of self-image problem, I was able to open up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/it-seems-a-strange-thing-but-once-i-was-able-to-get-past-that-kind-of/)

[Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/)

> [Sleep can completely change your entire outlook on life. One good night's sleep can help you realize that you shouldn't break up with someone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/sleep-can-completely-change-your-entire-outlook-on-life-one-good/)

[Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/)

> [Career is the stringing together of opportunities and jobs. Mix in public opinion and past regrets. Add a dash of future panic and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/career-is-the-stringing-together-of-opportunities-and-jobs-mix-in/)

[Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/)

> [As you navigate through the rest of your life, be open to collaboration. Other people and other people's ideas are often better than your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/as-you-navigate-through-the-rest-of-your-life-be-open-to/)

[Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/)

> [I like hard work and I don’t like pretending things are perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/i-like-hard-work-and-i-don-t-like-pretending-things-are-perfect/)

[Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/)

> [The pressure of 'what are you going to do?' makes everyone feel like they haven't done anything yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/the-pressure-of-what-are-you-going-to-do-makes-everyone-feel-like/)

[Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/)

> [I ate two waffles, a banana and cereal with blueberries. And that whas between my two breakfasts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/i-ate-two-waffles-a-banana-and-cereal-with-blueberries-and-that-whas/)

[Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/)

> [ “\[On getting older\]: You can witness young people embarrassing themselves and get a thrill--that it's not you. You can watch them throw around their… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/on-getting-older-you-can-witness-young-people-embarrassing-themselves/)

[Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/)

> [Too often we women try to tackle chaos that is not ours to fix.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/too-often-we-women-try-to-tackle-chaos-that-is-not-ours-to-fix/)

[Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/)

> [Try to keep your mind open to possibilities and your mouth closed on matters that you don't know about. Limit your 'always' and your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/try-to-keep-your-mind-open-to-possibilities-and-your-mouth-closed-on/)

[Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/)

> [All we do is watch The Wire and go out to dinner with our friends. I wish I could tell you that we had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/all-we-do-is-watch-the-wire-and-go-out-to-dinner-with-our-friends-i/)

[Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/)

> [I have these meetings with really powerful men and they ask me all the time, 'Where are your kids? Are your kids here?' It's such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/i-have-these-meetings-with-really-powerful-men-and-they-ask-me-all/)

[Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/)

[Explore all 296 Amy Poehler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/)

## More Actresses quotes

> [I feel excited about getting older as an actress, too. I think there are some amazing opportunities around the corner and I don't need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sutton-foster/i-feel-excited-about-getting-older-as-an-actress-too-i-think-there/)

[Sutton Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sutton-foster/)

> [I think most of us are raised with preconceived notions of the choices we're supposed to make. We waste so much time making decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-think-most-of-us-are-raised-with-preconceived-notions-of-the/)

[Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/)

> [I've been told before, and I tend to believe it, I'm not like most actresses out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moira-kelly/i-ve-been-told-before-and-i-tend-to-believe-it-i-m-not-like-most/)

[Moira Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moira-kelly/)

> [Marilyn was a great actress, not a dumb blond bombshell. She was very smart, very astute and a good businesswoman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-schiller/marilyn-was-a-great-actress-not-a-dumb-blond-bombshell-she-was-very/)

[Lawrence Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-schiller/)

> [By the time I was seventeen, I was on my way to Hollywood and didn't look back. My family is supportive now, but like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-heard/by-the-time-i-was-seventeen-i-was-on-my-way-to-hollywood-and-didn-t/)

[Amber Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-heard/)

> [Just have fun. Smile. And keep putting on lipstick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-keaton/just-have-fun-smile-and-keep-putting-on-lipstick/)

[Diane Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-keaton/)

> [There are a lot of great actresses out there. You learn to appreciate each one for what they offer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-pratt/there-are-a-lot-of-great-actresses-out-there-you-learn-to-appreciate/)

[Victoria Pratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-pratt/)

> [I want to be fulfilled creatively as an actress and get to be in roles that are meaningful and impactful. I hope the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amandla-stenberg/i-want-to-be-fulfilled-creatively-as-an-actress-and-get-to-be-in/)

[Amandla Stenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amandla-stenberg/)

> [There's certain things I try to avoid, as an actress, just to keep my world from being as narrow as it could be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/famke-janssen/there-s-certain-things-i-try-to-avoid-as-an-actress-just-to-keep-my/)

[Famke Janssen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/famke-janssen/)

> [All the baggage that comes with fame, being an actress. The down side to it is the intrusion into your life and this expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-watson/all-the-baggage-that-comes-with-fame-being-an-actress-the-down-side/)

[Emma Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-watson/)

> [I am going to be a great actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivien-leigh/i-am-going-to-be-a-great-actress/)

[Vivien Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivien-leigh/)

> [As a black actress you've got to work doubly hard. But it doesn't ever get me to the point where I give up on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naturi-naughton/as-a-black-actress-you-ve-got-to-work-doubly-hard-but-it-doesn-t-ever/)

[Naturi Naughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naturi-naughton/)

> [I've seen new actresses do one show and disappear or struggle for years to get their next break. I've been fortunate enough to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjeeda-sheikh/i-ve-seen-new-actresses-do-one-show-and-disappear-or-struggle-for/)

[Sanjeeda Sheikh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjeeda-sheikh/)

> [I knew I wanted to be an actress as soon as I popped out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dee-wallace/i-knew-i-wanted-to-be-an-actress-as-soon-as-i-popped-out/)

[Dee Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dee-wallace/)

> [Campaigning actress ASHLEY JUDD refuses to 'breed' with her racing star husband DARIO FRANCHITTI while there are starving children in the world. . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/campaigning-actress-ashley-judd-refuses-to-breed-with-her-racing-star/)

[Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/)

[Browse all 1,881 Actresses quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actresses/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I really liked the idea of playing that kind of optimistic, super-intense, go-get-'em spirit combined with being a little bit of an outsider. I am really drawn to girls of that age in general, who believe they can be a waitress, scientist, actress, a dentist, a zookeeper...and who really aren't boy-crazy.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Amy Poehler"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/i-really-liked-the-idea-of-playing-that-kind-of-optimistic-super/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Actresses"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/i-really-liked-the-idea-of-playing-that-kind-of-optimistic-super/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/779/amy-poehler-1084_actresses_i-really-liked-the-idea-of-playing-that_3173839.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/779/amy-poehler-1084_actresses_i-really-liked-the-idea-of-playing-that_3173839.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/779/amy-poehler-1084_actresses_i-really-liked-the-idea-of-playing-that_3173839.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I really liked the idea of playing that kind of optimistic, super-intense, go-get-'em spirit combined with…” — Amy Poehler",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Amy Poehler",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I really liked the idea of...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/i-really-liked-the-idea-of-playing-that-kind-of-optimistic-super/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/i-really-liked-the-idea-of-playing-that-kind-of-optimistic-super/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
