--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a kid, I just was a contract player at…" description: "\"As a kid, I just was a contract player at MGM Studios. They put me into goodness knows how many different roles.Some of them were wonderful and some of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de6/angela-lansbury-9722_acting_as-a-kid-i-just-was-a-contract-player-at_2784627.jpg" --- # As a kid, I just was a contract player at MGM Studios… ![“As a kid, I just was a contract player at MGM Studios. They put me into goodness knows how many different roles.Some of them were wonderful and some of them were very just distasteful and awful because I was playing out of my age range and I was thoroughly uncomfortable, let's put it that way. So…” quote by Angela Lansbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de6/angela-lansbury-9722_acting_as-a-kid-i-just-was-a-contract-player-at_2784627.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de6/angela-lansbury-9722_acting_as-a-kid-i-just-was-a-contract-player-at_2784627.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de6/angela-lansbury-9722_acting_as-a-kid-i-just-was-a-contract-player-at_2784627.jpg) > “As a kid, I just was a contract player at MGM Studios. They put me into goodness knows how many different roles.Some of them were wonderful and some of them were very just distasteful and awful because I was playing out of my age range and I was thoroughly uncomfortable, let's put it that way. So it took me many years to find my acting feet.” [Angela Lansbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-lansbury/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early roles forced her into uncomfortable, age-inappropriate parts, delaying her confidence. **In simple terms:** She struggled with mismatched roles early on. Key Takeaway Embrace authentic opportunities. Themes career self-discovery authenticity Mood reflective motivational Type career inspirational When to use this quote - auditions - career planning - skill development - self-reflection Key Concepts Acting identity confidence Questions to Reflect On - When have you felt out of sync with a role? - How can you align work with your true self? A Different Perspective Industry pressures can limit growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Feet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-feet-3336066/) [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Awful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awful/) [Contracts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contracts/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Different roles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-roles/) [Distasteful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distasteful/) [Feet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feet/) [Goodness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goodness/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Know how](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-how/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Mgm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mgm/) [Player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/player/) [Range](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/range/) [Roles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roles/) [Roles Wonderful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roles-wonderful-1194703/) [Studios](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/studios/) [Uncomfortable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncomfortable/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Wonderful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonderful/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) [Years Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-acting-960185/) ## Related quotes > [I'd love to be remembered as a character actor who brought illumination to roles in wonderful plays and who delivered performances that made people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suchet/i-d-love-to-be-remembered-as-a-character-actor-who-brought/) [David Suchet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suchet/) > [It was certainly a good death scene. I'm endlessly perishing in roles but it's a wonderful thing to be asked to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilia-fox/it-was-certainly-a-good-death-scene-i-m-endlessly-perishing-in-roles/) [Emilia Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emilia-fox/) > [Well oddly enough, I liken the years at MGM, and I was there for about eight years, to doing stock, what we used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-lansbury/well-oddly-enough-i-liken-the-years-at-mgm-and-i-was-there-for-about/) [Angela Lansbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-lansbury/) > [I stay healthy - I mean, I've got a sports background and an athletic background. I was in competitive sports since the age of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-jackson/i-stay-healthy-i-mean-i-ve-got-a-sports-background-and-an-athletic/) [Neil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-jackson/) > [Prior to Elephant I'd taken about six years of acting classes in Portland, but there's not a huge market there. The only thing we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-robinson/prior-to-elephant-i-d-taken-about-six-years-of-acting-classes-in/) [John Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-robinson/) > [Twelve to 15 years of acting school, and I am being a bird.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pantoliano/twelve-to-15-years-of-acting-school-and-i-am-being-a-bird/) [Joe Pantoliano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-pantoliano/) > [I can only pay my electric bill for my last two years on my acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piper-perabo/i-can-only-pay-my-electric-bill-for-my-last-two-years-on-my-acting/) [Piper Perabo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piper-perabo/) > [For 50 years, acting was the reason I got up in the morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-klugman/for-50-years-acting-was-the-reason-i-got-up-in-the-morning/) [Jack Klugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-klugman/) > [In 22 years of acting, I've only done two movies where I, personally, kill people. The Coens called me the Spanish Ballerina on (the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javier-bardem/in-22-years-of-acting-i-ve-only-done-two-movies-where-i-personally/) [Javier Bardem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javier-bardem/) > [I want in 40 years to still be acting and to more than anything have longevity and not just be this huge flash in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debby-ryan/i-want-in-40-years-to-still-be-acting-and-to-more-than-anything-have/) [Debby Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debby-ryan/) > [My first 20 years of acting, I did it from a place of not being free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tabitha-brown/my-first-20-years-of-acting-i-did-it-from-a-place-of-not-being-free/) [Tabitha Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tabitha-brown/) > [ A couple years in \[to acting\], I recognized that I developed methods from being a stuntwoman for so long that worked for me that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/a-couple-years-in-to-acting-i-recognized-that-i-developed-methods/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [“I'd spent too many years acting like a spoiled child, and it was finally time to grow up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-lane/i-d-spent-too-many-years-acting-like-a-spoiled-child-and-it-was/) [Nina Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-lane/) > [For the first five years of music and first five years of acting, I don't remember it because I was running to where I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-kane/for-the-first-five-years-of-music-and-first-five-years-of-acting-i/) [Christian Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-kane/) > [I'm very much looking forward to my 30-40 years of acting, and, as I get older, I'm really looking forward to some of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corbin-bernsen/i-m-very-much-looking-forward-to-my-30-40-years-of-acting-and-as-i/) [Corbin Bernsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corbin-bernsen/) ## More by Angela Lansbury > [Actually the years when I was playing totally un - well, they were just roles that just went by the board, you wouldn't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-lansbury/actually-the-years-when-i-was-playing-totally-un-well-they-were-just/) [Angela Lansbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-lansbury/) > [I'm Angie to everybody, you've got to learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-lansbury/i-m-angie-to-everybody-you-ve-got-to-learn/) [Angela Lansbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-lansbury/) > [I've worked with the greatest actors, and they're all gone. This is what's so desperate to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-lansbury/i-ve-worked-with-the-greatest-actors-and-they-re-all-gone-this-is/) [Angela Lansbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-lansbury/) > [I think of myself as a journeyman actress. I will attempt almost anything that I think that I can bring off. It could be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-lansbury/i-think-of-myself-as-a-journeyman-actress-i-will-attempt-almost/) [Angela Lansbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-lansbury/) > [Believe me, it jabs you. When you're on the side of buses and New York loves you, you love to go out there every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-lansbury/believe-me-it-jabs-you-when-you-re-on-the-side-of-buses-and-new-york/) [Angela Lansbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-lansbury/) > [Clint Eastwood is an extraordinary director because he knows the value of a buck. He knows where it will show on the screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-lansbury/clint-eastwood-is-an-extraordinary-director-because-he-knows-the/) [Angela Lansbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-lansbury/) > [I don't care whether it's a chance meeting or playing a role that you thought was totally wrong but you did it anyway. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-lansbury/i-don-t-care-whether-it-s-a-chance-meeting-or-playing-a-role-that-you/) [Angela Lansbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-lansbury/) > [... because lifestyles are changing constantly the rules of etiquette are changing too -- a little slower than lifestyles perhaps, but still changing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-lansbury/because-lifestyles-are-changing-constantly-the-rules-of-etiquette-are/) [Angela Lansbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-lansbury/) > [The thing I always say is that I wasn't going out reaching for roles, I wasn't fighting for roles - people came to me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-lansbury/the-thing-i-always-say-is-that-i-wasn-t-going-out-reaching-for-roles/) [Angela Lansbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-lansbury/) > [I have heard Mr. Romney's speech's many times on television and the radio and I have even read his book No Apology: The Case…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-lansbury/i-have-heard-mr-romney-s-speech-s-many-times-on-television-and-the/) [Angela Lansbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-lansbury/) > [Mystery is something that appeals to most everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-lansbury/mystery-is-something-that-appeals-to-most-everybody/) [Angela Lansbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-lansbury/) > [I can't say that I pursued a career. I really didn't, it just sort of happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-lansbury/i-can-t-say-that-i-pursued-a-career-i-really-didn-t-it-just-sort-of/) [Angela Lansbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-lansbury/) > [The theater is magical and addictive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-lansbury/the-theater-is-magical-and-addictive/) [Angela Lansbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-lansbury/) > [They're great devotees of Noel Coward in England, of course, he's a favorite son, and so to play Coward in London is such fun,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-lansbury/they-re-great-devotees-of-noel-coward-in-england-of-course-he-s-a/) [Angela Lansbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-lansbury/) > [I made about 56 movies, I think. Not that many.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-lansbury/i-made-about-56-movies-i-think-not-that-many/) [Angela Lansbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-lansbury/) [Explore all 70 Angela Lansbury quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-lansbury/) ## More Acting quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) [Ryan Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-newman/) > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As a kid, I just was a contract player at MGM Studios. They put me into goodness knows how many different roles.Some of them were wonderful and some of them were very just distasteful and awful because I was playing out of my age range and I was thoroughly uncomfortable, let's put it that way. 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