--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I went into acting because I wanted to be…" description: "\"I went into acting because I wanted to be seen being someone else, not me!\" — Anita Dobson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/223/anita-dobson-10763_acting_i-went-into-acting-because-i-wanted-to-b_2468012.jpg" --- # I went into acting because I wanted to be seen being… ![“I went into acting because I wanted to be seen being someone else, not me!” quote by Anita Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/223/anita-dobson-10763_acting_i-went-into-acting-because-i-wanted-to-b_2468012.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/223/anita-dobson-10763_acting_i-went-into-acting-because-i-wanted-to-b_2468012.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/223/anita-dobson-10763_acting_i-went-into-acting-because-i-wanted-to-b_2468012.jpg) > “I went into acting because I wanted to be seen being someone else, not me!” [Anita Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-dobson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She pursued acting to escape her own identity and experience life through other characters. **In simple terms:** Acting lets you become someone else. Key Takeaway Embrace roles that reveal new perspectives. Themes identity performance escape self‑discovery Mood reflective creative introspective Type artistic personal development When to use this quote - theatre auditions - film casting - personal growth workshops Key Concepts method acting psychology role immersion Questions to Reflect On - How does playing another character change your view of yourself? - What boundaries keep you grounded? A Different Perspective May lose sense of self if over‑identifying with roles. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) ## Related quotes > [“He'd wanted someone to see him. To see past his reputation...He wanted to be seen not as flawless, but as himself, faults and all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-milan/he-d-wanted-someone-to-see-him-to-see-past-his-reputation-he-wanted/) [Courtney Milan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-milan/) > [“But deep down, I reveled in the thought of being wanted, of being seen by someone who wanted to see me, who saw me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/staci-hart/but-deep-down-i-reveled-in-the-thought-of-being-wanted-of-being-seen/) [Staci Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/staci-hart/) > [Sure, I would have loved it, if we'd gotten 2,000 screens, but I never had that delusion. I was very realistic. I think it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/sure-i-would-have-loved-it-if-we-d-gotten-2-000-screens-but-i-never/) [Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/) > [Acting is something I always wanted to try after wrestling, and I felt like this was a perfect fit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-michaels/acting-is-something-i-always-wanted-to-try-after-wrestling-and-i-felt/) [Shawn Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-michaels/) > [I'd always wanted to act, but it was a question of whether acting wanted me and whether the movies wanted me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anjelica-huston/i-d-always-wanted-to-act-but-it-was-a-question-of-whether-acting/) [Anjelica Huston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anjelica-huston/) > [“ 'I went to one acting coach when I first started who told me that acting is reacting to the stimuli we are presented…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-rice/i-went-to-one-acting-coach-when-i-first-started-who-told-me-that/) [Christopher Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-rice/) > [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/) > [I decided at age 5 to start acting and I have never wanted to do anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-robbins/i-decided-at-age-5-to-start-acting-and-i-have-never-wanted-to-do/) Lois Robbins > [I was about 15 when I decided that acting was what I wanted to pursue professionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-purser/i-was-about-15-when-i-decided-that-acting-was-what-i-wanted-to-pursue/) [Shannon Purser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-purser/) > [Before acting, I wanted to become a journalist. I also toyed with the idea of being a chef - but that's only when people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/before-acting-i-wanted-to-become-a-journalist-i-also-toyed-with-the/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [It's not that acting was something I'd always wanted to do. I had no formal training; I'd never really imagined I'd be an actress.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preity-zinta/it-s-not-that-acting-was-something-i-d-always-wanted-to-do-i-had-no/) [Preity Zinta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preity-zinta/) > [To me acting is a hobby and I'm inspired by it. And if I'm going to spend time doing something that I'm not really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-timberlake/to-me-acting-is-a-hobby-and-i-m-inspired-by-it-and-if-i-m-going-to/) [Justin Timberlake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-timberlake/) > [I didn't go into acting because I wanted to be a role model.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jamal-warner/i-didn-t-go-into-acting-because-i-wanted-to-be-a-role-model/) [Malcolm-Jamal Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jamal-warner/) > [When I initially started acting, all I wanted to do was to be in one movie. That's it. That was my goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-beach/when-i-initially-started-acting-all-i-wanted-to-do-was-to-be-in-one/) [Adam Beach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-beach/) > [In dance you use every party of your body except your voice. I wanted to start acting because I wanted to use my voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-saldana/in-dance-you-use-every-party-of-your-body-except-your-voice-i-wanted/) [Zoe Saldana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-saldana/) ## More by Anita Dobson > [Brian and I have ups and downs like every marriage does. Although he's a legend, he's still, inside, an ordinary man, and I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-dobson/brian-and-i-have-ups-and-downs-like-every-marriage-does-although-he-s/) [Anita Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-dobson/) > [I am very glad I did 'EastEnders,' and I'm flattered that people still remember me in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-dobson/i-am-very-glad-i-did-eastenders-and-i-m-flattered-that-people-still/) [Anita Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-dobson/) > [You learn to accept losing someone, but you never get over it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-dobson/you-learn-to-accept-losing-someone-but-you-never-get-over-it/) [Anita Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-dobson/) > [I'm very protective of friends and family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-dobson/i-m-very-protective-of-friends-and-family/) [Anita Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-dobson/) > [You can't stop getting older; you just have to keep going and laugh a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-dobson/you-can-t-stop-getting-older-you-just-have-to-keep-going-and-laugh-a/) [Anita Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-dobson/) > [People were following me home in cars, singing outside my window at my flat. I couldn't go to pubs or supermarkets or walk down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-dobson/people-were-following-me-home-in-cars-singing-outside-my-window-at-my/) [Anita Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-dobson/) > [I was appearing on 'Top of the Pops' when I was in my mid-thirties or something. It was fantastic! But it was the weirdest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-dobson/i-was-appearing-on-top-of-the-pops-when-i-was-in-my-mid-thirties-or/) [Anita Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-dobson/) > [I love to chit-chat and used to be the first to arrive at a party and the last to leave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-dobson/i-love-to-chit-chat-and-used-to-be-the-first-to-arrive-at-a-party-and/) [Anita Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-dobson/) > [I knew of Queen, and I knew of Freddie, but I didn't know who the rest of the band were. I became friends with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-dobson/i-knew-of-queen-and-i-knew-of-freddie-but-i-didn-t-know-who-the-rest/) [Anita Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-dobson/) > [I've been working in radio on and off for most of my career. There's a restfulness about it. It's more focused on the voice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-dobson/i-ve-been-working-in-radio-on-and-off-for-most-of-my-career-there-s-a/) [Anita Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-dobson/) > [When I was a kid, I used to watch all those Sunday afternoon matinees featuring all the Hollywood greats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-dobson/when-i-was-a-kid-i-used-to-watch-all-those-sunday-afternoon-matinees/) [Anita Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-dobson/) > [If I had to live on a desert island, and somebody gave me a chicken, there's no way I'd kill it - I'd call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-dobson/if-i-had-to-live-on-a-desert-island-and-somebody-gave-me-a-chicken/) [Anita Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-dobson/) > [We learn by misfortune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-dobson/we-learn-by-misfortune/) [Anita Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-dobson/) > [If you're a good actor, you should be able to do soap, comedy, Shakespeare, musicals, pantomime, and something like 'Frozen.' Of course, you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-dobson/if-you-re-a-good-actor-you-should-be-able-to-do-soap-comedy/) [Anita Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-dobson/) > [I have loved being a step-mum to Brian's children. We have a great relationship, and it's lovely to spend time with the grandchildren.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-dobson/i-have-loved-being-a-step-mum-to-brian-s-children-we-have-a-great/) [Anita Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-dobson/) [Explore all 63 Anita Dobson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-dobson/) ## 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 > [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": "I went into acting because I wanted to be seen being someone else, not me!", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anita Dobson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-dobson/i-went-into-acting-because-i-wanted-to-be-seen-being-someone-else-not/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-dobson/i-went-into-acting-because-i-wanted-to-be-seen-being-someone-else-not/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/223/anita-dobson-10763_acting_i-went-into-acting-because-i-wanted-to-b_2468012.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/223/anita-dobson-10763_acting_i-went-into-acting-because-i-wanted-to-b_2468012.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/223/anita-dobson-10763_acting_i-went-into-acting-because-i-wanted-to-b_2468012.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I went into acting because I wanted to be seen being someone else, not me!” — Anita Dobson", "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": "Anita Dobson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-dobson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I went into acting because I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-dobson/i-went-into-acting-because-i-wanted-to-be-seen-being-someone-else-not/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-dobson/i-went-into-acting-because-i-wanted-to-be-seen-being-someone-else-not/#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 } } ] } ```