--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I certainly had times when I thought this…" description: "\"I certainly had times when I thought this wasn't going to work out, but just being a working actor felt like a victory.\" — Anna Gunn" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f7/anna-gunn-17659_actor_i-certainly-had-times-when-i-thought-thi_1401371.png" --- # I certainly had times when I thought this wasn't going to… ![“I certainly had times when I thought this wasn't going to work out, but just being a working actor felt like a victory.” quote by Anna Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f7/anna-gunn-17659_actor_i-certainly-had-times-when-i-thought-thi_1401371.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f7/anna-gunn-17659_actor_i-certainly-had-times-when-i-thought-thi_1401371.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f7/anna-gunn-17659_actor_i-certainly-had-times-when-i-thought-thi_1401371.png) > “I certainly had times when I thought this wasn't going to work out, but just being a working actor felt like a victory.” [Anna Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-gunn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting, despite challenges, feels like an achievement and validates personal effort. **In simple terms:** Acting feels like a win. Key Takeaway Celebrate small professional victories. Themes career fulfillment resilience self-worth Mood proud motivated Type inspirational reflective When to use this quote - audition preparation - career transitions - creative projects - networking Key Concepts performance art personal growth industry challenges Questions to Reflect On - What personal milestones do you celebrate? - How do you sustain motivation after a win? A Different Perspective Success may be fleeting; external validation can be unstable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actor Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-felt-586403/) [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt/) [Felt Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt-like-237572/) [Like Victory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-victory-4912735/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Victory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victory/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Working actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-actor/) ## Related quotes > [“It wasn't you're fault," I whisper. And then out of self-protection more than anything else, I bring the glory. I don't warn him or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-hand/it-wasn-t-you-re-fault-i-whisper-and-then-out-of-self-protection-more/) [Cynthia Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/) > [I've always slightly worried the kids who play football around my house. They know I'm an actor, but felt sorry for me because they'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-nighy/i-ve-always-slightly-worried-the-kids-who-play-football-around-my/) [Bill Nighy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-nighy/) > [When I debut on television with 'Meri Awaaz Hi Pehchaan Hai,' there were a lot of things that I experienced as an actor and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amrita-rao/when-i-debut-on-television-with-meri-awaaz-hi-pehchaan-hai-there-were/) [Amrita Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amrita-rao/) > [I guess the reason I wanted to be an actor was that it felt like it would offer something different all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-friend/i-guess-the-reason-i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-was-that-it-felt-like-it/) [Rupert Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-friend/) > [I just felt very corny, and I felt like I had to prove to everyone that I was a serious actor. I felt terribly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-elordi/i-just-felt-very-corny-and-i-felt-like-i-had-to-prove-to-everyone/) [Jacob Elordi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-elordi/) > [As an actor, I felt I couldn't compete. I wasn't as cute as the leading man; I wasn't as brilliant as Robin Williams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hartman/as-an-actor-i-felt-i-couldn-t-compete-i-wasn-t-as-cute-as-the-leading/) [Phil Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hartman/) > [As an actor, I have always felt, everything is available in the script. If there is anything you feel the script lacks, you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pankaj-kapur/as-an-actor-i-have-always-felt-everything-is-available-in-the-script/) [Pankaj Kapur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pankaj-kapur/) > [I've enjoyed my time as an actor, but felt work was becoming repetitive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thalaivasal-vijay/i-ve-enjoyed-my-time-as-an-actor-but-felt-work-was-becoming-repetitive/) [Thalaivasal Vijay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thalaivasal-vijay/) > [I'm lucky: I always wanted to be an actor. But I never felt the need to be in with the crowd. I didn't mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-perry/i-m-lucky-i-always-wanted-to-be-an-actor-but-i-never-felt-the-need-to/) [Luke Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-perry/) > [I don't have any ambitions as an actor. I felt very uncomfortable doing it. The first take every day I'd open my mouth and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-glodell/i-don-t-have-any-ambitions-as-an-actor-i-felt-very-uncomfortable/) [Evan Glodell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-glodell/) > [All my life, even as an actor, I felt like I was really trying to be dutiful, which sometimes got in my way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fala-chen/all-my-life-even-as-an-actor-i-felt-like-i-was-really-trying-to-be/) [Fala Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fala-chen/) > [As an actor, I felt nervous only during the release of my film. When I became a director, the anxious moments started once the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prabhu-deva/as-an-actor-i-felt-nervous-only-during-the-release-of-my-film-when-i/) [Prabhu Deva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prabhu-deva/) > [Can't remember a time when I didn't want to be an actor... though it felt like something I couldn't do until I grew up.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-waterston/can-t-remember-a-time-when-i-didn-t-want-to-be-an-actor-though-it/) [Katherine Waterston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-waterston/) > ['GLOW' was the first time that, from head to toe, I was asked to use my body in a functional, powerful way as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-gilpin/glow-was-the-first-time-that-from-head-to-toe-i-was-asked-to-use-my/) [Betty Gilpin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-gilpin/) > [I wasn't playing Nixon's satirical stick figure. I was playing Nixon the man. As an actor, I felt I had to get to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-shearer/i-wasn-t-playing-nixon-s-satirical-stick-figure-i-was-playing-nixon/) [Harry Shearer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-shearer/) ## More by Anna Gunn > [My mom told me I could do anything I want, be anyone I want. I believed it. And so I want my daughters to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-gunn/my-mom-told-me-i-could-do-anything-i-want-be-anyone-i-want-i-believed/) [Anna Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-gunn/) > [I feel like it's important to be forthright about equality. If you're doing the same work, you should get the same amount of money,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-gunn/i-feel-like-it-s-important-to-be-forthright-about-equality-if-you-re/) [Anna Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-gunn/) > [It's changed the landscape of my career without a doubt. 'Deadwood' started to do that, but then 'Breaking Bad' really shifted everything for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-gunn/it-s-changed-the-landscape-of-my-career-without-a-doubt-deadwood/) [Anna Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-gunn/) > [It's important for women to continue to break through barriers in our industry, in politics, in Wall Street.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-gunn/it-s-important-for-women-to-continue-to-break-through-barriers-in-our/) [Anna Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-gunn/) > [In my experience, you get a job for a reason. Your work life happens for a reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-gunn/in-my-experience-you-get-a-job-for-a-reason-your-work-life-happens/) [Anna Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-gunn/) > [I've just always been very interested in story above all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-gunn/i-ve-just-always-been-very-interested-in-story-above-all/) [Anna Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-gunn/) > [I really did like 'The Wolf of Wall Street.' But not seeing women represented in that world, it definitely had less resonance for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-gunn/i-really-did-like-the-wolf-of-wall-street-but-not-seeing-women/) [Anna Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-gunn/) > [When I was 15 and had the light bulb moment I wanted to be an actor, it was my sole focus and goal, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-gunn/when-i-was-15-and-had-the-light-bulb-moment-i-wanted-to-be-an-actor/) [Anna Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-gunn/) > [For actors, you've gotta sometimes fill in your backstory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-gunn/for-actors-you-ve-gotta-sometimes-fill-in-your-backstory/) [Anna Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-gunn/) > [Being pregnant is a conundrum. You have this freedom, because it's a wonderful time that a human being is growing inside of you, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-gunn/being-pregnant-is-a-conundrum-you-have-this-freedom-because-it-s-a/) [Anna Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-gunn/) > [For women, no matter what career, what path you choose, it's still an uphill battle to work your way up to these top leadership…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-gunn/for-women-no-matter-what-career-what-path-you-choose-it-s-still-an/) [Anna Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-gunn/) > [If you have to go back through your day in your head, try to go back to only the good things. Look at those,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-gunn/if-you-have-to-go-back-through-your-day-in-your-head-try-to-go-back/) [Anna Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-gunn/) > [As an actor - and I say actor, but actress or actor, whatever - I've had to learn to be very open about what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-gunn/as-an-actor-and-i-say-actor-but-actress-or-actor-whatever-i-ve-had-to/) [Anna Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-gunn/) > [If you don't agree with the direction something is going in, at least at work, you should always try it first, unless it's dangerous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-gunn/if-you-don-t-agree-with-the-direction-something-is-going-in-at-least/) [Anna Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-gunn/) > [When I got my role on 'Seinfeld,' the show was already huge. I was so nervous on my first day. I remember meeting everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-gunn/when-i-got-my-role-on-seinfeld-the-show-was-already-huge-i-was-so/) [Anna Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-gunn/) [Explore all 36 Anna Gunn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-gunn/) ## More Actor 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/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [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/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [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/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I certainly had times when I thought this wasn't going to work out, but just being a working actor felt like a victory.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anna Gunn" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-gunn/i-certainly-had-times-when-i-thought-this-wasn-t-going-to-work-out/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-gunn/i-certainly-had-times-when-i-thought-this-wasn-t-going-to-work-out/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f7/anna-gunn-17659_actor_i-certainly-had-times-when-i-thought-thi_1401371.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f7/anna-gunn-17659_actor_i-certainly-had-times-when-i-thought-thi_1401371.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f7/anna-gunn-17659_actor_i-certainly-had-times-when-i-thought-thi_1401371.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I certainly had times when I thought this wasn't going to work out, but just being a working actor felt like…” — Anna Gunn", "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": "Anna Gunn", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-gunn/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I certainly had times when I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-gunn/i-certainly-had-times-when-i-thought-this-wasn-t-going-to-work-out/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-gunn/i-certainly-had-times-when-i-thought-this-wasn-t-going-to-work-out/#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 } } ] } ```