--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'd like to be a working actor. It sounds…" description: "\"I'd like to be a working actor. It sounds really trite, but there really are no small parts, only small actors. And so as long as I'm a working actor, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a1/anne-hathaway-1932_actor_i-d-like-to-be-a-working-actor-it-sounds_2898430.png" --- # I'd like to be a working actor. It sounds really trite… ![“I'd like to be a working actor. It sounds really trite, but there really are no small parts, only small actors. And so as long as I'm a working actor, I can improve.” quote by Anne Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a1/anne-hathaway-1932_actor_i-d-like-to-be-a-working-actor-it-sounds_2898430.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a1/anne-hathaway-1932_actor_i-d-like-to-be-a-working-actor-it-sounds_2898430.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a1/anne-hathaway-1932_actor_i-d-like-to-be-a-working-actor-it-sounds_2898430.png) > “I'd like to be a working actor. It sounds really trite, but there really are no small parts, only small actors. And so as long as I'm a working actor, I can improve.” [Anne Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hathaway/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A working actor continuously improves by embracing the role, regardless of size, emphasizing growth over fame. **In simple terms:** Consistent work, even in small parts, leads to improvement. Key Takeaway Seek regular acting opportunities, big or small. Themes career development humility skill building Mood determined reflective optimistic Type inspirational realistic When to use this quote - auditions - theatre workshops - on‑set practice - networking Key Concepts growth mindset craft mastery perseverance Questions to Reflect On - What does “working actor” mean to you personally? - How can you balance quantity with quality of roles? A Different Perspective Risk of burnout if only chasing work without purpose. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actor Improve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-improve-874157/) [Actor Sounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-sounds-3905548/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Small Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-actors-435596/) [Small parts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-parts/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Working actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-actor/) ## Related quotes > [So as long as I'm a working actor, I can improve. I want to work with people that frighten me and excite me, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hathaway/so-as-long-as-i-m-a-working-actor-i-can-improve-i-want-to-work-with/) [Anne Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hathaway/) > [Normally, I'd believe that the saying 'There's no small parts, only small actors' is a load of crock because, more often than not, actors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/normally-i-d-believe-that-the-saying-there-s-no-small-parts-only/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) > [Remember: there are no small parts, only small actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constantin-stanislavski/remember-there-are-no-small-parts-only-small-actors/) [Constantin Stanislavski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constantin-stanislavski/) > [There are no small parts. Only small actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-no-small-parts-only-small-actors/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are no small parts; there are only small actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-griffith/there-are-no-small-parts-there-are-only-small-actors/) [Melanie Griffith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-griffith/) > [Any work I do I think is important...like in acting there are no small parts- only small actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-golightly/any-work-i-do-i-think-is-important-like-in-acting-there-are-no-small/) [Holly Golightly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-golightly/) > [There's no such thing as a small part. There are just small actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-lumet/there-s-no-such-thing-as-a-small-part-there-are-just-small-actors/) [Sidney Lumet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-lumet/) > [I look at a pilot and go, "I see the landscape. I see the characters. I see the direction and the potential of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-bomer/i-look-at-a-pilot-and-go-i-see-the-landscape-i-see-the-characters-i/) [Matt Bomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-bomer/) > [For me, I look at a pilot and go, 'I see the landscape. I see the characters. I see the direction and the potential…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-bomer/for-me-i-look-at-a-pilot-and-go-i-see-the-landscape-i-see-the/) [Matt Bomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-bomer/) > [A worldly actor is a better actor. It sounds pretentious, but I think having these experiences can translate back into your work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-robinson/a-worldly-actor-is-a-better-actor-it-sounds-pretentious-but-i-think/) [Nick Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-robinson/) > [If I call myself an actor, it sounds like I'm trying to pass myself off as someone who went to drama school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/limmy/if-i-call-myself-an-actor-it-sounds-like-i-m-trying-to-pass-myself/) [Limmy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/limmy/) > [I think I always wanted to be an actor - sounds a bit boring, doesn't it? And I pretended once that I wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-thompson/i-think-i-always-wanted-to-be-an-actor-sounds-a-bit-boring-doesn-t-it/) [Sophie Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-thompson/) > [There's this whole list of old personalities that I can act, as corny as that sounds, or as method actor as that sounds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedric-bixler-zavala/there-s-this-whole-list-of-old-personalities-that-i-can-act-as-corny/) [Cedric Bixler-Zavala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedric-bixler-zavala/) > [There are no small roles, only small actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miroslav-mircevski-spasov/there-are-no-small-roles-only-small-actors/) [Miroslav Mircevski Spasov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miroslav-mircevski-spasov/) > [“There are no small roles, just small actors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-mathis/there-are-no-small-roles-just-small-actors/) [Lynn Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-mathis/) ## More by Anne Hathaway > [I'm lucky I'm friends with a lot of artists and filmmakers and creators. My life is pretty wonderful. I'm one of those rare, lucky…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hathaway/i-m-lucky-i-m-friends-with-a-lot-of-artists-and-filmmakers-and/) [Anne Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hathaway/) > [Everything that I have ever hoped to accomplish, she has done and done better than anyone I have ever seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hathaway/everything-that-i-have-ever-hoped-to-accomplish-she-has-done-and-done/) [Anne Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hathaway/) > [Scents as well as clothes and hairstyles can go a long way in revealing a part of yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hathaway/scents-as-well-as-clothes-and-hairstyles-can-go-a-long-way-in/) [Anne Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hathaway/) > [I had a dream. And it came true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hathaway/i-had-a-dream-and-it-came-true/) [Anne Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hathaway/) > [I found it liberating to sing on camera. On stage, you have to indicate having a thought, and the word you are singing must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hathaway/i-found-it-liberating-to-sing-on-camera-on-stage-you-have-to-indicate/) [Anne Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hathaway/) > [“you're only human. you dont have to have it together every minute of everyday”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hathaway/you-re-only-human-you-dont-have-to-have-it-together-every-minute-of/) [Anne Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hathaway/) > [After Princess Diaries, I was labeled a good girl, and for the first eight years of my career I had to fight to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hathaway/after-princess-diaries-i-was-labeled-a-good-girl-and-for-the-first/) [Anne Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hathaway/) > [I love working and I feel satisfied when I know I have literally given all the energy that I have. That being said, work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hathaway/i-love-working-and-i-feel-satisfied-when-i-know-i-have-literally/) [Anne Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hathaway/) > [Ladies: Anne Hathaway is a feminist and she has amazing teeth. Let's save our bad attitudes for the ones who aren't advancing the cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hathaway/ladies-anne-hathaway-is-a-feminist-and-she-has-amazing-teeth-let-s/) [Anne Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hathaway/) > [What I've observed and what I've imagined - and definitely what I'm hoping - happens as you get older is that there's a mellowing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hathaway/what-i-ve-observed-and-what-i-ve-imagined-and-definitely-what-i-m/) [Anne Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hathaway/) > [College is such a unique time because you're learning a little bit how to be an adult. You're learning how to take care of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hathaway/college-is-such-a-unique-time-because-you-re-learning-a-little-bit/) [Anne Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hathaway/) > [My biggest fear is overreaching. I have been in situations where I felt swamped, and it's turned out really well; and I've had other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hathaway/my-biggest-fear-is-overreaching-i-have-been-in-situations-where-i/) [Anne Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hathaway/) > [I'm not one of those stars that goes out and literally dresses to be photographed. I'm kind of a 'what you see is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hathaway/i-m-not-one-of-those-stars-that-goes-out-and-literally-dresses-to-be/) [Anne Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hathaway/) > [A bad love experience is no reason to fear a new love experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hathaway/a-bad-love-experience-is-no-reason-to-fear-a-new-love-experience/) [Anne Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hathaway/) > [My entire film career's been dependent on my ability to look unattractive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hathaway/my-entire-film-career-s-been-dependent-on-my-ability-to-look/) [Anne Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hathaway/) [Explore all 197 Anne Hathaway quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hathaway/) ## 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'd like to be a working actor. It sounds really trite, but there really are no small parts, only small actors. 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