--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I just wanted to be a composer; I became…" description: "\"I just wanted to be a composer; I became an actor by default, really. I got a scholarship to a college of music and drama, hoping to take a scholarship..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/397/anthony-hopkins-1334_acting_i-just-wanted-to-be-a-composer-i-became_2328431.png" --- # I just wanted to be a composer; I became an actor by… ![“I just wanted to be a composer; I became an actor by default, really. I got a scholarship to a college of music and drama, hoping to take a scholarship in music. But I ended up as an acting student, so I've stuck with that for the last 50-odd years.” quote by Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/397/anthony-hopkins-1334_acting_i-just-wanted-to-be-a-composer-i-became_2328431.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/397/anthony-hopkins-1334_acting_i-just-wanted-to-be-a-composer-i-became_2328431.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/397/anthony-hopkins-1334_acting_i-just-wanted-to-be-a-composer-i-became_2328431.png) > “I just wanted to be a composer; I became an actor by default, really. I got a scholarship to a college of music and drama, hoping to take a scholarship in music. But I ended up as an acting student, so I've stuck with that for the last 50-odd years.” [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He intended a music career but circumstances led him to acting, where he stayed for decades. **In simple terms:** Plans changed, leading to a lifelong acting career. Key Takeaway Embrace unexpected paths. Themes career adaptation identity longevity Mood reflective thoughtful Type personal career When to use this quote - college auditions - career counseling - mid‑life career change - artistic identity - narrative resilience Key Concepts self‑discovery serendipity role‑acceptance Questions to Reflect On - Do you accept unexpected turns? - How do you honor original dreams? A Different Perspective His acting success may not reflect his original passion for music. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Student](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-student-1225591/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actor Default](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-default-5591948/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [Composer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composer/) [Composer Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composer-actor-5591947/) [Default](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/default/) [Drama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama/) [Lasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasts/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Odd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/odd/) [Scholarship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scholarship/) [Scholarship Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scholarship-music-4965042/) [Stuck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stuck/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [My default position is not to be an actor. My default position is to be a follower of Jesus Christ. If that means I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-cameron/my-default-position-is-not-to-be-an-actor-my-default-position-is-to/) [Kirk Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-cameron/) > [I ended up turning down a full scholarship of music at the conservatory to pay to go to cooking school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emeril-lagasse/i-ended-up-turning-down-a-full-scholarship-of-music-at-the/) [Emeril Lagasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emeril-lagasse/) > [I had just arrived in New York from California. I was nineteen years old and excited beyond belief. I was an art student and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/i-had-just-arrived-in-new-york-from-california-i-was-nineteen-years/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [I try to think of acting in terms of thinking and doing. People think of it as, "Oh, let's get inside this guy." They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobin-bell/i-try-to-think-of-acting-in-terms-of-thinking-and-doing-people-think/) [Tobin Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobin-bell/) > [I have a theory about that, if you have to say something, if you have encourage for one second a prospective acting student -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dabney-coleman/i-have-a-theory-about-that-if-you-have-to-say-something-if-you-have/) [Dabney Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dabney-coleman/) > [I fell in love with acting while I was a student at UCLA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-park/i-fell-in-love-with-acting-while-i-was-a-student-at-ucla/) [Randall Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-park/) > [“Had his room been facing west he would have noted the sparkling twenty-five-mile vista to the sea which looks almost like the Mediterranean. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/had-his-room-been-facing-west-he-would-have-noted-the-sparkling/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I think for me, or for anyone who plays the quarterback position, it's almost an unspoken word when you think about leadership. Some guys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cam-newton/i-think-for-me-or-for-anyone-who-plays-the-quarterback-position-it-s/) [Cam Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cam-newton/) > [My face frowns by default, so when I'm most calm is when I appear the least approachable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-leung/my-face-frowns-by-default-so-when-i-m-most-calm-is-when-i-appear-the/) [Ken Leung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-leung/) > [When I get stressed out my de-stress default is - not cat videos - but I just watch his surrogates. They're so entertaining. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-hanna/when-i-get-stressed-out-my-de-stress-default-is-not-cat-videos-but-i/) [Kathleen Hanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-hanna/) > [My combined experiences, doing different films, has made me very concerned about and interested in how you protect your creative self when the work,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharlto-copley/my-combined-experiences-doing-different-films-has-made-me-very/) [Sharlto Copley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharlto-copley/) > [In my case, when I am trying to be "kind" I often default in a sort of toothless loving-all stance that is, actually, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/in-my-case-when-i-am-trying-to-be-kind-i-often-default-in-a-sort-of/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [It's unfortunate that a lot of people think African-American female artists are monolithically R&B this-or-that, don't have to do anything by default.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/it-s-unfortunate-that-a-lot-of-people-think-african-american-female/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [Nick looked vaguely homicidal, but that was sort of his default expression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/nick-looked-vaguely-homicidal-but-that-was-sort-of-his-default/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [Freedom and liberty lose out by default because good people are not vigilant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/freedom-and-liberty-lose-out-by-default-because-good-people-are-not/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) ## More by Anthony Hopkins > [Life's too short to deal with other people's insecurities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/life-s-too-short-to-deal-with-other-people-s-insecurities/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [I visualized a lot of things happening to me, because I was a lonely kid because I didn't understand anything about school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/i-visualized-a-lot-of-things-happening-to-me-because-i-was-a-lonely/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [My life is not my own business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/my-life-is-not-my-own-business/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [I watched a film with a very famous, great, great actor, I won't mention his name because everyone loves his memory, but I thought,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/i-watched-a-film-with-a-very-famous-great-great-actor-i-won-t-mention/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [Danger is the spice of life and you’ve got to take a risk now and then…that’s what makes life worthwhile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/danger-is-the-spice-of-life-and-you-ve-got-to-take-a-risk-now-and/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [Actors I admire? Ed Harris, or course, I think he's terrific; because I know he always had to fight being what he looked like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/actors-i-admire-ed-harris-or-course-i-think-he-s-terrific-because-i/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [I love to have a laugh. I like to tease people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/i-love-to-have-a-laugh-i-like-to-tease-people/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [I think doubt is a very healthy way to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/i-think-doubt-is-a-very-healthy-way-to-live/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [The knighthood was a tremendous honour, I don't dismiss it. But I feel embarrassed by the flowery, theatrical stuff that goes with being an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/the-knighthood-was-a-tremendous-honour-i-don-t-dismiss-it-but-i-feel/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [My father was grounded, a very meat-and-potatoes man. He was a baker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/my-father-was-grounded-a-very-meat-and-potatoes-man-he-was-a-baker/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [Most of my last 30 years have been like that. Results and manifestations of things I'd dreamed of as a young kid and wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/most-of-my-last-30-years-have-been-like-that-results-and/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [I used to be a bit obsessed by acting but not anymore. I do enjoy acting but I probably enjoy it more now because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/i-used-to-be-a-bit-obsessed-by-acting-but-not-anymore-i-do-enjoy/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [I don't know what I believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/i-don-t-know-what-i-believe/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [I always distrust the word art when it is applied to acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/i-always-distrust-the-word-art-when-it-is-applied-to-acting/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [I just learn my lines, go on set. Do my preparation, whatever that is. Have a cup of coffee. Say hello to everyone. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/i-just-learn-my-lines-go-on-set-do-my-preparation-whatever-that-is/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) [Explore all 255 Anthony Hopkins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) ## 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": "I just wanted to be a composer; I became an actor by default, really. I got a scholarship to a college of music and drama, hoping to take a scholarship in music. 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