--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Just to be paid as an actor was something…" description: "\"Just to be paid as an actor was something I didn't think was going to be possible.\" — Ashley Zukerman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78f/ashley-zukerman-18995_actor_just-to-be-paid-as-an-actor-was-somethin_1851814.jpg" --- # Just to be paid as an actor was something I didn't think… ![“Just to be paid as an actor was something I didn't think was going to be possible.” quote by Ashley Zukerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78f/ashley-zukerman-18995_actor_just-to-be-paid-as-an-actor-was-somethin_1851814.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78f/ashley-zukerman-18995_actor_just-to-be-paid-as-an-actor-was-somethin_1851814.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78f/ashley-zukerman-18995_actor_just-to-be-paid-as-an-actor-was-somethin_1851814.jpg) > “Just to be paid as an actor was something I didn't think was going to be possible.” [Ashley Zukerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-zukerman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Unexpectedly achieving paid acting work, a dream once thought impossible **In simple terms:** Paid acting became a reality despite doubt Key Takeaway Believe in possibilities beyond self‑imposed limits Themes career dreams validation Mood grateful motivated Type career personal growth When to use this quote - audition process - first role - contract negotiation - career planning Key Concepts achievement self‑belief industry dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What steps did you take to reach this milestone? - How will you sustain momentum? A Different Perspective Industry barriers may still exist after breakthrough ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [I felt a certain modicum of success because I had been paid well to be an actor for the first time in my life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-carmack/i-felt-a-certain-modicum-of-success-because-i-had-been-paid-well-to/) [Chris Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-carmack/) > [I feel so fortunate to get paid to be an actor. I pinch myself. I get it from writing, I get it from baking,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-bowles/i-feel-so-fortunate-to-get-paid-to-be-an-actor-i-pinch-myself-i-get/) [Lauren Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-bowles/) > [The first time I got paid as an actor was for 'Man of La Mancha.' 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I'll just move to Hollywood and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bailey-chase/i-had-grand-visions-of-being-in-professional-sports-but-when-reality/) [Bailey Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bailey-chase/) > [I loved movies growing up. I went to the movies with my uncle all the time. But being an actor? I didn't even think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-abbott/i-loved-movies-growing-up-i-went-to-the-movies-with-my-uncle-all-the/) [Christopher Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-abbott/) > [I just never did buy this idea that you have to live in Los Angeles to be an actor. I didn't see that as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-daniels/i-just-never-did-buy-this-idea-that-you-have-to-live-in-los-angeles/) [Jeff Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-daniels/) > [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/) > [I had been nine years in the theatre and hadn't had massive success. My only thing was I wanted to be an actor and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/i-had-been-nine-years-in-the-theatre-and-hadn-t-had-massive-success/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) ## More by Ashley Zukerman > [I had gone to university and done engineering and then I got into art school and said I'm going to do this for three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-zukerman/i-had-gone-to-university-and-done-engineering-and-then-i-got-into-art/) [Ashley Zukerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-zukerman/) > [I think that there's something that goes on for Robert Langdon where he has a hard time connecting with people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-zukerman/i-think-that-there-s-something-that-goes-on-for-robert-langdon-where/) [Ashley Zukerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-zukerman/) > [I don't have a dogma that gives me a compass, that occupies me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-zukerman/i-don-t-have-a-dogma-that-gives-me-a-compass-that-occupies-me/) [Ashley Zukerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-zukerman/) > [Personally, I'm such a cynic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-zukerman/personally-i-m-such-a-cynic/) [Ashley Zukerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-zukerman/) > [I think the characters Nick and Solomon, the characters on Fear Street,' were definitely further from myself. But I think ultimately I do try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-zukerman/i-think-the-characters-nick-and-solomon-the-characters-on-fear-street/) [Ashley Zukerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-zukerman/) > [In everything I do, having it be important or try to express something or it having the ability to demystify something or draw attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-zukerman/in-everything-i-do-having-it-be-important-or-try-to-express-something/) [Ashley Zukerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-zukerman/) > [The first television show I did was a production called 'The Pacific,' which was this huge HBO series with an insane budget and 300…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-zukerman/the-first-television-show-i-did-was-a-production-called-the-pacific/) [Ashley Zukerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-zukerman/) > [I've been very lucky with The Code' and Manhattan' in that I've been working with networks that are deeply supportive of the authorial voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-zukerman/i-ve-been-very-lucky-with-the-code-and-manhattan-in-that-i-ve-been/) [Ashley Zukerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-zukerman/) > [I've been working with smart people who are the best at what they do and who fight to make the best-quality stuff. I'm very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-zukerman/i-ve-been-working-with-smart-people-who-are-the-best-at-what-they-do/) [Ashley Zukerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-zukerman/) > [There is something in the micro-gestures in Australia that I just understand. It's something I grew up with - how people interact, the slight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-zukerman/there-is-something-in-the-micro-gestures-in-australia-that-i-just/) [Ashley Zukerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-zukerman/) > [I just felt like I was mining Dan Brown's work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-zukerman/i-just-felt-like-i-was-mining-dan-brown-s-work/) [Ashley Zukerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-zukerman/) > [I enjoyed translating half a Bible page, with my mom back in Australia, into Hebrew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-zukerman/i-enjoyed-translating-half-a-bible-page-with-my-mom-back-in-australia/) [Ashley Zukerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-zukerman/) > [There's this attitude that you have to love your characters, and I think that's a nice trick if you have trouble identifying with bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-zukerman/there-s-this-attitude-that-you-have-to-love-your-characters-and-i/) [Ashley Zukerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-zukerman/) > [Most human beings, there's a spectrum of bad behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-zukerman/most-human-beings-there-s-a-spectrum-of-bad-behavior/) [Ashley Zukerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-zukerman/) > [With the quarantine and borders suddenly closing it could have meant suddenly being stranded on the other side of the planet. It's a shame…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-zukerman/with-the-quarantine-and-borders-suddenly-closing-it-could-have-meant/) [Ashley Zukerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-zukerman/) [Explore all 32 Ashley Zukerman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-zukerman/) ## 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": "Just to be paid as an actor was something I didn't think was going to be possible.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ashley Zukerman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-zukerman/just-to-be-paid-as-an-actor-was-something-i-didn-t-think-was-going-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-zukerman/just-to-be-paid-as-an-actor-was-something-i-didn-t-think-was-going-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78f/ashley-zukerman-18995_actor_just-to-be-paid-as-an-actor-was-somethin_1851814.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78f/ashley-zukerman-18995_actor_just-to-be-paid-as-an-actor-was-somethin_1851814.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78f/ashley-zukerman-18995_actor_just-to-be-paid-as-an-actor-was-somethin_1851814.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Just to be paid as an actor was something I didn't think was going to be possible.” — Ashley Zukerman", "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": "Ashley Zukerman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-zukerman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Just to be paid as an...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-zukerman/just-to-be-paid-as-an-actor-was-something-i-didn-t-think-was-going-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-zukerman/just-to-be-paid-as-an-actor-was-something-i-didn-t-think-was-going-to/#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 } } ] } ```