--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was asked to act when I couldn't act. I…" description: "\"I was asked to act when I couldn't act. I was asked to sing 'Funny Face' when I couldn't sing, and dance with Fred Astaire when I couldn't dance - and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/audrey-hepburn-1706_dance_i-was-asked-to-act-when-i-couldn-t-act-i_674347.jpg" --- # I was asked to act when I couldn't act. I was asked to… ![“I was asked to act when I couldn't act. I was asked to sing 'Funny Face' when I couldn't sing, and dance with Fred Astaire when I couldn't dance - and do all kinds of things I wasn't prepared for. Then I tried like mad to cope with it.” quote by Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/audrey-hepburn-1706_dance_i-was-asked-to-act-when-i-couldn-t-act-i_674347.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/audrey-hepburn-1706_dance_i-was-asked-to-act-when-i-couldn-t-act-i_674347.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/audrey-hepburn-1706_dance_i-was-asked-to-act-when-i-couldn-t-act-i_674347.jpg) > “I was asked to act when I couldn't act. I was asked to sing 'Funny Face' when I couldn't sing, and dance with Fred Astaire when I couldn't dance - and do all kinds of things I wasn't prepared for. Then I tried like mad to cope with it.” [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being forced into roles beyond one's abilities creates stress and a feeling of inadequacy. **In simple terms:** Pressure to perform beyond skill causes anxiety. Key Takeaway Seek realistic expectations and ask help. Themes self‑doubt performance pressure growth Mood anxious determined Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - career challenges - public speaking - creative projects - learning new skills Key Concepts impostor syndrome adaptability resilience Questions to Reflect On - What limits have you accepted as growth opportunities? - How can you request support without feeling inadequate? A Different Perspective Overcoming may not fully replace skill development. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) ## Related quotes > [I couldn't play ball. I couldn't dance. Luckily, the girls didn't want me. Not much I could do about that. So I started to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/i-couldn-t-play-ball-i-couldn-t-dance-luckily-the-girls-didn-t-want/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [I've always said that I couldn't dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-dynevor/i-ve-always-said-that-i-couldn-t-dance/) [Phoebe Dynevor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-dynevor/) > [“I did wear those shoes to my wedding, and I ended up twisting my ankle on the way out of the synagogue. I limped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/i-did-wear-those-shoes-to-my-wedding-and-i-ended-up-twisting-my-ankle/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [“But when he said he couldn’t shoot, it just seemed to make an odd sort of sense to tell him that Hermione couldn’t dance.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/but-when-he-said-he-couldn-t-shoot-it-just-seemed-to-make-an-odd-sort/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [I couldn't dance to save my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-shroff/i-couldn-t-dance-to-save-my-life/) [Jackie Shroff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-shroff/) > [“We danced together. We didn’t look graceful, but how could we? She only had one leg and I had my eyes on her friend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/we-danced-together-we-didn-t-look-graceful-but-how-could-we-she-only/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [For the amount of talent I had (and I couldn't dance, act, or tell a joke) I enjoyed a tremendous career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perry-como/for-the-amount-of-talent-i-had-and-i-couldn-t-dance-act-or-tell-a/) [Perry Como](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perry-como/) > [“I seem to remember a certain someone swearing that she couldn't dance at all. Obviously I must have been with her twin sister, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-kagawa/i-seem-to-remember-a-certain-someone-swearing-that-she-couldn-t-dance/) [Julie Kagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-kagawa/) > [I was out dancing with one actress or another. And that got press. Even when it didn't, the whole town knew I was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-romero/i-was-out-dancing-with-one-actress-or-another-and-that-got-press-even/) [Cesar Romero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-romero/) > [I think you can move to everything, but with some music you just want to sit still. Like Claude Debussy - I couldn't dance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-murphy/i-think-you-can-move-to-everything-but-with-some-music-you-just-want-2/) [Nick Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-murphy/) > [My running style was kind of just head-on, because I couldn't dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-campbell/my-running-style-was-kind-of-just-head-on-because-i-couldn-t-dance/) [Earl Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-campbell/) > [I actually started acting because I couldn't dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-wagner/i-actually-started-acting-because-i-couldn-t-dance/) [Lindsay Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-wagner/) > [There is a fault common to all singers. When they're among friends and are asked to sing they don't want to, and when they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/there-is-a-fault-common-to-all-singers-when-they-re-among-friends-and/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [I had serious performance stage fright. I kept my singing to the confines of my shower and car, while doing the dishes, and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-chamuel/i-had-serious-performance-stage-fright-i-kept-my-singing-to-the/) [Michelle Chamuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-chamuel/) > [After we covered Queen's 'Don't Stop Me Now,' Brian May and Roger Taylor sent us a bottle of champagne and asked us if we'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-fletcher/after-we-covered-queen-s-don-t-stop-me-now-brian-may-and-roger-taylor/) [Tom Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-fletcher/) ## More by Audrey Hepburn > [Water is life, and clean water means health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/water-is-life-and-clean-water-means-health/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [I don't bite you know ... unless it's called for,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/i-don-t-bite-you-know-unless-it-s-called-for/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [I don't need a bedroom to prove my womanliness. I can convey just as much sex appeal picking apples off a tree or standing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/i-don-t-need-a-bedroom-to-prove-my-womanliness-i-can-convey-just-as/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [You can only hope to get a combination of happy work and a happy life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/you-can-only-hope-to-get-a-combination-of-happy-work-and-a-happy-life/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [Always be a first-rate version of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/always-be-a-first-rate-version-of-yourself/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/true-beauty-in-a-woman-is-reflected-in-her-soul/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/for-lovely-eyes-seek-out-the-good-in-people/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [Promise me one thing: don't take me home until I'm drunk - very drunk indeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/promise-me-one-thing-don-t-take-me-home-until-i-m-drunk-very-drunk/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [ It's sad if people think that's (homemaking) a dull existance, \[but\] you can't just buy an apartment and furnish it and walk away. It's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/it-s-sad-if-people-think-that-s-homemaking-a-dull-existance-but-you/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it's the think I like the most, so laugh, It cures a multitude of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/i-love-people-who-make-me-laugh-i-honestly-think-it-s-the-think-i/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [My first big mission for UNICEF in Ethiopia was just to attract attention, before it was too late, to conditions which threatened the whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/my-first-big-mission-for-unicef-in-ethiopia-was-just-to-attract/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [I was born with an enrmous need for affection, and a terrible need to give it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/i-was-born-with-an-enrmous-need-for-affection-and-a-terrible-need-to/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [If my world were to cave in tomorrow, I would look back on all the pleasures, excitements and worthwhilenesses I have been lucky enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/if-my-world-were-to-cave-in-tomorrow-i-would-look-back-on-all-the/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [I've always had- how shall I say it? -the prize at the end. My whole life shows that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/i-ve-always-had-how-shall-i-say-it-the-prize-at-the-end-my-whole-life/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [I am not beautiful. My mother once called me an ugly duckling. But,listed separately, I have a few good features.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/i-am-not-beautiful-my-mother-once-called-me-an-ugly-duckling-but/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) [Explore all 213 Audrey Hepburn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) ## More Dance quotes > [When you go to a club it's not about being black or white or heavy or thick. I'm shaking my ass because I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/when-you-go-to-a-club-it-s-not-about-being-black-or-white-or-heavy-or/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I make dance music because I love to dance. But I want to think at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-make-dance-music-because-i-love-to-dance-but-i-want-to-think-at-the/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [I studied all kinds of dance, all types of music. I got good grades. I started hitting the recording studio around 13.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-derulo/i-studied-all-kinds-of-dance-all-types-of-music-i-got-good-grades-i/) [Jason Derulo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-derulo/) > [I like Sam Smith and Taylor Swift. I love pop music, but I also like Sam Smith's slow songs. That would be more to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maddie-ziegler/i-like-sam-smith-and-taylor-swift-i-love-pop-music-but-i-also-like/) [Maddie Ziegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maddie-ziegler/) > [I think it's useful to experience other types of dance and other cultures, and the life of a classical dancer these days is certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-bull/i-think-it-s-useful-to-experience-other-types-of-dance-and-other/) [Deborah Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-bull/) > [Everything in dancing is style, allusion, the essence of many thoughts and feelings. The abstraction of many moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-ailey/everything-in-dancing-is-style-allusion-the-essence-of-many-thoughts/) [Alvin Ailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-ailey/) > [I worked a lot in Chicago's theater scene as a fight choreographer. And so I do have a lot of experience in stage combat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/i-worked-a-lot-in-chicago-s-theater-scene-as-a-fight-choreographer/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) > [“dances with mine as if we’ve been doing this our whole”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-michaels/dances-with-mine-as-if-we-ve-been-doing-this-our-whole/) [Corinne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-michaels/) > [My body was so instrumental to how I took pictures: it was practically a dance. I used to use my legs a lot; now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-leibovitz/my-body-was-so-instrumental-to-how-i-took-pictures-it-was-practically/) [Annie Leibovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-leibovitz/) > [I would rather learn from one bird how to sing than to teach 10,000 stars how not to dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings/i-would-rather-learn-from-one-bird-how-to-sing-than-to-teach-10-000/) [e. e. cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings/) > [If you dance, you dance because you have to. Every dancer hurts, you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-dunham/if-you-dance-you-dance-because-you-have-to-every-dancer-hurts-you-know/) [Katherine Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-dunham/) > [I'm not a dancer. Never took a dance class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrishell-stause/i-m-not-a-dancer-never-took-a-dance-class/) [Chrishell Stause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrishell-stause/) > [Being fit is the easiest part of being a dance professional. I used to just throw on a backpack full of rocks and run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-du-beke/being-fit-is-the-easiest-part-of-being-a-dance-professional-i-used-to/) [Anton du Beke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-du-beke/) > [I'm a horrible dancer, but I wanted to record songs that made me want to dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lane/i-m-a-horrible-dancer-but-i-wanted-to-record-songs-that-made-me-want/) [Chris Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lane/) [Browse all 9,682 Dance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was asked to act when I couldn't act. I was asked to sing 'Funny Face' when I couldn't sing, and dance with Fred Astaire when I couldn't dance - and do all kinds of things I wasn't prepared for. Then I tried like mad to cope with it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Audrey Hepburn" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/i-was-asked-to-act-when-i-couldn-t-act-i-was-asked-to-sing-funny-face/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/i-was-asked-to-act-when-i-couldn-t-act-i-was-asked-to-sing-funny-face/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/audrey-hepburn-1706_dance_i-was-asked-to-act-when-i-couldn-t-act-i_674347.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/audrey-hepburn-1706_dance_i-was-asked-to-act-when-i-couldn-t-act-i_674347.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/audrey-hepburn-1706_dance_i-was-asked-to-act-when-i-couldn-t-act-i_674347.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was asked to act when I couldn't act. I was asked to sing 'Funny Face' when I couldn't sing, and dance…” — Audrey Hepburn", "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": "Audrey Hepburn", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was asked to act when...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/i-was-asked-to-act-when-i-couldn-t-act-i-was-asked-to-sing-funny-face/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/i-was-asked-to-act-when-i-couldn-t-act-i-was-asked-to-sing-funny-face/#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 } } ] } ```