--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I started acting when I was young, and I…" description: "\"I started acting when I was young, and I didn't go to drama school. It was always something that I did alongside going to school and being a normal per..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/210/bel-powley-16204_acting_i-started-acting-when-i-was-young-and-i_2229262.jpg" --- # I started acting when I was young, and I didn't go to… ![“I started acting when I was young, and I didn't go to drama school. It was always something that I did alongside going to school and being a normal person.” quote by Bel Powley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/210/bel-powley-16204_acting_i-started-acting-when-i-was-young-and-i_2229262.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/210/bel-powley-16204_acting_i-started-acting-when-i-was-young-and-i_2229262.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/210/bel-powley-16204_acting_i-started-acting-when-i-was-young-and-i_2229262.jpg) > “I started acting when I was young, and I didn't go to drama school. It was always something that I did alongside going to school and being a normal person.” [Bel Powley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-powley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Passion and practice can substitute formal training when pursuing a craft. **In simple terms:** Practice and passion can replace school. Key Takeaway Cultivate skill through experience. Themes learning passion self‑teaching Mood hopeful confident Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - school projects - community theater - online workshops - self‑directed study Key Concepts growth mindset experiential learning Questions to Reflect On - How does self‑learning shape your artistic voice? - What resources can you use to fill knowledge gaps? A Different Perspective Lack of formal credentials may limit certain opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Drama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama/) [Drama school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama-school/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [I've never been a career builder. I didn't go to drama school and hardly went to any school at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-whitelaw/i-ve-never-been-a-career-builder-i-didn-t-go-to-drama-school-and/) [Billie Whitelaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-whitelaw/) > [Because I didn't go to drama school, I didn't start in the business with any toolbox apart from enthusiasm and instinct. I'd throw everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hattie-morahan/because-i-didn-t-go-to-drama-school-i-didn-t-start-in-the-business/) [Hattie Morahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hattie-morahan/) > [I didn't go to drama school to be a musical theatre performer. I enjoyed it, but I didn't go to do that; I went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taron-egerton/i-didn-t-go-to-drama-school-to-be-a-musical-theatre-performer-i/) [Taron Egerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taron-egerton/) > [The way that I work is I didn't go to drama school or anything like that so I have no choice but to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esme-creed-miles/the-way-that-i-work-is-i-didn-t-go-to-drama-school-or-anything-like/) [Esme Creed-Miles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esme-creed-miles/) > [I think the point to be understood is that we're all different. I've never been a fan of theories of acting. I didn't go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/i-think-the-point-to-be-understood-is-that-we-re-all-different-i-ve/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [I didn't go to drama school. It wasn't in the pay grade of my family at all. I looked into some of the schools…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lee-o-donnell/i-didn-t-go-to-drama-school-it-wasn-t-in-the-pay-grade-of-my-family/) [Jamie-Lee O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lee-o-donnell/) > [I didn't get into drama school after university. Looking back, I think I was really bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lolly-adefope/i-didn-t-get-into-drama-school-after-university-looking-back-i-think/) [Lolly Adefope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lolly-adefope/) > [I didn't go to drama school, so I feel like I did all my growing up on 'Hollyoaks.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathalie-emmanuel/i-didn-t-go-to-drama-school-so-i-feel-like-i-did-all-my-growing-up-on/) [Nathalie Emmanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathalie-emmanuel/) > [A lot of people say I've missed out on a lot because I started acting at such a young age. What's so obvious to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-dillon/a-lot-of-people-say-i-ve-missed-out-on-a-lot-because-i-started-acting/) [Matt Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-dillon/) > [I started acting young, and I was a dramatic actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-kane/i-started-acting-young-and-i-was-a-dramatic-actress/) [Carol Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-kane/) > [I didn't have drama in high school. So when I graduated high school and started at Wayne State in Detroit, I told my parents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-joy-winans/i-didn-t-have-drama-in-high-school-so-when-i-graduated-high-school/) [Deborah Joy Winans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-joy-winans/) > [I started acting when I was seven. And I went to a local drama school which is very well-known in London. Because of that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomie-harris/i-started-acting-when-i-was-seven-and-i-went-to-a-local-drama-school/) [Naomie Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomie-harris/) > [I started acting because I was offered films, and I wanted to go to drama school and do the film because I'm the kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-haydon/i-started-acting-because-i-was-offered-films-and-i-wanted-to-go-to/) [Lisa Haydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-haydon/) > [“Vaughn folded his arms. ‘The reason why you’ve lasted longer than most of your erstwhile colleagues is because you don’t do drama. I don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarra-manning/vaughn-folded-his-arms-the-reason-why-you-ve-lasted-longer-than-most/) [Sarra Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarra-manning/) > [I don't feel like I properly started acting until I did my first play, 'Tusk, Tusk.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-powley/i-don-t-feel-like-i-properly-started-acting-until-i-did-my-first-play/) [Bel Powley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-powley/) ## More by Bel Powley > [Most of my really strong friendships are with people I've known all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-powley/most-of-my-really-strong-friendships-are-with-people-i-ve-known-all/) [Bel Powley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-powley/) > [I'm so open to different things. The only thing I'd say is I've set the bar pretty high in terms of good female roles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-powley/i-m-so-open-to-different-things-the-only-thing-i-d-say-is-i-ve-set/) [Bel Powley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-powley/) > [I loved history and Eastern European politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-powley/i-loved-history-and-eastern-european-politics/) [Bel Powley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-powley/) > ['70s music is the kind of music I listen to. '70s clothes, I adore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-powley/70s-music-is-the-kind-of-music-i-listen-to-70s-clothes-i-adore/) [Bel Powley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-powley/) > [Let's just say musicals aren't really my thing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-powley/let-s-just-say-musicals-aren-t-really-my-thing/) [Bel Powley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-powley/) > [My first professional audition as an actor was when I was about 12 years old, and it was for a children's television show called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-powley/my-first-professional-audition-as-an-actor-was-when-i-was-about-12/) [Bel Powley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-powley/) > [I think people get confused: people think 'strong female characters' mean you need to play an action figure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-powley/i-think-people-get-confused-people-think-strong-female-characters/) [Bel Powley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-powley/) > [I feel like all teenagers can relate to that feeling of being, like, so highly strung, and everything is so on the surface, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-powley/i-feel-like-all-teenagers-can-relate-to-that-feeling-of-being-like-so/) [Bel Powley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-powley/) > [I was really quite geeky at school. At one point, I wanted to be prime minister or a mathematician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-powley/i-was-really-quite-geeky-at-school-at-one-point-i-wanted-to-be-prime/) [Bel Powley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-powley/) > [I want to play a range, from victims to strong people, just as long as it's a well-rounded character. And it's not a woman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-powley/i-want-to-play-a-range-from-victims-to-strong-people-just-as-long-as/) [Bel Powley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-powley/) > [I don't feel like I properly started acting until I did my first play, 'Tusk, Tusk.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-powley/i-don-t-feel-like-i-properly-started-acting-until-i-did-my-first-play/) [Bel Powley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-powley/) > [All my friends were off on gap years, so going to New York alone, at the age of 18, was kind of my flying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-powley/all-my-friends-were-off-on-gap-years-so-going-to-new-york-alone-at/) [Bel Powley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-powley/) > [I've set the bar high in terms of having a very feminist attitude towards how I present my body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-powley/i-ve-set-the-bar-high-in-terms-of-having-a-very-feminist-attitude/) [Bel Powley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-powley/) > [I was doing one of my first plays at the Royal Court, and Matt LeBlanc came to see the play. He came backstage afterwards,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-powley/i-was-doing-one-of-my-first-plays-at-the-royal-court-and-matt-leblanc/) [Bel Powley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-powley/) > [I want to keep playing strong female roles. I don't mean superheroes, but women who are really alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-powley/i-want-to-keep-playing-strong-female-roles-i-don-t-mean-superheroes/) [Bel Powley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-powley/) [Explore all 40 Bel Powley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-powley/) ## 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 > [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 started acting when I was young, and I didn't go to drama school. 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