--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It took several years of hard work in…" description: "\"It took several years of hard work in small roles before I attained stardom.\" — Bela Lugosi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46a/bela-lugosi-12125_actor_it-took-several-years-of-hard-work-in-sm_73974.jpg" --- # It took several years of hard work in small roles before I… ![“It took several years of hard work in small roles before I attained stardom.” quote by Bela Lugosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46a/bela-lugosi-12125_actor_it-took-several-years-of-hard-work-in-sm_73974.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46a/bela-lugosi-12125_actor_it-took-several-years-of-hard-work-in-sm_73974.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46a/bela-lugosi-12125_actor_it-took-several-years-of-hard-work-in-sm_73974.jpg) > “It took several years of hard work in small roles before I attained stardom.” [Bela Lugosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-lugosi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Persistence in modest positions builds the experience and reputation needed for breakthrough success. **In simple terms:** Hard work precedes fame. Key Takeaway Success often follows years of unnoticed effort. Themes perseverance career growth humility skill development recognition Mood determined hopeful Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - early career - career transition - industry breakthrough Key Concepts hard work small roles stardom Practical Applications - career planning - personal development Questions to Reflect On - What small steps can you take today toward a larger goal? - How does humility shape long‑term achievement? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Stardom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stardom/) ## Related quotes > [The fact that I had attained stardom never affected me too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammad-azharuddin/the-fact-that-i-had-attained-stardom-never-affected-me-too-much/) [Mohammad Azharuddin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammad-azharuddin/) > [It took me years to live down Dracula and convince the film producers that I would play almost any other type of role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-lugosi/it-took-me-years-to-live-down-dracula-and-convince-the-film-producers/) [Bela Lugosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-lugosi/) > [A lot of times people have issues with me because they don't understand where I'm coming from and haven't seen the years and years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/girl-talk/a-lot-of-times-people-have-issues-with-me-because-they-don-t/) [Girl Talk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/girl-talk/) > [I just found over the years that it's very hard to change people's perception of what it is that you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-hay/i-just-found-over-the-years-that-it-s-very-hard-to-change-people-s/) [Colin Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-hay/) > [“But the years between now and then had been hard ones—and compassion was a soft emotion, easily eroded by circumstance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/but-the-years-between-now-and-then-had-been-hard-ones-and-compassion/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [My aspiration was to write a book that you could still read in 10 years. That's hard. Then you start doubting every sentence you write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/my-aspiration-was-to-write-a-book-that-you-could-still-read-in-10/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“But he was ecstatic, because the prospect of those endless years of hard labor did not seem like a burden to him. Bill Gates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/but-he-was-ecstatic-because-the-prospect-of-those-endless-years-of/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [Time. There seems to be vast quantities of the stuff spooling around me in all directions, everywhere i look. Days and hours. Weeks and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-bank/time-there-seems-to-be-vast-quantities-of-the-stuff-spooling-around/) [Melissa Bank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-bank/) > [When I look at my parents I'm like, 'This is easy. Staying together for 35 years? How hard is that?' They're like, 'Very hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-krasinski/when-i-look-at-my-parents-i-m-like-this-is-easy-staying-together-for/) [John Krasinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-krasinski/) > [It was a very difficult 10 years of very hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-skilling/it-was-a-very-difficult-10-years-of-very-hard-work/) [Jeffrey Skilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-skilling/) > [The UFC has been so good to me over the years, and it is hard to leave this company and this sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mirko-cro-cop/the-ufc-has-been-so-good-to-me-over-the-years-and-it-is-hard-to-leave/) [Mirko Cro Cop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mirko-cro-cop/) > [...the hard work and poverty of my childhoodturned out to be my greatest asset in later years. Nothing could ever seem too hard after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-sanders/the-hard-work-and-poverty-of-my-childhoodturned-out-to-be-my-greatest/) [Sue Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-sanders/) > [Perseverance has kept me going over the years. Things rarely happen overnight. Filmmakers should be prepared for many years of hard work. The sheer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/perseverance-has-kept-me-going-over-the-years-things-rarely-happen/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [I've tried to do away with lying in my life in the last few years, but it's hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-c-k/i-ve-tried-to-do-away-with-lying-in-my-life-in-the-last-few-years-but/) [Louis C. K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-c-k/) > [People are still crazy about Python after twenty-five years, which I find hard to believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-palin/people-are-still-crazy-about-python-after-twenty-five-years-which-i/) [Michael Palin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-palin/) ## More by Bela Lugosi > [Every producer in Hollywood had set me down as a type. I was both amused and disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-lugosi/every-producer-in-hollywood-had-set-me-down-as-a-type-i-was-both/) [Bela Lugosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-lugosi/) > [The former ruling class kept the community of actors in ignorance by means of various lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-lugosi/the-former-ruling-class-kept-the-community-of-actors-in-ignorance-by/) [Bela Lugosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-lugosi/) > [It is women who bear the race in bloody agony. Suffering is a kind of horror. Blood is a kind of horror. Women are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-lugosi/it-is-women-who-bear-the-race-in-bloody-agony-suffering-is-a-kind-of/) [Bela Lugosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-lugosi/) > [In Hungary, acting is a career for which one fits himself as earnestly as one studies for a degree in medicine, law, or philosophy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-lugosi/in-hungary-acting-is-a-career-for-which-one-fits-himself-as-earnestly/) [Bela Lugosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-lugosi/) > [I have lived too completely. I think I have known every human emotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-lugosi/i-have-lived-too-completely-i-think-i-have-known-every-human-emotion/) [Bela Lugosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-lugosi/) > [I've been using narcotics for 20 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-lugosi/i-ve-been-using-narcotics-for-20-years/) [Bela Lugosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-lugosi/) > [I will not be tortured, I tear torture out of myself by torturing you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-lugosi/i-will-not-be-tortured-i-tear-torture-out-of-myself-by-torturing-you/) [Bela Lugosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-lugosi/) > [It was hell to go through what I went through. I didn't know I had so many friends. Many people gave a damn about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-lugosi/it-was-hell-to-go-through-what-i-went-through-i-didn-t-know-i-had-so/) [Bela Lugosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-lugosi/) > [In Hungary, acting is a profession. In America, it is a decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-lugosi/in-hungary-acting-is-a-profession-in-america-it-is-a-decision/) [Bela Lugosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-lugosi/) > [Death, the final, triumphant lover.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-lugosi/death-the-final-triumphant-lover/) [Bela Lugosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-lugosi/) > [A screen actor is compensated in the knowledge that millions will see his performance at one time, where only hundreds will see it on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-lugosi/a-screen-actor-is-compensated-in-the-knowledge-that-millions-will-see/) [Bela Lugosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-lugosi/) > [You can't make people believe in you if you play a horror part with your tongue in your cheek.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-lugosi/you-can-t-make-people-believe-in-you-if-you-play-a-horror-part-with/) [Bela Lugosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-lugosi/) > [I don't have a dime left. I am dependent on my friends for food and a small old-age pension.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-lugosi/i-don-t-have-a-dime-left-i-am-dependent-on-my-friends-for-food-and-a/) [Bela Lugosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-lugosi/) > [Because of my language and the pantomime with which most Europeans accompany their speech, I was catalogued as a heavy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-lugosi/because-of-my-language-and-the-pantomime-with-which-most-europeans/) [Bela Lugosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-lugosi/) > [To portray a maniac offers a compelling challenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-lugosi/to-portray-a-maniac-offers-a-compelling-challenge/) [Bela Lugosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-lugosi/) [Explore all 56 Bela Lugosi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-lugosi/) ## 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": "It took several years of hard work in small roles before I attained stardom.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bela Lugosi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-lugosi/it-took-several-years-of-hard-work-in-small-roles-before-i-attained/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-lugosi/it-took-several-years-of-hard-work-in-small-roles-before-i-attained/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46a/bela-lugosi-12125_actor_it-took-several-years-of-hard-work-in-sm_73974.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46a/bela-lugosi-12125_actor_it-took-several-years-of-hard-work-in-sm_73974.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46a/bela-lugosi-12125_actor_it-took-several-years-of-hard-work-in-sm_73974.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It took several years of hard work in small roles before I attained stardom.” — Bela Lugosi", "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": "Bela Lugosi", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-lugosi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It took several years of hard...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-lugosi/it-took-several-years-of-hard-work-in-small-roles-before-i-attained/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-lugosi/it-took-several-years-of-hard-work-in-small-roles-before-i-attained/#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 } } ] } ```