--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Then there are actors my age like Ethan…" description: "\"Then there are actors my age like Ethan Hawke, he's in 'Moby Dick,' I love his work. I've been lucky. Alfred Molina, he has real class.\" — Billy Boyd" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a60/billy-boyd-20206_actor_then-there-are-actors-my-age-like-ethan_117327.png" --- # Then there are actors my age like Ethan Hawke, he's in… ![“Then there are actors my age like Ethan Hawke, he's in 'Moby Dick,' I love his work. I've been lucky. Alfred Molina, he has real class.” quote by Billy Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a60/billy-boyd-20206_actor_then-there-are-actors-my-age-like-ethan_117327.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a60/billy-boyd-20206_actor_then-there-are-actors-my-age-like-ethan_117327.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a60/billy-boyd-20206_actor_then-there-are-actors-my-age-like-ethan_117327.png) > “Then there are actors my age like Ethan Hawke, he's in 'Moby Dick,' I love his work. I've been lucky. Alfred Molina, he has real class.” [Billy Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-boyd/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker admires contemporary actors like Ethan Hawke and Alfred Molina, noting their talent and class, and feels fortunate to have experienced their work. **In simple terms:** Appreciates talented actors and feels lucky to have seen them. Key Takeaway Recognition of artistic excellence and personal gratitude. Themes celebrity admiration artistic talent personal gratitude Mood admiring reflective Type personal anecdote celebratory When to use this quote - discussing favorite movies with friends - writing a film review - attending a film festival Key Concepts subjective taste cultural influence Practical Applications - curate a personal watchlist of acclaimed actors - share recommendations on social media Questions to Reflect On - What makes an actor's performance feel 'classy' to you? - How does personal exposure to art shape your values? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Lucky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lucky/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moby/) [Moby Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moby-dick/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [No highbrow literary type would ever say 'Moby Dick' is good but it's just about a whale, or a Jane Austen would be important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-hannah/no-highbrow-literary-type-would-ever-say-moby-dick-is-good-but-it-s/) [Sophie Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-hannah/) > [I'm so optimistic, I'd go after Moby Dick in a rowboat and take the tartar sauce with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/i-m-so-optimistic-i-d-go-after-moby-dick-in-a-rowboat-and-take-the/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [The thing about Moby Dick is that, at heart, it's a very simple plot - there's only one white whale in the ocean. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-o-connor/the-thing-about-moby-dick-is-that-at-heart-it-s-a-very-simple-plot/) [Gavin O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-o-connor/) > ['Baltimore' the series is inspired by all kinds of things, from 'Moby Dick' to 'Dracula.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-golden/baltimore-the-series-is-inspired-by-all-kinds-of-things-from-moby/) [Christopher Golden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-golden/) > [As any student of literature knows, the books that last are often not the books that are most popular when they are written. Both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/as-any-student-of-literature-knows-the-books-that-last-are-often-not/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) > [Moby Dick - that book is so amazing. I just realized that it starts with two characters meeting in bed; that's how my book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/moby-dick-that-book-is-so-amazing-i-just-realized-that-it-starts-with/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [When facing a difficult task, act as though it is impossible to fail. If you are going after Moby Dick, take along the tartar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/when-facing-a-difficult-task-act-as-though-it-is-impossible-to-fail/) [H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) > [Sometimes, readers, when they're young, are given, say, a book like 'Moby Dick' to read. And it is an interesting, complicated book, but it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/sometimes-readers-when-they-re-young-are-given-say-a-book-like-moby/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [“Now the various species of whales need some sort of popular comprehensive classification, if only an easy outline one for the present, hereafter to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/now-the-various-species-of-whales-need-some-sort-of-popular/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [I think people have the wrong idea of 'Moby Dick' as this somber, boring thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-harbach/i-think-people-have-the-wrong-idea-of-moby-dick-as-this-somber-boring/) [Chad Harbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-harbach/) > [I love to read. I was in AP English in high school, and we were assigned books every few months. 'Moby Dick' and 'The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-boldman/i-love-to-read-i-was-in-ap-english-in-high-school-and-we-were/) [Spencer Boldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-boldman/) > [If you live on Nantucket, you can't avoid its history, and 'Moby Dick' is the way most of us get into Nantucket's history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-philbrick/if-you-live-on-nantucket-you-can-t-avoid-its-history-and-moby-dick-is/) [Nathaniel Philbrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-philbrick/) > [Alfred Molina is one of the nicest people on the planet and a complete master.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/alfred-molina-is-one-of-the-nicest-people-on-the-planet-and-a/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [“Everyone experiences grace, even if they don't realize it. It's kind of like Moby's music. You could ask your average sixty-something-year-old retired banker in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathleen-falsani/everyone-experiences-grace-even-if-they-don-t-realize-it-it-s-kind-of/) [Cathleen Falsani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathleen-falsani/) > [In productions such as 'Anna Bolena' and 'Rigoletto,' the costumes are tailored, and they're tight. In 'Moby,' it's like you're wearing pajamas, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-costello/in-productions-such-as-anna-bolena-and-rigoletto-the-costumes-are/) [Stephen Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-costello/) ## More by Billy Boyd > [Hobbits are a lot like Scots. It’s all about nature and enjoying their land, which is a very Scottish thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-boyd/hobbits-are-a-lot-like-scots-it-s-all-about-nature-and-enjoying-their/) [Billy Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-boyd/) > [I wasn't into Tolkien at school really. But the story is timeless, the themes that it touches on are contained in cultures all around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-boyd/i-wasn-t-into-tolkien-at-school-really-but-the-story-is-timeless-the/) [Billy Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-boyd/) > [I loved going surfing down on Venice Beach. I'd go out with a board under my arm and think, 'I can't do that in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-boyd/i-loved-going-surfing-down-on-venice-beach-i-d-go-out-with-a-board/) [Billy Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-boyd/) > [A lot of ideas took us to dead ends or we found the tone wasn’t just right. I think we discovered very quickly this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-boyd/a-lot-of-ideas-took-us-to-dead-ends-or-we-found-the-tone-wasn-t-just/) [Billy Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-boyd/) > [ Strangely enough, the first time I tried to read \[The Lord of the Rings\] I was on holiday in Florida. I dropped it in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-boyd/strangely-enough-the-first-time-i-tried-to-read-the-lord-of-the-rings/) [Billy Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-boyd/) > [The club thing is a world people can associate with, letting your hair down at the weekend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-boyd/the-club-thing-is-a-world-people-can-associate-with-letting-your-hair/) [Billy Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-boyd/) > [Life in LA is not lying in the sun for months. It is having a 4pm meeting and leaving at noon to sit in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-boyd/life-in-la-is-not-lying-in-the-sun-for-months-it-is-having-a-4pm/) [Billy Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-boyd/) > [I'd be lying if I said it wasn't fun to go to these nights out, like the opening of a film or something, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-boyd/i-d-be-lying-if-i-said-it-wasn-t-fun-to-go-to-these-nights-out-like/) [Billy Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-boyd/) > [I think the ears are a strange look for me. Quite big. But I loved the hair down to my shoulders. It felt right.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-boyd/i-think-the-ears-are-a-strange-look-for-me-quite-big-but-i-loved-the/) [Billy Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-boyd/) > [I loved going surfing down on Venice Beach. Id go out with a board under my arm and think, I cant do that in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-boyd/i-loved-going-surfing-down-on-venice-beach-id-go-out-with-a-board/) [Billy Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-boyd/) > [I think I have a gift, but I haven't really opened that gift yet and given it to myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-boyd/i-think-i-have-a-gift-but-i-haven-t-really-opened-that-gift-yet-and/) [Billy Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-boyd/) > [To play one of the main characters in it, it's not the kind of thing you don't do. Oh, I'd rather not play Pippin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-boyd/to-play-one-of-the-main-characters-in-it-it-s-not-the-kind-of-thing/) [Billy Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-boyd/) > [My worst habit is whistling while I sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-boyd/my-worst-habit-is-whistling-while-i-sleep/) [Billy Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-boyd/) > [I'd like to win a Booker Prize for writing. A Nobel Peace Prize for my work in peace... and I think that'll probably do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-boyd/i-d-like-to-win-a-booker-prize-for-writing-a-nobel-peace-prize-for-my/) [Billy Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-boyd/) > [I was probably about fourteen I think, and probably like every boy who's fourteen that writes a song, it was about a girl. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-boyd/i-was-probably-about-fourteen-i-think-and-probably-like-every-boy-who/) [Billy Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-boyd/) [Explore all 31 Billy Boyd quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-boyd/) ## 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. 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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! 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