--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Brit Marling smartest girl I've ever met…" description: "\"Brit Marling smartest girl I've ever met. Hands down. Brilliant. Her story? She had a graduate degree from a top tier school and turned down a job with..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b58/billy-magnussen-26242_brilliant_brit-marling-smartest-girl-i-ve-ever-met_1705392.jpg" --- # Brit Marling smartest girl I've ever met. Hands down… ![“Brit Marling smartest girl I've ever met. Hands down. Brilliant. Her story? She had a graduate degree from a top tier school and turned down a job with some big company. She went to LA, said she was going to be an actress. She wasn't getting auditions, so she started writing her own films.” quote by Billy Magnussen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b58/billy-magnussen-26242_brilliant_brit-marling-smartest-girl-i-ve-ever-met_1705392.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b58/billy-magnussen-26242_brilliant_brit-marling-smartest-girl-i-ve-ever-met_1705392.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b58/billy-magnussen-26242_brilliant_brit-marling-smartest-girl-i-ve-ever-met_1705392.jpg) > “Brit Marling smartest girl I've ever met. Hands down. Brilliant. Her story? She had a graduate degree from a top tier school and turned down a job with some big company. She went to LA, said she was going to be an actress. She wasn't getting auditions, so she started writing her own films.” [Billy Magnussen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-magnussen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Brit Marling chose creative independence over corporate security, proving talent thrives on self‑driven projects. **In simple terms:** She left a big job to pursue acting and writing. Key Takeaway Pursue personal passion despite uncertainty. Themes career creativity independence risk self‑direction Mood inspirational reflective Type motivational career When to use this quote - career counseling - creative workshops - industry networking - personal branding Key Concepts entrepreneurial spirit career pivot artistic integrity Questions to Reflect On - What risks are worth taking for creative freedom? - How can one sustain themselves while following passion? A Different Perspective Such paths can be financially unstable and lack guaranteed success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brilliant/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girl/) [Graduates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduates/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [If the opportunities are not being presented to me, I'm going to take the reins and do it. Brit Marling was not waiting for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-aselton/if-the-opportunities-are-not-being-presented-to-me-i-m-going-to-take/) [Katie Aselton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-aselton/) > [I've been a writer since I was 13. I've been writing scripts and having pitch meetings. So, when I do see people like Brit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldis-hodge/i-ve-been-a-writer-since-i-was-13-i-ve-been-writing-scripts-and/) [Aldis Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldis-hodge/) > [Brit Marling is very positive, very professional, very encouraging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-van-etten/brit-marling-is-very-positive-very-professional-very-encouraging/) [Sharon Van Etten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-van-etten/) > [Being an actress wasn't a plan at all, so what's happened to me is very strange. Life isn't very normal, even though I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabourey-sidibe/being-an-actress-wasn-t-a-plan-at-all-so-what-s-happened-to-me-is/) [Gabourey Sidibe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabourey-sidibe/) > [I always wanted to be a good actress and a serious actress. I wasn't in the profession to, quote-unquote, meet the stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-kane/i-always-wanted-to-be-a-good-actress-and-a-serious-actress-i-wasn-t/) [Carol Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-kane/) > [I didn't want to be an actress. It wasn't a dream. I didn't have any dreams at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandrine-bonnaire/i-didn-t-want-to-be-an-actress-it-wasn-t-a-dream-i-didn-t-have-any/) [Sandrine Bonnaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandrine-bonnaire/) > [At the age of 16, I decided to rebel and become an actress. I wasn't happy with rules and regulations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-hope/at-the-age-of-16-i-decided-to-rebel-and-become-an-actress-i-wasn-t/) [Leslie Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-hope/) > [If I wasn't an actress and I wasn't Stifler's mom, my life would be so dull.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-coolidge/if-i-wasn-t-an-actress-and-i-wasn-t-stifler-s-mom-my-life-would-be-so/) [Jennifer Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-coolidge/) > [I enjoyed acting growing up; I did musical theater. I had a secret desire to be a television and movie actress, but it wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-schull/i-enjoyed-acting-growing-up-i-did-musical-theater-i-had-a-secret/) [Amanda Schull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-schull/) > [I was trained as an actress. But I wasn't a very convincing actress, so I started doing punk poetry and then fell into doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-eclair/i-was-trained-as-an-actress-but-i-wasn-t-a-very-convincing-actress-so/) [Jenny Eclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-eclair/) > [My dad always told me that I should have been an actress, but that wasn't really my main focus. I really love to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-fox/my-dad-always-told-me-that-i-should-have-been-an-actress-but-that/) [Julia Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-fox/) > [I always wanted to be an actress. And it wasn't ego. I felt so little about myself, considered myself such a sparrow. Not just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-bay/i-always-wanted-to-be-an-actress-and-it-wasn-t-ego-i-felt-so-little/) Frances Bay > [Being an actress wasn't realistic. I knew that I was going to have to do it in a way that would speak to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-rodriguez/being-an-actress-wasn-t-realistic-i-knew-that-i-was-going-to-have-to/) [Gina Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-rodriguez/) > [When I started, my mother was already an actress and I wasn't keen on being one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/supriya-pathak/when-i-started-my-mother-was-already-an-actress-and-i-wasn-t-keen-on/) [Supriya Pathak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/supriya-pathak/) > [As a means to an end, modelling was good, but I had to distance myself from it when I started working as an actress,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-chan/as-a-means-to-an-end-modelling-was-good-but-i-had-to-distance-myself/) [Gemma Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-chan/) ## More by Billy Magnussen > [It's one thing believing in yourself, it's another thing having other people believe in you, and that is the greatest gift, honestly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-magnussen/it-s-one-thing-believing-in-yourself-it-s-another-thing-having-other/) [Billy Magnussen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-magnussen/) > [I eat eight times a day. But it's what my intake is. I eat all the time, but it's good stuff. You want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-magnussen/i-eat-eight-times-a-day-but-it-s-what-my-intake-is-i-eat-all-the-time/) [Billy Magnussen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-magnussen/) > [I want to be known for my performances and doing my craft well, not for funny stuff I post on Twitter or whatever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-magnussen/i-want-to-be-known-for-my-performances-and-doing-my-craft-well-not/) [Billy Magnussen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-magnussen/) > [I have just gained a deeper and deeper respect for acting and the whole art of it because you're really trying to live a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-magnussen/i-have-just-gained-a-deeper-and-deeper-respect-for-acting-and-the/) [Billy Magnussen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-magnussen/) > [That's the difference between working on film and working in a play. In a play, you work on it, and you live in it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-magnussen/that-s-the-difference-between-working-on-film-and-working-in-a-play/) [Billy Magnussen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-magnussen/) > [I'm not a big TV watcher guy; I like being outside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-magnussen/i-m-not-a-big-tv-watcher-guy-i-like-being-outside/) [Billy Magnussen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-magnussen/) > [I actually did Shakespeare when I was at North Carolina School of the Arts. I studied with Gerald Freedman and Mary Irwin - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-magnussen/i-actually-did-shakespeare-when-i-was-at-north-carolina-school-of-the/) [Billy Magnussen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-magnussen/) > [I want to go base-jumping off Angel Falls and then canoeing down that river that goes east. That's what I really wanna do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-magnussen/i-want-to-go-base-jumping-off-angel-falls-and-then-canoeing-down-that/) [Billy Magnussen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-magnussen/) > [I don't sing lead - I am not the lead singer - but I do sing some stuff sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-magnussen/i-don-t-sing-lead-i-am-not-the-lead-singer-but-i-do-sing-some-stuff/) [Billy Magnussen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-magnussen/) > [There's nothing better than hearing someone laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-magnussen/there-s-nothing-better-than-hearing-someone-laugh/) [Billy Magnussen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-magnussen/) > [I would totally, if Alan Cumming is tired of doing Cabaret, I'd be like, 'I'll do it tonight.' I would have such a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-magnussen/i-would-totally-if-alan-cumming-is-tired-of-doing-cabaret-i-d-be-like/) [Billy Magnussen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-magnussen/) > [I really think you can manifest your dreams. You can manifest your destiny. If you want something hard enough and you're willing to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-magnussen/i-really-think-you-can-manifest-your-dreams-you-can-manifest-your/) [Billy Magnussen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-magnussen/) > [I couldn't be more thankful to get my start on a soap opera. It was the hardest job I ever had. Got to practice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-magnussen/i-couldn-t-be-more-thankful-to-get-my-start-on-a-soap-opera-it-was/) [Billy Magnussen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-magnussen/) > [We were on As the World Turns together with Trevor Vaughn. We played brothers on the show. Our friendship started there. We would punch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-magnussen/we-were-on-as-the-world-turns-together-with-trevor-vaughn-we-played/) [Billy Magnussen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-magnussen/) > [I was always into sports and a lot of physical activities. My dad was a kickboxer and a body builder. My mom was an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-magnussen/i-was-always-into-sports-and-a-lot-of-physical-activities-my-dad-was/) [Billy Magnussen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-magnussen/) [Explore all 22 Billy Magnussen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-magnussen/) ## 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! 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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": "Brit Marling smartest girl I've ever met. Hands down. Brilliant. Her story? She had a graduate degree from a top tier school and turned down a job with some big company. She went to LA, said she was going to be an actress. 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