--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was beginning, a young actor could…" description: "\"When I was beginning, a young actor could go from repertory company to repertory company. I did that and loved it. I was also lucky.\" — Blythe Danner" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f10/blythe-danner-13930_actor_when-i-was-beginning-a-young-actor-could_2704647.jpg" --- # When I was beginning, a young actor could go from… ![“When I was beginning, a young actor could go from repertory company to repertory company. I did that and loved it. I was also lucky.” quote by Blythe Danner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f10/blythe-danner-13930_actor_when-i-was-beginning-a-young-actor-could_2704647.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f10/blythe-danner-13930_actor_when-i-was-beginning-a-young-actor-could_2704647.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f10/blythe-danner-13930_actor_when-i-was-beginning-a-young-actor-could_2704647.jpg) > “When I was beginning, a young actor could go from repertory company to repertory company. I did that and loved it. I was also lucky.” [Blythe Danner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blythe-danner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early career mobility allowed growth through varied theater experiences, highlighting luck and love for the craft. **In simple terms:** Varied roles foster growth and joy. Key Takeaway Embrace diverse opportunities. Themes career growth luck passion Mood optimistic reflective Type career inspirational When to use this quote - acting - career pivots - creative industries - personal development Key Concepts professional development networking Questions to Reflect On - How can you create varied experiences? - What role does luck play in success? A Different Perspective Opportunities may be limited for many. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actor Repertory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-repertory-2092178/) [Also](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/also/) [Beginning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginning/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Company Repertory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company-repertory-2759856/) [Could](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/could/) [Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did/) [Go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/go/) [Loved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loved/) [Loved Lucky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loved-lucky-2759857/) [Lucky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lucky/) [Repertory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repertory/) [Repertory Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repertory-company-467347/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) [Young actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-actor/) ## Related quotes > [For two years I was a member of a repertory company in Los Angeles, doing mostly original material, plays written by the director.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-norton/for-two-years-i-was-a-member-of-a-repertory-company-in-los-angeles/) [Judy Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-norton/) > [Each writer is born with a repertory company in his head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/each-writer-is-born-with-a-repertory-company-in-his-head/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Animation functions like a repertory company. It requires a stable group of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-minkoff/animation-functions-like-a-repertory-company-it-requires-a-stable/) [Rob Minkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-minkoff/) > [“Each writer is born with a repertory company in his head. Shakespeare has perhaps 20 players. … I have 10 or so, and that’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/each-writer-is-born-with-a-repertory-company-in-his-head-shakespeare/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Running my show is really like an actor being in repertory but where, in one day in one performance, you do scenes from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cavett/running-my-show-is-really-like-an-actor-being-in-repertory-but-where/) [Dick Cavett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cavett/) > [I wrote 'The Room', 'The Birthday Party', and 'The Dumb Waiter' in 1957, I was acting all the time in a repertory company, doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-pinter/i-wrote-the-room-the-birthday-party-and-the-dumb-waiter-in-1957-i-was/) [Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) > [I was in the movies. I danced, I sang, I learned to work in front of a camera. It was like being in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wagner/i-was-in-the-movies-i-danced-i-sang-i-learned-to-work-in-front-of-a/) [Robert Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wagner/) > [I started at Howard in the drama department. At the same time, I was a fledgling member of the Black Repertory Company in Washington,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-whitfield/i-started-at-howard-in-the-drama-department-at-the-same-time-i-was-a/) [Lynn Whitfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-whitfield/) > [Having that college-town atmosphere with a live repertory company available was a real gift. I found myself gravitating toward the theater from about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/having-that-college-town-atmosphere-with-a-live-repertory-company/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [I also try to surround myself with people I love - make a family out of the company. So I tend to use the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-brooks/i-also-try-to-surround-myself-with-people-i-love-make-a-family-out-of/) [Mel Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-brooks/) > [It's important that we have the traditional operas and the repertory, but we should also have something new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wilson/it-s-important-that-we-have-the-traditional-operas-and-the-repertory/) [Robert Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wilson/) > [Ballet in September used to be dead as a dodo. Now, with City Ballet's ingenious decision to give us four weeks of repertory in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-gottlieb/ballet-in-september-used-to-be-dead-as-a-dodo-now-with-city-ballet-s/) [Robert Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-gottlieb/) > [When I left Cambridge, I applied to regional repertory theaters in the U.K. and got accepted by one of them... And here I am,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/when-i-left-cambridge-i-applied-to-regional-repertory-theaters-in-the/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [Repertory theater is all about being part of the whole, one of the many colors in this vast palette.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hanks/repertory-theater-is-all-about-being-part-of-the-whole-one-of-the/) [Tom Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hanks/) > [I was a repertory actor, which meant that I did a play every week. I was a different character every week; for a year,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/i-was-a-repertory-actor-which-meant-that-i-did-a-play-every-week-i/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) ## More by Blythe Danner > [I really pulled back on my career when the kids were young and my husband and I made a pact never to work while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blythe-danner/i-really-pulled-back-on-my-career-when-the-kids-were-young-and-my/) [Blythe Danner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blythe-danner/) > [I feel a little guilty only being an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blythe-danner/i-feel-a-little-guilty-only-being-an-actor/) [Blythe Danner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blythe-danner/) > [Part of me says that no life will work if I can't make this one right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blythe-danner/part-of-me-says-that-no-life-will-work-if-i-can-t-make-this-one-right/) [Blythe Danner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blythe-danner/) > [You live long enough, you lose enough people, you learn to appreciate the memories you have and stop begrudging the ones you never got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blythe-danner/you-live-long-enough-you-lose-enough-people-you-learn-to-appreciate/) [Blythe Danner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blythe-danner/) > [I don't give my advice unless it's asked for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blythe-danner/i-don-t-give-my-advice-unless-it-s-asked-for/) [Blythe Danner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blythe-danner/) > [I try to avoid a specific image. I seek to play as many different women as I can to avoid having a label put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blythe-danner/i-try-to-avoid-a-specific-image-i-seek-to-play-as-many-different/) [Blythe Danner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blythe-danner/) > [Film has always been hard for me, I'm basically a stage actress. I never felt comfortable in front of the camera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blythe-danner/film-has-always-been-hard-for-me-i-m-basically-a-stage-actress-i/) [Blythe Danner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blythe-danner/) > [My family was very musical. My brother is an opera singer; my parents both sang.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blythe-danner/my-family-was-very-musical-my-brother-is-an-opera-singer-my-parents/) [Blythe Danner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blythe-danner/) > [I've been very lucky. I wanted to be an actress, but I didn't really have the drive to sell myself. Fortunately I had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blythe-danner/i-ve-been-very-lucky-i-wanted-to-be-an-actress-but-i-didn-t-really/) [Blythe Danner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blythe-danner/) > [I loved the first Christmas I had in England.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blythe-danner/i-loved-the-first-christmas-i-had-in-england/) [Blythe Danner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blythe-danner/) > [I think I have a lot of crazy layers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blythe-danner/i-think-i-have-a-lot-of-crazy-layers/) [Blythe Danner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blythe-danner/) > [Acting is really only part of my life. I'm addicted to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blythe-danner/acting-is-really-only-part-of-my-life-i-m-addicted-to-it/) [Blythe Danner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blythe-danner/) > [I loved doing Shakespeare. My two favorite roles, in fact, have been Viola in Twelfth Night and Helena in A Midsummer Night's Dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blythe-danner/i-loved-doing-shakespeare-my-two-favorite-roles-in-fact-have-been/) [Blythe Danner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blythe-danner/) > [That's what's so wonderful about being in this business because you're constantly surprised. You have to be up for anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blythe-danner/that-s-what-s-so-wonderful-about-being-in-this-business-because-you/) [Blythe Danner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blythe-danner/) > [Actors are very generous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blythe-danner/actors-are-very-generous/) [Blythe Danner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blythe-danner/) [Explore all 48 Blythe Danner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blythe-danner/) ## 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": "When I was beginning, a young actor could go from repertory company to repertory company. I did that and loved it. 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