--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was 16 years old, I joined a drama…" description: "\"When I was 16 years old, I joined a drama group called North Queensland Academy of Dramatic Art under a woman called Maggie Shephard-King. She inspired..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb0/brenton-thwaites-20555_academy_when-i-was-16-years-old-i-joined-a-drama_1983866.jpg" --- # When I was 16 years old, I joined a drama group called… ![“When I was 16 years old, I joined a drama group called North Queensland Academy of Dramatic Art under a woman called Maggie Shephard-King. She inspired me to audition for the role of Romeo in 'Romeo and Juliet.'” quote by Brenton Thwaites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb0/brenton-thwaites-20555_academy_when-i-was-16-years-old-i-joined-a-drama_1983866.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb0/brenton-thwaites-20555_academy_when-i-was-16-years-old-i-joined-a-drama_1983866.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb0/brenton-thwaites-20555_academy_when-i-was-16-years-old-i-joined-a-drama_1983866.jpg) > “When I was 16 years old, I joined a drama group called North Queensland Academy of Dramatic Art under a woman called Maggie Shephard-King. She inspired me to audition for the role of Romeo in 'Romeo and Juliet.'” [Brenton Thwaites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenton-thwaites/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Joining a drama academy at 16 opened doors, inspiring a pivotal audition for a classic role. **In simple terms:** Early mentorship sparked opportunity. Key Takeaway Seek mentors early. Themes growth opportunity artistic development Mood hopeful reflective Type narrative inspirational When to use this quote - theatre auditions - college applications - skill workshops - networking events Key Concepts education career pathways Questions to Reflect On - Who has inspired your career path? - What steps can you take to pursue a passion now? 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It was the first time I'd made the connection with an audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kt-tunstall/i-joined-a-drama-group-when-i-was-eight-it-was-the-first-time-i-d/) [KT Tunstall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kt-tunstall/) > [I started off dancing and playing sports, and I joined the drama stuff, the theatre stuff in middle school because my friends were involved,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kara-lindsay/i-started-off-dancing-and-playing-sports-and-i-joined-the-drama-stuff/) [Kara Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kara-lindsay/) > [There was a girl in fifth grade that I had a crush on that joined drama club, so I joined the drama club because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-fisher/there-was-a-girl-in-fifth-grade-that-i-had-a-crush-on-that-joined/) [Jordan Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-fisher/) > [I was just this little theater geek. I joined the drama program my freshman year. I read the morning announcements my sophomore year. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-murray/i-was-just-this-little-theater-geek-i-joined-the-drama-program-my/) [Ashleigh Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-murray/) > [I joined the drama club when I was in 11th grade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jisoo/i-joined-the-drama-club-when-i-was-in-11th-grade/) [Jisoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jisoo/) > [I thought Leonardo DiCaprio was amazing in Baz Luhrmann's 'Romeo and Juliet.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenton-thwaites/i-thought-leonardo-dicaprio-was-amazing-in-baz-luhrmann-s-romeo-and/) [Brenton Thwaites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenton-thwaites/) > [I decided to take a stab at acting. I entered the American Academy of Dramatic Art, where one teacher told me I'd never make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-gwynne/i-decided-to-take-a-stab-at-acting-i-entered-the-american-academy-of/) [Fred Gwynne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-gwynne/) > [My mother and father met at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He was a senior and she was a junior, and their marriage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-douglas/my-mother-and-father-met-at-the-american-academy-of-dramatic-arts-he/) [Michael Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-douglas/) > [I went to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, which was in Carnegie Hall, which itself was exciting - just to walk into it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gena-rowlands/i-went-to-the-american-academy-of-dramatic-arts-which-was-in-carnegie/) [Gena Rowlands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gena-rowlands/) > [I had a teacher/director at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where I trained for a year, named Mary Duff, who taught me practically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosemary-harris/i-had-a-teacher-director-at-the-royal-academy-of-dramatic-art-where-i/) [Rosemary Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosemary-harris/) > [I went to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art because it was the only drama school the social worker had ever heard of. Luckily,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-mccabe/i-went-to-the-royal-academy-of-dramatic-art-because-it-was-the-only/) [Richard McCabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-mccabe/) > [When I got into the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, a doctor told me to give up the course as I'd be totally deaf…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-beacham/when-i-got-into-the-royal-academy-of-dramatic-art-a-doctor-told-me-to/) [Stephanie Beacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-beacham/) > [I was lucky to get into drama school and become a professional actor. No-one ever mentioned the colour of my skin. It's only when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harewood/i-was-lucky-to-get-into-drama-school-and-become-a-professional-actor/) [David Harewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harewood/) > [I've never done theater professionally. But I went to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, so I did some theater there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-grimes/i-ve-never-done-theater-professionally-but-i-went-to-the-american/) [Luke Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-grimes/) > [When I was 16, my friends were in a drama group, and they asked me to join. I said no, I'm not interested, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dormer/when-i-was-16-my-friends-were-in-a-drama-group-and-they-asked-me-to/) [Richard Dormer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dormer/) ## More by Brenton Thwaites > [I studied drama at the Queensland University of Technology, which was amazing. I can't speak highly enough of that school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenton-thwaites/i-studied-drama-at-the-queensland-university-of-technology-which-was/) [Brenton Thwaites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenton-thwaites/) > [I havent had the whole famous thing happen to me yet, and I hope I never will. I like to sneak away in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenton-thwaites/i-havent-had-the-whole-famous-thing-happen-to-me-yet-and-i-hope-i/) [Brenton Thwaites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenton-thwaites/) > [I don't like wearing suits all the time. I don't like looking like the clean-cut kind of dude. I think the coolest guys are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenton-thwaites/i-don-t-like-wearing-suits-all-the-time-i-don-t-like-looking-like-the/) [Brenton Thwaites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenton-thwaites/) > [I was fortunate because my mum shared my love of film with me, so we would go to the movies twice, three times a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenton-thwaites/i-was-fortunate-because-my-mum-shared-my-love-of-film-with-me-so-we/) [Brenton Thwaites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenton-thwaites/) > [Hugh Jackman really inspired me as a kid. He's a cool Aussie guy who works very hard, and he's a fantastic actor. Obviously, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenton-thwaites/hugh-jackman-really-inspired-me-as-a-kid-he-s-a-cool-aussie-guy-who/) [Brenton Thwaites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenton-thwaites/) > [My first job on the screen was 'Sea Patrol,' and that was quite intense, but I guess my first big break was 'SLiDE.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenton-thwaites/my-first-job-on-the-screen-was-sea-patrol-and-that-was-quite-intense/) [Brenton Thwaites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenton-thwaites/) > [I was on a show called 'SliDE' when I graduated from college, and then that set the premise of my love for acting. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenton-thwaites/i-was-on-a-show-called-slide-when-i-graduated-from-college-and-then/) [Brenton Thwaites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenton-thwaites/) > [I thought Leonardo DiCaprio was amazing in Baz Luhrmann's 'Romeo and Juliet.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenton-thwaites/i-thought-leonardo-dicaprio-was-amazing-in-baz-luhrmann-s-romeo-and/) [Brenton Thwaites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenton-thwaites/) > [In 'The Giver,' I play a character called Jonas who is a member of this community called Changeless. In this community, everyone is kept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenton-thwaites/in-the-giver-i-play-a-character-called-jonas-who-is-a-member-of-this/) [Brenton Thwaites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenton-thwaites/) > [When I'm not acting, I'm at the beach. I like to spend a lot of time in the water, surfing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenton-thwaites/when-i-m-not-acting-i-m-at-the-beach-i-like-to-spend-a-lot-of-time-in/) [Brenton Thwaites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenton-thwaites/) > [I haven't had the whole 'famous' thing happen to me yet, and I hope I never will. I like to sneak away in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenton-thwaites/i-haven-t-had-the-whole-famous-thing-happen-to-me-yet-and-i-hope-i/) [Brenton Thwaites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenton-thwaites/) > [I guess my break in America came a little too early. It would've been nice to have a few more years to find out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenton-thwaites/i-guess-my-break-in-america-came-a-little-too-early-it-would-ve-been/) [Brenton Thwaites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenton-thwaites/) > [Growing up, I was always adamant that I would never do 'Home and Away' or 'Neighbours,' because as an actor you want to set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenton-thwaites/growing-up-i-was-always-adamant-that-i-would-never-do-home-and-away/) [Brenton Thwaites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenton-thwaites/) > [I thought Leonardo DiCaprio was amazing in Baz Luhrmanns Romeo and Juliet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenton-thwaites/i-thought-leonardo-dicaprio-was-amazing-in-baz-luhrmanns-romeo-and/) [Brenton Thwaites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenton-thwaites/) > [You know what's funny about movies? You can watch one, and then you watch it again at a different stage in your life, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenton-thwaites/you-know-what-s-funny-about-movies-you-can-watch-one-and-then-you/) [Brenton Thwaites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenton-thwaites/) [Explore all 30 Brenton Thwaites quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenton-thwaites/) ## More Academy quotes > [Professionally speaking, the proudest moment was when I booked the 'Human Stain.' I knew it had Nicole Kidman, Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris and Gary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wentworth-miller/professionally-speaking-the-proudest-moment-was-when-i-booked-the/) [Wentworth Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wentworth-miller/) > [Don't be pretentious is my first advice to young writers. 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Our students progress within the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerthiga-manokumar/step-up-academy-offers-a-conducive-encouraging-comfortable/) [Kerthiga Manokumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerthiga-manokumar/) > [I remember when I first won the Academy Award and how much I loved it. I just wish there was an award around that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-woodward/i-remember-when-i-first-won-the-academy-award-and-how-much-i-loved-it/) [Joanne Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-woodward/) > [Few years ago, I said something about the Academy being very white male, which is the reality, and I was slashed to pieces by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-delpy/few-years-ago-i-said-something-about-the-academy-being-very-white/) [Julie Delpy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-delpy/) > [I think that no matter whether you're Quentin Tarantino or any other kind of a rebel, or whatever, everyone who makes movies still wants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-osborne/i-think-that-no-matter-whether-you-re-quentin-tarantino-or-any-other/) [Robert Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-osborne/) > [“Fuck Briarcrest Academy, and fuck you all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilsa-madden-mills/fuck-briarcrest-academy-and-fuck-you-all/) [Ilsa Madden-Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilsa-madden-mills/) > [I don't really look forward to movie stardom or doing a $200-million movie or winning an Academy Award.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-taylor/i-don-t-really-look-forward-to-movie-stardom-or-doing-a-200-million/) [Rachael Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-taylor/) > [I am an outsider looking in, absolutely. You're not going to see me at the Academy Awards 'Vanity Fair' party any time soon. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-griffin/i-am-an-outsider-looking-in-absolutely-you-re-not-going-to-see-me-at/) [Kathy Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-griffin/) > [In all our academies we attempt far too much. ... 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