--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I began by acting like the person I…" description: "\"I began by acting like the person I wanted to be, and eventually I became that person.\" — Cary Grant" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/cary-grant-11706_acting_i-began-by-acting-like-the-person-i-want_1103024.jpg" --- # I began by acting like the person I wanted to be, and… ![“I began by acting like the person I wanted to be, and eventually I became that person.” quote by Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/cary-grant-11706_acting_i-began-by-acting-like-the-person-i-want_1103024.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/cary-grant-11706_acting_i-began-by-acting-like-the-person-i-want_1103024.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/cary-grant-11706_acting_i-began-by-acting-like-the-person-i-want_1103024.jpg) > “I began by acting like the person I wanted to be, and eventually I became that person.” [Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-grant/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting as the person you aspire to become can shape your identity over time. **In simple terms:** Behave like your future self to become it. Key Takeaway Practice your desired traits. Themes self‑improvement identity behavioral change Mood motivational pragmatic Type self‑help inspirational When to use this quote - career coaching - personal development - habit formation - leadership training Key Concepts psychology role modeling Questions to Reflect On - Which traits do you want to embody? - How can you consistently act them out? A Different Perspective External circumstances may limit transformation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ## Related quotes > [My celebrity has held steady since the day I began acting. I don't view it as celebrity. I'm just a worker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-goldberg/my-celebrity-has-held-steady-since-the-day-i-began-acting-i-don-t/) [Adam Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-goldberg/) > [I began acting when River was doing this TV series and they needed two kids for the show, so they got me and my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-began-acting-when-river-was-doing-this-tv-series-and-they-needed/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [If you never lie to yourself, you'll always be happy with yourself, and eventually the person you wake up with and the person you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/afrojack/if-you-never-lie-to-yourself-you-ll-always-be-happy-with-yourself-and/) [Afrojack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/afrojack/) > [I was eventually to become one person, gathered up maybe, during a pause, at a comma.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyn-hejinian/i-was-eventually-to-become-one-person-gathered-up-maybe-during-a/) [Lyn Hejinian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyn-hejinian/) > [“Never try to change the nature of anyone in your life, you will loose respect and eventually the person.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashar-siddiqui/never-try-to-change-the-nature-of-anyone-in-your-life-you-will-loose/) Ashar Siddiqui > [“It is amazing, what you can make yourself believe, when you have to. If you keep telling yourself you are a certain kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/it-is-amazing-what-you-can-make-yourself-believe-when-you-have-to-if/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [When I first began acting, I assumed an intellectual responsibility attached to my profession, which I had accepted for a long time. My father…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-i-first-began-acting-i-assumed-an-intellectual-responsibility/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [I began acting on stage when I was 7 years old. My first role was as Dorothy in 'The Wizard of Oz' at Chicago's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/i-began-acting-on-stage-when-i-was-7-years-old-my-first-role-was-as/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [I began acting when I was very young, maybe 5 or so? Just by going to acting classes and that sort of thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amybeth-mcnulty/i-began-acting-when-i-was-very-young-maybe-5-or-so-just-by-going-to/) [Amybeth McNulty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amybeth-mcnulty/) > [I was very young when I began acting and I really got by on enthusiasm and love of the profession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhao-wei/i-was-very-young-when-i-began-acting-and-i-really-got-by-on/) [Zhao Wei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhao-wei/) > [When I began acting, my biggest fear was whether the audience will appreciate the kind of films I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fahadh-faasil/when-i-began-acting-my-biggest-fear-was-whether-the-audience-will/) [Fahadh Faasil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fahadh-faasil/) > [If anyone out there wants me to play a Pre-Raphaelite character, I'd do it in a flash. That's what is so curious about my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-kingston/if-anyone-out-there-wants-me-to-play-a-pre-raphaelite-character-i-d/) [Alex Kingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-kingston/) > [Although I began acting when I was a child I didn't really think about it as a profession until I was around 15. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-mack/although-i-began-acting-when-i-was-a-child-i-didn-t-really-think/) [Allison Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-mack/) > [I was so naive when I began acting, professionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanna-ubach/i-was-so-naive-when-i-began-acting-professionally/) [Alanna Ubach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanna-ubach/) > [I never stopped being a heroine. I began acting when I was four and bagged my first film as a heroine at the age…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayesha-takia/i-never-stopped-being-a-heroine-i-began-acting-when-i-was-four-and/) [Ayesha Takia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayesha-takia/) ## More by Cary Grant > [...and there I suddenly found my articulate self in a dazzling land of smiling, jostling people wearing and not wearing all sorts of costumes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-grant/and-there-i-suddenly-found-my-articulate-self-in-a-dazzling-land-of/) [Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-grant/) > [“Once told by an interviewer, "Everybody would like to be Cary Grant," Grant is said to have replied, "So would I.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-grant/once-told-by-an-interviewer-everybody-would-like-to-be-cary-grant/) [Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-grant/) > [When I'm married I want to be single, and when I'm single I want to be married.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-grant/when-i-m-married-i-want-to-be-single-and-when-i-m-single-i-want-to-be/) [Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-grant/) > [I acted like Cary Grant for so long that I became Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-grant/i-acted-like-cary-grant-for-so-long-that-i-became-cary-grant/) [Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-grant/) > [I improve on misquotation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-grant/i-improve-on-misquotation/) [Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-grant/) > [We should all just smell well and enjoy ourselves more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-grant/we-should-all-just-smell-well-and-enjoy-ourselves-more/) [Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-grant/) > [I've often been accused by critics of being myself on-screen. But being oneself is more difficult than you'd suppose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-grant/i-ve-often-been-accused-by-critics-of-being-myself-on-screen-but/) [Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-grant/) > [Destiny is not necessarily what we get out of life, but rather, what we give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-grant/destiny-is-not-necessarily-what-we-get-out-of-life-but-rather-what-we/) [Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-grant/) > [Her formula was simple, but simple did not apply that this would be easy or had it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-grant/her-formula-was-simple-but-simple-did-not-apply-that-this-would-be/) [Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-grant/) > [I'm prepared. I have a gun and I know how to shoot, and whoever comes calling without an invitation will get it in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-grant/i-m-prepared-i-have-a-gun-and-i-know-how-to-shoot-and-whoever-comes/) [Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-grant/) > [When people tell you how young you look, they are telling you how old you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-grant/when-people-tell-you-how-young-you-look-they-are-telling-you-how-old/) [Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-grant/) > [Simplicity, to me, has always been the essence of good taste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-grant/simplicity-to-me-has-always-been-the-essence-of-good-taste/) [Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-grant/) > [It's better to buy one good pair of shoes than four cheap ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-grant/it-s-better-to-buy-one-good-pair-of-shoes-than-four-cheap-ones/) [Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-grant/) > [We have our factory, which is called a stage. We make a product, we color it, we title it and we ship it out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-grant/we-have-our-factory-which-is-called-a-stage-we-make-a-product-we/) [Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-grant/) > [When people tell you how young you look, they are also telling you how old you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-grant/when-people-tell-you-how-young-you-look-they-are-also-telling-you-how/) [Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-grant/) [Explore all 58 Cary Grant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-grant/) ## More Acting 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/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [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/) > [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/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) Ryan Newman > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I began by acting like the person I wanted to be, and eventually I became that person.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Cary Grant" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-grant/i-began-by-acting-like-the-person-i-wanted-to-be-and-eventually-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-grant/i-began-by-acting-like-the-person-i-wanted-to-be-and-eventually-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/cary-grant-11706_acting_i-began-by-acting-like-the-person-i-want_1103024.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/cary-grant-11706_acting_i-began-by-acting-like-the-person-i-want_1103024.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/cary-grant-11706_acting_i-began-by-acting-like-the-person-i-want_1103024.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I began by acting like the person I wanted to be, and eventually I became that person.” — Cary Grant", "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": "Cary Grant", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-grant/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I began by acting like the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-grant/i-began-by-acting-like-the-person-i-wanted-to-be-and-eventually-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-grant/i-began-by-acting-like-the-person-i-wanted-to-be-and-eventually-i/#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 } } ] } ```