--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Right before I got 'Sons of Anarchy,' I…" description: "\"Right before I got 'Sons of Anarchy,' I actually quit acting for 18 months and didnt read a single script, and I wrote a film. I felt like I needed to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f1/charlie-hunnam-8039_acting_right-before-i-got-sons-of-anarchy-i-act_185715.png" --- # Right before I got 'Sons of Anarchy,' I actually quit… ![“Right before I got 'Sons of Anarchy,' I actually quit acting for 18 months and didnt read a single script, and I wrote a film. I felt like I needed to do something that I had control over, as an artist, and also just do something where I felt like I had some control over my life, as just a human…” quote by Charlie Hunnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f1/charlie-hunnam-8039_acting_right-before-i-got-sons-of-anarchy-i-act_185715.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f1/charlie-hunnam-8039_acting_right-before-i-got-sons-of-anarchy-i-act_185715.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f1/charlie-hunnam-8039_acting_right-before-i-got-sons-of-anarchy-i-act_185715.png) > “Right before I got 'Sons of Anarchy,' I actually quit acting for 18 months and didnt read a single script, and I wrote a film. I felt like I needed to do something that I had control over, as an artist, and also just do something where I felt like I had some control over my life, as just a human, out in the world.” [Charlie Hunnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-hunnam/) ## 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 paused a career to create a personal film, seeking artistic control and personal agency amid uncertainty. **In simple terms:** He left acting to make his own movie for control and purpose. Key Takeaway Take charge of your creative path when feeling powerless. Themes creativity control personal agency career transition self‑direction Mood determined reflective hopeful Type personal narrative inspirational When to use this quote - film making - career break - personal projects - life balance Key Concepts artistic autonomy self‑determination risk taking Questions to Reflect On - What project would you start if you could control every aspect? - How does taking a break reshape your identity? A Different Perspective Creative control can limit collaboration and financial stability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Anarchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anarchy/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Months](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/months/) [Needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needed/) [Quit Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quit-acting-714219/) [Script Wrote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/script-wrote-1975301/) [Sons Anarchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sons-anarchy-315390/) [Sons Of Anarchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sons-of-anarchy/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Wrote Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrote-film-881167/) ## Related quotes > [So far I'm still standing on 'Sons of Anarchy' but all the rest of the people on the show have me in their crosshairs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-pileggi/so-far-i-m-still-standing-on-sons-of-anarchy-but-all-the-rest-of-the/) [Mitch Pileggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-pileggi/) > [It was just a really thrilling little ride on this big world of 'Sons of Anarchy.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donal-logue/it-was-just-a-really-thrilling-little-ride-on-this-big-world-of-sons/) [Donal Logue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donal-logue/) > [With 'Sons of Anarchy,' I had to leave a couple of times - I got another show, and I had a baby - so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drea-de-matteo/with-sons-of-anarchy-i-had-to-leave-a-couple-of-times-i-got-another/) [Drea De Matteo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drea-de-matteo/) > [After I wrapped 'Sons of Anarchy,' I traveled by myself for ten weeks. I started in Jordan and finished in Mali, in Timbuktu.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/after-i-wrapped-sons-of-anarchy-i-traveled-by-myself-for-ten-weeks-i/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > ['Sons of Anarchy' has the perfect combination of character and action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-golden/sons-of-anarchy-has-the-perfect-combination-of-character-and-action/) [Christopher Golden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-golden/) > [My lifestyle, my life, everything has changed because of this show. Has it made me look different? Yes, it's changed everything for me, everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-rossi/my-lifestyle-my-life-everything-has-changed-because-of-this-show-has/) [Theo Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-rossi/) > [I watch 'Sons of Anarchy' and 'Game of Thrones' and 'The Walking Dead' and think, 'I want to create that kind of television!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-easton/i-watch-sons-of-anarchy-and-game-of-thrones-and-the-walking-dead-and/) [Michael Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-easton/) > [Who doesn't love Game of Thrones? Sons of Anarchy is funny and thug-ish. I love Shameless. I just sit with my hat tipped, waiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-rossdale/who-doesn-t-love-game-of-thrones-sons-of-anarchy-is-funny-and-thug/) [Gavin Rossdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-rossdale/) > [I love 'Sons of Anarchy.' I was so excited to be able to be on this show, just because I personally watch it. Of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-tisdale/i-love-sons-of-anarchy-i-was-so-excited-to-be-able-to-be-on-this-show/) [Ashley Tisdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-tisdale/) > [The great thing about having a serialized drama (like 'Sons of Anarchy') is that I'm allowed to bring up events and circumstances that have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-sutter/the-great-thing-about-having-a-serialized-drama-like-sons-of-anarchy/) [Kurt Sutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-sutter/) > [So far Im still standing on Sons of Anarchy but all the rest of the people on the show have me in their crosshairs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-pileggi/so-far-im-still-standing-on-sons-of-anarchy-but-all-the-rest-of-the/) [Mitch Pileggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-pileggi/) > [I love 'Modern Family; I think that is a great show. I don't get to watch tons of TV, but when I do, 'Sons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-tisdale/i-love-modern-family-i-think-that-is-a-great-show-i-don-t-get-to/) [Ashley Tisdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-tisdale/) > [“Since I called her Wednesday and told her we’re coming down, Jerra’s been so beside herself, you’d think I told her I was bringing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/since-i-called-her-wednesday-and-told-her-we-re-coming-down-jerra-s/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [“Jade: "You’ve got to propel rock star, not Sons of Anarchy.” Dante: “Sons of what?” Jade: “Don’t you watch television?” Dante: “I only rent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marita-a-hansen/jade-you-ve-got-to-propel-rock-star-not-sons-of-anarchy-dante-sons-of/) [Marita A. Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marita-a-hansen/) > [“Cal thought: A new player. Terrific. Maybe William Shatner’s in here, too. Also Mike Huckabee . . . Kim Kardashian . . . the guy who plays Opie on Sons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/cal-thought-a-new-player-terrific-maybe-william-shatner-s-in-here-too/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) ## More by Charlie Hunnam > [I do try not to dwell on the past too much, because I have a tendency to do that, and as I've gotten older,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-hunnam/i-do-try-not-to-dwell-on-the-past-too-much-because-i-have-a-tendency/) [Charlie Hunnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-hunnam/) > [I realise few people get to live the life they always wanted, but I'm so neurotic, I don't really think about it. I'm too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-hunnam/i-realise-few-people-get-to-live-the-life-they-always-wanted-but-i-m/) [Charlie Hunnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-hunnam/) > [I get invited to literally every single movie premiere that's going on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-hunnam/i-get-invited-to-literally-every-single-movie-premiere-that-s-going-on/) [Charlie Hunnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-hunnam/) > [I go into the gym and do 75 pullups, 75 dips, 150 squats, 150 pushups, and then 20 minutes of ab work. Done. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-hunnam/i-go-into-the-gym-and-do-75-pullups-75-dips-150-squats-150-pushups/) [Charlie Hunnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-hunnam/) > [I got expelled from high school, and then did my exams from home. I decided, through that experience, that I was going to expediate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-hunnam/i-got-expelled-from-high-school-and-then-did-my-exams-from-home-i/) [Charlie Hunnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-hunnam/) > [I really, really pride myself on being a professional and a man of keeping my word. It means a lot to me, truly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-hunnam/i-really-really-pride-myself-on-being-a-professional-and-a-man-of/) [Charlie Hunnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-hunnam/) > [I'm currently doing Undeclared an American TV show set in a college. It just got aired and got massive ratings so hopefully that'll screen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-hunnam/i-m-currently-doing-undeclared-an-american-tv-show-set-in-a-college/) [Charlie Hunnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-hunnam/) > [I'm pretty mercurial and a very difficult, long-winded decision-maker at the best of times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-hunnam/i-m-pretty-mercurial-and-a-very-difficult-long-winded-decision-maker/) [Charlie Hunnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-hunnam/) > [They say that theater is the actor's medium, television is the writer's medium and film is the director's medium, and it's really true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-hunnam/they-say-that-theater-is-the-actor-s-medium-television-is-the-writer/) [Charlie Hunnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-hunnam/) > [Being an actor is fantastic because you get to live your dreams and all of that, but I always think it's slightly irritating when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-hunnam/being-an-actor-is-fantastic-because-you-get-to-live-your-dreams-and/) [Charlie Hunnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-hunnam/) > [Good roles are hard to come by, and whether they're a few lines or a lead, you snap 'em up when they come along](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-hunnam/good-roles-are-hard-to-come-by-and-whether-they-re-a-few-lines-or-a/) [Charlie Hunnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-hunnam/) > [I think we can affect our own fates, but there's also a powerful energy that's the universe or God or whatever your unconscious recognizes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-hunnam/i-think-we-can-affect-our-own-fates-but-there-s-also-a-powerful/) [Charlie Hunnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-hunnam/) > [I think the work is always going to be much better when it's important and personal to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-hunnam/i-think-the-work-is-always-going-to-be-much-better-when-it-s/) [Charlie Hunnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-hunnam/) > [English people are always surprised I'm English.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-hunnam/english-people-are-always-surprised-i-m-english/) [Charlie Hunnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-hunnam/) > [In particular, the film 'Excalibur' was definitely one of those films that was instrumental in me realizing that I wanted to become an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-hunnam/in-particular-the-film-excalibur-was-definitely-one-of-those-films/) [Charlie Hunnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-hunnam/) [Explore all 85 Charlie Hunnam quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-hunnam/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "Right before I got 'Sons of Anarchy,' I actually quit acting for 18 months and didnt read a single script, and I wrote a film. I felt like I needed to do something that I had control over, as an artist, and also just do something where I felt like I had some control over my life, as just a human, out in the world.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charlie Hunnam" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-hunnam/right-before-i-got-sons-of-anarchy-i-actually-quit-acting-for-18/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-hunnam/right-before-i-got-sons-of-anarchy-i-actually-quit-acting-for-18/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f1/charlie-hunnam-8039_acting_right-before-i-got-sons-of-anarchy-i-act_185715.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f1/charlie-hunnam-8039_acting_right-before-i-got-sons-of-anarchy-i-act_185715.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f1/charlie-hunnam-8039_acting_right-before-i-got-sons-of-anarchy-i-act_185715.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Right before I got 'Sons of Anarchy,' I actually quit acting for 18 months and didnt read a single script…” — Charlie Hunnam", "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": "Charlie Hunnam", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-hunnam/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Right before I got 'Sons of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-hunnam/right-before-i-got-sons-of-anarchy-i-actually-quit-acting-for-18/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-hunnam/right-before-i-got-sons-of-anarchy-i-actually-quit-acting-for-18/#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 } } ] } ```