--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Once I got into high school, any time I…" description: "\"Once I got into high school, any time I had to do a talk or a speech, I just loved being up in front of an audience, it was always a character. And the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d9/chris-lilley-10497_audience_once-i-got-into-high-school-any-time-i-h_535889.jpg" --- # Once I got into high school, any time I had to do a talk… ![“Once I got into high school, any time I had to do a talk or a speech, I just loved being up in front of an audience, it was always a character. And then I discovered that an impersonation of the teacher was a really, really good way to get a laugh, and it would also get you good marks, because the…” quote by Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d9/chris-lilley-10497_audience_once-i-got-into-high-school-any-time-i-h_535889.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d9/chris-lilley-10497_audience_once-i-got-into-high-school-any-time-i-h_535889.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d9/chris-lilley-10497_audience_once-i-got-into-high-school-any-time-i-h_535889.jpg) > “Once I got into high school, any time I had to do a talk or a speech, I just loved being up in front of an audience, it was always a character. And then I discovered that an impersonation of the teacher was a really, really good way to get a laugh, and it would also get you good marks, because the teachers were always bored and loved to be the "teacher-parody." So that became my little trick at school, and I became known for doing that.” [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) ## 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 used humor and teacher impersonations to engage a bored audience and earn high marks, turning performance into a personal brand. **In simple terms:** Using funny teacher impressions helped him succeed in school presentations. Key Takeaway Leverage humor to capture attention and improve performance. Themes humor performance identity education creativity Mood playful confident reflective Type anecdotal motivational When to use this quote - class presentations - teacher meetings - public speaking events - online webinars Key Concepts impressionism audience engagement social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance humor with substance? - When might impersonations be inappropriate? A Different Perspective Humor may distract from content depth and can backfire with sensitive audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Bored](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bored/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Impersonation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impersonation/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“The illusion of depth in a character is created simply by withholding information from an audience. A character will seem complex and intriguing only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-catton/the-illusion-of-depth-in-a-character-is-created-simply-by-withholding/) [Eleanor Catton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-catton/) > [As an actor, I need to convince the audience that the character that I'm playing is real, and the situation that this character is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ok-taec-yeon/as-an-actor-i-need-to-convince-the-audience-that-the-character-that-i/) [Ok Taec-yeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ok-taec-yeon/) > [When I was acting, I got trained in creating a character as a three-dimensional person. If you're doing it right you should be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tana-french/when-i-was-acting-i-got-trained-in-creating-a-character-as-a-three/) [Tana French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tana-french/) > [Every audience has its character; I like America - they love me. I suffer from stage fright, but in America not so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-bocelli/every-audience-has-its-character-i-like-america-they-love-me-i-suffer/) [Andrea Bocelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-bocelli/) > [You want the audience to be in the character's shoes. The more deeply into the character's shoes the audience is, the more they're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-demme/you-want-the-audience-to-be-in-the-character-s-shoes-the-more-deeply/) [Jonathan Demme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-demme/) > [I think you just have to give the audience a character that they can relate to. So I'm always trying to put a character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ti-west/i-think-you-just-have-to-give-the-audience-a-character-that-they-can/) [Ti West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ti-west/) > [Some things can be hidden on TV with the help of cameras but in theatre, you are seen live by the audience, so you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohini-hattangadi/some-things-can-be-hidden-on-tv-with-the-help-of-cameras-but-in/) [Rohini Hattangadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohini-hattangadi/) > [I think once those friendships, if you use that as an analogy, the friendships between the audience and the character is established, then you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/i-think-once-those-friendships-if-you-use-that-as-an-analogy-the/) [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) > [I'm a big believer in playing truth and not doing things for effect. It's not about whether you look pretty or glamorous. It's about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneurin-barnard/i-m-a-big-believer-in-playing-truth-and-not-doing-things-for-effect-2/) [Aneurin Barnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aneurin-barnard/) > [For me, the key is always trying to find the connection between the audience and the character I'm playing. That's important to me, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneurin-barnard/for-me-the-key-is-always-trying-to-find-the-connection-between-the/) [Aneurin Barnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aneurin-barnard/) > [My music teacher who I was really close with, she helped me out a lot being away from home and going to school in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-carter-williams/my-music-teacher-who-i-was-really-close-with-she-helped-me-out-a-lot/) [Michael Carter-Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-carter-williams/) > [I spent most of my high school years on movie sets and I'd have like one teacher, which was really bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-sawa/i-spent-most-of-my-high-school-years-on-movie-sets-and-i-d-have-like/) [Devon Sawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-sawa/) > [I think, as a kid, whenever you say you want to be an actor, you get discouraged, so perhaps if I had have listened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-morgan/i-think-as-a-kid-whenever-you-say-you-want-to-be-an-actor-you-get/) [Colin Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-morgan/) > [I had a great teacher who was really encouraging and said I should go to Central Saint Martins. So I worked my socks off,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-deacon/i-had-a-great-teacher-who-was-really-encouraging-and-said-i-should-go/) [Giles Deacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-deacon/) > [“What makes you think you’re so special? Just because you’re a teacher? What he was really saying was: You are so special. You are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-kaufman/what-makes-you-think-you-re-so-special-just-because-you-re-a-teacher/) [Bel Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-kaufman/) ## More by Chris Lilley > [I was terrible student. I was capable, but I never like being told what to do, so I was always in the bottom class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/i-was-terrible-student-i-was-capable-but-i-never-like-being-told-what/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [I'll probably be still playing a school girl when I'm 60.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/i-ll-probably-be-still-playing-a-school-girl-when-i-m-60/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [There are bits of me in all my characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/there-are-bits-of-me-in-all-my-characters/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [I think it just really excites me, the idea of delving so far into a character that people actually believe it's real, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/i-think-it-just-really-excites-me-the-idea-of-delving-so-far-into-a/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [I like the boundaries, the kinds of conventions of a documentary and having to work within that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/i-like-the-boundaries-the-kinds-of-conventions-of-a-documentary-and/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [I think sometimes people become quite emotional about the characters as well, and that's pretty cool that you can get that emotion out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/i-think-sometimes-people-become-quite-emotional-about-the-characters/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [I'm not a big comedy show-watcher, but I love Ricky Gervais' stuff and Sacha Baron Cohen's things. But I'm not an expert on them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/i-m-not-a-big-comedy-show-watcher-but-i-love-ricky-gervais-stuff-and/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [I like playing all sorts of ages and genders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/i-like-playing-all-sorts-of-ages-and-genders/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [You feel the pressure of going to university because you need a back-up plan, which is why I enrolled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/you-feel-the-pressure-of-going-to-university-because-you-need-a-back/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [Films do seem prestigious and glamorous, but when you create something, you want people to see it. TV still reaches so many more people;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/films-do-seem-prestigious-and-glamorous-but-when-you-create-something/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [I'm not really a management-type person. It doesn't suit my personality to be bossing people around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/i-m-not-really-a-management-type-person-it-doesn-t-suit-my/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [Playing girls is cool, but its a lot more fun playing boys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/playing-girls-is-cool-but-its-a-lot-more-fun-playing-boys/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [I was sure 'Summer Heights High' would be a cult ABC thing; I had no idea it would be such a big hit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/i-was-sure-summer-heights-high-would-be-a-cult-abc-thing-i-had-no/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [I'm definitely attracted to the idea of people that have these big aspirations that the audience know might never happen, but they're lost in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/i-m-definitely-attracted-to-the-idea-of-people-that-have-these-big/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [You can't get any better than TV on HBO, ABC and BBC3.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/you-can-t-get-any-better-than-tv-on-hbo-abc-and-bbc3/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) [Explore all 65 Chris Lilley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) ## More Audience quotes > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It's those moments, those odd moments that you look for and sometimes by creating this kind of loose atmosphere you find those little moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-levinson/it-s-those-moments-those-odd-moments-that-you-look-for-and-sometimes/) [Barry Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-levinson/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [One of the best moments of any Liars show is hearing the crowd squawk 'We're doomed! We're doomed!' on cue during 'We Fenced Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/one-of-the-best-moments-of-any-liars-show-is-hearing-the-crowd-squawk/) [Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/) > [It's the adrenaline rush you only get from being in front of an audience. It's addictive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-saadiq/it-s-the-adrenaline-rush-you-only-get-from-being-in-front-of-an/) [Raphael Saadiq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-saadiq/) > [If I had to speak in front of a Korean audience, I would be hard pressed to sound other than a little girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/an-na/if-i-had-to-speak-in-front-of-a-korean-audience-i-would-be-hard/) [An Na](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/an-na/) > [The liveness of theater, and the excitement of experiencing it alongside an audience, is something you can't get at home. That makes the theater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-blaemire/the-liveness-of-theater-and-the-excitement-of-experiencing-it/) [Nick Blaemire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-blaemire/) > [One of the things that touches me most when I play for an audience is that although we may be unable to communicate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hough/one-of-the-things-that-touches-me-most-when-i-play-for-an-audience-is/) [Stephen Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hough/) > [I have to feel the audience. I enjoy that feeling of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gahan/i-have-to-feel-the-audience-i-enjoy-that-feeling-of-community/) [Dave Gahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gahan/) > [When you lived it for years and years and years and seen different characters just get pummeled and squashed because 'I said so,' it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arn-anderson/when-you-lived-it-for-years-and-years-and-years-and-seen-different/) [Arn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arn-anderson/) > [“During the first few minutes of your presentation, your job is to assure the audience members that you are not going to waste their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/during-the-first-few-minutes-of-your-presentation-your-job-is-to/) [Dale Ludwig and Greg Owen-Boger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I don't think about who the audience is for my books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-don-t-think-about-who-the-audience-is-for-my-books/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [I feel I have been playing all primary characters. And if your character forms a connect with the audience, it doesn't matter if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angad-bedi/i-feel-i-have-been-playing-all-primary-characters-and-if-your/) [Angad Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angad-bedi/) > [When I was playing piano, it was like, 'I'm going to write a song using all the white keys.' My music director, who knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tesh/when-i-was-playing-piano-it-was-like-i-m-going-to-write-a-song-using/) [John Tesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tesh/) [Browse all 9,118 Audience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Once I got into high school, any time I had to do a talk or a speech, I just loved being up in front of an audience, it was always a character. 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