--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I went being unemployed for three years…" description: "\"I went being unemployed for three years to being the lead in a British feature in the days when we only made two a year, 1990. It was ridiculous really..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/783/christopher-eccleston-15357_british_i-went-being-unemployed-for-three-years_3157123.jpg" --- # I went being unemployed for three years to being the lead… ![“I went being unemployed for three years to being the lead in a British feature in the days when we only made two a year, 1990. It was ridiculous really.” quote by Christopher Eccleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/783/christopher-eccleston-15357_british_i-went-being-unemployed-for-three-years_3157123.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/783/christopher-eccleston-15357_british_i-went-being-unemployed-for-three-years_3157123.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/783/christopher-eccleston-15357_british_i-went-being-unemployed-for-three-years_3157123.jpg) > “I went being unemployed for three years to being the lead in a British feature in the days when we only made two a year, 1990. It was ridiculous really.” [Christopher Eccleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-eccleston/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He transitioned from long-term unemployment to starring in a rare British film. **In simple terms:** From jobless to lead actor quickly. Key Takeaway Persist despite setbacks; seize rare chances. Themes career resilience film industry Mood determined hopeful Type career motivational When to use this quote - job search - acting workshops - film auditions Key Concepts unemployment breakthrough opportunity Questions to Reflect On - What kept you motivated? - How to spot rare chances? A Different Perspective Industry scarcity can make breakthroughs fleeting. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [1990 Ridiculous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/1990-ridiculous-5691672/) [British](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british/) [Lead in](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lead-in/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Ridiculous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ridiculous/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Three years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three-years/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Unemployed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unemployed/) [Unemployed Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unemployed-years-4615178/) [Went Unemployed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/went-unemployed-5691671/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) [Years Lead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-lead-4199578/) ## Related quotes > [When you're 20 and you're in acting school and your teachers tell you that 95 percent of actors are unemployed for twenty years, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-ripley/when-you-re-20-and-you-re-in-acting-school-and-your-teachers-tell-you/) [Alice Ripley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-ripley/) > [I served on the Armed Services Committee for 18 years and we must lead, or the job won't get done, unfortunately, for our country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kasich/i-served-on-the-armed-services-committee-for-18-years-and-we-must/) [John Kasich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kasich/) > [A person like myself, born and raised in the inner city of Atlanta, Georgia, to lower-middle-class parents. But I had the opportunity to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/a-person-like-myself-born-and-raised-in-the-inner-city-of-atlanta/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [You have to lead, in the case of a game show, a contestant through the architecture of the show. So there's a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ian-black/you-have-to-lead-in-the-case-of-a-game-show-a-contestant-through-the/) [Michael Ian Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ian-black/) > [Better to have a small role in God's story than to cast yourself as the lead in your own fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lecrae/better-to-have-a-small-role-in-god-s-story-than-to-cast-yourself-as/) [LeCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lecrae/) > [Mission 31 pays homage to my grandfather's work and all aquanauts who have since followed his lead in the name of ocean exploration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabien-cousteau/mission-31-pays-homage-to-my-grandfather-s-work-and-all-aquanauts-who/) [Fabien Cousteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabien-cousteau/) > [Everyone is in a hurry. The persons whom I lead in worship, among whom I counsel, visit, pray, preach, and teach, want shortcuts. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-mohler/everyone-is-in-a-hurry-the-persons-whom-i-lead-in-worship-among-whom/) [Albert Mohler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-mohler/) > [To drive to extinction something He has created is wrong. He has a purpose for everything... We Christians have a responsibility to take the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/to-drive-to-extinction-something-he-has-created-is-wrong-he-has-a/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [We lead in exporting jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quayle/we-lead-in-exporting-jobs/) [Dan Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quayle/) > [It’s not about the dress you wear, but it’s about the life you lead in the dress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-vreeland/it-s-not-about-the-dress-you-wear-but-it-s-about-the-life-you-lead-in/) [Diana Vreeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-vreeland/) > [A free India will throw all her weight in favour of world disarmament and should herself be prepared to give a lead in this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/a-free-india-will-throw-all-her-weight-in-favour-of-world-disarmament/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Women lead in ways different from men's. Men, I think, have been programmed to give orders. Women have been programmed to motivate people, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-fox/women-lead-in-ways-different-from-men-s-men-i-think-have-been/) [Muriel Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-fox/) > [The future teachers I try to recruit are those show have refused to let themselves be neutered in this way, either in their private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/the-future-teachers-i-try-to-recruit-are-those-show-have-refused-to/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [Where did you find that one?" "I have no idea. I'm a magnet for crazies, I guess." "They must be able to sense a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-white/where-did-you-find-that-one-i-have-no-idea-i-m-a-magnet-for-crazies-i/) [Kiersten White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersten-white/) > [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) ## More by Christopher Eccleston > [Many times I've sat with a camera and another actor and seen all their fears and insecurities and struggles. You want to support them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-eccleston/many-times-i-ve-sat-with-a-camera-and-another-actor-and-seen-all/) [Christopher Eccleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-eccleston/) > [Lots of middle class people are running around pretending to be Cockney.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-eccleston/lots-of-middle-class-people-are-running-around-pretending-to-be/) [Christopher Eccleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-eccleston/) > [I only ever worked on interiors, and an interior is an interior. I don't know what they did about exteriors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-eccleston/i-only-ever-worked-on-interiors-and-an-interior-is-an-interior-i-don/) [Christopher Eccleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-eccleston/) > [On The Others, very atmospheric and probably mysterious is how I would say it felt to be on the set. It felt just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-eccleston/on-the-others-very-atmospheric-and-probably-mysterious-is-how-i-would/) [Christopher Eccleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-eccleston/) > [When you seek revenge, be sure to dig two graves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-eccleston/when-you-seek-revenge-be-sure-to-dig-two-graves/) [Christopher Eccleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-eccleston/) > [I think theatre is by far the most rewarding experience for an actor. You get 4 weeks to rehearse your character and then at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-eccleston/i-think-theatre-is-by-far-the-most-rewarding-experience-for-an-actor/) [Christopher Eccleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-eccleston/) > [What goes down on film is different to what you see with the naked eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-eccleston/what-goes-down-on-film-is-different-to-what-you-see-with-the-naked-eye/) [Christopher Eccleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-eccleston/) > [We all need a firm sense of identity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-eccleston/we-all-need-a-firm-sense-of-identity/) [Christopher Eccleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-eccleston/) > [What we have is the here and now, and what we have is each other, and let's find a way to deal truthfully with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-eccleston/what-we-have-is-the-here-and-now-and-what-we-have-is-each-other-and/) [Christopher Eccleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-eccleston/) > [I care more about telly because it made me an actor and there's a much more immediate response to TV. You can address the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-eccleston/i-care-more-about-telly-because-it-made-me-an-actor-and-there-s-a/) [Christopher Eccleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-eccleston/) > [I had to help to coax the performances and I really enjoyed that extra responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-eccleston/i-had-to-help-to-coax-the-performances-and-i-really-enjoyed-that/) [Christopher Eccleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-eccleston/) > [I think film and television are really a director's medium, whereas theatre is the actor's medium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-eccleston/i-think-film-and-television-are-really-a-director-s-medium-whereas/) [Christopher Eccleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-eccleston/) > [Any horror element is as much psychological as special effects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-eccleston/any-horror-element-is-as-much-psychological-as-special-effects/) [Christopher Eccleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-eccleston/) > [I don't like to watch playback. But being on the set, watching the way the camera is being moved and the way the light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-eccleston/i-don-t-like-to-watch-playback-but-being-on-the-set-watching-the-way/) [Christopher Eccleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-eccleston/) > [Theatre is expensive to go to. I certainly felt when I was growing up that theatre wasn't for us. Theatre still has that stigma…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-eccleston/theatre-is-expensive-to-go-to-i-certainly-felt-when-i-was-growing-up/) [Christopher Eccleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-eccleston/) [Explore all 43 Christopher Eccleston quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-eccleston/) ## More British quotes > [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [I shot for French and British Vogue. The British Vogue one featured clothes by Chloe and was shot at Highgate and the John Soane…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nan-goldin/i-shot-for-french-and-british-vogue-the-british-vogue-one-featured/) [Nan Goldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nan-goldin/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [ No wonder that Churchill described this effort \[the British codebreakers working at Bletchley Park\] as "Britian"s secret weapon," a weapon far more effective than… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hilton/no-wonder-that-churchill-described-this-effort-the-british/) [Peter Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hilton/) > [When we first sold the Wallace and Gromit shorts to America, people suggested we get rid of the strange British accents and put clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-park/when-we-first-sold-the-wallace-and-gromit-shorts-to-america-people/) [Nick Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-park/) > [I always wanted to make a 'James Bond' film, and they only seemed to hire British directors, and I'd made 'Swingers' - they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/i-always-wanted-to-make-a-james-bond-film-and-they-only-seemed-to/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [Somebody said that part of my reaction to British cinema is actually, paradoxically, a patriotic one. I'm so disappointed that we're not better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-brownlow/somebody-said-that-part-of-my-reaction-to-british-cinema-is-actually/) [Kevin Brownlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-brownlow/) > [All the cliches of glamorous sophistication have little appeal to me. Do I want to live the British version of 'Dynasty?' No thanks!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sade-adu/all-the-cliches-of-glamorous-sophistication-have-little-appeal-to-me/) [Sade Adu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sade-adu/) > [British Forces should be in a position to give back in a ten fold measure any attack that the Germans may attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-banting/british-forces-should-be-in-a-position-to-give-back-in-a-ten-fold/) [Frederick Banting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-banting/) > [Although I don't have anything against people from other countries, the higher the influx into England the more the British identity disappears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/although-i-don-t-have-anything-against-people-from-other-countries/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It could be my British need for discipline that makes me admire the American appetite for freedom and passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-winwood/it-could-be-my-british-need-for-discipline-that-makes-me-admire-the/) [Steve Winwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-winwood/) > [While we like to think queueing is unique to British culture, the truth is that we are mere amateurs. The old Soviet Union turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-hartley-brewer/while-we-like-to-think-queueing-is-unique-to-british-culture-the/) [Julia Hartley-Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-hartley-brewer/) > [The American Constitution declares 'All men are born equal.' 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