--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm definitely a frustrated musician…" description: "\"I'm definitely a frustrated musician, though it's more in terms of wishing I was a better guitar player and songwriter. But I've never regretted becomi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bb/cillian-murphy-4370_artist_i-m-definitely-a-frustrated-musician-tho_993781.jpg" --- # I'm definitely a frustrated musician, though it's more in… ![“I'm definitely a frustrated musician, though it's more in terms of wishing I was a better guitar player and songwriter. But I've never regretted becoming an actor instead. I think it's been a more pure form of self-expression for me. I luckily found something that I could aspire to be good at…” quote by Cillian Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bb/cillian-murphy-4370_artist_i-m-definitely-a-frustrated-musician-tho_993781.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bb/cillian-murphy-4370_artist_i-m-definitely-a-frustrated-musician-tho_993781.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bb/cillian-murphy-4370_artist_i-m-definitely-a-frustrated-musician-tho_993781.jpg) > “I'm definitely a frustrated musician, though it's more in terms of wishing I was a better guitar player and songwriter. But I've never regretted becoming an actor instead. I think it's been a more pure form of self-expression for me. I luckily found something that I could aspire to be good at, whereas I never... I think I'd never quite reach that level of artist that I enjoy in the music world.” [Cillian Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cillian-murphy/) ## 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 feels frustration over musical skill but values acting as a purer self‑expression, finding purpose in a new craft while acknowledging limits in music. **In simple terms:** Frustrated musician, finds acting more authentic. Key Takeaway Embrace new avenues for growth. Themes self‑expression career transition artistic fulfillment identity growth Mood reflective hopeful determined Type personal career When to use this quote - acting auditions - writing songs - learning guitar - public performances - career counseling Key Concepts creativity skill development self‑actualization Questions to Reflect On - What does acting offer that music doesn’t? - How can you integrate music into acting? A Different Perspective May overlook the value of continued musical practice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actor Instead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-instead-706630/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Be good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-good/) [Enjoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoy/) [Frustrated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frustrated/) [Frustrated Musician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frustrated-musician-2051917/) [Guitar player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar-player/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-world/) [Musician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musician/) [Never quit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never-quit/) [Never regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never-regret/) [Player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/player/) [Regretted Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regretted-actor-2051918/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Music plays a very important role in my life. I'm a frustrated musician. I play the drums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-perelman/music-plays-a-very-important-role-in-my-life-i-m-a-frustrated/) [Ronald Perelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-perelman/) > [I suppose I am a frustrated musician so I annoy my family by playing guitar in the house. I used to be into acoustic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mckidd/i-suppose-i-am-a-frustrated-musician-so-i-annoy-my-family-by-playing/) [Kevin McKidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mckidd/) > [I confess to being a frustrated musician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-mccartney/i-confess-to-being-a-frustrated-musician/) [Stella McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-mccartney/) > [I was genuinely expecting 'You're just a shit actor' instead of 'We want you to do it.' I realized immediately how much hard work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-garfield/i-was-genuinely-expecting-you-re-just-a-shit-actor-instead-of-we-want/) [Andrew Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-garfield/) > [I've been wanting to go into music ever since I can remember. I mean even before I became an actor. I just thought it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/i-ve-been-wanting-to-go-into-music-ever-since-i-can-remember-i-mean/) [River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/) > [I hated the idea that I would be like my father. Which is one of the reasons I decided I didn't want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loudon-wainwright-iii/i-hated-the-idea-that-i-would-be-like-my-father-which-is-one-of-the/) [Loudon Wainwright III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loudon-wainwright-iii/) > [The audition process is like playing games at times, where you have to pass many levels. Sometimes, you could pass the contract negotiation level,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fala-chen/the-audition-process-is-like-playing-games-at-times-where-you-have-to/) [Fala Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fala-chen/) > [I'm not here to change the music world, but I'm definitely here to show what I can do and express myself through my music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-dewyze/i-m-not-here-to-change-the-music-world-but-i-m-definitely-here-to/) [Lee DeWyze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-dewyze/) > [My music is for the world. Let them enjoy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilaiyaraaja/my-music-is-for-the-world-let-them-enjoy-it/) [Ilaiyaraaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilaiyaraaja/) > [Backstreet has been around a long time. Normally, groups like us have a shelf life of two to four years. We always wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-littrell/backstreet-has-been-around-a-long-time-normally-groups-like-us-have-a/) [Brian Littrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-littrell/) > [Things can be really empty in this world, and I don't just mean the music world. It can become a very meaningless place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-keys/things-can-be-really-empty-in-this-world-and-i-don-t-just-mean-the/) [Alicia Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-keys/) > [I would say, from an all-around point of view, Bruce Springsteen is one of the two great poet lords of America, Bob Dylan, coming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-davis/i-would-say-from-an-all-around-point-of-view-bruce-springsteen-is-one/) [Clive Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-davis/) > [The '50s was the golden age of music all over the world for some crazy, 'X-File'-like reason I can't quite understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ry-cooder/the-50s-was-the-golden-age-of-music-all-over-the-world-for-some-crazy/) [Ry Cooder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ry-cooder/) > [Trying to put music out there in the world is a pretty exciting, yet terrifying, thing and I've just been through the ringer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-bruno/trying-to-put-music-out-there-in-the-world-is-a-pretty-exciting-yet/) [Aaron Bruno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-bruno/) > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) ## More by Cillian Murphy > [For me, it's about being at home and living a life. Taking the dog for a walk, doing the shopping, emptying the dishwasher, going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cillian-murphy/for-me-it-s-about-being-at-home-and-living-a-life-taking-the-dog-for/) [Cillian Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cillian-murphy/) > [But television affords you, what you just described, to - over the course of 18 hours, now that we're doing a third season -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cillian-murphy/but-television-affords-you-what-you-just-described-to-over-the-course/) [Cillian Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cillian-murphy/) > [I try not to think retrospectively. It's important, as an artist, to look forward, always. I do try to take work that involves some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cillian-murphy/i-try-not-to-think-retrospectively-it-s-important-as-an-artist-to/) [Cillian Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cillian-murphy/) > [I think there's such a thing, as a performance gene. If it's in your DNA it needs to come out. For me it originally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cillian-murphy/i-think-there-s-such-a-thing-as-a-performance-gene-if-it-s-in-your/) [Cillian Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cillian-murphy/) > [It seemed to work on camera. And there's very few films - because you make a lot of films and you meet people and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cillian-murphy/it-seemed-to-work-on-camera-and-there-s-very-few-films-because-you/) [Cillian Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cillian-murphy/) > [I've said this before: myself and Tommy Shelby, he's the most unlike-me character I have ever played.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cillian-murphy/i-ve-said-this-before-myself-and-tommy-shelby-he-s-the-most-unlike-me/) [Cillian Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cillian-murphy/) > [I like the little bit of distance that London affords me and I like living in a world capital. I like having the culture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cillian-murphy/i-like-the-little-bit-of-distance-that-london-affords-me-and-i-like/) [Cillian Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cillian-murphy/) > [ \[We were very lucky that Sean \[ Ellis \] researched the film \[Anthropoid \] for many years.\] We sort of piggybacked on his knowledge,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cillian-murphy/we-were-very-lucky-that-sean-ellis-researched-the-film-anthropoid-for/) [Cillian Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cillian-murphy/) > [From a very young age I had an ambition to be a musician, and to do that professionally. That's what I pursued until I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cillian-murphy/from-a-very-young-age-i-had-an-ambition-to-be-a-musician-and-to-do/) [Cillian Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cillian-murphy/) > [I've written my own music, and I play guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cillian-murphy/i-ve-written-my-own-music-and-i-play-guitar/) [Cillian Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cillian-murphy/) > [A director, I forget who, told me that it takes 30 years to make an actor. And I believe that. You have to learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cillian-murphy/a-director-i-forget-who-told-me-that-it-takes-30-years-to-make-an/) [Cillian Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cillian-murphy/) > [It's embarrassing sometimes, the way actors or musicians sometimes get made untouchable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cillian-murphy/it-s-embarrassing-sometimes-the-way-actors-or-musicians-sometimes-get/) [Cillian Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cillian-murphy/) > [Actors' careers are random with a capital "R."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cillian-murphy/actors-careers-are-random-with-a-capital-r/) [Cillian Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cillian-murphy/) > [I think you fall out of love with theater while you're doing your eighth show of your eighteenth week and your body is saying,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cillian-murphy/i-think-you-fall-out-of-love-with-theater-while-you-re-doing-your/) [Cillian Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cillian-murphy/) > [I think for me with theater, I need to take a break and then fall in love with it again. And then go do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cillian-murphy/i-think-for-me-with-theater-i-need-to-take-a-break-and-then-fall-in/) [Cillian Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cillian-murphy/) [Explore all 112 Cillian Murphy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cillian-murphy/) ## More Actor 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/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [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/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [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/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm definitely a frustrated musician, though it's more in terms of wishing I was a better guitar player and songwriter. But I've never regretted becoming an actor instead. I think it's been a more pure form of self-expression for me. I luckily found something that I could aspire to be good at, whereas I never... 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