--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was five when I did my first show with…" description: "\"I was five when I did my first show with the Mountain Play Theatre company in Marin County. I started young, and since no one in my family was involved..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dc/claire-coffee-39301_actor_i-was-five-when-i-did-my-first-show-with_2579633.jpg" --- # I was five when I did my first show with the Mountain Play… ![“I was five when I did my first show with the Mountain Play Theatre company in Marin County. I started young, and since no one in my family was involved in the industry in any way shape or form, I think everyone thought I'd do a few plays and that would be it. But then I kept doing it.” quote by Claire Coffee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dc/claire-coffee-39301_actor_i-was-five-when-i-did-my-first-show-with_2579633.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dc/claire-coffee-39301_actor_i-was-five-when-i-did-my-first-show-with_2579633.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0dc/claire-coffee-39301_actor_i-was-five-when-i-did-my-first-show-with_2579633.jpg) > “I was five when I did my first show with the Mountain Play Theatre company in Marin County. I started young, and since no one in my family was involved in the industry in any way shape or form, I think everyone thought I'd do a few plays and that would be it. But then I kept doing it.” [Claire Coffee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-coffee/) ## 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 reflects on early entry into theater despite no family background, highlighting persistence and self‑determination in a creative career. **In simple terms:** Started young, kept going despite no family ties. Key Takeaway Persistence can overcome lack of connections. Themes career determination creativity Mood inspirational reflective Type personal career When to use this quote - audition preparation - networking events - career planning - mentorship programs Key Concepts self‑driven ambition industry barriers personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What kept you motivated when discouraged? - How can newcomers find support in the arts? A Different Perspective It may ignore systemic obstacles others face. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/industry/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Plays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plays/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) ## Related quotes > [No, I've never moved on with a play. 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My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-bilson/i-was-21-when-the-the-o-c-started-mischa-was-16-i-cant-imagine/) [Rachel Bilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-bilson/) > [My career started young and I was really ambitious, and then I had success and I hung out with people who were much older.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/my-career-started-young-and-i-was-really-ambitious-and-then-i-had/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [You can make something big when young that will carry you through life. Look at all the big startups like Microsoft, Apple, Google, Facebook,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-wozniak/you-can-make-something-big-when-young-that-will-carry-you-through/) [Steve Wozniak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-wozniak/) > [I started very, very young to make movies - I was 21. And at the age of 27, 28, I'd done already three movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernardo-bertolucci/i-started-very-very-young-to-make-movies-i-was-21-and-at-the-age-of/) [Bernardo Bertolucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernardo-bertolucci/) ## More by Claire Coffee > [My husband is a musician, and 'Paste' is one of his favorite places to be interviewed by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-coffee/my-husband-is-a-musician-and-paste-is-one-of-his-favorite-places-to/) [Claire Coffee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-coffee/) > [When I was in college, the first thing we did in acting class was to observe an animal at the zoo and become that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-coffee/when-i-was-in-college-the-first-thing-we-did-in-acting-class-was-to/) [Claire Coffee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-coffee/) > [I hated being scared when I was little. 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But then I realized, if I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-coffee/i-actually-went-to-study-journalism-at-northwestern-thinking-that/) [Claire Coffee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-coffee/) > ['The West Wing' was really important for me for a lot of reasons. It was the first thing I did when I got out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-coffee/the-west-wing-was-really-important-for-me-for-a-lot-of-reasons-it-was/) [Claire Coffee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-coffee/) [Explore all 11 Claire Coffee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-coffee/) ## 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. 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