--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I guess I stopped acting when I was 18…" description: "\"I guess I stopped acting when I was 18 and didn't pick it up again until I was 21. That wasn't the plan, though. When I first started at Yale, the plan..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/614/claire-danes-2119_acting_i-guess-i-stopped-acting-when-i-was-18-a_1384450.jpg" --- # I guess I stopped acting when I was 18 and didn't pick it… ![“I guess I stopped acting when I was 18 and didn't pick it up again until I was 21. That wasn't the plan, though. When I first started at Yale, the plan was to do a movie each summer.” quote by Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/614/claire-danes-2119_acting_i-guess-i-stopped-acting-when-i-was-18-a_1384450.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/614/claire-danes-2119_acting_i-guess-i-stopped-acting-when-i-was-18-a_1384450.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/614/claire-danes-2119_acting_i-guess-i-stopped-acting-when-i-was-18-a_1384450.jpg) > “I guess I stopped acting when I was 18 and didn't pick it up again until I was 21. That wasn't the plan, though. When I first started at Yale, the plan was to do a movie each summer.” [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She paused her acting career in early adulthood, resuming later, deviating from her original plan of yearly films at Yale. **In simple terms:** She stopped acting, then started again later, missing her early plan. Key Takeaway Accept that plans change and keep pursuing passions. Themes career passion life transitions Mood reflective determined Type personal narrative career reflection When to use this quote - college years - early career - career break - career comeback Key Concepts acting career trajectory personal growth Questions to Reflect On - How did the break affect your career trajectory? - What motivated you to return? A Different Perspective Resuming acting later may limit early opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Summer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/summer/) ## Related quotes > [I turned down a movie this summer because it was nine weeks in Vancouver and my oldest daughter is 14. I've got four more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-foxworthy/i-turned-down-a-movie-this-summer-because-it-was-nine-weeks-in/) [Jeff Foxworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-foxworthy/) > [ It feels like when I write, it's intuitive. This is true of Frances, and it's true of this \[The Funniest Movie Of The Summer\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-gerwig/it-feels-like-when-i-write-it-s-intuitive-this-is-true-of-frances-and/) [Greta Gerwig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-gerwig/) > [I started acting when I was about 18. I was a model for a couple of years before that](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-bell/i-started-acting-when-i-was-about-18-i-was-a-model-for-a-couple-of/) [Catherine Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-bell/) > [Yeah, I've only been acting since I was 18 out of high school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-o-brien/yeah-i-ve-only-been-acting-since-i-was-18-out-of-high-school/) [Dylan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-o-brien/) > [By the time I went to Yale, I'd been acting for a long time and I was really tired of it. I was restless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/by-the-time-i-went-to-yale-i-d-been-acting-for-a-long-time-and-i-was/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) > [I really liked Yale, although it was extremely intimidating. When I visited the campus, I was hiding behind trees, I felt so unworthy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-really-liked-yale-although-it-was-extremely-intimidating-when-i/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) > [I changed? Either that or I stopped acting the way you wanted me too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-changed-either-that-or-i-stopped-acting-the-way-you-wanted-me-too/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I won't be surprised if I stopped acting after some years because there are other things in life that interest me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atul-kulkarni/i-won-t-be-surprised-if-i-stopped-acting-after-some-years-because/) [Atul Kulkarni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atul-kulkarni/) > [Suddenly I was writing a lot of screenplays, and I was no long in New York, so I stopped acting in plays, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cristofer/suddenly-i-was-writing-a-lot-of-screenplays-and-i-was-no-long-in-new/) [Michael Cristofer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cristofer/) > [I got it into my head that I was going to be starring in movies that I wrote, so that's what I did. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-bishop/i-got-it-into-my-head-that-i-was-going-to-be-starring-in-movies-that/) [Larry Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-bishop/) > [I've stopped acting, but I don't think I've finished using my voice. I could, and probably will, record the whole of Shakespeare's sonnets. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-o-toole/i-ve-stopped-acting-but-i-don-t-think-i-ve-finished-using-my-voice-i/) [Peter O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-o-toole/) > [It's been a long road. A humble Dearborn beginning. Secretary mom, dad teaching handicapped children. Working for what they had. Eventually, I moved to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-burtka/it-s-been-a-long-road-a-humble-dearborn-beginning-secretary-mom-dad/) [David Burtka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-burtka/) > [I stopped acting, as I was not curious about it anymore. I was not passionate about acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pooja-bhatt/i-stopped-acting-as-i-was-not-curious-about-it-anymore-i-was-not/) [Pooja Bhatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pooja-bhatt/) > [For me, it was always that one extra job that you do to survive in the industry. I also realised that I was not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-banerjee/for-me-it-was-always-that-one-extra-job-that-you-do-to-survive-in-the/) [Abhishek Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-banerjee/) > [“The point was - he wasn't acting . It was as if he'd forgotten how! Jack still knew his lines, but he was out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/the-point-was-he-wasn-t-acting-it-was-as-if-he-d-forgotten-how-jack/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) ## More by Claire Danes > [My character was kidnapped by the Terminator and I was kidnapped by the Terminator production.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/my-character-was-kidnapped-by-the-terminator-and-i-was-kidnapped-by/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) > [I think it's important to never play 'crazy' - you have to know what kind of crazy you're playing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-think-it-s-important-to-never-play-crazy-you-have-to-know-what-kind/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) > [I hadn't been free from adult responsibilities since I was 12, and I needed to experience that. I really needed to just be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-hadn-t-been-free-from-adult-responsibilities-since-i-was-12-and-i/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) > [Counterterrorism isn't really about the nunchakus, the guns and gadgets. It's about psychology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/counterterrorism-isn-t-really-about-the-nunchakus-the-guns-and/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) > [Growing up in New York with artist parents - a very liberal environment, where we were always encouraged to challenge the status quo -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/growing-up-in-new-york-with-artist-parents-a-very-liberal-environment/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) > [I was told that going to college wouldn't be good for my career, but I think that's nonsense. It's good to empower yourself by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-was-told-that-going-to-college-wouldn-t-be-good-for-my-career-but-i/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) > [I exercise more for mental relaxation than anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-exercise-more-for-mental-relaxation-than-anything-else/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) > [I could truly have gone through life thinking that women were these venomous creatures. Turns out, they're not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-could-truly-have-gone-through-life-thinking-that-women-were-these/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) > [I do feel like I've gotten younger as I've aged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-do-feel-like-i-ve-gotten-younger-as-i-ve-aged/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) > [Voice over can be tricky. It can be dangerous because it's over-used or inappropriately used.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/voice-over-can-be-tricky-it-can-be-dangerous-because-it-s-over-used/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) > [I think people who make movies and have invested a lot of money in them get frightened that if they challenge an audience they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-think-people-who-make-movies-and-have-invested-a-lot-of-money-in/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) > [I was a pretty nerdy kid. I was pretty nerdy. I'm still kind of nerdy. I have all of the worst qualities of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-was-a-pretty-nerdy-kid-i-was-pretty-nerdy-i-m-still-kind-of-nerdy-i/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) > [I care about being formally physically attractive in my life, and I think that I am quite vain about my performance. I'm just not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-care-about-being-formally-physically-attractive-in-my-life-and-i/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) > [When I was younger, like 14...I was desperate to find that 'true love' experience, but really, if you have to ask yourself if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/when-i-was-younger-like-14-i-was-desperate-to-find-that-true-love/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) > [However, I'm at a very comfortable place in my career and celebrity, in that I don't have to audition as extensively as I used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/however-i-m-at-a-very-comfortable-place-in-my-career-and-celebrity-in/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) [Explore all 185 Claire Danes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) ## 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 > [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": "I guess I stopped acting when I was 18 and didn't pick it up again until I was 21. That wasn't the plan, though. 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