--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What I can say, categorically, is that…" description: "\"What I can say, categorically, is that working with Sarah Paulson and Kathy Bates will have been the most formative experience for me, as an actor, for..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be9/cody-fern-14996_experience_what-i-can-say-categorically-is-that-wor_2971943.jpg" --- # What I can say, categorically, is that working with Sarah… ![“What I can say, categorically, is that working with Sarah Paulson and Kathy Bates will have been the most formative experience for me, as an actor, for the rest of my life.” quote by Cody Fern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be9/cody-fern-14996_experience_what-i-can-say-categorically-is-that-wor_2971943.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be9/cody-fern-14996_experience_what-i-can-say-categorically-is-that-wor_2971943.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be9/cody-fern-14996_experience_what-i-can-say-categorically-is-that-wor_2971943.jpg) > “What I can say, categorically, is that working with Sarah Paulson and Kathy Bates will have been the most formative experience for me, as an actor, for the rest of my life.” [Cody Fern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-fern/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Working with acclaimed actors profoundly shaped his craft, leaving a lasting impact on his career and personal growth. **In simple terms:** Collaborating with great talent changes you forever. Key Takeaway Seek mentorship from those you admire. Themes career development mentorship craft influence gratitude Mood grateful inspired Type personal professional When to use this quote - theatre rehearsals - film sets - career retrospectives Key Concepts acting technique professional growth Questions to Reflect On - What specific lessons did you learn? - How can you pass those lessons forward? A Different Perspective Reliance on others may limit personal style development. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [I'm just kind of in love with Kathy Bates. And Sarah Paulson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissy-metz/i-m-just-kind-of-in-love-with-kathy-bates-and-sarah-paulson/) [Chrissy Metz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissy-metz/) > [I grew up watching Kathy Bates, and 'Misery' is one of my favorite films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-fern/i-grew-up-watching-kathy-bates-and-misery-is-one-of-my-favorite-films/) [Cody Fern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-fern/) > [What drew me to both study and activism was the formative experience of the civil rights movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-price/what-drew-me-to-both-study-and-activism-was-the-formative-experience/) [David Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-price/) > [For me, it was a formative experience reading Eliot when I was younger. 'The Waste Land,' in particular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/for-me-it-was-a-formative-experience-reading-eliot-when-i-was-younger/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [The time for me in the Peace Corps was easily the most formative experience I've had in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-kennedy-iii/the-time-for-me-in-the-peace-corps-was-easily-the-most-formative/) [Joe Kennedy III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-kennedy-iii/) > [Sarah Paulson doesn't lie. Like, in life. But she doesn't lie onscreen, and you can't take your eyes off somebody who always tells the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-k-brown/sarah-paulson-doesn-t-lie-like-in-life-but-she-doesn-t-lie-onscreen/) [Sterling K. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-k-brown/) > [Sarah Paulson is mind-blowing. I mean, she always is. She's always fantastic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-clark/sarah-paulson-is-mind-blowing-i-mean-she-always-is-she-s-always/) [Marcia Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-clark/) > [Sarah Paulson is the most prepared and professional actor I've had the privilege of working with. I learned so much about preparation and attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-k-brown/sarah-paulson-is-the-most-prepared-and-professional-actor-i-ve-had/) [Sterling K. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-k-brown/) > [Having worked with Sarah Paulson on 'American Horror Story: Hotel' and seeing the lengths she goes to when shooting a scene, you go, 'Oh,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-greenfield/having-worked-with-sarah-paulson-on-american-horror-story-hotel-and/) [Max Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-greenfield/) > [Each actor is different. When I did 'Misery,' Kathy Bates, who's a stage trained actress, loves lots of rehearsal. Jimmy Caan, who basically grew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-reiner/each-actor-is-different-when-i-did-misery-kathy-bates-who-s-a-stage/) [Rob Reiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-reiner/) > [You can't really fake chemistry: either you have it or you don't, and you can't have a relationship on screen if you don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-k-brown/you-can-t-really-fake-chemistry-either-you-have-it-or-you-don-t-and/) [Sterling K. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-k-brown/) > [“When people talk about the stuff of mine that's frightened them onscreen, they're apt to mention Pennywise the Clown first, then Kathy Bates as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/when-people-talk-about-the-stuff-of-mine-that-s-frightened-them/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Kathy Bates is sexy. It's partly because of her talent, but she's got a great face, and a great laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/kathy-bates-is-sexy-it-s-partly-because-of-her-talent-but-she-s-got-a/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [OK, so, my favourite actress in the world is Sarah Paulson. I think she is so talented and I admire her so much, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bria-vinaite/ok-so-my-favourite-actress-in-the-world-is-sarah-paulson-i-think-she/) [Bria Vinaite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bria-vinaite/) > [The most glorious thing about working in the collaborative art is when you have somebody like Susan Kingsley or Kathy Bates who are better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-henley/the-most-glorious-thing-about-working-in-the-collaborative-art-is/) [Beth Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-henley/) ## More by Cody Fern > [I'm a very positive person in my life. I'm very optimistic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-fern/i-m-a-very-positive-person-in-my-life-i-m-very-optimistic/) [Cody Fern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-fern/) > [I really don't want to offend anybody, but I find all forms of religious fundamentalism frightening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-fern/i-really-don-t-want-to-offend-anybody-but-i-find-all-forms-of/) [Cody Fern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-fern/) > [I love Robin Wright so much. She's one of my favorite actresses; she's incredibly powerful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-fern/i-love-robin-wright-so-much-she-s-one-of-my-favorite-actresses-she-s/) [Cody Fern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-fern/) > [People don't think of themselves as evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-fern/people-don-t-think-of-themselves-as-evil/) [Cody Fern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-fern/) > [When I was at uni, I got good grades and went on to do honours, but I kept thinking, 'I shouldn't be here.' Something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-fern/when-i-was-at-uni-i-got-good-grades-and-went-on-to-do-honours-but-i/) [Cody Fern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-fern/) > ['Atlas Shrugged' shows when you have a singular vision of something and how quickly you can become attune to that vision and devalue others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-fern/atlas-shrugged-shows-when-you-have-a-singular-vision-of-something-and/) [Cody Fern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-fern/) > [It's one thing to be supported in your career and another thing for your peers to embrace you and say, 'We believe in you.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-fern/it-s-one-thing-to-be-supported-in-your-career-and-another-thing-for/) [Cody Fern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-fern/) > [One of my favorite films is 'Let the Right One In.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-fern/one-of-my-favorite-films-is-let-the-right-one-in/) [Cody Fern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-fern/) > [It's so crazy to work with Ryan Murphy and then work in the David Fincher world with Robin Wright.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-fern/it-s-so-crazy-to-work-with-ryan-murphy-and-then-work-in-the-david/) [Cody Fern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-fern/) > [I'm not a religious person, but I read the Bible many years ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-fern/i-m-not-a-religious-person-but-i-read-the-bible-many-years-ago/) [Cody Fern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-fern/) > [I told my agent that I wouldn't do TV unless it was Ryan Murphy, 'House of Cards,' or HBO.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-fern/i-told-my-agent-that-i-wouldn-t-do-tv-unless-it-was-ryan-murphy-house/) [Cody Fern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-fern/) > [I've known since I was about six that I wanted to be an actor, but I grew up in a very small country town,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-fern/i-ve-known-since-i-was-about-six-that-i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-but-i/) [Cody Fern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-fern/) > [I find the whole idea of religion overwhelming and frightening and not for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-fern/i-find-the-whole-idea-of-religion-overwhelming-and-frightening-and/) [Cody Fern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-fern/) > [For me, I can't play a metaphor or a symbol.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-fern/for-me-i-can-t-play-a-metaphor-or-a-symbol/) [Cody Fern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-fern/) > [If people hate Michael Langdon, that's a good thing. I'm not going to debate that. I don't worry about making him likeable... My real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-fern/if-people-hate-michael-langdon-that-s-a-good-thing-i-m-not-going-to/) [Cody Fern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-fern/) [Explore all 44 Cody Fern quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-fern/) ## More Experience quotes > [Experience makes a lesson to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/experience-makes-a-lesson-to-us/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/) [Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/) > [Well, I've been politically involved for a really long time. Growing up in the segregated South, it was a very painful experience for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cybill-shepherd/well-i-ve-been-politically-involved-for-a-really-long-time-growing-up/) [Cybill Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cybill-shepherd/) > [From my experience of having served for 3000 days, I can say that anything can be achieved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/from-my-experience-of-having-served-for-3000-days-i-can-say-that/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [My favorite job is the next one. Its such a gratifying experience getting to creatively keep trying something new and push things in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-craig-smith/my-favorite-job-is-the-next-one-its-such-a-gratifying-experience/) [Roger Craig Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-craig-smith/) > [I happen to think it's the politics that makes you electable, but the reason for that is politicians sometimes talk about electability as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/i-happen-to-think-it-s-the-politics-that-makes-you-electable-but-the/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [Iranians hate Arabs. They're a fairly well-educated population and they have centuries of experience with self-government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ledeen/iranians-hate-arabs-they-re-a-fairly-well-educated-population-and/) [Michael Ledeen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ledeen/) > [Education is a lifelong experience. Experience is a lifelong education. Education plus experience equals expertise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bugeja/education-is-a-lifelong-experience-experience-is-a-lifelong-education/) Michael Bugeja > [Prison experience puts distance between me and any person who hasn't been there, done that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-mcconnell/prison-experience-puts-distance-between-me-and-any-person-who-hasn-t/) [Patricia McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-mcconnell/) > [Experience is a thorough teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-jane-holmes/experience-is-a-thorough-teacher/) [Mary Jane Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-jane-holmes/) > [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 > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [I've had a great experience with pretty much everybody I've worked with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-wasikowska/i-ve-had-a-great-experience-with-pretty-much-everybody-i-ve-worked/) [Mia Wasikowska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-wasikowska/) > [It wasn't a mistake, it was a fun learning experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-wasn-t-a-mistake-it-was-a-fun-learning-experience/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I worked a lot in Chicago's theater scene as a fight choreographer. And so I do have a lot of experience in stage combat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/i-worked-a-lot-in-chicago-s-theater-scene-as-a-fight-choreographer/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) [Browse all 11,792 Experience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What I can say, categorically, is that working with Sarah Paulson and Kathy Bates will have been the most formative experience for me, as an actor, for the rest of my life.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Cody Fern" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-fern/what-i-can-say-categorically-is-that-working-with-sarah-paulson-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Experience" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-fern/what-i-can-say-categorically-is-that-working-with-sarah-paulson-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be9/cody-fern-14996_experience_what-i-can-say-categorically-is-that-wor_2971943.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be9/cody-fern-14996_experience_what-i-can-say-categorically-is-that-wor_2971943.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be9/cody-fern-14996_experience_what-i-can-say-categorically-is-that-wor_2971943.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What I can say, categorically, is that working with Sarah Paulson and Kathy Bates will have been the most…” — Cody Fern", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Cody Fern", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-fern/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What I can say, categorically, is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-fern/what-i-can-say-categorically-is-that-working-with-sarah-paulson-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-fern/what-i-can-say-categorically-is-that-working-with-sarah-paulson-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```