--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every time I do a play, it's as if I've…" description: "\"Every time I do a play, it's as if I've never done one before. I'm always confused. I always am convinced I'm going to be fired. I'm like, 'I don't rem..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b3/cristin-milioti-14267_confused_every-time-i-do-a-play-it-s-as-if-i-ve-n_188177.jpg" --- # Every time I do a play, it's as if I've never done one… ![“Every time I do a play, it's as if I've never done one before. I'm always confused. I always am convinced I'm going to be fired. I'm like, 'I don't remember how to act. I don't know how to do this.' And, it's just a very slow process, and then, all of a sudden, it's just there one day. I still…” quote by Cristin Milioti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b3/cristin-milioti-14267_confused_every-time-i-do-a-play-it-s-as-if-i-ve-n_188177.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b3/cristin-milioti-14267_confused_every-time-i-do-a-play-it-s-as-if-i-ve-n_188177.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b3/cristin-milioti-14267_confused_every-time-i-do-a-play-it-s-as-if-i-ve-n_188177.jpg) > “Every time I do a play, it's as if I've never done one before. I'm always confused. I always am convinced I'm going to be fired. I'm like, 'I don't remember how to act. I don't know how to do this.' And, it's just a very slow process, and then, all of a sudden, it's just there one day. I still don't understand how it happens.” [Cristin Milioti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristin-milioti/) ## 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 perpetual novice anxiety despite experience, fearing failure until competence suddenly emerges. **In simple terms:** Feeling like a beginner each time, fearing being fired, then suddenly getting it right. Key Takeaway Accept uncertainty, trust the gradual learning curve. Themes self‑doubt learning confidence performance growth Mood anxious hopeful reflective Type personal motivational When to use this quote - acting auditions - first day on a new job - public speaking - learning a new instrument - starting a sport Key Concepts impostor syndrome skill acquisition mindset shift Questions to Reflect On - What triggers the sudden breakthrough? - How can you reduce the fear of being fired? A Different Perspective Even with practice, confidence may lag behind actual ability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Slow Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slow-process/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“I always thought that 'Good things happen to those who do the wave' No wonder I've been so confused”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-always-thought-that-good-things-happen-to-those-who-do-the-wave-no/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I've got to get stop getting fired like this. People will start to think I'm a drifter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-iacocca/i-ve-got-to-get-stop-getting-fired-like-this-people-will-start-to/) [Lee Iacocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-iacocca/) > [If being fired is anything like someone having the power to close your online acct. without notice I recommend you become self employed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-being-fired-is-anything-like-someone-having-the-power-to-close/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've never been more confused in my life, but at the same time I've never been more satisfied with what we've done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/i-ve-never-been-more-confused-in-my-life-but-at-the-same-time-i-ve/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) > [You've confused a war on your religion with not always getting everything you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/you-ve-confused-a-war-on-your-religion-with-not-always-getting/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [“I've never been more confused about people, about who they seem to be and who they really are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-ve-never-been-more-confused-about-people-about-who-they-seem-to-be/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [I would be up until 3 or 4 o'clock in the morning on nights I was facing a wall. Because when I walked into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enzo-amore/i-would-be-up-until-3-or-4-o-clock-in-the-morning-on-nights-i-was/) [Enzo Amore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enzo-amore/) > [At the end of the day, you have a job to do, and if you don't do your job, you're going to get fired.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/at-the-end-of-the-day-you-have-a-job-to-do-and-if-you-don-t-do-your/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [If you don't win, you're going to be fired. If you do win, you've only put off the day you're going to be fired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-durocher/if-you-don-t-win-you-re-going-to-be-fired-if-you-do-win-you-ve-only/) [Leo Durocher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-durocher/) > [When I was a kid in the business, you always had in the back of your head this feeling that if I screw up,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-douglas/when-i-was-a-kid-in-the-business-you-always-had-in-the-back-of-your/) [Shane Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-douglas/) > [CEOs are worried they're going to get fired any minute. They're worried about their portfolios.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-jenkins/ceos-are-worried-they-re-going-to-get-fired-any-minute-they-re/) [Dan Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-jenkins/) > [Most of my escapades were getting my Labrador dog into the back of my car to drive to Brooklyn where I worked at Avenue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-heche/most-of-my-escapades-were-getting-my-labrador-dog-into-the-back-of-my/) [Anne Heche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-heche/) > [We go to the opening arguments or the closing arguments of a case, and we'd see which actor got the big one. I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-williams/we-go-to-the-opening-arguments-or-the-closing-arguments-of-a-case-and/) [Kelli Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-williams/) > [When you get in coaching, you realize there are only two kinds of coaches - those that are fired and those who are going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-arians/when-you-get-in-coaching-you-realize-there-are-only-two-kinds-of/) [Bruce Arians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-arians/) > [Well, who's going to be fired when Ted Cruz is president? Because this campaign now has repeatedly done things that they have to apologize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/well-who-s-going-to-be-fired-when-ted-cruz-is-president-because-this/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) ## More by Cristin Milioti > [I went through a really good-looking phase from birth to 9. And then things went crazy. I don't know what happened, but between 9…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristin-milioti/i-went-through-a-really-good-looking-phase-from-birth-to-9-and-then/) [Cristin Milioti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristin-milioti/) > [I love movies, but I think people think relationships are supposed to go how they go in movies. The ones I like are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristin-milioti/i-love-movies-but-i-think-people-think-relationships-are-supposed-to/) [Cristin Milioti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristin-milioti/) > [I used to have a lot of recurring dreams about Captain Hook when I was a little kid, which I remember very vividly. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristin-milioti/i-used-to-have-a-lot-of-recurring-dreams-about-captain-hook-when-i/) [Cristin Milioti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristin-milioti/) > [So many people I know are like, 'Nobody listens to Mumford and Sons anymore.' But you know what? I love Mumford and Sons. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristin-milioti/so-many-people-i-know-are-like-nobody-listens-to-mumford-and-sons/) [Cristin Milioti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristin-milioti/) > [I grew up with a piano, and my aunt taught me chords. I played with bands in high school and I could do like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristin-milioti/i-grew-up-with-a-piano-and-my-aunt-taught-me-chords-i-played-with/) [Cristin Milioti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristin-milioti/) > [That's what's so cool about 'Once:' There is a layer of darker stuff, but it's balanced by this incredible light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristin-milioti/that-s-what-s-so-cool-about-once-there-is-a-layer-of-darker-stuff-but/) [Cristin Milioti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristin-milioti/) > [It's weird because I once lost a job because I had a chemistry read with the lead actor, and I could tell we had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristin-milioti/it-s-weird-because-i-once-lost-a-job-because-i-had-a-chemistry-read/) [Cristin Milioti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristin-milioti/) > [I really like playing other people. There is no other feeling like it, to have a different voice come out of you and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristin-milioti/i-really-like-playing-other-people-there-is-no-other-feeling-like-it/) [Cristin Milioti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristin-milioti/) > [You have to hold on to what you find because life has a way of throwing you curve balls that you never expect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristin-milioti/you-have-to-hold-on-to-what-you-find-because-life-has-a-way-of/) [Cristin Milioti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristin-milioti/) > [I think that's important to have in something like a national television show. It's important to portray a woman realistically, and not just as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristin-milioti/i-think-that-s-important-to-have-in-something-like-a-national/) [Cristin Milioti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristin-milioti/) > [I've always tried to have a pretty discerning eye with the roles that I've picked, which is maybe why it seems like I take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristin-milioti/i-ve-always-tried-to-have-a-pretty-discerning-eye-with-the-roles-that/) [Cristin Milioti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristin-milioti/) > [I did plays in high school and I really loved it, but I think singing was always what I loved most of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristin-milioti/i-did-plays-in-high-school-and-i-really-loved-it-but-i-think-singing/) [Cristin Milioti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristin-milioti/) > [It's interesting to me because theater is, on any given day, 10,000 times harder than film and television. And that's not to say film…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristin-milioti/it-s-interesting-to-me-because-theater-is-on-any-given-day-10-000/) [Cristin Milioti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristin-milioti/) > [There's no way that you're going to please all of America, or all of the fans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristin-milioti/there-s-no-way-that-you-re-going-to-please-all-of-america-or-all-of/) [Cristin Milioti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristin-milioti/) > [I've always lived in New York; I never moved to L.A. I was developing and producing and writing a pilot for a year. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristin-milioti/i-ve-always-lived-in-new-york-i-never-moved-to-l-a-i-was-developing/) [Cristin Milioti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristin-milioti/) [Explore all 47 Cristin Milioti quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristin-milioti/) ## 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": "Every time I do a play, it's as if I've never done one before. I'm always confused. I always am convinced I'm going to be fired. I'm like, 'I don't remember how to act. I don't know how to do this.' And, it's just a very slow process, and then, all of a sudden, it's just there one day. 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