--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I thought, if I was going to date an…" description: "\"I thought, if I was going to date an actor, I wanted a real actor.\" — Dana Reeve" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/386/dana-reeve-12929_actor_i-thought-if-i-was-going-to-date-an-acto_741929.jpg" --- # I thought, if I was going to date an actor, I wanted a… ![“I thought, if I was going to date an actor, I wanted a real actor.” quote by Dana Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/386/dana-reeve-12929_actor_i-thought-if-i-was-going-to-date-an-acto_741929.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/386/dana-reeve-12929_actor_i-thought-if-i-was-going-to-date-an-acto_741929.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/386/dana-reeve-12929_actor_i-thought-if-i-was-going-to-date-an-acto_741929.jpg) > “I thought, if I was going to date an actor, I wanted a real actor.” [Dana Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-reeve/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Desires for authenticity can lead to unrealistic expectations in relationships. **In simple terms:** Wanting a "real" actor creates impossible standards. Key Takeaway Seek genuine connection over idealized images. Themes authenticity relationships expectations Mood reflective thoughtful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - dating - career choices - media consumption Key Concepts idealization reality self-awareness Questions to Reflect On - What qualities matter more than status? - How do media portrayals shape expectations? A Different Perspective Idealizing a profession may ignore personal qualities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) ## Related quotes > [When I was a model, I met someone. I don't want to name the person. But things did not go well. I was new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmin-bhasin/when-i-was-a-model-i-met-someone-i-don-t-want-to-name-the-person-but/) [Jasmin Bhasin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmin-bhasin/) > [I will never date an actor or a model. My family will never accept her. We are a middle class family, and an actress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suresh-raina/i-will-never-date-an-actor-or-a-model-my-family-will-never-accept-her/) [Suresh Raina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suresh-raina/) > [Actors are pulled in so many different directions that unless you both are absolutely into it through thick and thin and completely sure about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-alba/actors-are-pulled-in-so-many-different-directions-that-unless-you/) [Jessica Alba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-alba/) > [I find that the majority of the actors I've worked with are extremely sensitive people and very spontaneous people. That's why I always say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-muth/i-find-that-the-majority-of-the-actors-i-ve-worked-with-are-extremely/) [Ellen Muth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-muth/) > [The real actor - like any real artistj- has a direct line to the collective heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/the-real-actor-like-any-real-artistj-has-a-direct-line-to-the/) [Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) > [If you're an actor, a real actor, you've got to be on the stage. But you mustn't go on the stage unless it's absolutely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-evans/if-you-re-an-actor-a-real-actor-you-ve-got-to-be-on-the-stage-but-you/) [Edith Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-evans/) > [The real actor has a direct line to the collective heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rayburn/the-real-actor-has-a-direct-line-to-the-collective-heart/) [Sam Rayburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rayburn/) > [Everyone said that if you want to be a real actor, go to New York. If you want to sell out, go to LA.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-tilly/everyone-said-that-if-you-want-to-be-a-real-actor-go-to-new-york-if/) [Jennifer Tilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-tilly/) > [ New Kids on the Block are on season two \[Full House \], so that was just a huge lifelong dream come true. Joey McIntyre… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-barber/new-kids-on-the-block-are-on-season-two-full-house-so-that-was-just-a/) [Andrea Barber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-barber/) > [In every real actor, there is a need to feel for a few hours like the center of the world. Egocentrismo, we say in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vittorio-gassman/in-every-real-actor-there-is-a-need-to-feel-for-a-few-hours-like-the/) Vittorio Gassman > [“CRANSTON! When the foreman yelled, I acknowledged I heard him. I nodded, but I didn’t let him in. I just kept repeating a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-cranston/cranston-when-the-foreman-yelled-i-acknowledged-i-heard-him-i-nodded/) [Bryan Cranston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-cranston/) > [I want to meet my fans for a long time, as a real actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoyeon-jung/i-want-to-meet-my-fans-for-a-long-time-as-a-real-actor/) [HoYeon Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hoyeon-jung/) > [Doing theater makes you feel like a real actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-fishburne/doing-theater-makes-you-feel-like-a-real-actor/) [Laurence Fishburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-fishburne/) > [I have to admit I've rarely been happier in my life. I have been absolutely thrilled to be back in New York and living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-schiff/i-have-to-admit-i-ve-rarely-been-happier-in-my-life-i-have-been/) [Richard Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-schiff/) > [I had done a couple of plays, but I was a clueless boob. 'Cosby' allowed me to have something on my resume that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-weatherly/i-had-done-a-couple-of-plays-but-i-was-a-clueless-boob-cosby-allowed/) [Michael Weatherly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-weatherly/) ## More by Dana Reeve > [We have become accustomed to living our life with joy amidst pain and challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-reeve/we-have-become-accustomed-to-living-our-life-with-joy-amidst-pain-and/) [Dana Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-reeve/) > [There are moments when the grief comes bubbling up. The first time I saw Chris's chair empty, that was really hard. And it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-reeve/there-are-moments-when-the-grief-comes-bubbling-up-the-first-time-i/) [Dana Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-reeve/) > [I'm a very famous wife but I'm still plodding along in my career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-reeve/i-m-a-very-famous-wife-but-i-m-still-plodding-along-in-my-career/) [Dana Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-reeve/) > [I value my family more than anything. That's always paramount.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-reeve/i-value-my-family-more-than-anything-that-s-always-paramount/) [Dana Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-reeve/) > [There's a formula Chris and I used all the time. When you least feel like it, do something for someone else. You forget about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-reeve/there-s-a-formula-chris-and-i-used-all-the-time-when-you-least-feel/) [Dana Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-reeve/) > [I learned a long time ago life just isn't fair, so you better stop expecting it to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-reeve/i-learned-a-long-time-ago-life-just-isn-t-fair-so-you-better-stop/) [Dana Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-reeve/) > [Chris and I used to say, when he had his accident, 'Well, this is probably the worst thing that's ever happened to either one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-reeve/chris-and-i-used-to-say-when-he-had-his-accident-well-this-is/) [Dana Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-reeve/) > [Chris was very comfortable in the public eye and thrived in that kind of environment. I, less so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-reeve/chris-was-very-comfortable-in-the-public-eye-and-thrived-in-that-kind/) [Dana Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-reeve/) > [I don't live in the city, I don't work in a high-risk environment, and I am not a smoker. So it was never anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-reeve/i-don-t-live-in-the-city-i-don-t-work-in-a-high-risk-environment-and/) [Dana Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-reeve/) > [Life is full of risks, and you don't want to raise someone who's afraid of taking risks, either physically or emotionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-reeve/life-is-full-of-risks-and-you-don-t-want-to-raise-someone-who-s/) [Dana Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-reeve/) > [Chris, boy, was he ever resilient, and was he ever someone who would never give up and had tremendous discipline, and he set goals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-reeve/chris-boy-was-he-ever-resilient-and-was-he-ever-someone-who-would/) [Dana Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-reeve/) > [I'm a big girl. I prioritize. I want to be acting, I want to be singing, but there will be time for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-reeve/i-m-a-big-girl-i-prioritize-i-want-to-be-acting-i-want-to-be-singing/) [Dana Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-reeve/) > [With grief, you know, the only way to get through it is through it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-reeve/with-grief-you-know-the-only-way-to-get-through-it-is-through-it/) [Dana Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-reeve/) > [When you least feel like it, do something for someone else. You forget about your own situation. It gives you a purpose, as opposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-reeve/when-you-least-feel-like-it-do-something-for-someone-else-you-forget/) [Dana Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-reeve/) > [As a caregiver, I always thought I had empathy for Chris's situation, and certainly one family member's disability affects the whole family dynamic in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-reeve/as-a-caregiver-i-always-thought-i-had-empathy-for-chris-s-situation/) [Dana Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-reeve/) [Explore all 52 Dana Reeve quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-reeve/) ## 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 thought, if I was going to date an actor, I wanted a real actor.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dana Reeve" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-reeve/i-thought-if-i-was-going-to-date-an-actor-i-wanted-a-real-actor/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-reeve/i-thought-if-i-was-going-to-date-an-actor-i-wanted-a-real-actor/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/386/dana-reeve-12929_actor_i-thought-if-i-was-going-to-date-an-acto_741929.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/386/dana-reeve-12929_actor_i-thought-if-i-was-going-to-date-an-acto_741929.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/386/dana-reeve-12929_actor_i-thought-if-i-was-going-to-date-an-acto_741929.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I thought, if I was going to date an actor, I wanted a real actor.” — Dana Reeve", "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": "Dana Reeve", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-reeve/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I thought, if I was going...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-reeve/i-thought-if-i-was-going-to-date-an-actor-i-wanted-a-real-actor/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-reeve/i-thought-if-i-was-going-to-date-an-actor-i-wanted-a-real-actor/#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 } } ] } ```