--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Paul and I were both struggling actors…" description: "\"Paul and I were both struggling actors. One night he would serve me in a restaurant, and the next night I would serve him. It was what out of work acto..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69d/david-soul-23735_actors_paul-and-i-were-both-struggling-actors-o_772393.png" --- # Paul and I were both struggling actors. One night he would… ![“Paul and I were both struggling actors. One night he would serve me in a restaurant, and the next night I would serve him. It was what out of work actors did.” quote by David Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69d/david-soul-23735_actors_paul-and-i-were-both-struggling-actors-o_772393.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69d/david-soul-23735_actors_paul-and-i-were-both-struggling-actors-o_772393.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69d/david-soul-23735_actors_paul-and-i-were-both-struggling-actors-o_772393.png) > “Paul and I were both struggling actors. One night he would serve me in a restaurant, and the next night I would serve him. It was what out of work actors did.” [David Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-soul/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He describes the reciprocal support among struggling actors, swapping roles as servers and performers, highlighting solidarity in hardship. **In simple terms:** Actors help each other survive. Key Takeaway Support fellow creatives. Themes solidarity humility career struggle community Mood inspirational humble Type reflective motivational When to use this quote - theater work - gig economy - friendship - career survival Key Concepts mutual aid networking resilience Questions to Reflect On - How can you build lasting support networks? - What does reciprocity teach you about value? A Different Perspective May rely on unsustainable favors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [We started out as actors. When we were coming out of high school, we didn't want to be struggling actors, and - I remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-scott/we-started-out-as-actors-when-we-were-coming-out-of-high-school-we/) [Jonathan Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-scott/) > [My parents were struggling actors who had a hard time getting work. That's why I hesitated about getting into acting, I had seen them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camila-morrone/my-parents-were-struggling-actors-who-had-a-hard-time-getting-work/) [Camila Morrone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camila-morrone/) > [I learned that the acting I really like is when the actors did a lot of bringing themselves, and where they're at at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-gavaris/i-learned-that-the-acting-i-really-like-is-when-the-actors-did-a-lot/) [Jordan Gavaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-gavaris/) > [I don't think I knew that much about camera placement and working with actors when we did 'Half Nelson.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-boden/i-don-t-think-i-knew-that-much-about-camera-placement-and-working/) [Anna Boden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-boden/) > [So way back, Jonathan and I were - we were entertainers as kids. We were actors; we did theater, musicals; we ended up getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-scott/so-way-back-jonathan-and-i-were-we-were-entertainers-as-kids-we-were/) [Drew Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-scott/) > [I left L.A. and moved to Cleveland for four years in the early 2000s or whatever. I came back and thought that everything had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/i-left-l-a-and-moved-to-cleveland-for-four-years-in-the-early-2000s/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [Some people do stage and film. Some people are film actors, and some people are stage actors. I'm quite sure that any of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/some-people-do-stage-and-film-some-people-are-film-actors-and-some/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > [Unlike most actors, I did not have a horrible childhood. Most actors have had miserable childhoods and they go into acting to hide from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/unlike-most-actors-i-did-not-have-a-horrible-childhood-most-actors/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [I had parents who were working actors, who did really well in their careers, but it was a living. So it was a reality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/i-had-parents-who-were-working-actors-who-did-really-well-in-their/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [There are various factors that make a show, so if the shows of other actors did not work, it's not their fault. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiku-sharda/there-are-various-factors-that-make-a-show-so-if-the-shows-of-other/) [Kiku Sharda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiku-sharda/) > [In general, I did what a lot of character actors do: I did it to get girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-fuller/in-general-i-did-what-a-lot-of-character-actors-do-i-did-it-to-get/) [Kurt Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-fuller/) > [It's only been a couple of times in my life that I've really locked horns with actors. It did not hurt the films, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-donner/it-s-only-been-a-couple-of-times-in-my-life-that-i-ve-really-locked/) [Richard Donner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-donner/) > [I don't think you should sit around and wait for people to give you an opportunity to express yourself or do your work, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-don-t-think-you-should-sit-around-and-wait-for-people-to-give-you/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [I only work with actors who take full responsibility for their characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-demme/i-only-work-with-actors-who-take-full-responsibility-for-their/) [Jonathan Demme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-demme/) > [I'm sure there are directors who don't like to work with actors and don't know how to be sensitive to actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-yelchin/i-m-sure-there-are-directors-who-don-t-like-to-work-with-actors-and/) [Anton Yelchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-yelchin/) ## More by David Soul > [I went into acting because I had to make a good living. I had a child now and I had to support him any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-soul/i-went-into-acting-because-i-had-to-make-a-good-living-i-had-a-child/) [David Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-soul/) > [To deal with the stark reality of having hit or hurt a woman or child, to deal with the initial responsibility you have not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-soul/to-deal-with-the-stark-reality-of-having-hit-or-hurt-a-woman-or-child/) [David Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-soul/) > [I was never jailed. The fact is that I was arrested, but I went into a diversion programme, and by that time I'd already…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-soul/i-was-never-jailed-the-fact-is-that-i-was-arrested-but-i-went-into-a/) [David Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-soul/) > [People thought me a bit strange at first; a blond haired, blue-eyed Norwegian who sang Mexican folk songs, but I used it to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-soul/people-thought-me-a-bit-strange-at-first-a-blond-haired-blue-eyed/) [David Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-soul/) > [I like to eat and I love the diversity of foods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-soul/i-like-to-eat-and-i-love-the-diversity-of-foods/) [David Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-soul/) > [Being on the move all the time is draining, but the rewards make up for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-soul/being-on-the-move-all-the-time-is-draining-but-the-rewards-make-up/) [David Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-soul/) > [I believe that a parent's role is to provide a path or opportunity for their children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-soul/i-believe-that-a-parent-s-role-is-to-provide-a-path-or-opportunity/) [David Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-soul/) > [I believe that a parents role is to provide a path or opportunity for their children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-soul/i-believe-that-a-parents-role-is-to-provide-a-path-or-opportunity-for/) [David Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-soul/) > [Music always came first. I never set out to be an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-soul/music-always-came-first-i-never-set-out-to-be-an-actor/) [David Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-soul/) > [If these theatres didn't exist, the tradition of British theatre would cease to exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-soul/if-these-theatres-didn-t-exist-the-tradition-of-british-theatre-would/) [David Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-soul/) > [Yes, your home is your castle, but it is also your identity and your possibility to be open to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-soul/yes-your-home-is-your-castle-but-it-is-also-your-identity-and-your/) [David Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-soul/) > [The last major breakthrough for the theatre was electricity, and we have to push beyond that if we want to move beyond the blue-haired…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-soul/the-last-major-breakthrough-for-the-theatre-was-electricity-and-we/) [David Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-soul/) > [I was an accidental actor. I was never formally trained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-soul/i-was-an-accidental-actor-i-was-never-formally-trained/) [David Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-soul/) > [The most important thing is story-telling. It's as singular and old-fashioned as that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-soul/the-most-important-thing-is-story-telling-it-s-as-singular-and-old/) [David Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-soul/) > [Once in a while I'll get moved to do some exercise. It's something I long for but the biggest problem is bending down and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-soul/once-in-a-while-i-ll-get-moved-to-do-some-exercise-it-s-something-i/) [David Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-soul/) [Explore all 25 David Soul quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-soul/) ## More Actors quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/) [Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [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/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [When we watch a film as actors, you have to understand that we always see much more than what's on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/when-we-watch-a-film-as-actors-you-have-to-understand-that-we-always/) [Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/) > [As actors, you become an expert at starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-actors-you-become-an-expert-at-starting-over/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [A rapper is about being completely true to yourself. Being an actor is about changing who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/a-rapper-is-about-being-completely-true-to-yourself-being-an-actor-is/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [I've been a professional actor for almost 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-been-a-professional-actor-for-almost-40-years/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [American actors are coy. We all have pricks and cunts, or are you different from the rest of us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/american-actors-are-coy-we-all-have-pricks-and-cunts-or-are-you/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) [Browse all 11,394 Actors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Paul and I were both struggling actors. 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