---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was shy and a hard worker, so acting…"
description: "\"I was shy and a hard worker, so acting was a way to focus whatever nervous energy I was experiencing onto a goal.\" — Deborah Ann Woll"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40d/deborah-ann-woll-22279_acting_i-was-shy-and-a-hard-worker-so-acting-wa_1614693.jpg"
---

#  I was shy and a hard worker, so acting was a way to focus…

![“I was shy and a hard worker, so acting was a way to focus whatever nervous energy I was experiencing onto a goal.” quote by Deborah Ann Woll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40d/deborah-ann-woll-22279_acting_i-was-shy-and-a-hard-worker-so-acting-wa_1614693.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40d/deborah-ann-woll-22279_acting_i-was-shy-and-a-hard-worker-so-acting-wa_1614693.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40d/deborah-ann-woll-22279_acting_i-was-shy-and-a-hard-worker-so-acting-wa_1614693.jpg)

> “I was shy and a hard worker, so acting was a way to focus whatever nervous energy I was experiencing onto a goal.”

[Deborah Ann Woll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ann-woll/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Acting can channel nervous energy into purposeful performance, turning anxiety into focused effort.

**In simple terms:** Acting helps turn nervousness into focused work.

Key Takeaway

Use creative outlets to transform anxiety into productivity.

Themes

performance anxiety management focus creativity career

Mood

introspective motivational practical

Type

psychological artistic self-help

When to use this quote

- theatre rehearsals
- public speaking
- sports
- musical practice

Key Concepts

psychology of performance energy redirection personal growth

Questions to Reflect On

- Can other activities similarly channel nervous energy?
- What limits someone from using performance as a coping tool?

A Different Perspective

Not everyone can access acting opportunities or feel comfortable performing.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Hard worker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-worker/) [Nervous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nervous/) [Workers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/workers/)

## Related quotes

> [I didn't have that many friends my first few years of high school. It was very cliquey and I'm super shy, so it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-o-brien/i-didn-t-have-that-many-friends-my-first-few-years-of-high-school-it/)

[Dylan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-o-brien/)

> [I'm not a Casanova in 'The Newsroom,' by the way - just another hard worker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dev-patel/i-m-not-a-casanova-in-the-newsroom-by-the-way-just-another-hard-worker/)

[Dev Patel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dev-patel/)

> [I'm a hard worker and I really give to my fans through my shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-aguilera/i-m-a-hard-worker-and-i-really-give-to-my-fans-through-my-shows/)

[Christina Aguilera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-aguilera/)

> [I want everybody to think I'm a hard worker as an aunt, a sister, a friend, a daughter, a niece, everything. I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-j/i-want-everybody-to-think-i-m-a-hard-worker-as-an-aunt-a-sister-a/)

[Jessie J](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-j/)

> [I'll tell you, Liz Cheney is going to be a very good candidate. I worked with her during the Bush campaigns. She's smart, she's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mckinnon/i-ll-tell-you-liz-cheney-is-going-to-be-a-very-good-candidate-i/)

[Mark McKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mckinnon/)

> [I am also a hard worker and people are sometimes surprised to see that as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-milian/i-am-also-a-hard-worker-and-people-are-sometimes-surprised-to-see/)

[Christina Milian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-milian/)

> [It's physically hard for me to work. I start to break down, physically. My joints start. I get weepy eyes. I don't sleep well.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jon-benjamin/it-s-physically-hard-for-me-to-work-i-start-to-break-down-physically/)

[H. Jon Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jon-benjamin/)

> [I'm a hard worker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorenzen-wright/i-m-a-hard-worker/)

[Lorenzen Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorenzen-wright/)

> [It was a pleasure to work with Destiny's Child in the beginning of their career. Working in the studio with Beyonce was a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-stokes/it-was-a-pleasure-to-work-with-destiny-s-child-in-the-beginning-of/)

[Chris Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-stokes/)

> [I'm a hard worker and love my work. I have felt pulled toward work. And it's a pull I have ferociously had to counter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlie-russell-hochschild/i-m-a-hard-worker-and-love-my-work-i-have-felt-pulled-toward-work-and/)

[Arlie Russell Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlie-russell-hochschild/)

> [I've always been a hard worker. I'll admit I'm addicted to work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javier-milei/i-ve-always-been-a-hard-worker-i-ll-admit-i-m-addicted-to-work/)

[Javier Milei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javier-milei/)

> [I'm just a hard worker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-pham/i-m-just-a-hard-worker/)

[Tommy Pham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-pham/)

> [I think the message has already been sent to Hollywood, which is that this kid's a hard worker, he's talented, and people are coming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hart/i-think-the-message-has-already-been-sent-to-hollywood-which-is-that/)

[Kevin Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hart/)

> [Im a hard worker, and everything with me is, if I work hard, I should get paid for it. Everything with me, I try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/birdman/im-a-hard-worker-and-everything-with-me-is-if-i-work-hard-i-should/)

Birdman

> [I'm a hard worker and I get in there and no matter what, I train hard every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-elkins/i-m-a-hard-worker-and-i-get-in-there-and-no-matter-what-i-train-hard/)

[Darren Elkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-elkins/)

## More by Deborah Ann Woll

> [Where you come from is such a huge part of who you are today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ann-woll/where-you-come-from-is-such-a-huge-part-of-who-you-are-today/)

[Deborah Ann Woll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ann-woll/)

> [Things that are unknown attract us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ann-woll/things-that-are-unknown-attract-us/)

[Deborah Ann Woll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ann-woll/)

> [You can't aspire to have heightened senses, whereas you can aspire to tell the truth, every single second, and you can aspire to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ann-woll/you-can-t-aspire-to-have-heightened-senses-whereas-you-can-aspire-to/)

[Deborah Ann Woll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ann-woll/)

> [It's interesting to take a look at people who deal with prejudice on a daily basis - it's been a real eye opener for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ann-woll/it-s-interesting-to-take-a-look-at-people-who-deal-with-prejudice-on/)

[Deborah Ann Woll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ann-woll/)

> [As a fair skinned blonde, I disappeared into the background. I've always been a loner, so I suppose dyeing my hair red was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ann-woll/as-a-fair-skinned-blonde-i-disappeared-into-the-background-i-ve/)

[Deborah Ann Woll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ann-woll/)

> [I don't see myself going back to blonde outside of work though. I really like the red.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ann-woll/i-don-t-see-myself-going-back-to-blonde-outside-of-work-though-i/)

[Deborah Ann Woll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ann-woll/)

> [I've never been a much of a glamour girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ann-woll/i-ve-never-been-a-much-of-a-glamour-girl/)

[Deborah Ann Woll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ann-woll/)

> [When someone new comes on and has their first nude scene - and even if it's not full nudity - it's always a weird,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ann-woll/when-someone-new-comes-on-and-has-their-first-nude-scene-and-even-if/)

[Deborah Ann Woll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ann-woll/)

> [I have a policy that I don't actually watch the work that I do. There are all kinds of reasons to do that, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ann-woll/i-have-a-policy-that-i-don-t-actually-watch-the-work-that-i-do-there/)

[Deborah Ann Woll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ann-woll/)

> [As an actor, you never really set out to be a stand-out character. You just want to do justice to the story and enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ann-woll/as-an-actor-you-never-really-set-out-to-be-a-stand-out-character-you/)

[Deborah Ann Woll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ann-woll/)

> [I always fancied someone might call me 'Red,' like Katherine Hepburn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ann-woll/i-always-fancied-someone-might-call-me-red-like-katherine-hepburn/)

[Deborah Ann Woll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ann-woll/)

> [ It is definitely a hard show \[True Blood\] to jump into the middle of, but luckily we have things like HBO Go now. It's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ann-woll/it-is-definitely-a-hard-show-true-blood-to-jump-into-the-middle-of/)

[Deborah Ann Woll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ann-woll/)

> [Even just pestering people with questions, and being nosey and pushy and getting her way, are things I think many young women grow up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ann-woll/even-just-pestering-people-with-questions-and-being-nosey-and-pushy/)

[Deborah Ann Woll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ann-woll/)

> [I definitely like a little bit of darkness, a little edge. I get a little bored when things are maybe too simple or too...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ann-woll/i-definitely-like-a-little-bit-of-darkness-a-little-edge-i-get-a/)

[Deborah Ann Woll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ann-woll/)

> [I think it's fascinating that there's a whole holiday dedicated to things that we fear and that's so interesting about the nature of humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ann-woll/i-think-it-s-fascinating-that-there-s-a-whole-holiday-dedicated-to/)

[Deborah Ann Woll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ann-woll/)

[Explore all 27 Deborah Ann Woll quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ann-woll/)

## 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 was shy and a hard worker, so acting was a way to focus whatever nervous energy I was experiencing onto a goal.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Deborah Ann Woll"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ann-woll/i-was-shy-and-a-hard-worker-so-acting-was-a-way-to-focus-whatever/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Acting"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ann-woll/i-was-shy-and-a-hard-worker-so-acting-was-a-way-to-focus-whatever/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40d/deborah-ann-woll-22279_acting_i-was-shy-and-a-hard-worker-so-acting-wa_1614693.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40d/deborah-ann-woll-22279_acting_i-was-shy-and-a-hard-worker-so-acting-wa_1614693.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40d/deborah-ann-woll-22279_acting_i-was-shy-and-a-hard-worker-so-acting-wa_1614693.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I was shy and a hard worker, so acting was a way to focus whatever nervous energy I was experiencing onto a…” — Deborah Ann Woll",
                "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": "Deborah Ann Woll",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ann-woll/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I was shy and a hard...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ann-woll/i-was-shy-and-a-hard-worker-so-acting-was-a-way-to-focus-whatever/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ann-woll/i-was-shy-and-a-hard-worker-so-acting-was-a-way-to-focus-whatever/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```