---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My school friends thought I was outgoing…"
description: "\"My school friends thought I was outgoing and bubbly, but that masked a lot of insecurities, and maybe that's the reason I chose drama - to build a bit ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d51/deborah-mailman-25302_actor_my-school-friends-thought-i-was-outgoing_2622225.jpg"
---

#  My school friends thought I was outgoing and bubbly, but…

![“My school friends thought I was outgoing and bubbly, but that masked a lot of insecurities, and maybe that's the reason I chose drama - to build a bit of self-confidence. I had a great teacher, and I won a few speech and drama competitions and just fell in love with it.” quote by Deborah Mailman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d51/deborah-mailman-25302_actor_my-school-friends-thought-i-was-outgoing_2622225.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d51/deborah-mailman-25302_actor_my-school-friends-thought-i-was-outgoing_2622225.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d51/deborah-mailman-25302_actor_my-school-friends-thought-i-was-outgoing_2622225.jpg)

> “My school friends thought I was outgoing and bubbly, but that masked a lot of insecurities, and maybe that's the reason I chose drama - to build a bit of self-confidence. I had a great teacher, and I won a few speech and drama competitions and just fell in love with it.”

[Deborah Mailman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-mailman/)

## 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 used drama to mask insecurities and build confidence, finding passion through mentorship and competition.

**In simple terms:** Drama helped hide insecurity and grow confidence.

Key Takeaway

Use creative outlets to boost self‑esteem.

Themes

self‑esteem creativity growth

Mood

reflective hopeful

Type

personal inspirational

When to use this quote

- school life
- theatre clubs
- public speaking
- personal development

Key Concepts

confidence building self‑expression

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you nurture confidence without performance?
- What other passions could reinforce self‑worth?

A Different Perspective

Confidence can be fragile; reliance on external validation may not sustain long‑term self‑worth.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Competitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competitions/) [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Drama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama/) [Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Insecurities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insecurities/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Outgoing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outgoing/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [School friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school-friends/) [Self confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-confidence/) [Speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speech/) [Speech And Drama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speech-and-drama/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/)

## Related quotes

> [I'm so over high school, all the pointless drama, the competitions &amp; comparing and putting others down to make yourself look better, over it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-so-over-high-school-all-the-pointless-drama-the-competitions/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [When I stand on stage, I get nervous, and because unexpected situations can occur, we need even more preparation. I must have confidence on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seohyun/when-i-stand-on-stage-i-get-nervous-and-because-unexpected-situations/)

[Seohyun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seohyun/)

> [I studied the sciences up until going to college, and I was either going to do medicine or drama. I chose drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-henstridge/i-studied-the-sciences-up-until-going-to-college-and-i-was-either/)

[Elizabeth Henstridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-henstridge/)

> [The career I chose was a drama major in college, at Yale, when I played a 90-year-old woman. One of my most celebrated roles.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/the-career-i-chose-was-a-drama-major-in-college-at-yale-when-i-played/)

[Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/)

> [I attended speech and drama classes with a nun to help me gain confidence in speaking without my face turning red each time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilia-wickstead/i-attended-speech-and-drama-classes-with-a-nun-to-help-me-gain/)

[Emilia Wickstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emilia-wickstead/)

> [I tried four times to get into the Central School of Speech and Drama before I got accepted. I started when I was 17,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-tate/i-tried-four-times-to-get-into-the-central-school-of-speech-and-drama/)

[Catherine Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-tate/)

> [I first got into acting when I was about 12. I started doing speech and drama lessons. All my friends were doing it at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-heathcote/i-first-got-into-acting-when-i-was-about-12-i-started-doing-speech/)

[Bella Heathcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-heathcote/)

> [I spent three years at Central School of Speech and Drama in London, which I enjoyed very much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-timothy/i-spent-three-years-at-central-school-of-speech-and-drama-in-london/)

[Christopher Timothy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-timothy/)

> [I did dancing and singing when I was little, and then when I was 12 years old my friends were taking speech and drama…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-heathcote/i-did-dancing-and-singing-when-i-was-little-and-then-when-i-was-12/)

[Bella Heathcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-heathcote/)

> [Mum snuck me into speech and drama classes and into the National Youth Theatre and said I was going on a summer camp if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/mum-snuck-me-into-speech-and-drama-classes-and-into-the-national/)

[Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/)

> [I went to drama college in England - the Central School of Speech and Drama, in London. I was there for not quite two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-fisher/i-went-to-drama-college-in-england-the-central-school-of-speech-and/)

[Carrie Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-fisher/)

> [ I don't think RADA wanted me, actually. When I was at Oxford I had a boyfriend at Central \[School of Speech and Drama\] and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosamund-pike/i-don-t-think-rada-wanted-me-actually-when-i-was-at-oxford-i-had-a/)

[Rosamund Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosamund-pike/)

> [The only reason I signed on for a speech and drama course was because I thought it would be easy, but as soon as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-murray-abraham/the-only-reason-i-signed-on-for-a-speech-and-drama-course-was-because/)

[F. Murray Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-murray-abraham/)

> [I made a very concerted decision to go to drama school in the United States. But I did have the opportunity to go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-burton/i-made-a-very-concerted-decision-to-go-to-drama-school-in-the-united/)

[Kate Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-burton/)

> [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/)

[Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/)

## More by Deborah Mailman

> [If I look at the one thorn that is in my side, of all my life, it is my weight. I fret about it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-mailman/if-i-look-at-the-one-thorn-that-is-in-my-side-of-all-my-life-it-is-my/)

[Deborah Mailman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-mailman/)

> [People understand about family; people understand about being in situations where you have to be brave. People get falling in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-mailman/people-understand-about-family-people-understand-about-being-in/)

[Deborah Mailman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-mailman/)

> [I guess there's this mind shift that happens once you're on stage. I don't know, chemicals, something happens and you just... I just become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-mailman/i-guess-there-s-this-mind-shift-that-happens-once-you-re-on-stage-i/)

[Deborah Mailman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-mailman/)

> [I was big as a kid, very overweight. That caused a lot of insecurities for me growing up, and on top of that, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-mailman/i-was-big-as-a-kid-very-overweight-that-caused-a-lot-of-insecurities/)

[Deborah Mailman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-mailman/)

> [Behind my door at home, that's when I'm relaxed, and that's when I can allow the emotions or whatever - to feel just what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-mailman/behind-my-door-at-home-that-s-when-i-m-relaxed-and-that-s-when-i-can/)

[Deborah Mailman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-mailman/)

> [I never get used to the red carpets and premieres, to be honest, but when you're walking down the red carpet promoting stories such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-mailman/i-never-get-used-to-the-red-carpets-and-premieres-to-be-honest-but/)

[Deborah Mailman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-mailman/)

> [I have worked with a lot of really great women directors: Ana Kokkinos; Cate Shortland, who just recently directed a film called 'Lore;' another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-mailman/i-have-worked-with-a-lot-of-really-great-women-directors-ana-kokkinos/)

[Deborah Mailman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-mailman/)

> [The Australian film industry is a small industry, so you have to really be flexible within working in different mediums. A lot of actors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-mailman/the-australian-film-industry-is-a-small-industry-so-you-have-to/)

[Deborah Mailman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-mailman/)

> [Both 'Mabo' and 'The Sapphires' have been significant roles because it's about my people. They are celebratory stories, on top of allowing people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-mailman/both-mabo-and-the-sapphires-have-been-significant-roles-because-it-s/)

[Deborah Mailman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-mailman/)

> [Motherhood is wonderful, but it's also hard work. It's the logistics more than anything. You discover you have reserves of energy you didn't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-mailman/motherhood-is-wonderful-but-it-s-also-hard-work-it-s-the-logistics/)

[Deborah Mailman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-mailman/)

> [I'm not a hugely social person. Obviously there's a big part of the job that requires that as actors, but it's not the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-mailman/i-m-not-a-hugely-social-person-obviously-there-s-a-big-part-of-the/)

[Deborah Mailman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-mailman/)

> [I'm not a girly girl, never have been. I really admire those who love to frock up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-mailman/i-m-not-a-girly-girl-never-have-been-i-really-admire-those-who-love/)

[Deborah Mailman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-mailman/)

> [Some people think that there aren't many Aboriginal actors around, and if there are, they're not that good. It's stupid. There's such an incredible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-mailman/some-people-think-that-there-aren-t-many-aboriginal-actors-around-and/)

[Deborah Mailman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-mailman/)

> [I grew up with horses and cattle, running around on dirt hills with this real sense of space. We didn't have neighbours - well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-mailman/i-grew-up-with-horses-and-cattle-running-around-on-dirt-hills-with/)

[Deborah Mailman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-mailman/)

> [The Australian film industry is a small industry, so you have to really be flexible within working in different mediums. A lot of actors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-mailman/the-australian-film-industry-is-a-small-industry-so-you-have-to-2/)

[Deborah Mailman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-mailman/)

[Explore all 23 Deborah Mailman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-mailman/)

## 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": "My school friends thought I was outgoing and bubbly, but that masked a lot of insecurities, and maybe that's the reason I chose drama - to build a bit of self-confidence. I had a great teacher, and I won a few speech and drama competitions and just fell in love with it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Deborah Mailman"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-mailman/my-school-friends-thought-i-was-outgoing-and-bubbly-but-that-masked-a/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Actor"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-mailman/my-school-friends-thought-i-was-outgoing-and-bubbly-but-that-masked-a/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d51/deborah-mailman-25302_actor_my-school-friends-thought-i-was-outgoing_2622225.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d51/deborah-mailman-25302_actor_my-school-friends-thought-i-was-outgoing_2622225.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d51/deborah-mailman-25302_actor_my-school-friends-thought-i-was-outgoing_2622225.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“My school friends thought I was outgoing and bubbly, but that masked a lot of insecurities, and maybe that's…” — Deborah Mailman",
                "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 Mailman",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-mailman/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "My school friends thought I was...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-mailman/my-school-friends-thought-i-was-outgoing-and-bubbly-but-that-masked-a/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-mailman/my-school-friends-thought-i-was-outgoing-and-bubbly-but-that-masked-a/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
