--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Yes, it really knocked my confidence. I…" description: "\"“Yes, it really knocked my confidence. I was really young when I went in, and I really wanted to please. I don’t think you can be a good actor and want..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6f/decca-aitkenhead-44725_confidence_yes-it-really-knocked-my-confidence-i-wa_1605915.jpg" --- # Yes, it really knocked my confidence. I was really young… ![“Yes, it really knocked my confidence. I was really young when I went in, and I really wanted to please. I don’t think you can be a good actor and want to please because so much about performing and acting is surprising people. But at drama school, I felt like what they wanted from me was for me to…” quote by Decca Aitkenhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6f/decca-aitkenhead-44725_confidence_yes-it-really-knocked-my-confidence-i-wa_1605915.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6f/decca-aitkenhead-44725_confidence_yes-it-really-knocked-my-confidence-i-wa_1605915.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6f/decca-aitkenhead-44725_confidence_yes-it-really-knocked-my-confidence-i-wa_1605915.jpg) > ““Yes, it really knocked my confidence. I was really young when I went in, and I really wanted to please. I don’t think you can be a good actor and want to please because so much about performing and acting is surprising people. But at drama school, I felt like what they wanted from me was for me to just get it right somehow'.”” [Decca Aitkenhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/decca-aitkenhead/) ## 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 describes how early desire to please undermined confidence, noting that acting requires surprise and authenticity, not merely correctness. **In simple terms:** Seeking approval can damage confidence; acting needs authenticity. Key Takeaway Embrace risk, focus on truth over approval. Themes confidence authenticity performance self‑esteem Mood vulnerable reflective Type advice personal narrative When to use this quote - auditions - first performances - acting classes - career beginnings Key Concepts psychology acting technique impostor syndrome Questions to Reflect On - How can actors balance audience expectations with personal truth? - What practices help shift focus from pleasing to authentic expression? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on approval may stifle creativity and personal growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Surprising](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-surprising-2900899/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Confidence Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence-really-984979/) [Drama school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama-school/) [Knocked Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knocked-confidence-5155855/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [“When you’ve been knocked down, confidence gives you the patience to stay down for a minute, until you know how to get up better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-s-grover/when-you-ve-been-knocked-down-confidence-gives-you-the-patience-to/) [Tim S. Grover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-s-grover/) > [I don't think you can be a good actor and want to please, because so much about performing and acting is surprising people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-waller-bridge/i-don-t-think-you-can-be-a-good-actor-and-want-to-please-because-so/) [Phoebe Waller-Bridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-waller-bridge/) > [I have so many single girlfriends who fit themselves into the mold of what they think a guy's looking for. But being comfortable around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cobie-smulders/i-have-so-many-single-girlfriends-who-fit-themselves-into-the-mold-of/) [Cobie Smulders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cobie-smulders/) > [The runway isn't just about showing fashion, it's about gaining confidence. 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The two coaches are actually very similar on the pressing side of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-coutinho/my-confidence-has-been-really-building-since-my-time-at-espanyol-the/) [Philippe Coutinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-coutinho/) ## More by Decca Aitkenhead > [Trying to defend religion by invoking science is like claiming that three plus four equals ice cream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/decca-aitkenhead/trying-to-defend-religion-by-invoking-science-is-like-claiming-that/) [Decca Aitkenhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/decca-aitkenhead/) > [I've discovered that, in order for life to go on, you have to believe in necessary fantasies such as what you think is going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/decca-aitkenhead/i-ve-discovered-that-in-order-for-life-to-go-on-you-have-to-believe/) [Decca Aitkenhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/decca-aitkenhead/) > [For most of my life I have known how to control my feelings. 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I think there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/decca-aitkenhead/i-suppose-if-i-didn-t-write-for-a-living-and-it-couldn-t-be-published/) [Decca Aitkenhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/decca-aitkenhead/) [Explore all 9 Decca Aitkenhead quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/decca-aitkenhead/) ## 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. 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