--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I certainly was not the romantic lead. I…" description: "\"I certainly was not the romantic lead. I couldn't be that, because I was not that good looking. And that is something about Hollywood that I do not lik..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/913/elaine-stritch-6601_fall_i-certainly-was-not-the-romantic-lead-i_1180600.jpg" --- # I certainly was not the romantic lead. I couldn't be that… ![“I certainly was not the romantic lead. I couldn't be that, because I was not that good looking. And that is something about Hollywood that I do not like at all. Why can't a woman who is just normally good looking fall in love? I mean, everybody in the movies is so good looking.” quote by Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/913/elaine-stritch-6601_fall_i-certainly-was-not-the-romantic-lead-i_1180600.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/913/elaine-stritch-6601_fall_i-certainly-was-not-the-romantic-lead-i_1180600.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/913/elaine-stritch-6601_fall_i-certainly-was-not-the-romantic-lead-i_1180600.jpg) > “I certainly was not the romantic lead. I couldn't be that, because I was not that good looking. And that is something about Hollywood that I do not like at all. Why can't a woman who is just normally good looking fall in love? I mean, everybody in the movies is so good looking.” [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She critiques Hollywood’s unrealistic beauty standards, noting that ordinary women are rarely portrayed as romantic leads. **In simple terms:** Hollywood idealizes beauty, marginalizing average women. Key Takeaway Challenge media to value diverse looks. Themes media representation beauty standards gender expectations Mood frustrated critical Type cultural critique personal reflection When to use this quote - casting decisions - advertising - social media - personal relationships Key Concepts Hollywood celebrity culture self-esteem Questions to Reflect On - How does media shape our view of attractiveness? - What impact does this have on self-worth? A Different Perspective Hollywood’s focus on looks can limit storytelling depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fall in love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall-in-love/) [Falling in love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falling-in-love/) [Hollywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hollywood/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Romantic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romantic/) ## Related quotes > [I realize that no one is going to come to me and ask me to be Julius Caesar or a romantic lead, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-farina/i-realize-that-no-one-is-going-to-come-to-me-and-ask-me-to-be-julius/) [Dennis Farina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-farina/) > [Man, I'm 6 foot 8. I'm gonna be typecast. It's not like I'm gonna be the romantic lead, although that wouldn't be bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-mane/man-i-m-6-foot-8-i-m-gonna-be-typecast-it-s-not-like-i-m-gonna-be-the/) Tyler Mane > [My hairline is receding. So my days as a romantic lead - even though I've never had them - are behind me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/my-hairline-is-receding-so-my-days-as-a-romantic-lead-even-though-i/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [What I really want is to play the romantic lead and get the girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-dinklage/what-i-really-want-is-to-play-the-romantic-lead-and-get-the-girl/) [Peter Dinklage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-dinklage/) > [I've been really lucky to have had a variety of roles, and I don't think I'm in danger of being typecast as the romantic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-menzies/i-ve-been-really-lucky-to-have-had-a-variety-of-roles-and-i-don-t/) [Tobias Menzies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-menzies/) > [Woody Allen is really the ultimate. I love that he believed in himself enough to do what he did. And I have that same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/woody-allen-is-really-the-ultimate-i-love-that-he-believed-in-himself/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [You're always close and you never get that big romantic lead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-clarkson/you-re-always-close-and-you-never-get-that-big-romantic-lead/) [Patricia Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-clarkson/) > [I love a good horror film. I love action-comedy. I love having fun. I love a good rom-com. I've been telling people I'd love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/i-love-a-good-horror-film-i-love-action-comedy-i-love-having-fun-i/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [It's good to be able to be a leading lady, to be a romantic lead, to play opposite people who are talented, and charismatic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-graham/it-s-good-to-be-able-to-be-a-leading-lady-to-be-a-romantic-lead-to/) [Heather Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-graham/) > [I'd like to be the romantic lead one day, but I've got to grow my hair first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinnie-jones/i-d-like-to-be-the-romantic-lead-one-day-but-i-ve-got-to-grow-my-hair/) [Vinnie Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinnie-jones/) > [Something like 'Without a Paddle' does really well at the box office and I'm like, 'Oh, here we go.' In 'Without a Paddle' I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lillard/something-like-without-a-paddle-does-really-well-at-the-box-office/) [Matthew Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lillard/) > [I'm never the romantic lead. I'm the guy walking in on the romantic lead, going, "Oh sorry! I'll leave you guys alone."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hader/i-m-never-the-romantic-lead-i-m-the-guy-walking-in-on-the-romantic/) [Bill Hader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hader/) > [I think we need great artists making great work - women, men, whoever. I think what's great about TV now is there are so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-ricci/i-think-we-need-great-artists-making-great-work-women-men-whoever-i/) [Christina Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-ricci/) > [I'm a journeyman actor, and I don't ever want to forget that. With romantic-lead dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-sanderson/i-m-a-journeyman-actor-and-i-don-t-ever-want-to-forget-that-with/) [William Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-sanderson/) > [I don't think anybody at the major studios is rushing to offer me a romantic lead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judge-reinhold/i-don-t-think-anybody-at-the-major-studios-is-rushing-to-offer-me-a/) [Judge Reinhold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judge-reinhold/) ## More by Elaine Stritch > [I have no intention of retiring. Even my blood sugar is better when I'm working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/i-have-no-intention-of-retiring-even-my-blood-sugar-is-better-when-i/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [This is a time in my life where I'm gonna behave like an elegant human being. Or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/this-is-a-time-in-my-life-where-i-m-gonna-behave-like-an-elegant/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [I don't think there's any thrill in the world like doing work you're good at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/i-don-t-think-there-s-any-thrill-in-the-world-like-doing-work-you-re/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [I find it easier to abstain than do a little bit of anything. I'm not a 'little bit' kind of dame. I want it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/i-find-it-easier-to-abstain-than-do-a-little-bit-of-anything-i-m-not/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [I like being talked about. I think some people really don't... because they're secure enough and they don't need that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/i-like-being-talked-about-i-think-some-people-really-don-t-because/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [Let me tell you about those convents. All that crap about extending the pinkie finger while sipping tea is a myth. Convent schools are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/let-me-tell-you-about-those-convents-all-that-crap-about-extending/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [I'm a hotel baby, absolutely: it's hard to think of a hotel I haven't stayed in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/i-m-a-hotel-baby-absolutely-it-s-hard-to-think-of-a-hotel-i-haven-t/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [If somebody doesn't have any talent, get off the stage! You're wasting my time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/if-somebody-doesn-t-have-any-talent-get-off-the-stage-you-re-wasting/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [I felt that I committed myself too much. I promised too much. But that way it's exciting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/i-felt-that-i-committed-myself-too-much-i-promised-too-much-but-that/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [I love holidays in New York. I love 'em. I want to celebrate something all the time and New York has holidays for every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/i-love-holidays-in-new-york-i-love-em-i-want-to-celebrate-something/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [There will always be ladies who lunch. Always. And apparently they live a long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/there-will-always-be-ladies-who-lunch-always-and-apparently-they-live/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [I do believe in the infallibility of the Pope, because I think we have to believe in something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/i-do-believe-in-the-infallibility-of-the-pope-because-i-think-we-have/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [The closer a part is to you, the harder it is to play. Anything else is just imitation. If I'm playing a Russian countess,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/the-closer-a-part-is-to-you-the-harder-it-is-to-play-anything-else-is/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [The people in New York - their humor is on a level that goes, uh, very deep, you know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/the-people-in-new-york-their-humor-is-on-a-level-that-goes-uh-very/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) > [When I want to do something badly enough, I do it, but there is a practical side of me that thinks I should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-stritch/when-i-want-to-do-something-badly-enough-i-do-it-but-there-is-a/) [Elaine Stritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) [Explore all 98 Elaine Stritch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-stritch/) ## More Fall quotes > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [Two things revolutionised life: moving to the countryside and falling in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-love/two-things-revolutionised-life-moving-to-the-countryside-and-falling/) [Nick Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-love/) > [“When you jump, all you're going to do is fall. But leaping? Leaping is when you think there's something on the other side.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/when-you-jump-all-you-re-going-to-do-is-fall-but-leaping-leaping-is/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [To hurry through the rise and fall of a fine, full sentence is like defying the role of time in human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clark/to-hurry-through-the-rise-and-fall-of-a-fine-full-sentence-is-like/) [Kenneth Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clark/) > [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/) > [“We will all, at some point in our lives, fall. Every single one of us. We shouldn't spend our time trying to avoid falling.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-williams/we-will-all-at-some-point-in-our-lives-fall-every-single-one-of-us-we/) [Nicole Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-williams/) > [I am attracted to looking at the different things language can mean even in one sometimes quite ordinary utterance. Writing is partly about listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-armantrout/i-am-attracted-to-looking-at-the-different-things-language-can-mean/) [Rae Armantrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-armantrout/) > [We were so poor as kids. I didn't even see a bathtub, running water, hot water, commode - we didn't have any of that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-robertson/we-were-so-poor-as-kids-i-didn-t-even-see-a-bathtub-running-water-hot/) [Phil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-robertson/) > [How wonderful it would be to scatter words as they rise to consciousness, to let them lie where they fall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-scott/how-wonderful-it-would-be-to-scatter-words-as-they-rise-to/) [Joanna Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-scott/) > [My life is a crystal teardrop. There are snowflakes falling in the teardrop and little figures trudging in slow motion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-baez/my-life-is-a-crystal-teardrop-there-are-snowflakes-falling-in-the/) [Joan Baez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-baez/) > [Life will knock you down & it's tough, but you are strong enough. Get back up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-will-knock-you-down-it-s-tough-but-you-are-strong-enough-get/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I was 13, I began relaxing my hair, and that meant when I turned 18 it began to crack and fall off, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/when-i-was-13-i-began-relaxing-my-hair-and-that-meant-when-i-turned/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) > [“If you ever falling but can't see the bottom be glad you can't because at the bottom it's either a soft land or rocks!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelseigh-ashton/if-you-ever-falling-but-can-t-see-the-bottom-be-glad-you-can-t/) Kelseigh Ashton > [Empires fall, ids explode, great symphonies are written, and behind all of it is a single instinct that demands satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-b-nuland/empires-fall-ids-explode-great-symphonies-are-written-and-behind-all/) [Sherwin B. Nuland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-b-nuland/) Browse all 13,401 Fall quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I certainly was not the romantic lead. I couldn't be that, because I was not that good looking. And that is something about Hollywood that I do not like at all. Why can't a woman who is just normally good looking fall in love? 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