--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Actually, I wanted to act even when I was…" description: "\"Actually, I wanted to act even when I was still playing football.\" — Eric Cantona" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e3/eric-cantona-3882_football_actually-i-wanted-to-act-even-when-i-was_594202.jpg" --- # Actually, I wanted to act even when I was still playing… ![“Actually, I wanted to act even when I was still playing football.” quote by Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e3/eric-cantona-3882_football_actually-i-wanted-to-act-even-when-i-was_594202.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e3/eric-cantona-3882_football_actually-i-wanted-to-act-even-when-i-was_594202.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e3/eric-cantona-3882_football_actually-i-wanted-to-act-even-when-i-was_594202.jpg) > “Actually, I wanted to act even when I was still playing football.” [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He wanted to act while still playing football, showing a drive to pursue multiple passions. **In simple terms:** He sought acting alongside his football career. Key Takeaway Explore parallel interests early. Themes career transition passion dual pursuits Mood reflective ambitious Type advisory inspirational When to use this quote - training schedules - career planning - media appearances - post-retirement projects Key Concepts sports performing arts Questions to Reflect On - How can athletes prepare for life after sports? - What skills transfer between sports and acting? A Different Perspective Balancing two demanding fields can dilute performance in both. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Playing football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-football/) ## Related quotes > [When you act, you're always playing a version of yourself. You can't bring more to the role than what you are](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-whitford/when-you-act-you-re-always-playing-a-version-of-yourself-you-can-t/) [Bradley Whitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-whitford/) > [I love to act and put on a show, but you're playing a character all the time. For music, it's really just me being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tinashe/i-love-to-act-and-put-on-a-show-but-you-re-playing-a-character-all/) [Tinashe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tinashe/) > [I've always thought that the act of playing the guitar was the act of trying to make a point of playing the guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-ronson/i-ve-always-thought-that-the-act-of-playing-the-guitar-was-the-act-of/) Mick Ronson > [Music is more Ray J. When you act, you're playing a different person. I like the music end, basically because it's me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-j/music-is-more-ray-j-when-you-act-you-re-playing-a-different-person-i/) [Ray J](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-j/) > [Going on stage is a performance, it's an act; you're playing a version of yourself. I don't give it a lot of thought. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-mack/going-on-stage-is-a-performance-it-s-an-act-you-re-playing-a-version/) [Lee Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-mack/) > [I've been playing football all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amari-cooper/i-ve-been-playing-football-all-my-life/) [Amari Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amari-cooper/) > [Yes, I love playing football, so it doesn't matter where I play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-luiz/yes-i-love-playing-football-so-it-doesn-t-matter-where-i-play/) [David Luiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-luiz/) > [I've always loved playing football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pires/i-ve-always-loved-playing-football/) [Robert Pires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pires/) > [I've actually always wanted to make something like an acoustic record.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-perry/i-ve-actually-always-wanted-to-make-something-like-an-acoustic-record/) [Katy Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-perry/) > [If someone actually wanted you in their life then They would be showing continuous effort by showing it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-someone-actually-wanted-you-in-their-life-then-they-would-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I actually wanted a drink, besides feeling that I had to have a drink.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alcoholics-anonymous/i-actually-wanted-a-drink-besides-feeling-that-i-had-to-have-a-drink/) [Alcoholics Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alcoholics-anonymous/) > [If someone actually wanted you in their life, they'd actually put some effort into showing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pryncez-nika/if-someone-actually-wanted-you-in-their-life-they-d-actually-put-some/) Pryncez\_Nika > [I actually wanted to first direct and produce, but then I got this very cool opportunity to be in front of the camera once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manish-dayal/i-actually-wanted-to-first-direct-and-produce-but-then-i-got-this/) [Manish Dayal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manish-dayal/) > [When I was younger, I actually wanted to be in the spotlight. To have people want me, want to have a piece of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-lynch/when-i-was-younger-i-actually-wanted-to-be-in-the-spotlight-to-have/) [Jane Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-lynch/) > [I actually always wanted to end up somewhere in music, I just didn't know what.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-xan/i-actually-always-wanted-to-end-up-somewhere-in-music-i-just-didn-t/) [Lil Xan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-xan/) ## More by Eric Cantona > [Children go where they find sincerity and authenticity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/children-go-where-they-find-sincerity-and-authenticity/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [A good goal is one that is important and beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/a-good-goal-is-one-that-is-important-and-beautiful/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [I didn't study; I live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/i-didn-t-study-i-live/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [Every experience makes you a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/every-experience-makes-you-a-man/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [I don't know where my medals are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/i-don-t-know-where-my-medals-are/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [Whatever happens, there are always things you could have done better. You score two goals and you usually feel you could have done better.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/whatever-happens-there-are-always-things-you-could-have-done-better/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [Great businessmen are creators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/great-businessmen-are-creators/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [I observe the world and the people surrounding me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/i-observe-the-world-and-the-people-surrounding-me/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [We can be eaten by techniques and forget what we have inside of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/we-can-be-eaten-by-techniques-and-forget-what-we-have-inside-of-us/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [I want to look forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/i-want-to-look-forward/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [I don't think the world of football is so serious. It's important to have distance about things and about yourself. If we believe we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/i-don-t-think-the-world-of-football-is-so-serious-it-s-important-to/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [I was always being creative. I could never have played a defensive role because I would have been forced to destroy the other player's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/i-was-always-being-creative-i-could-never-have-played-a-defensive/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [I didn't want really to be involved in a normal soccer club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/i-didn-t-want-really-to-be-involved-in-a-normal-soccer-club/) [Eric Cantona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/) > [I know that I have a face, a look, people aren't used to seeing. 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I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [My team mates are fundamental for my characteristics, if they send in crosses I can play inside the area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/my-team-mates-are-fundamental-for-my-characteristics-if-they-send-in/) [Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/) > [The Copa del Rey is a different competition. It is football in its purest form and is different from the continuity of the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/the-copa-del-rey-is-a-different-competition-it-is-football-in-its/) [Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/) > [“Wild card, got it," Duncan said. "Just like in Crazy Eights. I can be a diamond; I can be a spade. Whatever you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-healy/wild-card-got-it-duncan-said-just-like-in-crazy-eights-i-can-be-a/) [Christopher Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-healy/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [I just enjoy winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/i-just-enjoy-winning/) [Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/) > [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/) [Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/) > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) [Browse all 59,646 Football quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Actually, I wanted to act even when I was still playing football.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eric Cantona" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/actually-i-wanted-to-act-even-when-i-was-still-playing-football/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Football" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/actually-i-wanted-to-act-even-when-i-was-still-playing-football/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e3/eric-cantona-3882_football_actually-i-wanted-to-act-even-when-i-was_594202.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e3/eric-cantona-3882_football_actually-i-wanted-to-act-even-when-i-was_594202.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e3/eric-cantona-3882_football_actually-i-wanted-to-act-even-when-i-was_594202.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Actually, I wanted to act even when I was still playing football.” — Eric Cantona", "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": "Eric Cantona", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-cantona/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Actually, I wanted to act even...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/actually-i-wanted-to-act-even-when-i-was-still-playing-football/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-cantona/actually-i-wanted-to-act-even-when-i-was-still-playing-football/#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 } } ] } ```