--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At first, I didn't know what an actor…" description: "\"At first, I didn't know what an actor was. I thought it was an acrobat. I saw acrobats at the circus, and I thought that was interesting. In my head, t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/365/finn-jones-20986_actor_at-first-i-didn-t-know-what-an-actor-was_521186.jpg" --- # At first, I didn't know what an actor was. I thought it… ![“At first, I didn't know what an actor was. I thought it was an acrobat. I saw acrobats at the circus, and I thought that was interesting. In my head, that was what I imagined I wanted to be when I grew up. Then I realized what an actor was, and I've gravitated to it ever since.” quote by Finn Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/365/finn-jones-20986_actor_at-first-i-didn-t-know-what-an-actor-was_521186.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/365/finn-jones-20986_actor_at-first-i-didn-t-know-what-an-actor-was_521186.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/365/finn-jones-20986_actor_at-first-i-didn-t-know-what-an-actor-was_521186.jpg) > “At first, I didn't know what an actor was. I thought it was an acrobat. I saw acrobats at the circus, and I thought that was interesting. In my head, that was what I imagined I wanted to be when I grew up. Then I realized what an actor was, and I've gravitated to it ever since.” [Finn Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-jones/) ## 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 initially misidentified acting as acrobatics, but after exposure realized acting's true nature and pursued it passionately. **In simple terms:** Mistaken career ideas can become clear with experience. Key Takeaway Follow curiosity to discover true passion. Themes career self-discovery misconception passion growth Mood inspirational reflective Type personal career When to use this quote - Theater auditions - personal development - educational workshops Key Concepts Identity formation creative arts career transitions Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to explore unknown fields? - How do early misconceptions shape later choices? A Different Perspective May overlook practical training needed for acting. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Circus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circus/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [I realized that being an actor was something I never owned up to, in a weird way. I would be a hostess or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-realized-that-being-an-actor-was-something-i-never-owned-up-to-in-a/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) > [Growing up, I realized as an actor I had to figure out how to use my platform in order to give back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serinda-swan/growing-up-i-realized-as-an-actor-i-had-to-figure-out-how-to-use-my-2/) [Serinda Swan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serinda-swan/) > [One day, when I was 33, I shifted. I suddenly saw acting as a higher calling. I understood that my goal was to serve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laila-robins/one-day-when-i-was-33-i-shifted-i-suddenly-saw-acting-as-a-higher/) [Laila Robins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laila-robins/) > [Growing up, I realized as an actor I had to figure out how to use my platform in order to give back as well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serinda-swan/growing-up-i-realized-as-an-actor-i-had-to-figure-out-how-to-use-my/) [Serinda Swan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serinda-swan/) > [So, from a very young age, my mom tells me that I wanted to be Michael J. Fox. I didn't want to be an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-j-adams/so-from-a-very-young-age-my-mom-tells-me-that-i-wanted-to-be-michael/) [Patrick J. Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-j-adams/) > [I was thinking maybe about being a lawyer. I realized I was interested in becoming a priest at one point. I was just interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-reilly/i-was-thinking-maybe-about-being-a-lawyer-i-realized-i-was-interested/) [John C. Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-reilly/) > [When I realized that if I was an actor, I could be any character I wanted instead of just one particular, I was like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orlando-bloom/when-i-realized-that-if-i-was-an-actor-i-could-be-any-character-i/) [Orlando Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orlando-bloom/) > [Even trying it as an actor, I never thought I'd actually make it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-azaria/even-trying-it-as-an-actor-i-never-thought-i-d-actually-make-it/) [Hank Azaria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-azaria/) > [“I have never thought of myself as an actor, thought I play about 500 different characters in the show. Actors play someone else I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-fielding/i-have-never-thought-of-myself-as-an-actor-thought-i-play-about-500/) [Noel Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-fielding/) > [I didn't become an actor because I thought I'd make lots of money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/i-didn-t-become-an-actor-because-i-thought-i-d-make-lots-of-money/) [Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/) > [I was studying with Stella Adler, who was a great, great teacher who encouraged me to be an actor. I had thought I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-beatty/i-was-studying-with-stella-adler-who-was-a-great-great-teacher-who/) [Warren Beatty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-beatty/) > [It was always my dream to be a New York theater actor. I never thought I was pretty enough to be on camera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harbour/it-was-always-my-dream-to-be-a-new-york-theater-actor-i-never-thought/) [David Harbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harbour/) > [I never had any desire to be a film actor. I never thought I was the good-looking movie type, which I assumed they wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/i-never-had-any-desire-to-be-a-film-actor-i-never-thought-i-was-the/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [Whatever expectations I had for myself, none of them have come to pass. I grew up thinking I was going to be an actor,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ian-black/whatever-expectations-i-had-for-myself-none-of-them-have-come-to-pass/) [Michael Ian Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ian-black/) > [I was 11 and watching soap operas with my mom, and I thought it would be cool to be an actor. I thought soap…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/britt-robertson/i-was-11-and-watching-soap-operas-with-my-mom-and-i-thought-it-would/) [Britt Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/britt-robertson/) ## More by Finn Jones > [I'm a big fan of 'Akira,' and I think comics are a great place to tell intelligent, fantastical stories. You can say stuff that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-jones/i-m-a-big-fan-of-akira-and-i-think-comics-are-a-great-place-to-tell/) [Finn Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-jones/) > [I was never a troublemaker, but I also was never a nerdy kid. I was never a cool kid or a sports kid. At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-jones/i-was-never-a-troublemaker-but-i-also-was-never-a-nerdy-kid-i-was/) [Finn Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-jones/) > [Women are the strong people in this world, not men. I think TV is finally catching up with that reality, and thank God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-jones/women-are-the-strong-people-in-this-world-not-men-i-think-tv-is/) [Finn Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-jones/) > [A lot of the vibe in London is being sucked dry because of the economic situation. It's very expensive, and it gives you nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-jones/a-lot-of-the-vibe-in-london-is-being-sucked-dry-because-of-the/) [Finn Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-jones/) > [When I was in drama school, I really got into a dark place. I went to a therapist - it was really helpful to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-jones/when-i-was-in-drama-school-i-really-got-into-a-dark-place-i-went-to-a/) [Finn Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-jones/) > [I know feeling pressure gets you nowhere creatively. You've just got to understand the character, understand the story, and just play it to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-jones/i-know-feeling-pressure-gets-you-nowhere-creatively-you-ve-just-got/) [Finn Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-jones/) > [The power should be in individual democracies in individual communities. It shouldn't be an oligarchy or some small group of elite. Power should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-jones/the-power-should-be-in-individual-democracies-in-individual/) [Finn Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-jones/) > [I'm not a critic. I'm an actor. I see the role I get given on the page. I try to bring it to life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-jones/i-m-not-a-critic-i-m-an-actor-i-see-the-role-i-get-given-on-the-page/) [Finn Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-jones/) > [I think being on a show like Game of Thrones for six years, I've gone through that whole hype thing, and I know that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-jones/i-think-being-on-a-show-like-game-of-thrones-for-six-years-i-ve-gone/) [Finn Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-jones/) > [Every day of my life, I make an effort. Like, everything's an effort - a good effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-jones/every-day-of-my-life-i-make-an-effort-like-everything-s-an-effort-a/) [Finn Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-jones/) > ['Thrones' would be the perfect platform to send a progressive message because right now, our politicians aren't telling us any truths. It's hard to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-jones/thrones-would-be-the-perfect-platform-to-send-a-progressive-message/) [Finn Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-jones/) > [I will say that Marvel is 100 times more secretive than 'Game of Thrones.' Like, they're not even on the same playing field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-jones/i-will-say-that-marvel-is-100-times-more-secretive-than-game-of/) [Finn Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-jones/) > [Pretty much everyone on my iPod, I'd like to be friends with. But I'd say that the main two that I'd love to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-jones/pretty-much-everyone-on-my-ipod-i-d-like-to-be-friends-with-but-i-d/) [Finn Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-jones/) > [I find the comic book audience a lot more intense than the fantasy one, definitely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-jones/i-find-the-comic-book-audience-a-lot-more-intense-than-the-fantasy/) [Finn Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-jones/) > [For me as an actor, I find it's most creative when I'm bringing myself into the role rather than putting the role on. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-jones/for-me-as-an-actor-i-find-it-s-most-creative-when-i-m-bringing-myself/) [Finn Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-jones/) [Explore all 30 Finn Jones quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-jones/) ## 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": "At first, I didn't know what an actor was. I thought it was an acrobat. I saw acrobats at the circus, and I thought that was interesting. In my head, that was what I imagined I wanted to be when I grew up. 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