--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There was nobody telling me, 'You should…" description: "\"There was nobody telling me, 'You should be an artist,' or, 'You should be an actor.'\" — Frank Grillo" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52d/frank-grillo-14052_actor_there-was-nobody-telling-me-you-should-b_2853797.jpg" --- # There was nobody telling me, 'You should be an artist,'… ![“There was nobody telling me, 'You should be an artist,' or, 'You should be an actor.'” quote by Frank Grillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52d/frank-grillo-14052_actor_there-was-nobody-telling-me-you-should-b_2853797.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52d/frank-grillo-14052_actor_there-was-nobody-telling-me-you-should-b_2853797.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52d/frank-grillo-14052_actor_there-was-nobody-telling-me-you-should-b_2853797.jpg) > “There was nobody telling me, 'You should be an artist,' or, 'You should be an actor.'” [Frank Grillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-grillo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. No one told him to pursue art or acting; his path was self‑chosen. **In simple terms:** He forged his own creative path without external pressure. Key Takeaway Create on your own terms. Themes self‑discovery career art independence authenticity Mood independent reflective Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - creative workshops - self‑study - networking Key Concepts self‑motivation personal agency non‑conformity Questions to Reflect On - How did you discover your passion? - What obstacles did you face alone? A Different Perspective May ignore mentorship value. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [There's a line between being an artist and being a celebrity. Whether you're a famous photographer or artist, or you're an actor or director,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-heard/there-s-a-line-between-being-an-artist-and-being-a-celebrity-whether/) [Amber Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-heard/) > [There's a tremendous amount to be gained from being a performer, and being an artist, and being an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayim-bialik/there-s-a-tremendous-amount-to-be-gained-from-being-a-performer-and/) [Mayim Bialik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayim-bialik/) > [The true meaning of an artist/actor is opening my heart to the audience and at the same time opening their heart. Through sharing my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/the-true-meaning-of-an-artist-actor-is-opening-my-heart-to-the-2/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [In order to be an artist and an actor, like tackling the classics in the theater as well as film, there's lots of discipline,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/in-order-to-be-an-artist-and-an-actor-like-tackling-the-classics-in/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [I always find it fascinating to ask people, why they've chosen to live their life as an artist? Why be an actor, a singer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/i-always-find-it-fascinating-to-ask-people-why-they-ve-chosen-to-live/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [I am an artist. An actor performs, whether it's in front of the camera or a live audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/puneet-issar/i-am-an-artist-an-actor-performs-whether-it-s-in-front-of-the-camera/) [Puneet Issar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/puneet-issar/) > [I'm an artist - I'm an actor - so when I'm looking for something, I'm looking for stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-victor-dixon/i-m-an-artist-i-m-an-actor-so-when-i-m-looking-for-something-i-m/) [Brandon Victor Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-victor-dixon/) > [Drawing is giving a performance; an artist is an actor who is not limited by the body, only by his ability and, perhaps, experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-davis/drawing-is-giving-a-performance-an-artist-is-an-actor-who-is-not/) [Marc Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-davis/) > [It's my job as an artist and as an actor to use this platform to make people learn and grow, to change their perspectives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-sanders/it-s-my-job-as-an-artist-and-as-an-actor-to-use-this-platform-to-make/) [Ashton Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-sanders/) > [Since I've started to star in pictures I have always managed to retain my singularity of purpose when I got into the business, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-dern/since-i-ve-started-to-star-in-pictures-i-have-always-managed-to/) [Bruce Dern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-dern/) > [It is true that social media, nowadays, is important, but I don't understand everyone needing to know everything about an artist or an actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoey-deutch/it-is-true-that-social-media-nowadays-is-important-but-i-don-t/) [Zoey Deutch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoey-deutch/) > [The true meaning of an artist/actor is opening my heart to the audience and, at the same time, opening their heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/the-true-meaning-of-an-artist-actor-is-opening-my-heart-to-the/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [I wanted to be an artist; it was be an artist or be an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-o-connor/i-wanted-to-be-an-artist-it-was-be-an-artist-or-be-an-actor/) [Josh O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-o-connor/) > [I think that it's much easier for a recording artist to become an actor than for an actor to become a recording artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-levi/i-think-that-it-s-much-easier-for-a-recording-artist-to-become-an/) [Zachary Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-levi/) > [One of the ways that I think about my being an artist and an actor is... it's an experiment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-bishe/one-of-the-ways-that-i-think-about-my-being-an-artist-and-an-actor-is/) [Kerry Bishe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-bishe/) ## More by Frank Grillo > [I look at the script first and who's directing it and then talk to the director to find out what his vision of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-grillo/i-look-at-the-script-first-and-who-s-directing-it-and-then-talk-to/) [Frank Grillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-grillo/) > [It's not like being a professional basketball player where you're in a big house. Maybe three, four or five guys make a couple million…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-grillo/it-s-not-like-being-a-professional-basketball-player-where-you-re-in/) [Frank Grillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-grillo/) > [I love Charles Bronson. He didn't have a lot of range, and he wasn't a great actor, but you couldn't take your eyes off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-grillo/i-love-charles-bronson-he-didn-t-have-a-lot-of-range-and-he-wasn-t-a/) [Frank Grillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-grillo/) > [There's nobody in the arts in my family. It was kind of embarrassing to even say that I wanted to be an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-grillo/there-s-nobody-in-the-arts-in-my-family-it-was-kind-of-embarrassing/) [Frank Grillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-grillo/) > [I don't look like Hollywood Guy. I'm a regular guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-grillo/i-don-t-look-like-hollywood-guy-i-m-a-regular-guy/) [Frank Grillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-grillo/) > [I think anybody who has a soul would themselves and their needs aside to help other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-grillo/i-think-anybody-who-has-a-soul-would-themselves-and-their-needs-aside/) [Frank Grillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-grillo/) > [Anthony Bourdain is a legend and an inspiration for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-grillo/anthony-bourdain-is-a-legend-and-an-inspiration-for-me/) [Frank Grillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-grillo/) > [Listen, 'The Purge' actually exists in some form or another in many places around the world when you think about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-grillo/listen-the-purge-actually-exists-in-some-form-or-another-in-many/) [Frank Grillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-grillo/) > [Im a believer in getting punched in the face. I know it sounds cliched, but to me, fighting is a metaphor for life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-grillo/im-a-believer-in-getting-punched-in-the-face-i-know-it-sounds-cliched/) [Frank Grillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-grillo/) > [You've got to go out there and do your things. Whatever comes your way, you jump on it, and like anything, that's how you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-grillo/you-ve-got-to-go-out-there-and-do-your-things-whatever-comes-your-way/) [Frank Grillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-grillo/) > [You get spoiled on Captain America, where your trailers two blocks long and its got three bedrooms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-grillo/you-get-spoiled-on-captain-america-where-your-trailers-two-blocks/) [Frank Grillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-grillo/) > [When I graduated college, I decided that I was going to try to be an actor, but it was my dirty secret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-grillo/when-i-graduated-college-i-decided-that-i-was-going-to-try-to-be-an/) [Frank Grillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-grillo/) > [I love 'The Dirty Dozen.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-grillo/i-love-the-dirty-dozen/) [Frank Grillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-grillo/) > [I did 'The Grey,' and it was very intense and emotional because we're in the wilderness, and it was always 30 degrees. You kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-grillo/i-did-the-grey-and-it-was-very-intense-and-emotional-because-we-re-in/) [Frank Grillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-grillo/) > [The soap opera was so long ago - the thing about soap operas, and there's something to be said for doing it, but you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-grillo/the-soap-opera-was-so-long-ago-the-thing-about-soap-operas-and-there/) [Frank Grillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-grillo/) [Explore all 48 Frank Grillo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-grillo/) ## 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": "There was nobody telling me, 'You should be an artist,' or, 'You should be an actor.'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Frank Grillo" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-grillo/there-was-nobody-telling-me-you-should-be-an-artist-or-you-should-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-grillo/there-was-nobody-telling-me-you-should-be-an-artist-or-you-should-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52d/frank-grillo-14052_actor_there-was-nobody-telling-me-you-should-b_2853797.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52d/frank-grillo-14052_actor_there-was-nobody-telling-me-you-should-b_2853797.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52d/frank-grillo-14052_actor_there-was-nobody-telling-me-you-should-b_2853797.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There was nobody telling me, 'You should be an artist,' or, 'You should be an actor.'” — Frank Grillo", "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": "Frank Grillo", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-grillo/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There was nobody telling me, 'You...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-grillo/there-was-nobody-telling-me-you-should-be-an-artist-or-you-should-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-grillo/there-was-nobody-telling-me-you-should-be-an-artist-or-you-should-be/#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 } } ] } ```