--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I graduated college, I decided that…" description: "\"When I graduated college, I decided that I was going to try to be an actor, but it was my dirty secret.\" — Frank Grillo" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c7/frank-grillo-14052_actor_when-i-graduated-college-i-decided-that_836877.jpg" --- # When I graduated college, I decided that I was going to… ![“When I graduated college, I decided that I was going to try to be an actor, but it was my dirty secret.” quote by Frank Grillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c7/frank-grillo-14052_actor_when-i-graduated-college-i-decided-that_836877.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c7/frank-grillo-14052_actor_when-i-graduated-college-i-decided-that_836877.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c7/frank-grillo-14052_actor_when-i-graduated-college-i-decided-that_836877.jpg) > “When I graduated college, I decided that I was going to try to be an actor, but it was my dirty secret.” [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. Pursuing acting was a secret ambition, revealing hidden desires behind a public persona. **In simple terms:** He kept his acting dream secret. Key Takeaway Allow yourself to explore hidden passions. Themes identity ambition secrecy Mood confessional motivational Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - career change - self‑discovery - creative pursuits - public image management Key Concepts psychology career development Questions to Reflect On - What hidden ambitions are you suppressing? - How might revealing them change your path? A Different Perspective Secrets can limit opportunities and growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [Nobody feels like an adult. 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And then, once I got into college, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jihae/i-think-when-i-was-16-i-thought-i-was-going-to-go-to-law-school-and/) [Jihae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jihae/) > [The year I left coaching to get married, Providence College decided to put its women's basketball games on radio, and because I had played…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-burke/the-year-i-left-coaching-to-get-married-providence-college-decided-to/) [Doris Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-burke/) > [When I left the Royal College, I decided I would only make paintings that I would want to look at myself, that felt close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-ofili/when-i-left-the-royal-college-i-decided-i-would-only-make-paintings/) [Chris Ofili](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-ofili/) > [By the time I entered college, I had decided not to have children, a decision that was never regretted. Accordingly, I was careful to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-cram/by-the-time-i-entered-college-i-had-decided-not-to-have-children-a/) [Donald Cram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-cram/) > [I really feel like I came out of the water when I graduated from college, because I wasn't really aware of what was going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-jaar/i-really-feel-like-i-came-out-of-the-water-when-i-graduated-from/) [Nicolas Jaar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-jaar/) > [“Talent and intelligence, not to mention tireless hard work, got lab scientists through the door, but—this was the dirty secret—you needed luck.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/talent-and-intelligence-not-to-mention-tireless-hard-work-got-lab/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [“The dirty secret about history is how much of it is conjecture.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erika-swyler/the-dirty-secret-about-history-is-how-much-of-it-is-conjecture/) [Erika Swyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erika-swyler/) > [My husband regarded my prison past as a dirty secret and never asked me one single question about it. But what I had experienced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-mcconnell/my-husband-regarded-my-prison-past-as-a-dirty-secret-and-never-asked/) [Patricia McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-mcconnell/) > [“The woman at the desk was a university graduate, young, colourless, spectacled, and intensely disagreeable. She had a fixed suspicion that no one —…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/the-woman-at-the-desk-was-a-university-graduate-young-colourless/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [The dirty secret of art is you don't have to show people your bad writing. That's what we have the delete key for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mckee/the-dirty-secret-of-art-is-you-don-t-have-to-show-people-your-bad/) [Robert McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mckee/) > [“He kissed her like they were too young to know how to kiss yet, all the while sinking into her body and withdrawing, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruthie-knox/he-kissed-her-like-they-were-too-young-to-know-how-to-kiss-yet-all/) [Ruthie Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruthie-knox/) > [“Can I tell you a dirty secret?” “Yes,” she gasped. “Just hurry.” Derek’s dark laughter increased her arousal, coating her in slick heat. Achingly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-bailey/can-i-tell-you-a-dirty-secret-yes-she-gasped-just-hurry-derek-s-dark/) [Tessa Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-bailey/) > [Like sex in Victorian England, the reality of Big Business today is our big dirty secret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/like-sex-in-victorian-england-the-reality-of-big-business-today-is/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [Don't you worry it's fine. See this will be our little dirty secret for life. Cause your man will lose his mind if he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-derulo/don-t-you-worry-it-s-fine-see-this-will-be-our-little-dirty-secret/) [Jason Derulo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-derulo/) ## 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/) > [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/) > [A tough guy, to me, stands for something, and he's not afraid to get a beating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-grillo/a-tough-guy-to-me-stands-for-something-and-he-s-not-afraid-to-get-a/) [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": "When I graduated college, I decided that I was going to try to be an actor, but it was my dirty secret.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Frank Grillo" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-grillo/when-i-graduated-college-i-decided-that-i-was-going-to-try-to-be-an/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-grillo/when-i-graduated-college-i-decided-that-i-was-going-to-try-to-be-an/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c7/frank-grillo-14052_actor_when-i-graduated-college-i-decided-that_836877.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c7/frank-grillo-14052_actor_when-i-graduated-college-i-decided-that_836877.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c7/frank-grillo-14052_actor_when-i-graduated-college-i-decided-that_836877.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I graduated college, I decided that I was going to try to be an actor, but it was my dirty secret.” — 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": "When I graduated college, I decided...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-grillo/when-i-graduated-college-i-decided-that-i-was-going-to-try-to-be-an/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-grillo/when-i-graduated-college-i-decided-that-i-was-going-to-try-to-be-an/#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 } } ] } ```