--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never really acted at school. It was…" description: "\"I never really acted at school. It was doing small parts on TV that really got me started.\" — Freddie Highmore" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4c/freddie-highmore-17561_acted_i-never-really-acted-at-school-it-was-do_44595.jpg" --- # I never really acted at school. It was doing small parts… ![“I never really acted at school. It was doing small parts on TV that really got me started.” quote by Freddie Highmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4c/freddie-highmore-17561_acted_i-never-really-acted-at-school-it-was-do_44595.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4c/freddie-highmore-17561_acted_i-never-really-acted-at-school-it-was-do_44595.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4c/freddie-highmore-17561_acted_i-never-really-acted-at-school-it-was-do_44595.jpg) > “I never really acted at school. It was doing small parts on TV that really got me started.” [Freddie Highmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-highmore/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early experiences in small roles can ignite a career, even if formal education feels irrelevant. **In simple terms:** Small roles spark big careers. Key Takeaway Practical experience outweighs classroom learning. Themes career development learning by doing personal growth motivation self-discovery Mood inspired reflective Type personal anecdote motivational When to use this quote - starting a career - transitioning from school to work - seeking early opportunities - building a portfolio Key Concepts experience confidence opportunity Practical Applications - career counseling - educational program design Questions to Reflect On - What early experiences shaped your path? - How can informal learning complement formal education? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) ## Related quotes > [I liked to act in plays when I was a kid, and then in college. But that's the last time I really acted. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/i-liked-to-act-in-plays-when-i-was-a-kid-and-then-in-college-but-that/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) > [I acted at school but got very bad parts - things that they'd made up in Shakespeare plays like 'Guard 17' - so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-whitehall/i-acted-at-school-but-got-very-bad-parts-things-that-they-d-made-up/) [Jack Whitehall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-whitehall/) > [The only reason why I acted in school was because of the community, like I was in the chorus of every play, I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-krasinski/the-only-reason-why-i-acted-in-school-was-because-of-the-community/) [John Krasinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-krasinski/) > [I acted all through school and college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-sarbh/i-acted-all-through-school-and-college/) [Jim Sarbh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-sarbh/) > [I had never really acted before, so I really didn't know what I was doing. The casting director for 'Euphoria' set me up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-schafer/i-had-never-really-acted-before-so-i-really-didn-t-know-what-i-was/) [Hunter Schafer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-schafer/) > [The only reason I acted in school was because of the community. I was in the chorus of every play and was never the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-krasinski/the-only-reason-i-acted-in-school-was-because-of-the-community-i-was/) [John Krasinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-krasinski/) > [At Murry Bergtraum High I wanted to be as different from my father as possible. So I acted out in school, I was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-leguizamo/at-murry-bergtraum-high-i-wanted-to-be-as-different-from-my-father-as/) [John Leguizamo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-leguizamo/) > [I have two or three shows that I follow, and even those are few and far, when I can see them on Netflix. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-ritchson/i-have-two-or-three-shows-that-i-follow-and-even-those-are-few-and/) [Alan Ritchson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-ritchson/) > [What's neat about TV is you get really rich, an opportunity to tell really rich stories over the course of 20 hours. Film is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pratt/what-s-neat-about-tv-is-you-get-really-rich-an-opportunity-to-tell/) [Chris Pratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pratt/) > [I was pursuing the arts with theater in school, and I was doing after-school activities, but not in any real movement towards a professional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uzo-aduba/i-was-pursuing-the-arts-with-theater-in-school-and-i-was-doing-after/) [Uzo Aduba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uzo-aduba/) > [I mean, I wasn't the best student in school. It would be different if I were to pursue music while I was already in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-faiyaz/i-mean-i-wasn-t-the-best-student-in-school-it-would-be-different-if-i/) [Brent Faiyaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-faiyaz/) > [I changed schools a lot when I was in elementary school because some girls were mean. They were less mean in middle school, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lawrence/i-changed-schools-a-lot-when-i-was-in-elementary-school-because-some/) [Jennifer Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lawrence/) > [Even when I was in school shows, in elementary school doing plays, I'd always go off book and start improvising.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-crystal/even-when-i-was-in-school-shows-in-elementary-school-doing-plays-i-d/) [Billy Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-crystal/) > [I was a weird animal in high school, doing no work and getting straight A's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-miller/i-was-a-weird-animal-in-high-school-doing-no-work-and-getting/) [Ezra Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-miller/) > [I enjoyed every minute of being at school. I was doing my work but still playing football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-abraham/i-enjoyed-every-minute-of-being-at-school-i-was-doing-my-work-but/) [Tammy Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-abraham/) ## More by Freddie Highmore > [Don't get too set on becoming an actor at an early age. I think that's where some people get into trouble. Acting becomes their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-highmore/don-t-get-too-set-on-becoming-an-actor-at-an-early-age-i-think-that-s/) [Freddie Highmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-highmore/) > [I like hot weather. I think it might be a bit better if England was a bit hotter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-highmore/i-like-hot-weather-i-think-it-might-be-a-bit-better-if-england-was-a/) [Freddie Highmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-highmore/) > [People build up a picture of Johnny Depp as being some sort of weird pirate character. In reality he's incredibly nice... one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-highmore/people-build-up-a-picture-of-johnny-depp-as-being-some-sort-of-weird/) [Freddie Highmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-highmore/) > [I've never been a great cook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-highmore/i-ve-never-been-a-great-cook/) [Freddie Highmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-highmore/) > [I like all sorts of chocolate. Milk chocolate, dark chocolate, anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-highmore/i-like-all-sorts-of-chocolate-milk-chocolate-dark-chocolate-anything/) [Freddie Highmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-highmore/) > [As always, with acting, you can't be too self-conscious. You shouldn't care about what people are thinking about you at the time because they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-highmore/as-always-with-acting-you-can-t-be-too-self-conscious-you-shouldn-t/) [Freddie Highmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-highmore/) > [I don't go home and pretend I'm August rather than just the actual lines I'm saying in the film. If you do it that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-highmore/i-don-t-go-home-and-pretend-i-m-august-rather-than-just-the-actual/) [Freddie Highmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-highmore/) > [Every day is a different day in New York; there's always something new going on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-highmore/every-day-is-a-different-day-in-new-york-there-s-always-something-new/) [Freddie Highmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-highmore/) > [Also "Catcher in the Rye", which happens to be one of my favorite books, I just found that kind of useful. It helps you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-highmore/also-catcher-in-the-rye-which-happens-to-be-one-of-my-favorite-books/) [Freddie Highmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-highmore/) > [I guess I'm just a normal kid apart from the acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-highmore/i-guess-i-m-just-a-normal-kid-apart-from-the-acting/) [Freddie Highmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-highmore/) > [I'm not a sad person, upset the whole time, but I seem to be quite emotional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-highmore/i-m-not-a-sad-person-upset-the-whole-time-but-i-seem-to-be-quite/) [Freddie Highmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-highmore/) > [Robin Williams is great; it's just like having a conversation when you're doing a scene with him really. It's just so relaxed on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-highmore/robin-williams-is-great-it-s-just-like-having-a-conversation-when-you/) [Freddie Highmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-highmore/) > [I think I've always been kept grounded. I've never been too involved with the movie business apart from just doing the film. I've never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-highmore/i-think-i-ve-always-been-kept-grounded-i-ve-never-been-too-involved/) [Freddie Highmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-highmore/) > [There's never been a particular band that I've followed religiously. But I do tend to listen to sadder music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-highmore/there-s-never-been-a-particular-band-that-i-ve-followed-religiously/) [Freddie Highmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-highmore/) > [Today the sort of thing for a guy in England growing up is that you have to suppress all your emotions. It's almost like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-highmore/today-the-sort-of-thing-for-a-guy-in-england-growing-up-is-that-you/) [Freddie Highmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-highmore/) [Explore all 37 Freddie Highmore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-highmore/) ## More Acted quotes > [I've acted for as long as I can remember, really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-purnell/i-ve-acted-for-as-long-as-i-can-remember-really/) [Ella Purnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-purnell/) > [It's rare to get a really truly wonderfully written, acted and produced sci-fi show, period.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hatch/it-s-rare-to-get-a-really-truly-wonderfully-written-acted-and/) [Richard Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hatch/) > [Asked at the hearing why she hadn't pressed the FBI more closely about what it knew, or didn't know, about domestic terrorist threats, Rice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-fineman/asked-at-the-hearing-why-she-hadn-t-pressed-the-fbi-more-closely/) [Howard Fineman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-fineman/) > [When you acted like 'The Beast' I still saw 'The Prince' in you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/when-you-acted-like-the-beast-i-still-saw-the-prince-in-you/) [SONYA PARKER](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [Show me a man who has acted, and who has not been the victim and slave of his action. What they have done commits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/show-me-a-man-who-has-acted-and-who-has-not-been-the-victim-and-slave/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I am something of a ham. Yeah, I'd always been a writer. But in high school, I acted in plays. So it wasn't as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-deford/i-am-something-of-a-ham-yeah-i-d-always-been-a-writer-but-in-high/) [Frank Deford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-deford/) > [“The way I acted...It wasn't you" "Oh, no. You're not even human. You don't get to use the It's not you, it's me line!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-landers/the-way-i-acted-it-wasn-t-you-oh-no-you-re-not-even-human-you-don-t/) [Melissa Landers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-landers/) > [I never acted out with my actions to show people that I'm getting grown, you never see me with a cigarette, or see me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bow-wow/i-never-acted-out-with-my-actions-to-show-people-that-i-m-getting/) [Bow Wow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bow-wow/) > [I think I'm one of those guys who was sort of always in comedy. I thought of myself - and other people seemed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-daly/i-think-i-m-one-of-those-guys-who-was-sort-of-always-in-comedy-i/) [Andy Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-daly/) > [It was all for the Games. How you acted. -Peeta Mellark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunger-games/it-was-all-for-the-games-how-you-acted-peeta-mellark/) [Hunger Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunger-games/) > [I acted like Cary Grant for so long that I became Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-grant/i-acted-like-cary-grant-for-so-long-that-i-became-cary-grant/) [Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-grant/) > [The kinds of roles dogs fill can be hard to come by in human relationships. We touch the dog or the pet at whim.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-knapp/the-kinds-of-roles-dogs-fill-can-be-hard-to-come-by-in-human/) [Caroline Knapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-knapp/) > [I acted in 'Oomakkuyil' under Balu Mahendra's baton.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/y-g-mahendran/i-acted-in-oomakkuyil-under-balu-mahendra-s-baton/) [Y. G. Mahendran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/y-g-mahendran/) > [I really loved when I started doing '70s Show,' though I had never acted before, so it was a great training ground being on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/topher-grace/i-really-loved-when-i-started-doing-70s-show-though-i-had-never-acted/) [Topher Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/topher-grace/) > [I sang before I acted, but I always wanted to do them simultaneously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mchale/i-sang-before-i-acted-but-i-always-wanted-to-do-them-simultaneously/) [Kevin McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mchale/) Browse all 192 Acted quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I never really acted at school. 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