---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The best thing about having my very first…"
description: "\"The best thing about having my very first audition lead me to an Oscar nomination means that I don't have to struggle the rest of my career to be nomin..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74d/gabourey-sidibe-4030_actresses_the-best-thing-about-having-my-very-firs_394348.jpg"
---

#  The best thing about having my very first audition lead me…

![“The best thing about having my very first audition lead me to an Oscar nomination means that I don't have to struggle the rest of my career to be nominated for an Oscar, to prove that I'm a great actress, because I've already done it. Now I can do things that just make me happy.” quote by Gabourey Sidibe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74d/gabourey-sidibe-4030_actresses_the-best-thing-about-having-my-very-firs_394348.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74d/gabourey-sidibe-4030_actresses_the-best-thing-about-having-my-very-firs_394348.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74d/gabourey-sidibe-4030_actresses_the-best-thing-about-having-my-very-firs_394348.jpg)

> “The best thing about having my very first audition lead me to an Oscar nomination means that I don't have to struggle the rest of my career to be nominated for an Oscar, to prove that I'm a great actress, because I've already done it. Now I can do things that just make me happy.”

[Gabourey Sidibe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabourey-sidibe/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

She feels that early success frees her from constant validation, allowing her to pursue joy over accolades.

**In simple terms:** Early achievement lets her focus on happiness.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize joy over external approval.

Themes

career self‑acceptance joy

Mood

content proud

Type

inspirational reflective

When to use this quote

- choosing roles for satisfaction
- avoiding burnout
- celebrating past success

Key Concepts

validation intrinsic motivation artistic freedom

Questions to Reflect On

- How does early recognition change your goals?
- What does happiness look like in your work?

A Different Perspective

Success may create pressure to maintain high standards.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Actresses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actresses/) [Auditions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/auditions/) [Best things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-things/) [Nominations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nominations/) [Oscars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oscars/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/)

## Related quotes

> [I never, in my wildest dreams, could I have thought that the first role I get out of school would lead to an Oscar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/i-never-in-my-wildest-dreams-could-i-have-thought-that-the-first-role/)

[Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/)

> [People want to know everyone for a lot of different reasons. It doesn't have to be anything as big as an Oscar nomination. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabourey-sidibe/people-want-to-know-everyone-for-a-lot-of-different-reasons-it-doesn/)

[Gabourey Sidibe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabourey-sidibe/)

> [The Oscar nomination is great. It's a great pat on the back. And I like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bridges/the-oscar-nomination-is-great-it-s-a-great-pat-on-the-back-and-i-like/)

[Jeff Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bridges/)

> [Cry when you get a Golden Globe. Then you can get an Oscar nomination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/cry-when-you-get-a-golden-globe-then-you-can-get-an-oscar-nomination/)

[Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/)

> [If there is such a thing as a lock on an Oscar nomination, ... Hoffman has one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/if-there-is-such-a-thing-as-a-lock-on-an-oscar-nomination-hoffman-has/)

[Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/)

> [ Tom \[McCarthy\] said to me, "Buddy, you got an Oscar nomination through that haircut! That's the real feat, man." ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ruffalo/tom-mccarthy-said-to-me-buddy-you-got-an-oscar-nomination-through/)

[Mark Ruffalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ruffalo/)

> [Also everyone's hearts are in the right place when you do a small movie. You're not doing it for the money; you're not doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyra-sedgwick/also-everyone-s-hearts-are-in-the-right-place-when-you-do-a-small/)

[Kyra Sedgwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyra-sedgwick/)

> [The Oscar nomination is the best marketing you can get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-young/the-oscar-nomination-is-the-best-marketing-you-can-get/)

[Paul Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-young/)

> [I feel that there are great minds up there who would like to see what I can do with an Oscar nomination. I guess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/i-feel-that-there-are-great-minds-up-there-who-would-like-to-see-what/)

[River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/)

> [I went from everyone saying, "She-can't-act-she-can't-act-she-can't-act," to an Oscar nomination. So there was something quite sublime about that!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keira-knightley/i-went-from-everyone-saying-she-can-t-act-she-can-t-act-she-can-t-act/)

[Keira Knightley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keira-knightley/)

> [I was one of the shortlisted girls for the female lead of the Oscar-winning film 'Slumdog Millionaire' along with Freida Pinto.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nushrat-bharucha/i-was-one-of-the-shortlisted-girls-for-the-female-lead-of-the-oscar/)

[Nushrat Bharucha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nushrat-bharucha/)

> [I was once up for a part, and the male star was also producing the movie. They were talking about meeting with him or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/i-was-once-up-for-a-part-and-the-male-star-was-also-producing-the/)

[Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/)

> [As soon as they sent me an email saying that 'Stranger Things' is having an audition and they'd like you to come in, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-astin/as-soon-as-they-sent-me-an-email-saying-that-stranger-things-is/)

[Sean Astin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-astin/)

> [My education was doing good plays and also stinkers. When you do a stinker, you learn how to act. I like having to audition.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/my-education-was-doing-good-plays-and-also-stinkers-when-you-do-a/)

[Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/)

> [If you ask any actor "What single thing would make you really, really happy?" Among the top five things they'd say is not having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-nighy/if-you-ask-any-actor-what-single-thing-would-make-you-really-really/)

[Bill Nighy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-nighy/)

## More by Gabourey Sidibe

> [When it's time to film and to actually take on the role of Precious, I felt an immense responsibility to do it justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabourey-sidibe/when-it-s-time-to-film-and-to-actually-take-on-the-role-of-precious-i/)

[Gabourey Sidibe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabourey-sidibe/)

> [People always ask me, 'You have so much confidence. Where did that come from?'. It came from me. One day I decided that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabourey-sidibe/people-always-ask-me-you-have-so-much-confidence-where-did-that-come/)

[Gabourey Sidibe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabourey-sidibe/)

> [Precious, she gets hit by life so many different ways and so many times, but she doesn't yield to it. She continues to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabourey-sidibe/precious-she-gets-hit-by-life-so-many-different-ways-and-so-many/)

[Gabourey Sidibe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabourey-sidibe/)

> [I used to watch 'Coming to America' every day after school. I have full-on long-running inside jokes with friends and family about different scenes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabourey-sidibe/i-used-to-watch-coming-to-america-every-day-after-school-i-have-full/)

[Gabourey Sidibe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabourey-sidibe/)

> [I hate Twitter. I think it's disgusting. It's ridiculous that you as a stranger can type something to me, and I see it. Technology…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabourey-sidibe/i-hate-twitter-i-think-it-s-disgusting-it-s-ridiculous-that-you-as-a/)

[Gabourey Sidibe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabourey-sidibe/)

> [“But at the time I thought that if I could just get the world to see me the way I saw myself then my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabourey-sidibe/but-at-the-time-i-thought-that-if-i-could-just-get-the-world-to-see/)

[Gabourey Sidibe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabourey-sidibe/)

> [All my life, people have made fun of the way I speak. I guess because a lot of my vocabulary is made up of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabourey-sidibe/all-my-life-people-have-made-fun-of-the-way-i-speak-i-guess-because-a/)

[Gabourey Sidibe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabourey-sidibe/)

> [I like when red carpets are over. I hate red carpets in general. I don't understand them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabourey-sidibe/i-like-when-red-carpets-are-over-i-hate-red-carpets-in-general-i-don/)

[Gabourey Sidibe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabourey-sidibe/)

> [All we need to do is pay attention to ourselves and pay attention when somebody gives you a compliment based on something that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabourey-sidibe/all-we-need-to-do-is-pay-attention-to-ourselves-and-pay-attention/)

[Gabourey Sidibe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabourey-sidibe/)

> [I really want people to know that I am a normal girl. I'm not a superhero now. I'm not some sort of celebrity that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabourey-sidibe/i-really-want-people-to-know-that-i-am-a-normal-girl-i-m-not-a/)

[Gabourey Sidibe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabourey-sidibe/)

> [Most of my life, I wanted to be a therapist, but then I just decided that I didn't want to be in charge of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabourey-sidibe/most-of-my-life-i-wanted-to-be-a-therapist-but-then-i-just-decided/)

[Gabourey Sidibe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabourey-sidibe/)

> [Mo'Nique is so full of love. I've been describing her as the tree in 'Pocahontas.' She's so wise and loving. She is just everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabourey-sidibe/mo-nique-is-so-full-of-love-i-ve-been-describing-her-as-the-tree-in/)

[Gabourey Sidibe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabourey-sidibe/)

> [It doesn't have anything to do with how the world perceives you. What matters is what you see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabourey-sidibe/it-doesn-t-have-anything-to-do-with-how-the-world-perceives-you-what/)

[Gabourey Sidibe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabourey-sidibe/)

> [Acting is acting, and who you are will still remain to be who you are. You know, that part won't change it. It will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabourey-sidibe/acting-is-acting-and-who-you-are-will-still-remain-to-be-who-you-are/)

[Gabourey Sidibe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabourey-sidibe/)

> [“Perhaps I had to change my idea of what an insult sounds like.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabourey-sidibe/perhaps-i-had-to-change-my-idea-of-what-an-insult-sounds-like/)

[Gabourey Sidibe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabourey-sidibe/)

[Explore all 117 Gabourey Sidibe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabourey-sidibe/)

## More Actresses quotes

> [I feel excited about getting older as an actress, too. I think there are some amazing opportunities around the corner and I don't need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sutton-foster/i-feel-excited-about-getting-older-as-an-actress-too-i-think-there/)

[Sutton Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sutton-foster/)

> [I think most of us are raised with preconceived notions of the choices we're supposed to make. We waste so much time making decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-think-most-of-us-are-raised-with-preconceived-notions-of-the/)

[Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/)

> [I've been told before, and I tend to believe it, I'm not like most actresses out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moira-kelly/i-ve-been-told-before-and-i-tend-to-believe-it-i-m-not-like-most/)

[Moira Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moira-kelly/)

> [Marilyn was a great actress, not a dumb blond bombshell. She was very smart, very astute and a good businesswoman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-schiller/marilyn-was-a-great-actress-not-a-dumb-blond-bombshell-she-was-very/)

[Lawrence Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-schiller/)

> [By the time I was seventeen, I was on my way to Hollywood and didn't look back. My family is supportive now, but like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-heard/by-the-time-i-was-seventeen-i-was-on-my-way-to-hollywood-and-didn-t/)

[Amber Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-heard/)

> [Just have fun. Smile. And keep putting on lipstick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-keaton/just-have-fun-smile-and-keep-putting-on-lipstick/)

[Diane Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-keaton/)

> [There are a lot of great actresses out there. You learn to appreciate each one for what they offer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-pratt/there-are-a-lot-of-great-actresses-out-there-you-learn-to-appreciate/)

[Victoria Pratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-pratt/)

> [I want to be fulfilled creatively as an actress and get to be in roles that are meaningful and impactful. I hope the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amandla-stenberg/i-want-to-be-fulfilled-creatively-as-an-actress-and-get-to-be-in/)

[Amandla Stenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amandla-stenberg/)

> [There's certain things I try to avoid, as an actress, just to keep my world from being as narrow as it could be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/famke-janssen/there-s-certain-things-i-try-to-avoid-as-an-actress-just-to-keep-my/)

[Famke Janssen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/famke-janssen/)

> [All the baggage that comes with fame, being an actress. The down side to it is the intrusion into your life and this expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-watson/all-the-baggage-that-comes-with-fame-being-an-actress-the-down-side/)

[Emma Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-watson/)

> [I am going to be a great actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivien-leigh/i-am-going-to-be-a-great-actress/)

[Vivien Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivien-leigh/)

> [As a black actress you've got to work doubly hard. But it doesn't ever get me to the point where I give up on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naturi-naughton/as-a-black-actress-you-ve-got-to-work-doubly-hard-but-it-doesn-t-ever/)

[Naturi Naughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naturi-naughton/)

> [I've seen new actresses do one show and disappear or struggle for years to get their next break. I've been fortunate enough to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjeeda-sheikh/i-ve-seen-new-actresses-do-one-show-and-disappear-or-struggle-for/)

[Sanjeeda Sheikh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjeeda-sheikh/)

> [I knew I wanted to be an actress as soon as I popped out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dee-wallace/i-knew-i-wanted-to-be-an-actress-as-soon-as-i-popped-out/)

[Dee Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dee-wallace/)

> [Campaigning actress ASHLEY JUDD refuses to 'breed' with her racing star husband DARIO FRANCHITTI while there are starving children in the world. . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/campaigning-actress-ashley-judd-refuses-to-breed-with-her-racing-star/)

[Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/)

[Browse all 1,881 Actresses quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actresses/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The best thing about having my very first audition lead me to an Oscar nomination means that I don't have to struggle the rest of my career to be nominated for an Oscar, to prove that I'm a great actress, because I've already done it. Now I can do things that just make me happy.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Gabourey Sidibe"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabourey-sidibe/the-best-thing-about-having-my-very-first-audition-lead-me-to-an/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Actresses"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabourey-sidibe/the-best-thing-about-having-my-very-first-audition-lead-me-to-an/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74d/gabourey-sidibe-4030_actresses_the-best-thing-about-having-my-very-firs_394348.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74d/gabourey-sidibe-4030_actresses_the-best-thing-about-having-my-very-firs_394348.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74d/gabourey-sidibe-4030_actresses_the-best-thing-about-having-my-very-firs_394348.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The best thing about having my very first audition lead me to an Oscar nomination means that I don't have to…” — Gabourey Sidibe",
                "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": "Gabourey Sidibe",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabourey-sidibe/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The best thing about having my...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabourey-sidibe/the-best-thing-about-having-my-very-first-audition-lead-me-to-an/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabourey-sidibe/the-best-thing-about-having-my-very-first-audition-lead-me-to-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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
