--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Never in my short career, I've never had…" description: "\"Never in my short career, I've never had that experience where I wasn't sure if I was acting or if it was real.\" — Gemma Arterton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b7/gemma-arterton-12198_acting_never-in-my-short-career-i-ve-never-had_817005.png" --- # Never in my short career, I've never had that experience… ![“Never in my short career, I've never had that experience where I wasn't sure if I was acting or if it was real.” quote by Gemma Arterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b7/gemma-arterton-12198_acting_never-in-my-short-career-i-ve-never-had_817005.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b7/gemma-arterton-12198_acting_never-in-my-short-career-i-ve-never-had_817005.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b7/gemma-arterton-12198_acting_never-in-my-short-career-i-ve-never-had_817005.png) > “Never in my short career, I've never had that experience where I wasn't sure if I was acting or if it was real.” [Gemma Arterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-arterton/) ## 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 expresses uncertainty about distinguishing performance from reality in her early career. **In simple terms:** Unsure if actions are real or performed. Key Takeaway Question reality of your actions. Themes identity performance reality career uncertainty Mood reflective introspective Type personal philosophical When to use this quote - acting auditions - first job - public speaking - personal relationships Key Concepts self-awareness authenticity perception Questions to Reflect On - When do you feel most authentic? - How does doubt affect your work? A Different Perspective The feeling may stem from lack of experience, not inherent doubt. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-real-332764/) [Careers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/careers/) [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Experience Wasn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience-wasn-332763/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Short Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short-career-332765/) ## Related quotes > [Experience in itself wasn’t enough. The diary was my defense against waking up at the end of my life and realizing I’d missed it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-manguso/experience-in-itself-wasn-t-enough-the-diary-was-my-defense-against/) [Sarah Manguso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-manguso/) > [I just knew it was time to leave that thing where it was. Even though I still occasionally think about it, I still think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/i-just-knew-it-was-time-to-leave-that-thing-where-it-was-even-though/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [I was kind of a scaredy-cat as a kid, and I made a very deliberate decision at some point that I was not going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-solomon/i-was-kind-of-a-scaredy-cat-as-a-kid-and-i-made-a-very-deliberate/) [Andrew Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-solomon/) > [It was a very good experience. It wasn't just to make a movie, it was my life. I was employed at The Lord of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-tyler/it-was-a-very-good-experience-it-wasn-t-just-to-make-a-movie-it-was/) [Liv Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-tyler/) > [If anyone asks me about the George Martin years I usually say I group all of that stuff together as the single greatest experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-beckley/if-anyone-asks-me-about-the-george-martin-years-i-usually-say-i-group/) [Gerry Beckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-beckley/) > [As an actress, I had a very short career - it lasted 12 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mumtaz/as-an-actress-i-had-a-very-short-career-it-lasted-12-years/) [Mumtaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mumtaz/) > [We all work hard. We don't have time to sit back and wait on anyone. It's a short career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-johnson/we-all-work-hard-we-don-t-have-time-to-sit-back-and-wait-on-anyone-it/) [Anthony Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-johnson/) > [I was told my style was supposed to give me a short career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-van-dam/i-was-told-my-style-was-supposed-to-give-me-a-short-career/) [Rob Van Dam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-van-dam/) > [Players should get the best deals for themselves whenever they can. Football is a relatively short career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-forlan/players-should-get-the-best-deals-for-themselves-whenever-they-can/) [Diego Forlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-forlan/) > [Then when I cut my hair short, my career tanked for about four years!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-crow/then-when-i-cut-my-hair-short-my-career-tanked-for-about-four-years/) [Sheryl Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-crow/) > [Comedy is often a short career because you get to a point where you are no longer a small thing punching up at targets;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-minchin/comedy-is-often-a-short-career-because-you-get-to-a-point-where-you/) [Tim Minchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-minchin/) > [If you lose a game of football that can't take over your whole life, otherwise I would have been sat in a house not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-ramsdale/if-you-lose-a-game-of-football-that-can-t-take-over-your-whole-life/) [Aaron Ramsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-ramsdale/) > [The whole object of the players' association is to try and make sure that any individual is able to capitalise on his ability, particularly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-taylor/the-whole-object-of-the-players-association-is-to-try-and-make-sure/) [Gordon Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-taylor/) > [It's a business and it's a short career. You need to get in, earn as much money as possible. Get out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonjo-shelvey/it-s-a-business-and-it-s-a-short-career-you-need-to-get-in-earn-as/) [Jonjo Shelvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonjo-shelvey/) > [I love acting. It is so much more real than life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-love-acting-it-is-so-much-more-real-than-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Gemma Arterton > [I was quite naughty at school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-arterton/i-was-quite-naughty-at-school/) [Gemma Arterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-arterton/) > [I've never understood people that sleep around. I think there's something very lacking in your life when you do, not to be judgmental.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-arterton/i-ve-never-understood-people-that-sleep-around-i-think-there-s/) [Gemma Arterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-arterton/) > [I wouldn't change a thing in my own life, but I'd like to go back in time anyway though, just to some eras that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-arterton/i-wouldn-t-change-a-thing-in-my-own-life-but-i-d-like-to-go-back-in/) [Gemma Arterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-arterton/) > [I am terrible at video games and I am really competitive. And if I am not the best at something, I go absolutely crazy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-arterton/i-am-terrible-at-video-games-and-i-am-really-competitive-and-if-i-am/) [Gemma Arterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-arterton/) > [I love strange things; my favorite movies are weird, eclectic, and intriguing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-arterton/i-love-strange-things-my-favorite-movies-are-weird-eclectic-and/) [Gemma Arterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-arterton/) > [I've worked on jobs where there are almost 200 people on set... you always make an effort to have a relationship but you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-arterton/i-ve-worked-on-jobs-where-there-are-almost-200-people-on-set-you/) [Gemma Arterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-arterton/) > [My mother, she had a very good attitude toward money. I'm very grateful for the fact that we had to learn to save. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-arterton/my-mother-she-had-a-very-good-attitude-toward-money-i-m-very-grateful/) [Gemma Arterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-arterton/) > [I'm kind of a chatty person and the props guys would have to handcuff me and tie me up and sometimes I'd just be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-arterton/i-m-kind-of-a-chatty-person-and-the-props-guys-would-have-to-handcuff/) [Gemma Arterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-arterton/) > [I've done about four deaths in films now, and I think it's quite good because then it's sort of a memorable moment in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-arterton/i-ve-done-about-four-deaths-in-films-now-and-i-think-it-s-quite-good/) [Gemma Arterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-arterton/) > [I was born with lots of deformities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-arterton/i-was-born-with-lots-of-deformities/) [Gemma Arterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-arterton/) > [Sometimes, I feel that if you're a strong, independent woman it scares people away, but actually it does the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-arterton/sometimes-i-feel-that-if-you-re-a-strong-independent-woman-it-scares/) [Gemma Arterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-arterton/) > [I think, for me, I'm always more interested in the process of making the movie than the movie itself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-arterton/i-think-for-me-i-m-always-more-interested-in-the-process-of-making/) [Gemma Arterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-arterton/) > [My family was never cultural in that we never went to see plays, my mum wasn't very into films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-arterton/my-family-was-never-cultural-in-that-we-never-went-to-see-plays-my/) [Gemma Arterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-arterton/) > [I'm looking at working with people I get on with, that respect me, that don't just see me as a piece of ass. Which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-arterton/i-m-looking-at-working-with-people-i-get-on-with-that-respect-me-that/) [Gemma Arterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-arterton/) > [I was on this boat in the middle of the ocean scuba diving for this film I did, and I was with actor Mackenzie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-arterton/i-was-on-this-boat-in-the-middle-of-the-ocean-scuba-diving-for-this/) [Gemma Arterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-arterton/) [Explore all 56 Gemma Arterton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-arterton/) ## More Acting 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/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [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/) > [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/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) [Ryan Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-newman/) > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. 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