--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I loved acting and wanted to be a leading…" description: "\"I loved acting and wanted to be a leading man. But I decided I'd rather be a big fish in the stuntman pond than a little acting fish. I guess I must ha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/361/hal-needham-6893_acting_i-loved-acting-and-wanted-to-be-a-leadin_1869974.jpg" --- # I loved acting and wanted to be a leading man. But I… ![“I loved acting and wanted to be a leading man. But I decided I'd rather be a big fish in the stuntman pond than a little acting fish. I guess I must have made the right decision.” quote by Hal Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/361/hal-needham-6893_acting_i-loved-acting-and-wanted-to-be-a-leadin_1869974.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/361/hal-needham-6893_acting_i-loved-acting-and-wanted-to-be-a-leadin_1869974.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/361/hal-needham-6893_acting_i-loved-acting-and-wanted-to-be-a-leadin_1869974.jpg) > “I loved acting and wanted to be a leading man. But I decided I'd rather be a big fish in the stuntman pond than a little acting fish. I guess I must have made the right decision.” [Hal Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-needham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing a niche where one can dominate is wiser than competing in a crowded field with limited impact. **In simple terms:** Be a big fish in a small pond. Key Takeaway Find a domain where you can excel. Themes career strategy self‑assessment Mood pragmatic reflective Type advice motivational When to use this quote - career planning - skill development - networking - evaluating opportunities Key Concepts specialization risk management personal branding Questions to Reflect On - Is your niche sustainable long‑term? - What are the trade‑offs of specialization? A Different Perspective May limit broader growth opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-fish-2573383/) [Acting Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-wanted-686720/) [Big fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-fish/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fish/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Leading man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leading-man/) [Loved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loved/) [Loved Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loved-acting/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Right decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-decision/) ## Related quotes > [I always loved acting, and that's what I wanted to do. It's funny that my first big role is a role where I'm going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-joy-winans/i-always-loved-acting-and-that-s-what-i-wanted-to-do-it-s-funny-that/) [Deborah Joy Winans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-joy-winans/) > [Radha Krishna Sir, the director of 'Jil,' had seen 'Madras Cafe' and liked my acting in it. He wanted a performer and so got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raashi-khanna/radha-krishna-sir-the-director-of-jil-had-seen-madras-cafe-and-liked/) [Raashi Khanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raashi-khanna/) > [I don't like acting and I never have liked acting and I never wanted to be an actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elsa-lanchester/i-don-t-like-acting-and-i-never-have-liked-acting-and-i-never-wanted/) [Elsa Lanchester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elsa-lanchester/) > [Since I got into acting, I always wanted to play a bad guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mukesh-rishi/since-i-got-into-acting-i-always-wanted-to-play-a-bad-guy/) [Mukesh Rishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mukesh-rishi/) > [Acting was something I always wanted to try. I just didn't know how, or I didn't know when the door was gonna be open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ja-rule/acting-was-something-i-always-wanted-to-try-i-just-didn-t-know-how-or/) [Ja Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ja-rule/) > [I didn't go into acting because I wanted to be a role model.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jamal-warner/i-didn-t-go-into-acting-because-i-wanted-to-be-a-role-model/) [Malcolm-Jamal Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jamal-warner/) > [To me acting is a hobby and I'm inspired by it. And if I'm going to spend time doing something that I'm not really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-timberlake/to-me-acting-is-a-hobby-and-i-m-inspired-by-it-and-if-i-m-going-to/) [Justin Timberlake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-timberlake/) > [It's not that acting was something I'd always wanted to do. I had no formal training; I'd never really imagined I'd be an actress.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preity-zinta/it-s-not-that-acting-was-something-i-d-always-wanted-to-do-i-had-no/) [Preity Zinta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preity-zinta/) > [In dance you use every party of your body except your voice. I wanted to start acting because I wanted to use my voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-saldana/in-dance-you-use-every-party-of-your-body-except-your-voice-i-wanted/) [Zoe Saldana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-saldana/) > [I was about 15 when I decided that acting was what I wanted to pursue professionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-purser/i-was-about-15-when-i-decided-that-acting-was-what-i-wanted-to-pursue/) [Shannon Purser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-purser/) > [I decided at age 5 to start acting and I have never wanted to do anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-robbins/i-decided-at-age-5-to-start-acting-and-i-have-never-wanted-to-do/) [Lois Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-robbins/) > [Before acting, I wanted to become a journalist. I also toyed with the idea of being a chef - but that's only when people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/before-acting-i-wanted-to-become-a-journalist-i-also-toyed-with-the/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [When I initially started acting, all I wanted to do was to be in one movie. That's it. That was my goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-beach/when-i-initially-started-acting-all-i-wanted-to-do-was-to-be-in-one/) [Adam Beach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-beach/) > [Acting is something I always wanted to try after wrestling, and I felt like this was a perfect fit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-michaels/acting-is-something-i-always-wanted-to-try-after-wrestling-and-i-felt/) [Shawn Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-michaels/) > [I'd always wanted to act, but it was a question of whether acting wanted me and whether the movies wanted me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anjelica-huston/i-d-always-wanted-to-act-but-it-was-a-question-of-whether-acting/) [Anjelica Huston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anjelica-huston/) ## More by Hal Needham > [If you read books forever and ever, they will never replace what really counts - that's practical experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-needham/if-you-read-books-forever-and-ever-they-will-never-replace-what/) [Hal Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-needham/) > [Audiences want Burt, John Wayne and others to go on doing the same thing forever. It's critics and the actors themselves who want actors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-needham/audiences-want-burt-john-wayne-and-others-to-go-on-doing-the-same/) [Hal Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-needham/) > [There's a standard pay scale for stunts. The more difficult the stunt, the more money involved. But if I'm the only stuntman who can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-needham/there-s-a-standard-pay-scale-for-stunts-the-more-difficult-the-stunt/) [Hal Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-needham/) > [Trying to get it together with me as a director was impossible. No one wanted to work with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-needham/trying-to-get-it-together-with-me-as-a-director-was-impossible-no-one/) [Hal Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-needham/) > ['Death Car' was shot on a freeway that's under construction. It's called 'Chips' Freeway' because it's where they shoot the NBC series. We bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-needham/death-car-was-shot-on-a-freeway-that-s-under-construction-it-s-called/) [Hal Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-needham/) > [Hell, if I didn't do stunts, I'd have had to be a bartender, or something else that didn't pay well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-needham/hell-if-i-didn-t-do-stunts-i-d-have-had-to-be-a-bartender-or/) [Hal Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-needham/) > [As far as I know, there is only one other director who was a stuntman - guy named Chuck Bail who directed 'Gumball Rally.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-needham/as-far-as-i-know-there-is-only-one-other-director-who-was-a-stuntman/) [Hal Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-needham/) > [I could jump out of this window feet first, which would be the safe way. But the way I'd do it would be to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-needham/i-could-jump-out-of-this-window-feet-first-which-would-be-the-safe/) [Hal Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-needham/) > [We try to reduce the danger to a minimum, of course. And then we prepare for accidents with alternate plans. For instance, if I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-needham/we-try-to-reduce-the-danger-to-a-minimum-of-course-and-then-we/) [Hal Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-needham/) > [You've gotta be careful. People don't want to be reminded of Vietnam and Korea. We lost thousands of fine young men and didn't win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-needham/you-ve-gotta-be-careful-people-don-t-want-to-be-reminded-of-vietnam/) [Hal Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-needham/) > [I just knew it would get a big laugh when people saw the 'Flying Nun' throwing the bird to a highway patrolman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-needham/i-just-knew-it-would-get-a-big-laugh-when-people-saw-the-flying-nun/) [Hal Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-needham/) > [The critics gave me bad reviews on every movie I made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-needham/the-critics-gave-me-bad-reviews-on-every-movie-i-made/) [Hal Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-needham/) > [I have a country-boy sense of humor. I come from a poor family, and I have no education. But I am Middle America, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-needham/i-have-a-country-boy-sense-of-humor-i-come-from-a-poor-family-and-i/) [Hal Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-needham/) > [Here's the thing that I think really pushed me, was my versatility. Because when I came in to the movie business, all the stunt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-needham/here-s-the-thing-that-i-think-really-pushed-me-was-my-versatility/) [Hal Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-needham/) > [I hate sequels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-needham/i-hate-sequels/) [Hal Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-needham/) [Explore all 96 Hal Needham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-needham/) ## 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. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I loved acting and wanted to be a leading man. But I decided I'd rather be a big fish in the stuntman pond than a little acting fish. 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