--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've been acting for years and years, at…" description: "\"I've been acting for years and years, at prep school - school plays, that kind of thing. That was always very high on my agenda. I went to study Englis..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4f/james-callis-19048_acting_i-ve-been-acting-for-years-and-years-at_1962702.png" --- # I've been acting for years and years, at prep school… ![“I've been acting for years and years, at prep school - school plays, that kind of thing. That was always very high on my agenda. I went to study English for two reasons. Principally because when I was in university, studying drama wasn't considered an option. You couldn't get a degree course for…” quote by James Callis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4f/james-callis-19048_acting_i-ve-been-acting-for-years-and-years-at_1962702.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4f/james-callis-19048_acting_i-ve-been-acting-for-years-and-years-at_1962702.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4f/james-callis-19048_acting_i-ve-been-acting-for-years-and-years-at_1962702.png) > “I've been acting for years and years, at prep school - school plays, that kind of thing. That was always very high on my agenda. I went to study English for two reasons. Principally because when I was in university, studying drama wasn't considered an option. You couldn't get a degree course for it. And so many plays and things that I was interested in landed themselves in a broader spectrum of literature.” [James Callis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-callis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He pursued English to legitimize his drama passion, highlighting institutional barriers to artistic study. **In simple terms:** Studied English because drama wasn’t a degree option. Key Takeaway Seek alternative paths when formal routes block you. Themes education career artistic ambition institutional constraints adaptation Mood thoughtful determined reflective Type motivational informative When to use this quote - university choices - career planning - artistic development - advocacy for arts education Key Concepts disciplinary crossover career flexibility Questions to Reflect On - What alternatives can artists pursue when formal programs lack support? - How can institutions better accommodate interdisciplinary interests? A Different Perspective May overlook personal financial constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Drama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama/) [Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [I went to study English for two reasons. Principally because when I was in university, studying drama wasn't considered an option. You couldn't get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-callis/i-went-to-study-english-for-two-reasons-principally-because-when-i/) [James Callis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-callis/) > [I was really a very ambitious young girl when I started studying drama and performing art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soni-razdan/i-was-really-a-very-ambitious-young-girl-when-i-started-studying/) [Soni Razdan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soni-razdan/) > [I'm afraid, as true as love is, it is tested by circumstance and sometimes you don't make the best choices. As much as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-dougherty/i-m-afraid-as-true-as-love-is-it-is-tested-by-circumstance-and/) Joseph Dougherty > [“In some inexplicable way she’d been looking forward to it and all its attendant drama, because wasn’t there something nearly lovely—when you were young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-d-aprix-sweeney/in-some-inexplicable-way-she-d-been-looking-forward-to-it-and-all-its/) [Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-d-aprix-sweeney/) > [I was doing drama and I wasn't sporty or cool I think there's definitely something about being an outsider and getting into the industry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-dynevor/i-was-doing-drama-and-i-wasn-t-sporty-or-cool-i-think-there-s/) [Phoebe Dynevor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-dynevor/) > [My favorite subject was English, and I wanted to study English abroad when I was young, when I was a kid, but my mom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doona-bae/my-favorite-subject-was-english-and-i-wanted-to-study-english-abroad/) Doona Bae > [I need to study English more. I'll start by watching 'Sesame Street' every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shinsuke-nakamura/i-need-to-study-english-more-i-ll-start-by-watching-sesame-street/) [Shinsuke Nakamura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shinsuke-nakamura/) > [I study English literature but my friends are doing psychology and things like that. No one cares about acting there. It's not competitive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-paige/i-study-english-literature-but-my-friends-are-doing-psychology-and/) [Yasmin Paige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-paige/) > [I moved to New Jersey when I was five, and I lived there for about six years. My dad was allocated to the New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-kim/i-moved-to-new-jersey-when-i-was-five-and-i-lived-there-for-about-six/) [Claudia Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-kim/) > [I've been working with Spanish, French, some more American, and Japanese directors. And then I realized I have to study English, and that's why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rinko-kikuchi/i-ve-been-working-with-spanish-french-some-more-american-and-japanese/) [Rinko Kikuchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rinko-kikuchi/) > [At the end of drama school, I made a contract with myself: I'd try acting for five years. I was 26. I had already…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/at-the-end-of-drama-school-i-made-a-contract-with-myself-i-d-try/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [And I taught acting for years, and without knowing it that was the real thing that started bending me toward directing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/and-i-taught-acting-for-years-and-without-knowing-it-that-was-the/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [And I've been lucky in that I haven't had another job besides acting in the last five years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-lea/and-i-ve-been-lucky-in-that-i-haven-t-had-another-job-besides-acting/) [Nicholas Lea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-lea/) > [I've been acting for many years now, and I find there's nothing I enjoy more than making films with my friends and people I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-franco/i-ve-been-acting-for-many-years-now-and-i-find-there-s-nothing-i/) [James Franco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-franco/) > [With a recent birthday, I've been acting now for twenty years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thayer-david/with-a-recent-birthday-i-ve-been-acting-now-for-twenty-years/) [Thayer David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thayer-david/) ## More by James Callis > [I think that there should be a Gaius Baltar Award for Moral Cowardice given out to people every year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-callis/i-think-that-there-should-be-a-gaius-baltar-award-for-moral-cowardice/) [James Callis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-callis/) > [Film and television as a medium has only very recently begun to be taught at the great drama schools in the UK. When I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-callis/film-and-television-as-a-medium-has-only-very-recently-begun-to-be/) [James Callis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-callis/) > [You can go lots of places as Gaius Baltar that other people aren't allowed to pursue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-callis/you-can-go-lots-of-places-as-gaius-baltar-that-other-people-aren-t/) [James Callis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-callis/) > [From university, I tried to get into the profession almost immediately, and just got kind of kicked back in London, by lots of people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-callis/from-university-i-tried-to-get-into-the-profession-almost-immediately/) [James Callis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-callis/) > [When somebody says, Action, I act. When they say, Cut, thats my job. Ive done it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-callis/when-somebody-says-action-i-act-when-they-say-cut-thats-my-job-ive/) [James Callis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-callis/) > [Whenever I hear somebody go, "I feel so religious right now!" I'm like, "Well, you're tying yourself up in knots, are you?" There's no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-callis/whenever-i-hear-somebody-go-i-feel-so-religious-right-now-i-m-like/) [James Callis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-callis/) > [I was desperate to do more TV and film. Because I considered myself to be a theater creature. A theater animal. I was convinced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-callis/i-was-desperate-to-do-more-tv-and-film-because-i-considered-myself-to/) [James Callis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-callis/) > [On a personal note, myself, I find religion - I can understand it, I can understand why we have it, as a kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-callis/on-a-personal-note-myself-i-find-religion-i-can-understand-it-i-can/) [James Callis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-callis/) > [On a personal note, myself, I find religion - I can understand it, I can understand why we have it, as a kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-callis/on-a-personal-note-myself-i-find-religion-i-can-understand-it-i-can-2/) [James Callis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-callis/) > [I've got to take a bit of a break from science fiction. As much as I've loved this stuff, I'm ready for a different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-callis/i-ve-got-to-take-a-bit-of-a-break-from-science-fiction-as-much-as-i/) [James Callis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-callis/) > [Belief is everything when you're performing something. If you don't have the belief behind it, then that actually puts a shunt on the character.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-callis/belief-is-everything-when-you-re-performing-something-if-you-don-t/) [James Callis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-callis/) > [Rather than, as an actor, I want the audience to like me, I'm going to smile beautifully and I've got everybody's sympathy - what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-callis/rather-than-as-an-actor-i-want-the-audience-to-like-me-i-m-going-to/) [James Callis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-callis/) > [When I was at drama school in the U.K., I was there for two and a half years, and we did one week of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-callis/when-i-was-at-drama-school-in-the-u-k-i-was-there-for-two-and-a-half/) [James Callis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-callis/) > [Jokes are very curious things psychologically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-callis/jokes-are-very-curious-things-psychologically/) [James Callis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-callis/) > [My Latin education teaches me that religion comes from religio, which means, 'to bind.' To bind with rope. And that's all it means. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-callis/my-latin-education-teaches-me-that-religion-comes-from-religio-which/) [James Callis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-callis/) [Explore all 33 James Callis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-callis/) ## 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 > [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've been acting for years and years, at prep school - school plays, that kind of thing. That was always very high on my agenda. I went to study English for two reasons. Principally because when I was in university, studying drama wasn't considered an option. You couldn't get a degree course for it. 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