--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have always been good at auditioning…" description: "\"I have always been good at auditioning, but maybe because I had a good trick at the beginning. I would pretend that my agent gave me the wrong scene or..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e5/james-marsden-14962_act_i-have-always-been-good-at-auditioning-b_3020881.jpg" --- # I have always been good at auditioning, but maybe because… ![“I have always been good at auditioning, but maybe because I had a good trick at the beginning. I would pretend that my agent gave me the wrong scene or lines. They would take pity on me and hand me the right scene. I would act like I had never seen this before - and then do pretty well considering…” quote by James Marsden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e5/james-marsden-14962_act_i-have-always-been-good-at-auditioning-b_3020881.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e5/james-marsden-14962_act_i-have-always-been-good-at-auditioning-b_3020881.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e5/james-marsden-14962_act_i-have-always-been-good-at-auditioning-b_3020881.jpg) > “I have always been good at auditioning, but maybe because I had a good trick at the beginning. I would pretend that my agent gave me the wrong scene or lines. They would take pity on me and hand me the right scene. I would act like I had never seen this before - and then do pretty well considering I had already rehearsed it.” [James Marsden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-marsden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He used a deceptive rehearsal trick to boost confidence and performance during auditions. **In simple terms:** Use a confidence‑boosting mental trick for auditions. Key Takeaway Adopt a pre‑performance confidence strategy. Themes performance confidence acting Mood creative practical Type advice motivational When to use this quote - auditions - public speaking - stage fright Key Concepts psychological rehearsal impostor syndrome Questions to Reflect On - Is it ethical to deceive oneself? - What other methods build confidence? A Different Perspective Risk of reliance on deception. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Act](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/act/) [Agent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agent/) [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Auditioning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/auditioning/) [Auditioning Maybe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/auditioning-maybe-4888963/) [Because](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/because/) [Been](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/been/) [Before](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/before/) [Beginning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginning/) [Considering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/considering/) [Considering Rehearsed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/considering-rehearsed-4888964/) [Gave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gave/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good Auditioning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-auditioning-528381/) [Had](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/had/) [Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hand/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Lines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lines/) [Maybe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maybe/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Pity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity/) [Pretend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretend/) [Pretend Agent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretend-agent-4888965/) [Pretty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretty/) [Rehearsed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rehearsed/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) [Scene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scene/) [Seen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seen/) [Take](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/take/) [Then](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/then/) [Trick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trick/) [Well](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/well/) [Would](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would/) [Wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes you just gotta get in front of the camera because sometimes you have a long break between things, or you're auditioning and maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-lipnicki/sometimes-you-just-gotta-get-in-front-of-the-camera-because-sometimes/) [Jonathan Lipnicki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-lipnicki/) > [I've had some rank auditions where I embarrassed myself to new heights, which is hard for me to do. I was never good at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/i-ve-had-some-rank-auditions-where-i-embarrassed-myself-to-new/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [Some set experiences are not good, and sometimes the auditioning process is not fun. There are a lot of different things about this industry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-langford/some-set-experiences-are-not-good-and-sometimes-the-auditioning/) [Josephine Langford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-langford/) > [You'd think that my acting in 'Lost Angels' would have been the reason why I gave up on it. But yeah, I'm just not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ad-rock/you-d-think-that-my-acting-in-lost-angels-would-have-been-the-reason/) [Ad-Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ad-rock/) > [During the screen test for 'Red Widow' was the first time anyone ever told me that I was good at auditioning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-beaumon/during-the-screen-test-for-red-widow-was-the-first-time-anyone-ever/) [Sterling Beaumon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-beaumon/) > [I found myself in this conundrum of loving acting, but not liking the path that you have to take to do it. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/i-found-myself-in-this-conundrum-of-loving-acting-but-not-liking-the/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [In 'There Will Be Blood,' my character was someone who was an actor himself almost. He had a rehearsed quality about him. He was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/in-there-will-be-blood-my-character-was-someone-who-was-an-actor/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [It's too much show business and too much prompting, too much artificiality, and not really debates. They're rehearsed appearances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/it-s-too-much-show-business-and-too-much-prompting-too-much/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [You can't plan everything - if I did a performance exactly how I rehearsed it, it would be so boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lambert/you-can-t-plan-everything-if-i-did-a-performance-exactly-how-i/) [Adam Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lambert/) > [If fucking up takes practice.. i seem well rehearsed..!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raj-patel/if-fucking-up-takes-practice-i-seem-well-rehearsed/) [Raj Patel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raj-patel/) > [We rehearsed our 'Scarface' to the nines. Long period of rehearsal, so that by the time we started to shoot, it was almost like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-loggia/we-rehearsed-our-scarface-to-the-nines-long-period-of-rehearsal-so/) [Robert Loggia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-loggia/) > [Its just that, when the orchestra look at me, I want them to see a completely involved person who reflects what we rehearsed, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-levine/its-just-that-when-the-orchestra-look-at-me-i-want-them-to-see-a/) [James Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-levine/) > [The facts of history have been too well rehearsed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ashbery/the-facts-of-history-have-been-too-well-rehearsed/) [John Ashbery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ashbery/) > [Certain favourite roles are played by us so often before the public and rehearsed so carefully when we are alone that we find it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/certain-favourite-roles-are-played-by-us-so-often-before-the-public/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [Spontaneity is an infinite number of rehearsed possibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/spontaneity-is-an-infinite-number-of-rehearsed-possibilities/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) ## More by James Marsden > [I would not think twice about being part of any incarnation of the 'X-Men' films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-marsden/i-would-not-think-twice-about-being-part-of-any-incarnation-of-the-x/) [James Marsden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-marsden/) > [I didn't know what my passion was until I discovered the dramatic arts in junior high and high school and I realized, 'Oh, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-marsden/i-didn-t-know-what-my-passion-was-until-i-discovered-the-dramatic/) [James Marsden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-marsden/) > [As an actor, you always think your last job is your last job, and you're always doubting yourself and worried that people will see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-marsden/as-an-actor-you-always-think-your-last-job-is-your-last-job-and-you/) [James Marsden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-marsden/) > [Over the years, I've learned that you can have fun with the fabrics and other elements, but if it's not tailored right, you'll blow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-marsden/over-the-years-i-ve-learned-that-you-can-have-fun-with-the-fabrics/) [James Marsden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-marsden/) > [Boy, if Garth Ennis had created a religion, I would sure like to be a part of that. It just makes sense, the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-marsden/boy-if-garth-ennis-had-created-a-religion-i-would-sure-like-to-be-a/) [James Marsden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-marsden/) > [I grew up in Oklahoma, and I feel really grateful for that, because it's given me a perspective on this business that I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-marsden/i-grew-up-in-oklahoma-and-i-feel-really-grateful-for-that-because-it/) [James Marsden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-marsden/) > [I am constantly hustling and finding new things. You try to manage so you don't look back and see huge gaps of time that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-marsden/i-am-constantly-hustling-and-finding-new-things-you-try-to-manage-so/) [James Marsden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-marsden/) > [I was with my wife for five years before we got married. At some point, she was ready to take the next step, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-marsden/i-was-with-my-wife-for-five-years-before-we-got-married-at-some-point/) [James Marsden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-marsden/) > [If you have fun and keep a good attitude, people want to work with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-marsden/if-you-have-fun-and-keep-a-good-attitude-people-want-to-work-with-you/) [James Marsden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-marsden/) > [I've always loved watches my whole life. When I was growing up, I always thought of having a great watch as that next step…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-marsden/i-ve-always-loved-watches-my-whole-life-when-i-was-growing-up-i/) [James Marsden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-marsden/) > [I am starting to get into this whole idea of caring about what I wear. There was a time in my life when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-marsden/i-am-starting-to-get-into-this-whole-idea-of-caring-about-what-i-wear/) [James Marsden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-marsden/) > [A lot of guys I know are into this whole scarf trend. Not my thing. I prefer to update and personalize my style with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-marsden/a-lot-of-guys-i-know-are-into-this-whole-scarf-trend-not-my-thing-i/) [James Marsden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-marsden/) > [If expectations are low, you can only impress people. But if expectations are there for you to be the leading guy, and you've been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-marsden/if-expectations-are-low-you-can-only-impress-people-but-if/) [James Marsden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-marsden/) > [For much of my life, I felt like I was just going through the motions. It was like, 'When am I gonna be who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-marsden/for-much-of-my-life-i-felt-like-i-was-just-going-through-the-motions/) [James Marsden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-marsden/) > [I don't care what anybody says, thick black leather from head-to-toe is not the best thing to be doing gymnastics in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-marsden/i-don-t-care-what-anybody-says-thick-black-leather-from-head-to-toe/) [James Marsden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-marsden/) [Explore all 44 James Marsden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-marsden/) ## More Act quotes > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [Teachers' unions don't act in the interest of most teachers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sal-khan/teachers-unions-don-t-act-in-the-interest-of-most-teachers/) [Sal Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sal-khan/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [People take years learning how to act; it's a skill, not just a job. If I tried it out and thought I'd be OK,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-fimmel/people-take-years-learning-how-to-act-it-s-a-skill-not-just-a-job-if/) [Travis Fimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-fimmel/) > [Self-discipline is an act of cultivation. It require you to connect today's actions to tomorrow's results. There's a season for sowing a season for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ryan-blair/self-discipline-is-an-act-of-cultivation-it-require-you-to-connect/) [Gary Ryan Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ryan-blair/) > [“Don’t turn your face away. Once you’ve seen, you can no longer act like you don’t know. Open your eyes to the truth. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vashti-quiroz-vega/don-t-turn-your-face-away-once-you-ve-seen-you-can-no-longer-act-like/) [Vashti Quiroz-Vega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vashti-quiroz-vega/) > [I always advise people not to act upon the advice that I give them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/i-always-advise-people-not-to-act-upon-the-advice-that-i-give-them/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [I have no interest in watching myself act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wesley/i-have-no-interest-in-watching-myself-act/) [Paul Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wesley/) > [“Don't wait, just sweat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/don-t-wait-just-sweat/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [I do believe some people can naturally act and don't know it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-arnold/i-do-believe-some-people-can-naturally-act-and-don-t-know-it/) [Andrea Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-arnold/) > [Regardless of what I do, whether I write a book or whether I act or whether I host, I'll always do stand-up comedy because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-mandel/regardless-of-what-i-do-whether-i-write-a-book-or-whether-i-act-or/) [Howie Mandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-mandel/) > [On 'Workaholics,' I feel like I'm just hanging out with my buddies being filmed, but on 'Mindy,' I'm around professional funny people who act.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anders-holm/on-workaholics-i-feel-like-i-m-just-hanging-out-with-my-buddies-being/) [Anders Holm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anders-holm/) > [I'm not an artist, and I want to take risks, and when the possibility of failure occurs, it's because the idea is all exciting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/i-m-not-an-artist-and-i-want-to-take-risks-and-when-the-possibility/) [Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/) > [I don't have a huge amount of gear, but on the software side, I have a number of plug-in chains that act as abstracted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hopkins/i-don-t-have-a-huge-amount-of-gear-but-on-the-software-side-i-have-a/) [Jon Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hopkins/) > [I honestly didn't know that I wanted to act until I was probably 12.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-rae-mayo/i-honestly-didn-t-know-that-i-wanted-to-act-until-i-was-probably-12/) [Miranda Rae Mayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-rae-mayo/) [Browse all 1,802 Act quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/act/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have always been good at auditioning, but maybe because I had a good trick at the beginning. 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