--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If it wasn't for Undeclared I would have…" description: "\"If it wasn't for Undeclared I would have quit acting. At 17, I had, like, the worst year in my career, all I did was like two Chevrolet commercials in ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ac/jay-baruchel-10775_acting_if-it-wasn-t-for-undeclared-i-would-have_1443933.jpg" --- # If it wasn't for Undeclared I would have quit acting. At… ![“If it wasn't for Undeclared I would have quit acting. At 17, I had, like, the worst year in my career, all I did was like two Chevrolet commercials in a whole year and I assumed that, 'Oh yes, well it's time to take all the money I made as a child actor, go to film school, and then I got hired on…” quote by Jay Baruchel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ac/jay-baruchel-10775_acting_if-it-wasn-t-for-undeclared-i-would-have_1443933.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ac/jay-baruchel-10775_acting_if-it-wasn-t-for-undeclared-i-would-have_1443933.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ac/jay-baruchel-10775_acting_if-it-wasn-t-for-undeclared-i-would-have_1443933.jpg) > “If it wasn't for Undeclared I would have quit acting. At 17, I had, like, the worst year in my career, all I did was like two Chevrolet commercials in a whole year and I assumed that, 'Oh yes, well it's time to take all the money I made as a child actor, go to film school, and then I got hired on Undeclared. From Undeclared on, save one or a few titles, I have a resume that if I died tomorrow, I would be so happy and proud to leave behind.” [Jay Baruchel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-baruchel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He credits the TV show Undeclared with rescuing his acting career, turning a bleak period of low‑profile work into a fulfilling, proud professional trajectory. **In simple terms:** Undeclared saved his career, leading to lasting pride. Key Takeaway Value opportunities that revive stalled paths. Themes career resilience gratitude film television Mood reflective optimistic Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - actors facing early setbacks - career pivots - industry networking Key Concepts career turning points personal growth industry dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What other factors contributed to his turnaround? - How do we recognize hidden career lifelines? A Different Perspective May neglect other influences on his success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting 17](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-17-2317589/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Hired Undeclared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hired-undeclared-5173981/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Undeclared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/undeclared-938872/) [Undeclared Undeclared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/undeclared-undeclared-5173982/) [Wasn Undeclared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wasn-undeclared-5173980/) ## Related quotes > [Long before I had any business of being picky or discerning, I was. I remember I was 18 in Los Angeles, doing a TV…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-baruchel/long-before-i-had-any-business-of-being-picky-or-discerning-i-was-i/) [Jay Baruchel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-baruchel/) > [I was always interested in films and thought that was the path I should go down, but I didn't start pursuing acting until I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-armstrong/i-was-always-interested-in-films-and-thought-that-was-the-path-i/) [Jonas Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-armstrong/) > [I enjoy acting more and more than when I was 17.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lee-jones/i-enjoy-acting-more-and-more-than-when-i-was-17/) [Tommy Lee Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lee-jones/) > [And I used to write novels and little stories and compositions and I - but I put them away because I started acting when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-collins/and-i-used-to-write-novels-and-little-stories-and-compositions-and-i/) [Joan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-collins/) > [I started acting when I was 17. I started modeling when I was 13. It helps in the way that you don't get fazed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandrine-holt/i-started-acting-when-i-was-17-i-started-modeling-when-i-was-13-it/) [Sandrine Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandrine-holt/) > [I'm currently doing Undeclared an American TV show set in a college. It just got aired and got massive ratings so hopefully that'll screen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-hunnam/i-m-currently-doing-undeclared-an-american-tv-show-set-in-a-college/) [Charlie Hunnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-hunnam/) > [I was undeclared. I was in my third year of school. They said you have to decide upon a major, and my father was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-douglas/i-was-undeclared-i-was-in-my-third-year-of-school-they-said-you-have/) [Michael Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-douglas/) > [I went into college undeclared. I had no idea what I wanted to do, but I knew that music was obviously this central big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kina-grannis/i-went-into-college-undeclared-i-had-no-idea-what-i-wanted-to-do-but/) [Kina Grannis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kina-grannis/) > [“Culture wars' are really undeclared 'gene wars”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-philippe-rushton/culture-wars-are-really-undeclared-gene-wars/) [J. Philippe Rushton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-philippe-rushton/) > [I went to UT in Austin for a year as an undeclared liberal arts student. After that year I applied to the film program…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riley-stearns/i-went-to-ut-in-austin-for-a-year-as-an-undeclared-liberal-arts/) [Riley Stearns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riley-stearns/) > [On 'Undeclared,' I was actually the only person who had gone to college. Here we are doing this college show, and no one had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-gallo/on-undeclared-i-was-actually-the-only-person-who-had-gone-to-college/) [Carla Gallo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-gallo/) > [The Undeclared War' is one of those series that points at something that should concern us all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-lester/the-undeclared-war-is-one-of-those-series-that-points-at-something/) [Adrian Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-lester/) > [Well, basically I started when I was 12 years old in Montreal doing different Canadian children shows, which amounts to basically relative obscurity in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-baruchel/well-basically-i-started-when-i-was-12-years-old-in-montreal-doing/) [Jay Baruchel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-baruchel/) > [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 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/) ## More by Jay Baruchel > [I guess I always have sort of general ideas, but the best stuff would be the stuff that comes to you in the moment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-baruchel/i-guess-i-always-have-sort-of-general-ideas-but-the-best-stuff-would/) [Jay Baruchel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-baruchel/) > [Well, basically I started when I was 12 years old in Montreal doing different Canadian children shows, which amounts to basically relative obscurity in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-baruchel/well-basically-i-started-when-i-was-12-years-old-in-montreal-doing/) [Jay Baruchel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-baruchel/) > [I do feel the weight of being the steward of the greatest sport the world ever came up with. I grew up with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-baruchel/i-do-feel-the-weight-of-being-the-steward-of-the-greatest-sport-the/) [Jay Baruchel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-baruchel/) > [You always want to try and evolve an art form. It's not a very humble ambition; it reeks of arrogance. If you can, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-baruchel/you-always-want-to-try-and-evolve-an-art-form-it-s-not-a-very-humble/) [Jay Baruchel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-baruchel/) > [I have a lot of really close, important friends of mine who live in Los Angeles and a lot of good things in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-baruchel/i-have-a-lot-of-really-close-important-friends-of-mine-who-live-in/) [Jay Baruchel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-baruchel/) > [ I have a little sister, and I'm constantly annoyed \[by\] how terribly written most females are in most everything - and especially in comedy.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-baruchel/i-have-a-little-sister-and-i-m-constantly-annoyed-by-how-terribly/) [Jay Baruchel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-baruchel/) > [ What I love about \[TV\] is this: It's a specific thing to be able to tell a satisfying, rewarding story in less than 25… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-baruchel/what-i-love-about-tv-is-this-it-s-a-specific-thing-to-be-able-to-tell/) [Jay Baruchel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-baruchel/) > [Long before I had any business of being picky or discerning, I was. I remember I was 18 in Los Angeles, doing a TV…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-baruchel/long-before-i-had-any-business-of-being-picky-or-discerning-i-was-i/) [Jay Baruchel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-baruchel/) > [When I started acting, my mom said, "If you want to go to film school and eventually direct, being on set is probably the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-baruchel/when-i-started-acting-my-mom-said-if-you-want-to-go-to-film-school/) [Jay Baruchel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-baruchel/) > [Long before I ever started acting, believe it or not, I always knew I wanted to be a director.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-baruchel/long-before-i-ever-started-acting-believe-it-or-not-i-always-knew-i/) [Jay Baruchel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-baruchel/) > [I would say that since I was nine years old I've always wanted to write and direct horror movies and action movies. There's never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-baruchel/i-would-say-that-since-i-was-nine-years-old-i-ve-always-wanted-to/) [Jay Baruchel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-baruchel/) > [I know it's going to sound like a cliché, but the key of successful playing a role is to sort of keep it real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-baruchel/i-know-it-s-going-to-sound-like-a-clich-but-the-key-of-successful/) [Jay Baruchel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-baruchel/) > [A pint glass can be filled with crackers too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-baruchel/a-pint-glass-can-be-filled-with-crackers-too/) [Jay Baruchel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-baruchel/) > [There's something about TV shows and the format that becomes a bit more personal. People watch two, three in a row before they get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-baruchel/there-s-something-about-tv-shows-and-the-format-that-becomes-a-bit/) [Jay Baruchel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-baruchel/) > [For every big American movie I've done where I was the supporting guy, I've gone back home to Canada to do supporting movies where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-baruchel/for-every-big-american-movie-i-ve-done-where-i-was-the-supporting-guy/) [Jay Baruchel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-baruchel/) [Explore all 63 Jay Baruchel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-baruchel/) ## 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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