--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Basically, one of the hardest things…" description: "\"Basically, one of the hardest things about being an actor is getting your first break. I'm a product of nepotism. The doors were open to me. I'd done s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a0/jeff-bridges-1213_about_basically-one-of-the-hardest-things-abou_1392749.jpg" --- # Basically, one of the hardest things about being an actor… ![“Basically, one of the hardest things about being an actor is getting your first break. I'm a product of nepotism. The doors were open to me. I'd done several movies before I decided what I wanted to do.” quote by Jeff Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a0/jeff-bridges-1213_about_basically-one-of-the-hardest-things-abou_1392749.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a0/jeff-bridges-1213_about_basically-one-of-the-hardest-things-abou_1392749.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a0/jeff-bridges-1213_about_basically-one-of-the-hardest-things-abou_1392749.jpg) > “Basically, one of the hardest things about being an actor is getting your first break. I'm a product of nepotism. The doors were open to me. I'd done several movies before I decided what I wanted to do.” [Jeff Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bridges/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He acknowledges that early career breaks often come from connections, but emphasizes that personal effort and choices shape one's path. **In simple terms:** Success can be helped by connections, but personal effort matters. Key Takeaway Leverage connections but work hard to earn your own success. Themes career nepotism hard work opportunity self-determination Mood thoughtful encouraging Type advice motivational When to use this quote - acting auditions - networking events - career planning Key Concepts industry dynamics personal agency meritocracy Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance privilege with personal effort? - What steps can you take to prove your own merit? A Different Perspective Relying too heavily on nepotism can undermine personal credibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Movies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movies/) [Nepotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nepotism/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [There are millions out there who aren't getting an even break. They're being done down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-farage/there-are-millions-out-there-who-aren-t-getting-an-even-break-they-re/) [Nigel Farage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-farage/) > [One of the tough things about being an actor, probably the hardest thing, is getting your foot in the door, and my father handled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bridges/one-of-the-tough-things-about-being-an-actor-probably-the-hardest/) [Jeff Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bridges/) > [During my early years, I thought I might be a musician. Like most kids, I didn't do what my parents wanted me to do.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bridges/during-my-early-years-i-thought-i-might-be-a-musician-like-most-kids/) [Jeff Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bridges/) > [For me, growing up, the downside of it was that as a kid you don't want to stand out. You don't want to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bridges/for-me-growing-up-the-downside-of-it-was-that-as-a-kid-you-don-t-want/) [Jeff Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bridges/) > [I got better as an actor, and still I'm getting better. That's only been possible because there's always been work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/i-got-better-as-an-actor-and-still-i-m-getting-better-that-s-only/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [Sometimes in the life of an actor you're not getting offered any jobs that speak to you. The trouble with acting is that you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-hawke/sometimes-in-the-life-of-an-actor-you-re-not-getting-offered-any-jobs/) [Ethan Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-hawke/) > [There's absolutely no purpose for me ever to embarrass an actor by not getting the best possible performance. So, if it takes staying longer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-romano/there-s-absolutely-no-purpose-for-me-ever-to-embarrass-an-actor-by/) [Andrea Romano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-romano/) > [There's so much showmanship and gamesmanship involved in politics, it's really not a stretch to imagine an actor getting involved in being a figurehead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-pasdar/there-s-so-much-showmanship-and-gamesmanship-involved-in-politics-it/) [Adrian Pasdar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-pasdar/) > [I think part of the fun of being an actor is getting to work with different directors and seeing their take on it, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-reaser/i-think-part-of-the-fun-of-being-an-actor-is-getting-to-work-with/) [Elizabeth Reaser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-reaser/) > [I faced many ups and downs, like any other actor: not getting through auditions or even worse - getting shortlisted and not being selected.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fatima-sana-shaikh/i-faced-many-ups-and-downs-like-any-other-actor-not-getting-through/) [Fatima Sana Shaikh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fatima-sana-shaikh/) > [There's nothing more exciting as an actor than getting to do something that you're not entirely sure that anyone would let you do, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-paquin/there-s-nothing-more-exciting-as-an-actor-than-getting-to-do/) [Anna Paquin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-paquin/) > [For me, as an actor, it's always about getting out of my own way. I can put so much pressure on myself to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jovan-adepo/for-me-as-an-actor-it-s-always-about-getting-out-of-my-own-way-i-can/) [Jovan Adepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jovan-adepo/) > [I mean, it's fine when you're a kid and someone runs into the playground and goes, 'I've got this great game of pretend,' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-irons/i-mean-it-s-fine-when-you-re-a-kid-and-someone-runs-into-the/) [Max Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-irons/) > [For me, it was always that one extra job that you do to survive in the industry. I also realised that I was not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-banerjee/for-me-it-was-always-that-one-extra-job-that-you-do-to-survive-in-the/) [Abhishek Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-banerjee/) > [My parents are actors as well, so I grew up around that world. It was always a very romantic, mythical world. They did a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-fox/my-parents-are-actors-as-well-so-i-grew-up-around-that-world-it-was/) [Phoebe Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-fox/) ## More by Jeff Bridges > [Nowadays, in the contract that actors sign, you have to agree that you're going to do a certain amount of publicity-the hard part they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bridges/nowadays-in-the-contract-that-actors-sign-you-have-to-agree-that-you/) [Jeff Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bridges/) > [Work takes me away from my wife, Sue, and my life in Santa Barbara.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bridges/work-takes-me-away-from-my-wife-sue-and-my-life-in-santa-barbara/) [Jeff Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bridges/) > [What are the aspects of yourself that line up with the character? You magnify those, and the ones that don't match up you kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bridges/what-are-the-aspects-of-yourself-that-line-up-with-the-character-you/) [Jeff Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bridges/) > [We're here for such a short period of time. Live like you're already dead, man. Have a good time. Do your best. Let it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bridges/we-re-here-for-such-a-short-period-of-time-live-like-you-re-already/) [Jeff Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bridges/) > [You know, it's kind of a shame in a way but the more seasoned directors a lot of times have more difficult getting a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bridges/you-know-it-s-kind-of-a-shame-in-a-way-but-the-more-seasoned/) [Jeff Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bridges/) > [I just find my creativity manifesting a bunch of different ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bridges/i-just-find-my-creativity-manifesting-a-bunch-of-different-ways/) [Jeff Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bridges/) > [You know, ballet might be too formal of a title for the type of dance I do, but I love to dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bridges/you-know-ballet-might-be-too-formal-of-a-title-for-the-type-of-dance/) [Jeff Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bridges/) > [Like most kids, you don't want to do what your folks want you to do. You've got your own thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bridges/like-most-kids-you-don-t-want-to-do-what-your-folks-want-you-to-do/) [Jeff Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bridges/) > [You prep, you prep, you prep. And on the day that you film, you let all of that go. I try to achieve emptiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bridges/you-prep-you-prep-you-prep-and-on-the-day-that-you-film-you-let-all/) [Jeff Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bridges/) > [The Oscar nomination is great. It's a great pat on the back. And I like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bridges/the-oscar-nomination-is-great-it-s-a-great-pat-on-the-back-and-i-like/) [Jeff Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bridges/) > [When you start to engage with your creative processes, it shakes up all your impulses, and they all kind of inform one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bridges/when-you-start-to-engage-with-your-creative-processes-it-shakes-up/) [Jeff Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bridges/) > [There's lots of good movies where you feel that the dialogue could be improvised, but very little was. The "Big Lebowski" was like that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bridges/there-s-lots-of-good-movies-where-you-feel-that-the-dialogue-could-be/) [Jeff Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bridges/) > [It's not enough just to treat women well. We have to work to make sure all men treat women well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bridges/it-s-not-enough-just-to-treat-women-well-we-have-to-work-to-make-sure/) [Jeff Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bridges/) > [Ballet might be too formal of a title for the type of dance I do, but I love to dance. I love to draw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bridges/ballet-might-be-too-formal-of-a-title-for-the-type-of-dance-i-do-but/) [Jeff Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bridges/) > [It was fortunate for all of us to have Joaquin Jackson, who is a very renowned Texas Ranger, on board. He spent quite a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bridges/it-was-fortunate-for-all-of-us-to-have-joaquin-jackson-who-is-a-very/) [Jeff Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bridges/) [Explore all 273 Jeff Bridges quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bridges/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) Browse all 26,122 About quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Basically, one of the hardest things about being an actor is getting your first break. I'm a product of nepotism. The doors were open to me. I'd done several movies before I decided what I wanted to do.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jeff Bridges" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bridges/basically-one-of-the-hardest-things-about-being-an-actor-is-getting/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "About" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bridges/basically-one-of-the-hardest-things-about-being-an-actor-is-getting/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a0/jeff-bridges-1213_about_basically-one-of-the-hardest-things-abou_1392749.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a0/jeff-bridges-1213_about_basically-one-of-the-hardest-things-abou_1392749.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a0/jeff-bridges-1213_about_basically-one-of-the-hardest-things-abou_1392749.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Basically, one of the hardest things about being an actor is getting your first break. I'm a product of…” — Jeff Bridges", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jeff Bridges", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bridges/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Basically, one of the hardest things...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bridges/basically-one-of-the-hardest-things-about-being-an-actor-is-getting/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bridges/basically-one-of-the-hardest-things-about-being-an-actor-is-getting/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```