--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always loved playing the sidekick, and…" description: "\"I always loved playing the sidekick, and that's what I expected - I didn't think I was pretty enough or diva enough to play the lead.\" — Jessie Mueller" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1f/jessie-mueller-18532_always_i-always-loved-playing-the-sidekick-and_1402361.jpg" --- # I always loved playing the sidekick, and that's what I… ![“I always loved playing the sidekick, and that's what I expected - I didn't think I was pretty enough or diva enough to play the lead.” quote by Jessie Mueller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1f/jessie-mueller-18532_always_i-always-loved-playing-the-sidekick-and_1402361.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1f/jessie-mueller-18532_always_i-always-loved-playing-the-sidekick-and_1402361.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1f/jessie-mueller-18532_always_i-always-loved-playing-the-sidekick-and_1402361.jpg) > “I always loved playing the sidekick, and that's what I expected - I didn't think I was pretty enough or diva enough to play the lead.” [Jessie Mueller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-mueller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Expresses past self‑doubt about leading roles, reflecting on growth. **In simple terms:** Overcoming insecurity about leading. Key Takeaway Believe in your talent. Themes self‑doubt growth leadership Mood reflective hopeful Type inspirational personal When to use this quote - theatre auditions - leadership positions - personal development - creative projects Key Concepts confidence performance anxiety career development Questions to Reflect On - What fears held you back? - How can you nurture confidence? A Different Perspective Self‑perception can limit opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Diva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diva/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Expected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expected/) [Expected Didn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expected-didn-2945655/) [Lead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lead/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Loved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loved/) [Loved playing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loved-playing/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play Lead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-lead-249123/) [Playing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing/) [Playing Sidekick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-sidekick-4918014/) [Pretty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretty/) [Sidekick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sidekick/) [Sidekick Expected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sidekick-expected-4918015/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) ## Related quotes > [Never expected to have you, I didn't have a clue, you came out of the blue, just hope your love is true, best wishes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romeo-huerbana/never-expected-to-have-you-i-didn-t-have-a-clue-you-came-out-of-the/) [Romeo Huerbana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romeo-huerbana/) > [I never expected that. I didn't aim for that. All I wanted was to get some nice pictures of trains at night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-winston-link/i-never-expected-that-i-didn-t-aim-for-that-all-i-wanted-was-to-get/) [O. Winston Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-winston-link/) > [People suddenly expected less of me and I didn't want that. Not only could I keep up with sighted kids, I could excel. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marla-runyan/people-suddenly-expected-less-of-me-and-i-didn-t-want-that-not-only/) [Marla Runyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marla-runyan/) > [I don't want to play the lead and look like a hero. I am open to do character roles; what is the harm in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aparshakti-khurana/i-don-t-want-to-play-the-lead-and-look-like-a-hero-i-am-open-to-do/) [Aparshakti Khurana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aparshakti-khurana/) > [And I got to play lead with Gene Barry - a fellow who has never, ever been hard on the eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-robinson/and-i-got-to-play-lead-with-gene-barry-a-fellow-who-has-never-ever/) [Ann Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-robinson/) > [I will tell you that the ego in me would love to play the lead. I would have loved to have been Buzz Lightyear,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-bergen/i-will-tell-you-that-the-ego-in-me-would-love-to-play-the-lead-i/) [Bob Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-bergen/) > [You'll play the love and baby ill play the lead. So strike a pose and fake a smile, you're coming with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-play-the-love-and-baby-ill-play-the-lead-so-strike-a-pose-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Part of my job being a leader and captain of the team is not just to play well and lead well but find a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-whitworth/part-of-my-job-being-a-leader-and-captain-of-the-team-is-not-just-to/) [Andrew Whitworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-whitworth/) > [I have never been of the opinion that I will only play the lead in a serial. For me, just the role needs to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-massey/i-have-never-been-of-the-opinion-that-i-will-only-play-the-lead-in-a/) [Vikrant Massey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-massey/) > [Would I like to play the lead? You bet. Absolutely. But I get to have fun and I don't have to shave when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-bergen/would-i-like-to-play-the-lead-you-bet-absolutely-but-i-get-to-have/) [Bob Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-bergen/) > [It's fun to get to play a lead character that goes all the way through and drives the storyline and makes the final discovery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-durance/it-s-fun-to-get-to-play-a-lead-character-that-goes-all-the-way/) [Erica Durance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-durance/) > [Even when I was doing supporting roles, I always had this belief that one day the opportunity to play a lead would come my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aditya-roy-kapur/even-when-i-was-doing-supporting-roles-i-always-had-this-belief-that/) [Aditya Roy Kapur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aditya-roy-kapur/) > [Why can't I ever play a nice, normal, salt-of-the-earth type? Is there something I should know? It's fun to play villains and character roles,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mullally/why-can-t-i-ever-play-a-nice-normal-salt-of-the-earth-type-is-there/) [Megan Mullally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mullally/) > [I wish I could play the lead role in one movie, one great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alec-baldwin/i-wish-i-could-play-the-lead-role-in-one-movie-one-great-movie/) [Alec Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alec-baldwin/) > [Boys. Why do they treat me that way? Why do they always play me? Why do they always lead me on and then drop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/boys-why-do-they-treat-me-that-way-why-do-they-always-play-me-why-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Jessie Mueller > [The thing I try to tell people who are just starting in the business is to listen to yourself, trust yourself, and be kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-mueller/the-thing-i-try-to-tell-people-who-are-just-starting-in-the-business/) [Jessie Mueller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-mueller/) > [Directors didn't know what to do with me in college. I didn't really sound like a belter. I didn't look like a soprano. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-mueller/directors-didn-t-know-what-to-do-with-me-in-college-i-didn-t-really/) [Jessie Mueller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-mueller/) > ['What's the Use' is normally done with all the women onstage with Julie. Sometimes it's staged as a 'lay at my feet, dear children,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-mueller/what-s-the-use-is-normally-done-with-all-the-women-onstage-with-julie/) [Jessie Mueller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-mueller/) > ['White Christmas' is one of my favorite movies, so I've always just had a love for that kind of golden era musical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-mueller/white-christmas-is-one-of-my-favorite-movies-so-i-ve-always-just-had/) [Jessie Mueller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-mueller/) > [As an actor, you always use the tools of who you are and your experience of what you have to offer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-mueller/as-an-actor-you-always-use-the-tools-of-who-you-are-and-your/) [Jessie Mueller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-mueller/) > [I didn't really start performing until high school. My whole family is actually in the business, and started in the business in Chicago, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-mueller/i-didn-t-really-start-performing-until-high-school-my-whole-family-is/) [Jessie Mueller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-mueller/) > [I think the job of art and drama is to hold a mirror up to those things and say, 'What do you think about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-mueller/i-think-the-job-of-art-and-drama-is-to-hold-a-mirror-up-to-those/) [Jessie Mueller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-mueller/) > [I really feel strongly that we don't need to dumb things down for children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-mueller/i-really-feel-strongly-that-we-don-t-need-to-dumb-things-down-for/) [Jessie Mueller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-mueller/) > [I grew up watching the films of 'Carousel' and 'Oklahoma' and 'The Music Man' and 'My Fair Lady' - all the classic musicals of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-mueller/i-grew-up-watching-the-films-of-carousel-and-oklahoma-and-the-music/) [Jessie Mueller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-mueller/) > [I always thought moving to New York would mean starting over in theater, because I had great work in Chicago and didn't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-mueller/i-always-thought-moving-to-new-york-would-mean-starting-over-in/) [Jessie Mueller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-mueller/) > [The thing that gives me great hope is that I think, if anything, our world now is ready to be, like, 'This stuff happens.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-mueller/the-thing-that-gives-me-great-hope-is-that-i-think-if-anything-our/) [Jessie Mueller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-mueller/) > [I watch Renee Fleming a lot. I listen to Renee Fleming a lot. She was like my built-in master class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-mueller/i-watch-renee-fleming-a-lot-i-listen-to-renee-fleming-a-lot-she-was/) [Jessie Mueller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-mueller/) > [I'm glad to say I'm experiencing more of a conversation in my artistic workforce world than I ever have before. But it's a job,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-mueller/i-m-glad-to-say-i-m-experiencing-more-of-a-conversation-in-my/) [Jessie Mueller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-mueller/) > [I'm a sucker for a good country song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-mueller/i-m-a-sucker-for-a-good-country-song/) [Jessie Mueller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-mueller/) > [The important thing is the storytelling and having a script that makes you feel you're living and breathing through the characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-mueller/the-important-thing-is-the-storytelling-and-having-a-script-that/) [Jessie Mueller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-mueller/) [Explore all 34 Jessie Mueller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-mueller/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) [Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I always loved playing the sidekick, and that's what I expected - I didn't think I was pretty enough or diva enough to play the lead.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jessie Mueller" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-mueller/i-always-loved-playing-the-sidekick-and-that-s-what-i-expected-i-didn/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Always" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-mueller/i-always-loved-playing-the-sidekick-and-that-s-what-i-expected-i-didn/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1f/jessie-mueller-18532_always_i-always-loved-playing-the-sidekick-and_1402361.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1f/jessie-mueller-18532_always_i-always-loved-playing-the-sidekick-and_1402361.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1f/jessie-mueller-18532_always_i-always-loved-playing-the-sidekick-and_1402361.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I always loved playing the sidekick, and that's what I expected - I didn't think I was pretty enough or diva…” — Jessie Mueller", "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": "Jessie Mueller", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-mueller/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I always loved playing the sidekick,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-mueller/i-always-loved-playing-the-sidekick-and-that-s-what-i-expected-i-didn/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-mueller/i-always-loved-playing-the-sidekick-and-that-s-what-i-expected-i-didn/#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 } } ] } ```