--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was never the 'babe,' so I knew I'd…" description: "\"I was never the 'babe,' so I knew I'd never get those big roles. I'd always be the best friend or the quirky sidekick.\" — Joan Cusack" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38f/joan-cusack-13320_babe_i-was-never-the-babe-so-i-knew-i-d-never_2286664.jpg" --- # I was never the 'babe,' so I knew I'd never get those big… ![“I was never the 'babe,' so I knew I'd never get those big roles. I'd always be the best friend or the quirky sidekick.” quote by Joan Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38f/joan-cusack-13320_babe_i-was-never-the-babe-so-i-knew-i-d-never_2286664.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38f/joan-cusack-13320_babe_i-was-never-the-babe-so-i-knew-i-d-never_2286664.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38f/joan-cusack-13320_babe_i-was-never-the-babe-so-i-knew-i-d-never_2286664.jpg) > “I was never the 'babe,' so I knew I'd never get those big roles. I'd always be the best friend or the quirky sidekick.” [Joan Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-cusack/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She felt typecast as supporting roles, never the lead, shaping her career expectations. **In simple terms:** She was always the sidekick, not the star. Key Takeaway Embrace your niche and excel in it. Themes typecasting career identity self‑acceptance Mood reflective determined Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - auditions - networking - career planning - self‑reflection Key Concepts Hollywood role dynamics personal branding Questions to Reflect On - Do you accept the roles offered or seek new challenges? - How can you redefine your professional identity? A Different Perspective Limited roles may restrict growth opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Babe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/babe/) [Being the best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-the-best/) [Best friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-friend/) [Big Roles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-roles-382970/) [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [Friend Quirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend-quirky-5357584/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Quirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quirky/) [Quirky Sidekick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quirky-sidekick-4192776/) [Roles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roles/) [Sidekick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sidekick/) [Sidekicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sidekicks/) ## Related quotes > [I remember my agent at ICM at the beginning of my career telling me that I wasn't pretty enough, that I was always going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-cummings/i-remember-my-agent-at-icm-at-the-beginning-of-my-career-telling-me/) [Whitney Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-cummings/) > [I always felt sorry for the sidekick as a kid. They never got their due and it left a very bad taste in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/china-mi-ville/i-always-felt-sorry-for-the-sidekick-as-a-kid-they-never-got-their/) [China Mieville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/china-mi-ville/) > [Our cheeky sidekick. We're like a motorcycle and sidecar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-murray/our-cheeky-sidekick-we-re-like-a-motorcycle-and-sidecar/) [Al Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-murray/) > [I think there's a certain space people have decided I occupy - the funny-sidekick thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/i-think-there-s-a-certain-space-people-have-decided-i-occupy-the/) [Zooey Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zooey-deschanel/) > [I shouldn't say this, but I always love the sidekicks. I want to do a leading-lady role in a film - absolutely. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malin-akerman/i-shouldn-t-say-this-but-i-always-love-the-sidekicks-i-want-to-do-a/) [Malin Akerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malin-akerman/) > [I don't have a sidekick - no Ed McMahon. So when I go out there, I'm lonely. It's scary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-daly/i-don-t-have-a-sidekick-no-ed-mcmahon-so-when-i-go-out-there-i-m/) [Carson Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-daly/) > [Slaying dragons, melting witches, and banishing demons is all fun and games until someone loses a sidekick—then it’s personal. The bad guy isn’t just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-sullivan/slaying-dragons-melting-witches-and-banishing-demons-is-all-fun-and/) [Michael J. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sullivan/) > [I'm one of three judges on 'MasterChef' with Gordon Ramsay, but I don't want my own show. I'm kind of used to the sidekick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bastianich/i-m-one-of-three-judges-on-masterchef-with-gordon-ramsay-but-i-don-t/) [Joe Bastianich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bastianich/) > [“If you're going to be a superhero, can I be your sidekick?" -April "What?" -Grace "The Dynamic Duo!" -April "Um, I'm pretty sure sidekicks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bree-despain/if-you-re-going-to-be-a-superhero-can-i-be-your-sidekick-april-what/) [Bree Despain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bree-despain/) > [I often played the nerdy friend or the goofy sidekick or the sort of naïve movie character in some ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-hendricks/i-often-played-the-nerdy-friend-or-the-goofy-sidekick-or-the-sort-of/) [Christina Hendricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-hendricks/) > [I'm basically a movie actor now, and my big roles are mostly horror movies - unless I'm doing a guest star or something -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/i-m-basically-a-movie-actor-now-and-my-big-roles-are-mostly-horror/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [I've had to learn not be freaked out by big roles... and to take it all one step at a time, quite literally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-hayward/i-ve-had-to-learn-not-be-freaked-out-by-big-roles-and-to-take-it-all/) [Francesca Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-hayward/) > [I have always been ambitious about getting a U.S. role, and if ever there is some frustration, it is still encouraging to get close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indiana-evans/i-have-always-been-ambitious-about-getting-a-u-s-role-and-if-ever/) [Indiana Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indiana-evans/) > [I never really hankered after big roles and films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antara-mali/i-never-really-hankered-after-big-roles-and-films/) [Antara Mali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antara-mali/) > [I'm used to big roles and lots of words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-plummer/i-m-used-to-big-roles-and-lots-of-words/) [Christopher Plummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-plummer/) ## More by Joan Cusack > [You know, I think I'm more of a micro-person, so to me, the context and the framework of trying to do what you love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-cusack/you-know-i-think-i-m-more-of-a-micro-person-so-to-me-the-context-and/) [Joan Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-cusack/) > [I think just because life is hard, it does seem fun to have a break and laugh about things, so I think in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-cusack/i-think-just-because-life-is-hard-it-does-seem-fun-to-have-a-break/) [Joan Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-cusack/) > [I think that a lot of women get out of the business because it's so not family-friendly. And so women that could be in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-cusack/i-think-that-a-lot-of-women-get-out-of-the-business-because-it-s-so/) [Joan Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-cusack/) > [We need comedies in the world! We need to laugh, it's all so hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-cusack/we-need-comedies-in-the-world-we-need-to-laugh-it-s-all-so-hard/) [Joan Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-cusack/) > [A relationship is hard in and of itself. And having kids is really hard work, but I think it's really meaningful, as is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-cusack/a-relationship-is-hard-in-and-of-itself-and-having-kids-is-really/) [Joan Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-cusack/) > [It's incredibly, incredibly difficult to get a movie made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-cusack/it-s-incredibly-incredibly-difficult-to-get-a-movie-made/) [Joan Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-cusack/) > [I tend to come from a more psychological - that's sort of my passion. I'm interested in the psychology of politics as well -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-cusack/i-tend-to-come-from-a-more-psychological-that-s-sort-of-my-passion-i/) [Joan Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-cusack/) > [In L.A., it's easy to get caught up in what you look like or how much money you have, and those aren't values I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-cusack/in-l-a-it-s-easy-to-get-caught-up-in-what-you-look-like-or-how-much/) [Joan Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-cusack/) > [I think us gals need to stay in and just change the way it works, so men aren't being workaholics and avoiding life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-cusack/i-think-us-gals-need-to-stay-in-and-just-change-the-way-it-works-so/) [Joan Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-cusack/) > [I think there's a million talented people out there, it's just a matter of luck a lot of the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-cusack/i-think-there-s-a-million-talented-people-out-there-it-s-just-a/) [Joan Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-cusack/) > [Bulgaria is fascinating. Because it had been a Communist country until the mid-80s, so it had just recently transitioned. And there were still the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-cusack/bulgaria-is-fascinating-because-it-had-been-a-communist-country-until/) [Joan Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-cusack/) > [Sometimes I sing and dance around the house in my underwear. Doesn't make me Madonna. Never will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-cusack/sometimes-i-sing-and-dance-around-the-house-in-my-underwear-doesn-t/) [Joan Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-cusack/) > [As a woman, you listen to more female singers, like guys listen to more rock bands. So in that way, they influence you because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-cusack/as-a-woman-you-listen-to-more-female-singers-like-guys-listen-to-more/) [Joan Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-cusack/) > [I love Chicago. It's such a great town, and it's got great culture and great history, and it's not as extreme as LA or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-cusack/i-love-chicago-it-s-such-a-great-town-and-it-s-got-great-culture-and/) [Joan Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-cusack/) > [I think acting has helped me come out of my shell because when I play a character, I can't be self-conscious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-cusack/i-think-acting-has-helped-me-come-out-of-my-shell-because-when-i-play/) [Joan Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-cusack/) [Explore all 51 Joan Cusack quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-cusack/) ## More Babe quotes > [ROSES ARE RED VIOLETS ARE BLUE YOU DID ME WRONG SO GUESS WAT BABE??FUKK YU](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica/roses-are-red-violets-are-blue-you-did-me-wrong-so-guess-wat-babe/) [JESSICA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica/) > [You two faced threw your teeth u ain't nun but babe daddy go wash your feet go with the girl u so call sweet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherrykee/you-two-faced-threw-your-teeth-u-ain-t-nun-but-babe-daddy-go-wash/) [Cherrykee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cherrykee/) > [“You’re all mine, babe. Knew it the first time I saw you. Couldn’t give you up if I tried.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-wylde/you-re-all-mine-babe-knew-it-the-first-time-i-saw-you-couldn-t-give/) [Joanna Wylde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-wylde/) > [The home run became glorified with Babe Ruth. Starting with him, batters have been thinking in terms of how far they could hit the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rogers-hornsby/the-home-run-became-glorified-with-babe-ruth-starting-with-him/) [Rogers Hornsby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rogers-hornsby/) > [You love young ones and babes, I know this. The young will always befriend and admire you...all the young ones of the earth belong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-jacques/you-love-young-ones-and-babes-i-know-this-the-young-will-always/) [Brian Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-jacques/) > [I just hate it when my baby try to chill with some other guy..hunny.!.if u really want to chill then please use A.C. not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritzy/i-just-hate-it-when-my-baby-try-to-chill-with-some-other-guy-hunny-if/) [Ritzy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritzy/) > [“My heart slammed into my chest when he called her babe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-elliott/my-heart-slammed-into-my-chest-when-he-called-her-babe/) [Kelly Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-elliott/) > [Wine is the drink of the gods, milk the drink of babes, tea the drink of women, and water the drink of beasts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-blackie/wine-is-the-drink-of-the-gods-milk-the-drink-of-babes-tea-the-drink/) [John Stuart Blackie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-blackie/) > [I need a man who can call me beautiful with no makeup on, who can be himself around me, who can kiss me and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idk/i-need-a-man-who-can-call-me-beautiful-with-no-makeup-on-who-can-be/) [Idk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idk/) > [“I shan't make a fuss over the babe's father.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/i-shan-t-make-a-fuss-over-the-babe-s-father/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [This Christmas, as the spirit of the season permeates our hearts, let us do something that expresses our feelings in an outward way, showing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-e-stevenson/this-christmas-as-the-spirit-of-the-season-permeates-our-hearts-let/) [Gary E. Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-e-stevenson/) > [Even as the unborn babe is in the womb of his mother, these five are fixed as his life destiny: his life span, his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/even-as-the-unborn-babe-is-in-the-womb-of-his-mother-these-five-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Babe is one fellow, and I'm another and I could never be exactly like him. I don't try, I just go on as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-gehrig/the-babe-is-one-fellow-and-i-m-another-and-i-could-never-be-exactly/) [Lou Gehrig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-gehrig/) > [“Babe, the only times I've been in you have been too fast. The next time I strip you down, I want to take my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/babe-the-only-times-i-ve-been-in-you-have-been-too-fast-the-next-time/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [Cute babe whom I love a lot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reynold/cute-babe-whom-i-love-a-lot/) [Reynold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reynold/) [Browse all 528 Babe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/babe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was never the 'babe,' so I knew I'd never get those big roles. I'd always be the best friend or the quirky sidekick.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joan Cusack" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-cusack/i-was-never-the-babe-so-i-knew-i-d-never-get-those-big-roles-i-d/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Babe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-cusack/i-was-never-the-babe-so-i-knew-i-d-never-get-those-big-roles-i-d/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38f/joan-cusack-13320_babe_i-was-never-the-babe-so-i-knew-i-d-never_2286664.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38f/joan-cusack-13320_babe_i-was-never-the-babe-so-i-knew-i-d-never_2286664.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38f/joan-cusack-13320_babe_i-was-never-the-babe-so-i-knew-i-d-never_2286664.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was never the 'babe,' so I knew I'd never get those big roles. I'd always be the best friend or the quirky…” — Joan Cusack", "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": "Joan Cusack", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-cusack/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was never the 'babe,' so...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-cusack/i-was-never-the-babe-so-i-knew-i-d-never-get-those-big-roles-i-d/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-cusack/i-was-never-the-babe-so-i-knew-i-d-never-get-those-big-roles-i-d/#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 } } ] } ```