--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I went to comprehensive school in North…" description: "\"I went to comprehensive school in North London and left without any qualifications [diploma]. And I was doing bits of acting and improv in a drama club..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/108/joe-wright-11581_acting_i-went-to-comprehensive-school-in-north_1558184.png" --- # I went to comprehensive school in North London and left… ![“I went to comprehensive school in North London and left without any qualifications [diploma]. And I was doing bits of acting and improv in a drama club in the evenings. Then I discovered you didn't need qualifications to go to art school, you just needed a body of work.” quote by Joe Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/108/joe-wright-11581_acting_i-went-to-comprehensive-school-in-north_1558184.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/108/joe-wright-11581_acting_i-went-to-comprehensive-school-in-north_1558184.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/108/joe-wright-11581_acting_i-went-to-comprehensive-school-in-north_1558184.png) > “I went to comprehensive school in North London and left without any qualifications \[diploma\]. And I was doing bits of acting and improv in a drama club in the evenings. Then I discovered you didn't need qualifications to go to art school, you just needed a body of work.” [Joe Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-wright/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Formal qualifications aren't required for artistic entry; a strong portfolio can replace diplomas in gaining admission. **In simple terms:** Talent and work speak louder than certificates. Key Takeaway Build a compelling portfolio. Themes education art career Mood encouraging pragmatic Type career inspirational When to use this quote - college applications - career changes - self‑promotion Key Concepts meritocracy nontraditional pathways creative industries Questions to Reflect On - How can you showcase your abilities effectively? - What barriers exist without formal credentials? A Different Perspective Reliance on portfolios may overlook systemic bias. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-school/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Clubs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clubs/) [Diploma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diploma/) [Drama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama/) [Drama club](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama-club/) [Evening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evening/) [London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/london/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) ## Related quotes > [What was I qualified to do to make a living? Nothing. You don't need qualifications as an actor or a politician. And I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-garner/what-was-i-qualified-to-do-to-make-a-living-nothing-you-don-t-need/) [James Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-garner/) > [Gastronomy is the French Foreign Legion. You don't need any qualifications. Just walk through the door and keep your head down. Be respectful -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/gastronomy-is-the-french-foreign-legion-you-don-t-need-any/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [I asked Mr. Vann which O levels you need to write situation comedy for television. Mr. Vann said that you don't need qualifications at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/i-asked-mr-vann-which-o-levels-you-need-to-write-situation-comedy-for/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [There was a drama club in our high school, and I just did plays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-hunter/there-was-a-drama-club-in-our-high-school-and-i-just-did-plays/) [Holly Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-hunter/) > [I worked in BHS, but I was only there for a couple of weeks before I got fired because I needed the Saturday off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-page/i-worked-in-bhs-but-i-was-only-there-for-a-couple-of-weeks-before-i-2/) [Joanna Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-page/) > [I think it's a real shame so many schools have taken out the hands-on classes. Art, music, auto mechanics, cooking, sewing, these are all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/i-think-it-s-a-real-shame-so-many-schools-have-taken-out-the-hands-on/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [I actually worked with an organization called Drama Club that works with incarcerated teens and youth in a detention center and in Rikers Island,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-kelechi-watson/i-actually-worked-with-an-organization-called-drama-club-that-works/) [Susan Kelechi Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-kelechi-watson/) > [I think my drama club teacher really didn't like me, because I would be the goof-off. I wouldn't get the part, so I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-stalter/i-think-my-drama-club-teacher-really-didn-t-like-me-because-i-would/) [Megan Stalter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-stalter/) > [“So theater, huh? Not sure I saw that one coming either.” “Why?” My cheeks are warm, but I keep in front of him and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-rae/so-theater-huh-not-sure-i-saw-that-one-coming-either-why-my-cheeks/) [Kristin Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-rae/) > [“I don't know why, but I didn't want her to call me Dick anymore. It was feeling kind of fake. 'Maybe we should use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindi-scott/i-don-t-know-why-but-i-didn-t-want-her-to-call-me-dick-anymore-it-was/) [Mindi Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindi-scott/) > [I worked in theater my whole life. My mom was a drama teacher at my middle school. In high school, I was Drama Club…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenn-proske/i-worked-in-theater-my-whole-life-my-mom-was-a-drama-teacher-at-my/) [Jenn Proske](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenn-proske/) > [I joined the drama club when I was in 11th grade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jisoo/i-joined-the-drama-club-when-i-was-in-11th-grade/) [Jisoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jisoo/) > [I worked in Bhs, but I was only there for a couple of weeks before I got fired because I needed the Saturday off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-page/i-worked-in-bhs-but-i-was-only-there-for-a-couple-of-weeks-before-i/) [Joanna Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-page/) > [I had been a part of dance and drama clubs at school and art gave me a lot of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-cassandra/i-had-been-a-part-of-dance-and-drama-clubs-at-school-and-art-gave-me/) [Regina Cassandra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-cassandra/) > [There was a girl in fifth grade that I had a crush on that joined drama club, so I joined the drama club because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-fisher/there-was-a-girl-in-fifth-grade-that-i-had-a-crush-on-that-joined/) [Jordan Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-fisher/) ## More by Joe Wright > [I'm very interested in dance, and I'm very interested in how people express themselves through movement. And of course, cinema is a kinetic art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-wright/i-m-very-interested-in-dance-and-i-m-very-interested-in-how-people/) [Joe Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-wright/) > [I don't make a division between an art film and commercial art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-wright/i-don-t-make-a-division-between-an-art-film-and-commercial-art/) [Joe Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-wright/) > [Most actors hate the feeling of being handled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-wright/most-actors-hate-the-feeling-of-being-handled/) [Joe Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-wright/) > [I like the idea of doing something outside my comfort zone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-wright/i-like-the-idea-of-doing-something-outside-my-comfort-zone/) [Joe Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-wright/) > [I consider all drama to be the opportunity to see the world from another person's point of view. That seems to be the point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-wright/i-consider-all-drama-to-be-the-opportunity-to-see-the-world-from/) [Joe Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-wright/) > [I feel more in touch with the world when I'm filming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-wright/i-feel-more-in-touch-with-the-world-when-i-m-filming/) [Joe Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-wright/) > [You need a pulse in a film. If I see a film that doesn't have rhythm, it's like listening to music that doesn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-wright/you-need-a-pulse-in-a-film-if-i-see-a-film-that-doesn-t-have-rhythm/) [Joe Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-wright/) > [I worked hard, but I was lucky the right people happened to see my work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-wright/i-worked-hard-but-i-was-lucky-the-right-people-happened-to-see-my-work/) [Joe Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-wright/) > [I've been wanting for some time to find a way of stylizing cinema and trying to get closer to the emotional story I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-wright/i-ve-been-wanting-for-some-time-to-find-a-way-of-stylizing-cinema-and/) [Joe Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-wright/) > [I don't ever want to go backwards, I quite like it. I like the freedom and I like the - What I set out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-wright/i-don-t-ever-want-to-go-backwards-i-quite-like-it-i-like-the-freedom/) [Joe Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-wright/) > [An artist needs to live to create, and to live means to suffer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-wright/an-artist-needs-to-live-to-create-and-to-live-means-to-suffer/) [Joe Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-wright/) > [With 'Atonement,' I put a lot of pressure on myself, and then I made an advert for Chanel, which 'broke the camel's back' emotionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-wright/with-atonement-i-put-a-lot-of-pressure-on-myself-and-then-i-made-an/) [Joe Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-wright/) > ['Hanna' was nice. It was Saoirse Ronan's idea. Usually, the director casts the actor, but in this case, the actor cast the director.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-wright/hanna-was-nice-it-was-saoirse-ronan-s-idea-usually-the-director-casts/) [Joe Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-wright/) > [I think Pan is a superhero movie; I mean, the kid flies in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-wright/i-think-pan-is-a-superhero-movie-i-mean-the-kid-flies-in-the-end/) [Joe Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-wright/) > [One of the things I really love about 3D is that because as we grow older on eye weakens more than the other, 3D…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-wright/one-of-the-things-i-really-love-about-3d-is-that-because-as-we-grow/) [Joe Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-wright/) [Explore all 59 Joe Wright quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-wright/) ## 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 > [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. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I went to comprehensive school in North London and left without any qualifications [diploma]. And I was doing bits of acting and improv in a drama club in the evenings. 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