--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a kid, acting was my big escape. It's…" description: "\"As a kid, acting was my big escape. It's a way to experience worlds that I might not otherwise get to and to really feel stuff for people in heightened..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/katy-o-brian-6067_acting_as-a-kid-acting-was-my-big-escape-it-s-a_169002.jpg" --- # As a kid, acting was my big escape. It's a way to… ![“As a kid, acting was my big escape. It's a way to experience worlds that I might not otherwise get to and to really feel stuff for people in heightened experiences. It's this weird catharsis and an incredible exercise in empathy. It helps me relate to people and the world more, and I get to be…” quote by Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/katy-o-brian-6067_acting_as-a-kid-acting-was-my-big-escape-it-s-a_169002.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/katy-o-brian-6067_acting_as-a-kid-acting-was-my-big-escape-it-s-a_169002.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/katy-o-brian-6067_acting_as-a-kid-acting-was-my-big-escape-it-s-a_169002.jpg) > “As a kid, acting was my big escape. It's a way to experience worlds that I might not otherwise get to and to really feel stuff for people in heightened experiences. It's this weird catharsis and an incredible exercise in empathy. It helps me relate to people and the world more, and I get to be collaborative and vulnerable.” [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting serves as an escape and a powerful empathy tool, allowing deep emotional connection and collaborative vulnerability. **In simple terms:** Acting helps explore worlds, feel empathy, and be vulnerable. Key Takeaway Use creative expression to deepen empathy. Themes creativity empathy vulnerability collaboration self‑discovery Mood inspired thoughtful Type personal reflective When to use this quote - theatre workshops - team building - personal therapy Key Concepts dramatic arts psychology catharsis Questions to Reflect On - How does acting shape your empathy? - What boundaries protect you from over‑exposure? A Different Perspective Creative work can also expose emotional burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Empathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empathy/) [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [ That is another theme in the book \[Dreams from My Father\]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams-from-my-father-how-do-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [In my view, the best of humanity is in our exercise of empathy and compassion. It's when we challenge ourselves to walk in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mcbride/in-my-view-the-best-of-humanity-is-in-our-exercise-of-empathy-and/) [Sarah McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mcbride/) > [“In the end, the goal isn’t to convert or deconvert but to coexist. Evidence is a tool, not a weapon. It can guide us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ghikadis/in-the-end-the-goal-isn-t-to-convert-or-deconvert-but-to-coexist/) [Steve Ghikadis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ghikadis/) > [“Politics aside, empathy is not about being nice or agreeing with the other side. It’s about understanding them. Empathy helps us learn the position…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-voss/politics-aside-empathy-is-not-about-being-nice-or-agreeing-with-the/) [Chris Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-voss/) > [I've always thought of acting as more of an exercise in empathy, which is not to be confused with sympathy. You're trying to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-ve-always-thought-of-acting-as-more-of-an-exercise-in-empathy-which/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [All advocacy is, at its core, an exercise in empathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/all-advocacy-is-at-its-core-an-exercise-in-empathy/) [Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/) > [I admired actors like Dilip Kumar and Om Puri as a kid and acting was all I ever thought about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paresh-rawal/i-admired-actors-like-dilip-kumar-and-om-puri-as-a-kid-and-acting-was/) [Paresh Rawal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paresh-rawal/) > [Strangely, when I was a kid, my first acting job, at 5 years old, was a performance of 'The Three Little Pigs.' They cast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-zabka/strangely-when-i-was-a-kid-my-first-acting-job-at-5-years-old-was-a/) [William Zabka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-zabka/) > [I was a shy kid and acting did bring me out of my shell during high school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-devito/i-was-a-shy-kid-and-acting-did-bring-me-out-of-my-shell-during-high/) [Lucy DeVito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-devito/) > [I was always into performing and dancing as a kid and acting was a safe place to have all my feelings, which is good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-heathcote/i-was-always-into-performing-and-dancing-as-a-kid-and-acting-was-a/) [Bella Heathcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-heathcote/) > [I remember when I was a kid, with the acting thing, I resented it because, you know, you don't want to do what your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bridges/i-remember-when-i-was-a-kid-with-the-acting-thing-i-resented-it-2/) [Jeff Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bridges/) > [I remember when I was a kid, with the acting thing, I resented it because, you know, you don't want to do what your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bridges/i-remember-when-i-was-a-kid-with-the-acting-thing-i-resented-it/) [Jeff Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bridges/) > [I'm from a very athletic family, and I thoroughly enjoyed sports as a kid, but acting was a way of expressing myself and having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-bomer/i-m-from-a-very-athletic-family-and-i-thoroughly-enjoyed-sports-as-a/) [Matt Bomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-bomer/) > [Music was something I chose that I came to as a kid, and acting was something that was suggested to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-anderson/music-was-something-i-chose-that-i-came-to-as-a-kid-and-acting-was/) [Jacob Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-anderson/) > [It's sad that today's youth is contemplative of having sex and our role models as well, yet all of our aspiration in life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rony-flores-mendoza/it-s-sad-that-today-s-youth-is-contemplative-of-having-sex-and-our/) Rony Flores Mendoza ## More by Katy O'Brian > [I tend to get reactions just by being on screen, because I guess I'm physically queer-coded or something. Especially with 'Star Wars;' I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/i-tend-to-get-reactions-just-by-being-on-screen-because-i-guess-i-m/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [Hollywood has made a big push to be more supportive of female writers and directors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/hollywood-has-made-a-big-push-to-be-more-supportive-of-female-writers/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [You really want to make everybody as three-dimensional as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/you-really-want-to-make-everybody-as-three-dimensional-as-possible/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [I've always had a fascination with Catwoman. I think Catwoman is so much fun. I've been obsessed with Xena since I was a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/i-ve-always-had-a-fascination-with-catwoman-i-think-catwoman-is-so/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [As an actor, you have to go with the flow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/as-an-actor-you-have-to-go-with-the-flow/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [I found figure competitions... I got stronger. I was very confident with how I looked. It felt great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/i-found-figure-competitions-i-got-stronger-i-was-very-confident-with/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [It's crazy to me that people still need to feel better than other people because of something as simple as skin colour or sexuality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/it-s-crazy-to-me-that-people-still-need-to-feel-better-than-other/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [When I got my diagnosis, the first thing I did was look up actors and martial artists who had Crohn's. I needed to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/when-i-got-my-diagnosis-the-first-thing-i-did-was-look-up-actors-and/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [I think a lot of people hopefully would agree, if you are getting cast, that's a good thing. And if you are getting work,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/i-think-a-lot-of-people-hopefully-would-agree-if-you-are-getting-cast/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [Genetics play a huge part in just how big you can get it in general for everybody, but it's something that could be done.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/genetics-play-a-huge-part-in-just-how-big-you-can-get-it-in-general/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [I don't know any woman that hasn't been harassed at a gym or maybe touched inappropriately, or something like that. That builds up inside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/i-don-t-know-any-woman-that-hasn-t-been-harassed-at-a-gym-or-maybe/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [I always did stuff in the arts in school, and we had a commercial agent when we were younger, but we found that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/i-always-did-stuff-in-the-arts-in-school-and-we-had-a-commercial/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [A lot of martial artists that I know, a lot of officers that I know, they all are really into comic book fandoms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/a-lot-of-martial-artists-that-i-know-a-lot-of-officers-that-i-know/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [I love having muscles; it makes me feel really confident. I love what my body can do. It's just one of those things where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/i-love-having-muscles-it-makes-me-feel-really-confident-i-love-what/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [I love to see people who've been in this business forever, it hasn't crushed them completely, and they're super passionate about what they're doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/i-love-to-see-people-who-ve-been-in-this-business-forever-it-hasn-t/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) [Explore all 100 Katy O'Brian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) ## 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": "As a kid, acting was my big escape. It's a way to experience worlds that I might not otherwise get to and to really feel stuff for people in heightened experiences. It's this weird catharsis and an incredible exercise in empathy. It helps me relate to people and the world more, and I get to be collaborative and vulnerable.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Katy O'Brian" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/as-a-kid-acting-was-my-big-escape-it-s-a-way-to-experience-worlds/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/as-a-kid-acting-was-my-big-escape-it-s-a-way-to-experience-worlds/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/katy-o-brian-6067_acting_as-a-kid-acting-was-my-big-escape-it-s-a_169002.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/katy-o-brian-6067_acting_as-a-kid-acting-was-my-big-escape-it-s-a_169002.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/katy-o-brian-6067_acting_as-a-kid-acting-was-my-big-escape-it-s-a_169002.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As a kid, acting was my big escape. It's a way to experience worlds that I might not otherwise get to and to…” — Katy O'Brian", "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": "Katy O'Brian", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As a kid, acting was my...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/as-a-kid-acting-was-my-big-escape-it-s-a-way-to-experience-worlds/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/as-a-kid-acting-was-my-big-escape-it-s-a-way-to-experience-worlds/#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 } } ] } ```