--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can't remember life before I was an…" description: "\"I can't remember life before I was an actor. In fact, I was an actor before I knew what it was to be an actor.\" — Kellie Martin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/595/kellie-martin-19900_actor_i-can-t-remember-life-before-i-was-an-ac_1537526.jpg" --- # I can't remember life before I was an actor. In fact, I… ![“I can't remember life before I was an actor. In fact, I was an actor before I knew what it was to be an actor.” quote by Kellie Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/595/kellie-martin-19900_actor_i-can-t-remember-life-before-i-was-an-ac_1537526.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/595/kellie-martin-19900_actor_i-can-t-remember-life-before-i-was-an-ac_1537526.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/595/kellie-martin-19900_actor_i-can-t-remember-life-before-i-was-an-ac_1537526.jpg) > “I can't remember life before I was an actor. In fact, I was an actor before I knew what it was to be an actor.” [Kellie Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-martin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting becomes an intrinsic identity, blurring the line between profession and self. **In simple terms:** Acting defines identity. Key Takeaway Embrace your craft fully. Themes identity career self artistry Mood introspective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career transitions - personal branding - creative fulfillment Key Concepts role immersion personal identity career development Questions to Reflect On - When does a role become limiting? - How to maintain self outside of work? A Different Perspective Overidentification can hinder personal growth outside the role. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [I always knew I'd be an actor. I always knew I'd at least be on a big screen somewhere. Everyone else I was watching,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-stanfield/i-always-knew-i-d-be-an-actor-i-always-knew-i-d-at-least-be-on-a-big/) [Keith Stanfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-stanfield/) > [I had no idea how to make it as an actor. But I knew I wanted to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-walton/i-had-no-idea-how-to-make-it-as-an-actor-but-i-knew-i-wanted-to/) [David Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-walton/) > [The first long chapter of my career was almost entirely theater so that, by the time I was 30, 35, I sort of knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/the-first-long-chapter-of-my-career-was-almost-entirely-theater-so/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [I think all the actors I've worked with knew that I was an actor. Like, I get into the dirt with my actors and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/i-think-all-the-actors-i-ve-worked-with-knew-that-i-was-an-actor-like/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [And I knew that, being an actor, you have to take the rough with the smooth and the highs with the lows. That's how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/and-i-knew-that-being-an-actor-you-have-to-take-the-rough-with-the/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [I knew an actor's career goes up and down and back up again. Your standing in this business can't be your whole identity; otherwise,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kudrow/i-knew-an-actor-s-career-goes-up-and-down-and-back-up-again-your/) [Lisa Kudrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kudrow/) > [I knew I would be an actor since I was seven or eight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mcnamara/i-knew-i-would-be-an-actor-since-i-was-seven-or-eight/) [William McNamara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mcnamara/) > [My parents weren't involved in show business, but my parents would show me. We'd watch old films in the house. Little film festivals of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alden-ehrenreich/my-parents-weren-t-involved-in-show-business-but-my-parents-would-2/) [Alden Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alden-ehrenreich/) > [My central strength as an actor is the fact that I'm 6 foot 3. A certain power emanates from my size, juxtaposed with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/my-central-strength-as-an-actor-is-the-fact-that-i-m-6-foot-3-a/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [In the film world, and I know this from just talking to other people, that I'm known as a kind of dramatic, serious, almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/in-the-film-world-and-i-know-this-from-just-talking-to-other-people/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) > [I don't remember what made me want to be an actor. In fact, I'm always curious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/i-don-t-remember-what-made-me-want-to-be-an-actor-in-fact-i-m-always/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) > [Im an actor. The fact that Im involved in Jigsaw, I dont approach Jigsaw any differently than I approached The Nordic in The Firm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobin-bell/im-an-actor-the-fact-that-im-involved-in-jigsaw-i-dont-approach/) [Tobin Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobin-bell/) > [I'm essentially an actor. And the fact that I got away with singing and dancing for a long time is still a miracle to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-grey/i-m-essentially-an-actor-and-the-fact-that-i-got-away-with-singing/) [Joel Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-grey/) > [You don't go to Berkeley to become an actor. In fact, I don't think you go to any school to become an actor. You've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-fuller/you-don-t-go-to-berkeley-to-become-an-actor-in-fact-i-don-t-think-you/) [Kurt Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-fuller/) > [I think I did have fantasies about being an actor. In fact, I know I did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shaffer/i-think-i-did-have-fantasies-about-being-an-actor-in-fact-i-know-i-did/) [Peter Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shaffer/) ## More by Kellie Martin > [When I was a teenager, I worked on a show that was about a family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-martin/when-i-was-a-teenager-i-worked-on-a-show-that-was-about-a-family/) [Kellie Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-martin/) > [It's an extraordinary thing to do, to go into the military and to serve your country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-martin/it-s-an-extraordinary-thing-to-do-to-go-into-the-military-and-to/) [Kellie Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-martin/) > [I was in this sheltered little environment where, basically, all my high school experience was in 'Life Goes On,' and everyone told me where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-martin/i-was-in-this-sheltered-little-environment-where-basically-all-my/) [Kellie Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-martin/) > [At college - I went to Yale, and everybody's very smart, and everybody has their thing that makes them special, and people at Yale…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-martin/at-college-i-went-to-yale-and-everybody-s-very-smart-and-everybody/) [Kellie Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-martin/) > [My mom, who was a constant fixture at work with me until I was 18 years old, did an amazing job filtering out all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-martin/my-mom-who-was-a-constant-fixture-at-work-with-me-until-i-was-18/) [Kellie Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-martin/) > [I feel like the networks always end up doing similar stuff at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-martin/i-feel-like-the-networks-always-end-up-doing-similar-stuff-at-the/) [Kellie Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-martin/) > [My first kiss was onscreen. My character learned to drive before I did, so when they asked me to hit the mark with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-martin/my-first-kiss-was-onscreen-my-character-learned-to-drive-before-i-did/) [Kellie Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-martin/) > [My kid really loves bugs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-martin/my-kid-really-loves-bugs/) [Kellie Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-martin/) > [I think the takeaway is 'The Guest Book' is incredibly unexpected in every way. I know, when I was reading the script, I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-martin/i-think-the-takeaway-is-the-guest-book-is-incredibly-unexpected-in/) [Kellie Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-martin/) > [I would say, if I had any hobbies, I love photography. I love taking photographs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-martin/i-would-say-if-i-had-any-hobbies-i-love-photography-i-love-taking/) [Kellie Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-martin/) > [I would say people remember me from 'Life Goes On' more than anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-martin/i-would-say-people-remember-me-from-life-goes-on-more-than-anything/) [Kellie Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-martin/) > [As with real families, my fictional family on 'Life Goes On' had its ups and downs, and as part of the fictional downers, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-martin/as-with-real-families-my-fictional-family-on-life-goes-on-had-its-ups/) [Kellie Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-martin/) > [The way I choose parts is I look at the scripts... I choose a part by whether or not it challenges me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-martin/the-way-i-choose-parts-is-i-look-at-the-scripts-i-choose-a-part-by/) [Kellie Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-martin/) > ['Christy' is worth staying out of college for because I believe in the show. I wouldn't stay out of college for many other shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-martin/christy-is-worth-staying-out-of-college-for-because-i-believe-in-the/) [Kellie Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-martin/) > [Small towns are so rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-martin/small-towns-are-so-rich/) [Kellie Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-martin/) [Explore all 31 Kellie Martin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-martin/) ## More Actor 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/) > [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 once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [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/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [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/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I can't remember life before I was an actor. 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