--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm not really sure if I have anything…" description: "\"I'm not really sure if I have anything that inspires me. I think what goes into my work is everything beforehand that I do with my dad. He teaches me a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d70/kodi-smit-mcphee-14282_acting_i-m-not-really-sure-if-i-have-anything-t_908164.jpg" --- # I'm not really sure if I have anything that inspires me. I… ![“I'm not really sure if I have anything that inspires me. I think what goes into my work is everything beforehand that I do with my dad. He teaches me acting, and I think maybe without him it would be pretty hard. I started acting for fun, really, because my dad's an actor and my sister's an actor…” quote by Kodi Smit-McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d70/kodi-smit-mcphee-14282_acting_i-m-not-really-sure-if-i-have-anything-t_908164.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d70/kodi-smit-mcphee-14282_acting_i-m-not-really-sure-if-i-have-anything-t_908164.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d70/kodi-smit-mcphee-14282_acting_i-m-not-really-sure-if-i-have-anything-t_908164.jpg) > “I'm not really sure if I have anything that inspires me. I think what goes into my work is everything beforehand that I do with my dad. He teaches me acting, and I think maybe without him it would be pretty hard. I started acting for fun, really, because my dad's an actor and my sister's an actor, so I started doing it and it was normal. But it got places really fast, and I started doing feature film auditions and stuff.” [Kodi Smit-McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kodi-smit-mcphee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker credits early family influence, especially a father's mentorship, as the foundation of his acting career, highlighting the role of upbringing in shaping passion and skill. **In simple terms:** Family guidance sparked his acting path. Key Takeaway Recognize and honor early influences. Themes family mentorship career development passion growth Mood grateful reflective motivated Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - family gatherings - early training - career decision making - seeking mentors - reflecting on personal history Key Concepts social learning identity formation skill acquisition Questions to Reflect On - How has your father's teaching shaped your approach to acting? - What other influences have guided your career? A Different Perspective Family influence may not guarantee success without personal effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-think/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actor Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-started-459952/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Auditions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/auditions/) [Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) [Features](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/features/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Inspire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspire/) [My dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-dad/) [My sister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-sister/) [Normal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/normal/) [Started Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-acting/) [Stuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stuff/) [Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach/) [Teaches Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaches-acting-1307114/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [My dad teaches me. He teaches me everything. He's been acting for over 30 years, so he knows a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kodi-smit-mcphee/my-dad-teaches-me-he-teaches-me-everything-he-s-been-acting-for-over/) [Kodi Smit-McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kodi-smit-mcphee/) > [People think a director teaches acting. But in good films a director doesn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sreenivasan/people-think-a-director-teaches-acting-but-in-good-films-a-director/) [Sreenivasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sreenivasan/) > [My mom always wanted me to be an actor. And I started going to theater and going on auditions young. I only realized about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/my-mom-always-wanted-me-to-be-an-actor-and-i-started-going-to-theater-2/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [The trick to acting is not to show off; it's to think the thoughts of the character. I was lucky because when I started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-marsan/the-trick-to-acting-is-not-to-show-off-it-s-to-think-the-thoughts-of-2/) [Eddie Marsan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-marsan/) > [My sister started acting professionally when she was twelve, but I wanted to go to college first](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rooney-mara/my-sister-started-acting-professionally-when-she-was-twelve-but-i/) [Rooney Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rooney-mara/) > [I did community theater and kids programs at professional theaters and plays at school and voice lessons for seven years. I stopped because it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavi-gevinson/i-did-community-theater-and-kids-programs-at-professional-theaters/) [Tavi Gevinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavi-gevinson/) > [I got started acting by going to auditions that my mom found in the entertainment section of our local news paper. Then, I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-james-williams/i-got-started-acting-by-going-to-auditions-that-my-mom-found-in-the/) [Tyler James Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-james-williams/) > [For me when I go in and audition for things, I just let them go as soon as I leave. I can 't take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haylie-duff/for-me-when-i-go-in-and-audition-for-things-i-just-let-them-go-as/) [Haylie Duff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haylie-duff/) > [As an actor I started off at a young age, but after a while certain maturity sets in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esha-deol/as-an-actor-i-started-off-at-a-young-age-but-after-a-while-certain/) [Esha Deol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esha-deol/) > [My mom always wanted me to be an actor. And I started going to theater and going on auditions young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/my-mom-always-wanted-me-to-be-an-actor-and-i-started-going-to-theater/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [In my career, I've had kind of a strange trajectory as an actor. I started out doing movies and theater and stuff, but then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-melamed/in-my-career-i-ve-had-kind-of-a-strange-trajectory-as-an-actor-i/) [Fred Melamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-melamed/) > [My mum was an actor until she started having children. I was the first child, so in a way I was the end of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-lloyd-hughes/my-mum-was-an-actor-until-she-started-having-children-i-was-the-first/) [Henry Lloyd-Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-lloyd-hughes/) > [I spent most of my 20s working as an actor. I started writing and directing because I was frustrated with the types of roles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/i-spent-most-of-my-20s-working-as-an-actor-i-started-writing-and/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [I am, by nature, pretty reserved. It was after I became an actor that I started interacting more with people from different walks of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nivin-pauly/i-am-by-nature-pretty-reserved-it-was-after-i-became-an-actor-that-i/) [Nivin Pauly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nivin-pauly/) > [Starting with a meagre amount of Rs 300 as a conductor, when I became an actor and started seeing huge moneys like Rs 3…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajinikanth/starting-with-a-meagre-amount-of-rs-300-as-a-conductor-when-i-became/) [Rajinikanth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajinikanth/) ## More by Kodi Smit-McPhee > [I think everyone has been annoyed at school or in their life, that's a type of bullying. So, you can take those feelings and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kodi-smit-mcphee/i-think-everyone-has-been-annoyed-at-school-or-in-their-life-that-s-a/) [Kodi Smit-McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kodi-smit-mcphee/) > [In L.A., I live right across from Universal Studios.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kodi-smit-mcphee/in-l-a-i-live-right-across-from-universal-studios/) [Kodi Smit-McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kodi-smit-mcphee/) > [Interviews are fun, but I get nervous at red carpets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kodi-smit-mcphee/interviews-are-fun-but-i-get-nervous-at-red-carpets/) [Kodi Smit-McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kodi-smit-mcphee/) > [When I was 8, my dad asked me if I wanted to audition, just for fun. I did just a little short film, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kodi-smit-mcphee/when-i-was-8-my-dad-asked-me-if-i-wanted-to-audition-just-for-fun-i/) [Kodi Smit-McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kodi-smit-mcphee/) > [I think when you have to train an accent, it just takes you absolutely into another spectrum of the character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kodi-smit-mcphee/i-think-when-you-have-to-train-an-accent-it-just-takes-you-absolutely/) [Kodi Smit-McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kodi-smit-mcphee/) > [New Orleans is awake all night, and every night is a party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kodi-smit-mcphee/new-orleans-is-awake-all-night-and-every-night-is-a-party/) [Kodi Smit-McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kodi-smit-mcphee/) > [Vampires used to be like Dracula, and now they're young teenage kids, so yeah, I like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kodi-smit-mcphee/vampires-used-to-be-like-dracula-and-now-they-re-young-teenage-kids/) [Kodi Smit-McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kodi-smit-mcphee/) > ['Slow West' is a film that I did with Michael Fassbender in New Zealand and Scotland. The director was John McLean. It's a film…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kodi-smit-mcphee/slow-west-is-a-film-that-i-did-with-michael-fassbender-in-new-zealand/) [Kodi Smit-McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kodi-smit-mcphee/) > [My sister's an actor as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kodi-smit-mcphee/my-sister-s-an-actor-as-well/) [Kodi Smit-McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kodi-smit-mcphee/) > [I'm based in L.A., mainly. I'm pretty much there a lot of the time doing work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kodi-smit-mcphee/i-m-based-in-l-a-mainly-i-m-pretty-much-there-a-lot-of-the-time-doing/) [Kodi Smit-McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kodi-smit-mcphee/) > [I think indie films have more of a fresh, experimental vibe about them, whereas studio films know what they want and can basically get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kodi-smit-mcphee/i-think-indie-films-have-more-of-a-fresh-experimental-vibe-about-them/) [Kodi Smit-McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kodi-smit-mcphee/) > [When I know I'm not doing any auditions, I go to the skate park on my scooter or my bike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kodi-smit-mcphee/when-i-know-i-m-not-doing-any-auditions-i-go-to-the-skate-park-on-my/) [Kodi Smit-McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kodi-smit-mcphee/) > [I dont really like simple characters too much; its too easy. I like a challenge, and I like characters you connect with on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kodi-smit-mcphee/i-dont-really-like-simple-characters-too-much-its-too-easy-i-like-a/) [Kodi Smit-McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kodi-smit-mcphee/) > [I've been joking that 'On the Road' is the prequel to 'The Road.' I don't know if that's a very good joke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kodi-smit-mcphee/i-ve-been-joking-that-on-the-road-is-the-prequel-to-the-road-i-don-t/) [Kodi Smit-McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kodi-smit-mcphee/) > [I think 'Paranorman' was a great adventure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kodi-smit-mcphee/i-think-paranorman-was-a-great-adventure/) [Kodi Smit-McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kodi-smit-mcphee/) [Explore all 47 Kodi Smit-McPhee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kodi-smit-mcphee/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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'm not really sure if I have anything that inspires me. I think what goes into my work is everything beforehand that I do with my dad. He teaches me acting, and I think maybe without him it would be pretty hard. 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