--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I did the plays in middle school. I was…" description: "\"I did the plays in middle school. I was cast as a gate in my fourth grade play, and every year I got a bigger role. Then, in 7th grade, I played Smike ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91e/lucas-hedges-17165_actor_i-did-the-plays-in-middle-school-i-was-c_2382951.jpg" --- # I did the plays in middle school. I was cast as a gate in… ![“I did the plays in middle school. I was cast as a gate in my fourth grade play, and every year I got a bigger role. Then, in 7th grade, I played Smike in 'Nicholas Nickleby,' and the casting director saw me and asked me to audition for a movie. That movie led to me getting 'Moonrise Kingdom.'” quote by Lucas Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91e/lucas-hedges-17165_actor_i-did-the-plays-in-middle-school-i-was-c_2382951.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91e/lucas-hedges-17165_actor_i-did-the-plays-in-middle-school-i-was-c_2382951.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91e/lucas-hedges-17165_actor_i-did-the-plays-in-middle-school-i-was-c_2382951.jpg) > “I did the plays in middle school. I was cast as a gate in my fourth grade play, and every year I got a bigger role. Then, in 7th grade, I played Smike in 'Nicholas Nickleby,' and the casting director saw me and asked me to audition for a movie. That movie led to me getting 'Moonrise Kingdom.'” [Lucas Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-hedges/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early acting experiences built confidence and visibility, leading to professional film opportunities. **In simple terms:** Child roles grew, opening doors to movies. Key Takeaway Leverage small chances into larger goals. Themes growth opportunity career confidence Mood optimistic determined Type inspirational career. When to use this quote - school plays - auditions - film casting - career planning Key Concepts career development networking talent scouting Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn a minor role into a breakthrough? - What habits helped you stay ready for larger opportunities? A Different Perspective Success depends on being noticed, not just talent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Asked Audition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asked-audition-284928/) [Audition Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audition-movie-350469/) [Casting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/casting/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Did Plays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did-plays-444256/) [Director](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/director/) [Gate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gate/) [Middle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle/) [Middle school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-school/) [Moonrise Kingdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moonrise-kingdom-227572/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Nickleby Casting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nickleby-casting-5908588/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) ## Related quotes > [After studying art, I was a painter for a while and was asked to audition for a movie randomly. I hadn't thought of acting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriella-wilde/after-studying-art-i-was-a-painter-for-a-while-and-was-asked-to/) [Gabriella Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriella-wilde/) > [As an actor, I'm my own worst critic, but after awhile, really, when you watch 'Moonrise Kingdom', it's such a fantastic film that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kara-hayward/as-an-actor-i-m-my-own-worst-critic-but-after-awhile-really-when-you/) [Kara Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kara-hayward/) > [On 'Darjeeling,' I was on set every day and I acted as the second unit director and a producer on that film. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-coppola/on-darjeeling-i-was-on-set-every-day-and-i-acted-as-the-second-unit/) [Roman Coppola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-coppola/) > [When Wes has a new a project, you know that it's going to be something as different as the previous was from the previous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-desplat/when-wes-has-a-new-a-project-you-know-that-it-s-going-to-be-something/) [Alexandre Desplat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-desplat/) > [ And I wanted to do a movie \[Moonrise Kingdom\] about a childhood romance - a very powerful experience of childhood romance. About what it's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-anderson/and-i-wanted-to-do-a-movie-moonrise-kingdom-about-a-childhood-romance/) [Wes Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-anderson/) > [I'm a huge Wes Anderson fan. I literally love every single film. He hasn't made a bad film; I've seen every single one. They've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saoirse-ronan/i-m-a-huge-wes-anderson-fan-i-literally-love-every-single-film-he/) [Saoirse Ronan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saoirse-ronan/) > [I was working at a restaurant in L.A. when a producer came in. He said I should audition for this movie Cellular. I did,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mircea-monroe/i-was-working-at-a-restaurant-in-l-a-when-a-producer-came-in-he-said/) [Mircea Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mircea-monroe/) > [If I see an audition for a show or a movie, I'll send a tape in. I attack it. The whole time, I'm booking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-diaz/if-i-see-an-audition-for-a-show-or-a-movie-i-ll-send-a-tape-in-i/) [Joey Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-diaz/) > [My first audition was for Terrence Malick's 'The Tree of Life.' These casting directors came through Texas, and they recruited somewhere around 10,000 kids…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tye-sheridan/my-first-audition-was-for-terrence-malick-s-the-tree-of-life-these/) [Tye Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tye-sheridan/) > [My sister pursued acting, and one day, I was like, 'Hey, I want to do acting, too' - this was just in commercials -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-tremblay/my-sister-pursued-acting-and-one-day-i-was-like-hey-i-want-to-do/) [Jacob Tremblay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-tremblay/) > [I was living in Evanston, Illinois and I was taking theater classes down the street, and our theater school was kind of affiliated with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lecy-goranson/i-was-living-in-evanston-illinois-and-i-was-taking-theater-classes/) [Lecy Goranson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lecy-goranson/) > [I got my SAG card quite unexpectedly. I was here in Los Angeles doing a play called 'Vanities' - it was 1976, I believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-bates/i-got-my-sag-card-quite-unexpectedly-i-was-here-in-los-angeles-doing/) [Kathy Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-bates/) > [I was asked if I'd audition for a part in a Broadway musical because the director just loved me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-macdonald/i-was-asked-if-i-d-audition-for-a-part-in-a-broadway-musical-because/) [Amy Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-macdonald/) > [My friend was interning at the Miss India office and asked me to go for an audition. I just wanted to clear one basic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sobhita-dhulipala/my-friend-was-interning-at-the-miss-india-office-and-asked-me-to-go/) [Sobhita Dhulipala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sobhita-dhulipala/) > [In high school, I did some musicals, but I never took acting until college. I was studying opera, classical voice, and a speech teacher…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/in-high-school-i-did-some-musicals-but-i-never-took-acting-until/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) ## More by Lucas Hedges > [I think it's true of every great comedy that it's rooted in some dramatic, incredibly personal truth. And it's true of all great drama…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-hedges/i-think-it-s-true-of-every-great-comedy-that-it-s-rooted-in-some/) [Lucas Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-hedges/) > [I grew up in a film-loving family. We watched the Oscars every year. My favorite thing in the whole world was film. The Oscars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-hedges/i-grew-up-in-a-film-loving-family-we-watched-the-oscars-every-year-my/) [Lucas Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-hedges/) > [The first thing I ever auditioned for was a movie called 'Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close.' And, this is kind of a secret, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-hedges/the-first-thing-i-ever-auditioned-for-was-a-movie-called-extremely/) [Lucas Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-hedges/) > [I meditate - very pretentious - and I try to read as much as I can and swim at the Y.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-hedges/i-meditate-very-pretentious-and-i-try-to-read-as-much-as-i-can-and/) [Lucas Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-hedges/) > [I am somebody who never came close to a physical altercation, because I was too scared of even getting near one - I'd probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-hedges/i-am-somebody-who-never-came-close-to-a-physical-altercation-because/) [Lucas Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-hedges/) > [I grew up playing squash. I have all these squash trophies in my room... I was, like, third in the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-hedges/i-grew-up-playing-squash-i-have-all-these-squash-trophies-in-my-room/) [Lucas Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-hedges/) > [The more you learn to love yourself, the better actor you will be. That's always going to be my training. Every part is, 'How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-hedges/the-more-you-learn-to-love-yourself-the-better-actor-you-will-be-that/) [Lucas Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-hedges/) > [If I have a career in theater, and nobody knows who I am, I'm all right with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-hedges/if-i-have-a-career-in-theater-and-nobody-knows-who-i-am-i-m-all-right/) [Lucas Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-hedges/) > [My dad's a filmmaker, and my mom's an actress. She was the original understudy, actually, for Harper in 'Angels in America' and did the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-hedges/my-dad-s-a-filmmaker-and-my-mom-s-an-actress-she-was-the-original/) [Lucas Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-hedges/) > [When I was in high school, I tried too hard to be cool and to impress people, but playing all these different characters has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-hedges/when-i-was-in-high-school-i-tried-too-hard-to-be-cool-and-to-impress/) [Lucas Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-hedges/) > [I never really thought it would be possible to keep making films. I thought I'd get to a point where it would just stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-hedges/i-never-really-thought-it-would-be-possible-to-keep-making-films-i/) [Lucas Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-hedges/) > [It's almost like the psychology of a film is no different from the psychology of a person in that it has to function, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-hedges/it-s-almost-like-the-psychology-of-a-film-is-no-different-from-the/) [Lucas Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-hedges/) > [I have allergic reactions: it triggers my gag reflex when I read unrealistic dialogue from a teenager.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-hedges/i-have-allergic-reactions-it-triggers-my-gag-reflex-when-i-read/) [Lucas Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-hedges/) > [In high school, I made friends with people in every social group. Or at least that's how I perceived it. I thought they liked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-hedges/in-high-school-i-made-friends-with-people-in-every-social-group-or-at/) [Lucas Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-hedges/) > [I think I was born to be a clown. I just haven't figured out how to bring that side of myself into the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-hedges/i-think-i-was-born-to-be-a-clown-i-just-haven-t-figured-out-how-to/) [Lucas Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-hedges/) [Explore all 38 Lucas Hedges quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-hedges/) ## 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 did the plays in middle school. I was cast as a gate in my fourth grade play, and every year I got a bigger role. Then, in 7th grade, I played Smike in 'Nicholas Nickleby,' and the casting director saw me and asked me to audition for a movie. 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