--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wanted to be an actor and I wanted to…" description: "\"I wanted to be an actor and I wanted to be a performer. Like Hugh [Grant] said earlier, we might all have this weird gene. Hopefully I will continue to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4f/mandy-moore-2646_actor_i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-and-i-wanted-to_2285851.jpg" --- # I wanted to be an actor and I wanted to be a performer… ![“I wanted to be an actor and I wanted to be a performer. Like Hugh [Grant] said earlier, we might all have this weird gene. Hopefully I will continue to have the talent to allow that gene to play itself out for as long as it can.” quote by Mandy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4f/mandy-moore-2646_actor_i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-and-i-wanted-to_2285851.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4f/mandy-moore-2646_actor_i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-and-i-wanted-to_2285851.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4f/mandy-moore-2646_actor_i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-and-i-wanted-to_2285851.jpg) > “I wanted to be an actor and I wanted to be a performer. Like Hugh \[Grant\] said earlier, we might all have this weird gene. Hopefully I will continue to have the talent to allow that gene to play itself out for as long as it can.” [Mandy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-moore/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Belief in an innate creative drive suggests talent is a genetic trait that can be nurtured over time. **In simple terms:** Talent may be genetic but needs nurturing. Key Takeaway Cultivate and trust your creative instincts. Themes creativity genetics talent self‑belief growth Mood inspirational hopeful Type motivational career guidance When to use this quote - audition preparation - skill development - long‑term career planning - personal mentorship Key Concepts nature vs nurture self‑actualization career longevity Questions to Reflect On - What practices help you sustain your creative gene? - How do you balance innate talent with disciplined effort? A Different Perspective Talent alone may not guarantee success without hard work. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Performers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performers/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [I always wanted to become an actor but I wanted to act in films. But when I saw there are really good opportunities on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiten-tejwani/i-always-wanted-to-become-an-actor-but-i-wanted-to-act-in-films-but/) [Hiten Tejwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiten-tejwani/) > [As actors, we don't shy away from saying, 'I wanted to be an actor because I wanted to meet girls.' Directors cannot say the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gael-garcia-bernal/as-actors-we-don-t-shy-away-from-saying-i-wanted-to-be-an-actor/) [Gael Garcia Bernal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gael-garcia-bernal/) > [Before I even wanted to be an actor, I wanted to be a figure skater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-janney/before-i-even-wanted-to-be-an-actor-i-wanted-to-be-a-figure-skater/) [Allison Janney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-janney/) > [I always wanted to be an actor, and I wanted to be a part of good movies. Wherever I get to do these two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamannaah/i-always-wanted-to-be-an-actor-and-i-wanted-to-be-a-part-of-good/) [Tamannaah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamannaah/) > [I wanted to be an actor, but only because I wanted to be everything, and that was the only way I could be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/essie-davis/i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-but-only-because-i-wanted-to-be-everything/) [Essie Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/essie-davis/) > [I wanted to become an actor because I wanted friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/i-wanted-to-become-an-actor-because-i-wanted-friends/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [The first thing I wanted to be was an actor, even before I wanted to be a singer, before I discovered I could sing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-cliff/the-first-thing-i-wanted-to-be-was-an-actor-even-before-i-wanted-to/) [Jimmy Cliff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-cliff/) > [I knew I wanted to be an actor, and I didn't necessarily need or want to be famous or a celebrity actor. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-fischer/i-knew-i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-and-i-didn-t-necessarily-need-or-want/) [Jenna Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-fischer/) > [I think I was about 16 when I first figured I wanted to be an actor. I wanted to be a fighter pilot before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-irons/i-think-i-was-about-16-when-i-first-figured-i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-i/) [Max Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-irons/) > [The truth is, ever since I was little, I've wanted to be an actor more than I ever wanted to be a movie star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-moriarty/the-truth-is-ever-since-i-was-little-i-ve-wanted-to-be-an-actor-more/) [Cathy Moriarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-moriarty/) > [I wanted to be performer; like, I used to dance at weddings. I felt acting was my calling, and that is something I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varun-dhawan/i-wanted-to-be-performer-like-i-used-to-dance-at-weddings-i-felt/) [Varun Dhawan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varun-dhawan/) > [Ever since I can remember, I've always wanted to be a performer - whether it was acting or singing or whatever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliette-lewis/ever-since-i-can-remember-i-ve-always-wanted-to-be-a-performer/) [Juliette Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliette-lewis/) > [I knew I wanted to be a performer really early on, like around 8 years old. I did tons of acting and loved being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-brown/i-knew-i-wanted-to-be-a-performer-really-early-on-like-around-8-years/) [Kate Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-brown/) > [I always wanted to be a performer, I didn't know exactly what kind of performer, all I knew was there were certain things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/i-always-wanted-to-be-a-performer-i-didn-t-know-exactly-what-kind-of/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [I have always wanted to be a performer, but I have also always dealt with fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/porsha-williams/i-have-always-wanted-to-be-a-performer-but-i-have-also-always-dealt/) [Porsha Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/porsha-williams/) ## More by Mandy Moore > [Worst thing in the world? John is completely out of it. Good luck, ladies. He's a freak!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-moore/worst-thing-in-the-world-john-is-completely-out-of-it-good-luck/) [Mandy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-moore/) > [I always think about the simplest things in a relationship that have frustrated me. It always sort of comes down to communication. Even something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-moore/i-always-think-about-the-simplest-things-in-a-relationship-that-have/) [Mandy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-moore/) > [Anytime I listen to my gut and I don't do something, or I do, it always tends to work out in my favor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-moore/anytime-i-listen-to-my-gut-and-i-don-t-do-something-or-i-do-it-always/) [Mandy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-moore/) > [I understand people have preconceived notions of who I am or what I do. But I do find it a bit bizarre that people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-moore/i-understand-people-have-preconceived-notions-of-who-i-am-or-what-i/) [Mandy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-moore/) > [The unknown used to be really scary, just that fear of, 'What's next? What if I'm not prepared?' 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But I'm not the quintessential girl who had these sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-moore/as-a-little-girl-i-thought-i-d-like-to-get-married-on-the-beach-but-i/) [Mandy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-moore/) > [I'm a bit of a germ freak. I carry antibacterial and alcohol swabs with me when I travel. I don't think it's a weird…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-moore/i-m-a-bit-of-a-germ-freak-i-carry-antibacterial-and-alcohol-swabs/) [Mandy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-moore/) > [Although birth control is a part of my plan now, it won't necessarily be a year from now. I want to use my platform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-moore/although-birth-control-is-a-part-of-my-plan-now-it-won-t-necessarily/) [Mandy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-moore/) > [I felt pressured once in a movie, but there's no way to escape it, whether you're in the spotlight or not. Sometimes I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-moore/i-felt-pressured-once-in-a-movie-but-there-s-no-way-to-escape-it/) [Mandy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-moore/) > [Hope is the most exciting thing there is in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-moore/hope-is-the-most-exciting-thing-there-is-in-life/) [Mandy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-moore/) > [I'm very blessed that I get to dabble in both music and movies, and as long as people are willing to accept me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-moore/i-m-very-blessed-that-i-get-to-dabble-in-both-music-and-movies-and-as/) [Mandy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-moore/) > [I like pencil skirts because they hug me in all the right places.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-moore/i-like-pencil-skirts-because-they-hug-me-in-all-the-right-places/) [Mandy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-moore/) > [What I look for in a guy is a really good sense of humour, obviously honesty and he had to be into music. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-moore/what-i-look-for-in-a-guy-is-a-really-good-sense-of-humour-obviously/) [Mandy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-moore/) [Explore all 156 Mandy Moore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-moore/) ## 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! 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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 wanted to be an actor and I wanted to be a performer. Like Hugh [Grant] said earlier, we might all have this weird gene. 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