--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was 28 before I started putting on…" description: "\"I was 28 before I started putting on productions. I got in the back door by doing fringe shows and a lot of assisting, and I learned on the job. There ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/622/marianne-elliott-9478_confidence_i-was-28-before-i-started-putting-on-pro_2900682.jpg" --- # I was 28 before I started putting on productions. I got in… ![“I was 28 before I started putting on productions. I got in the back door by doing fringe shows and a lot of assisting, and I learned on the job. There weren't many female directors when I was starting out. I slowly gained confidence and understanding of the theater, but on my own terms.” quote by Marianne Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/622/marianne-elliott-9478_confidence_i-was-28-before-i-started-putting-on-pro_2900682.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/622/marianne-elliott-9478_confidence_i-was-28-before-i-started-putting-on-pro_2900682.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/622/marianne-elliott-9478_confidence_i-was-28-before-i-started-putting-on-pro_2900682.jpg) > “I was 28 before I started putting on productions. I got in the back door by doing fringe shows and a lot of assisting, and I learned on the job. There weren't many female directors when I was starting out. I slowly gained confidence and understanding of the theater, but on my own terms.” [Marianne Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-elliott/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She entered theater later, using fringe work and assistance to break gender barriers and learn on the job. **In simple terms:** Started late, learned through fringe work, overcame gender scarcity. Key Takeaway Persist and create your own path despite obstacles. Themes career development gender equity learning by doing theatre resilience Mood inspirational determined Type career gender When to use this quote - theatre production - mentorship programs - skill workshops - advocacy groups Key Concepts non‑linear career female leadership industry barriers Questions to Reflect On - How can institutions support late‑career entrants? - What mentorship models help women in theatre? A Different Perspective Industry bias may still limit opportunities for women. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Directors Starting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors-starting-1318858/) [Doing Fringe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-fringe-897728/) [Door](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/door/) [Female Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/female-directors/) [Slowly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slowly/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Understanding Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding-theater-4122834/) ## Related quotes > [Never in my career have I got the support for what I'm doing, any more than I have on Fringe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-h-wyman/never-in-my-career-have-i-got-the-support-for-what-i-m-doing-any-more/) [J.H. Wyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-h-wyman/) > [I've never let producers tell me what to do. Even when I was making television, I always did what I wanted to do, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-haneke/i-ve-never-let-producers-tell-me-what-to-do-even-when-i-was-making/) [Michael Haneke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-haneke/) > [It's advice I always give to directors when they're starting out: Take an acting class to really see what it feels like to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/it-s-advice-i-always-give-to-directors-when-they-re-starting-out-take/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [I had done drama at university, but I never thought I could be a director. There were so few female directors then. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-elliott/i-had-done-drama-at-university-but-i-never-thought-i-could-be-a/) [Marianne Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-elliott/) > [Behind the cameras, there's a different problem, which I think is not unconscious gender bias. It's probably categorized more as conscious gender bias. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/behind-the-cameras-there-s-a-different-problem-which-i-think-is-not/) [Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/) > [Any advice I could give to female directors would be the same as for males: There will be endless difficulties, some seemingly defeating, on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deniz-gamze-erguven/any-advice-i-could-give-to-female-directors-would-be-the-same-as-for/) [Deniz Gamze Erguven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deniz-gamze-erguven/) > [I don't really consider myself a female director, and I don't want to do so for other women. Female directors are just directors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alante-kavaite/i-don-t-really-consider-myself-a-female-director-and-i-don-t-want-to/) [Alante Kavaite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alante-kavaite/) > [I do believe female directors, as well as our female writer, can bring out male vulnerability that some men can't because they can't face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-kingsley/i-do-believe-female-directors-as-well-as-our-female-writer-can-bring/) [Ben Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-kingsley/) > [I do all these panels where people are always talking about the lack of female directors, and I have a lot of opinions on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-plec/i-do-all-these-panels-where-people-are-always-talking-about-the-lack/) [Julie Plec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-plec/) > [Here, we have female directors and producers; in fact, one whole channel is run by a woman. Pakistani TV is progressive, and hence, characters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umera-ahmad/here-we-have-female-directors-and-producers-in-fact-one-whole-channel/) [Umera Ahmad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umera-ahmad/) > [Back in the day when I was on The WB, I may have only had one or two female directors throughout the entire run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiri-appleby/back-in-the-day-when-i-was-on-the-wb-i-may-have-only-had-one-or-two/) [Shiri Appleby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiri-appleby/) > [Most people view female directors as female only, that we only deal with women's issues and women characters. Although most of my films have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shahad-ameen/most-people-view-female-directors-as-female-only-that-we-only-deal/) [Shahad Ameen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shahad-ameen/) > [I've worked with a couple of female directors now, and I think that they're amazing. As good or better than guy directors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alia-shawkat/i-ve-worked-with-a-couple-of-female-directors-now-and-i-think-that/) [Alia Shawkat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alia-shawkat/) > [Female directors really do need to support each other. Too many times I've been led to believe that my direct competition was other women,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-phang/female-directors-really-do-need-to-support-each-other-too-many-times/) [Jennifer Phang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-phang/) > [There's so many more female directors than when I started. That's encouraging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sofia-coppola/there-s-so-many-more-female-directors-than-when-i-started-that-s/) [Sofia Coppola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sofia-coppola/) ## More by Marianne Elliott > [I suppose that I'm excited by exciting theater. It takes a risk to show us the world in a new way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-elliott/i-suppose-that-i-m-excited-by-exciting-theater-it-takes-a-risk-to/) [Marianne Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-elliott/) > [I never want to see 'Hamlet' ever again! Never ever!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-elliott/i-never-want-to-see-hamlet-ever-again-never-ever/) [Marianne Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-elliott/) > [I'm really fascinated by other directors' methods. I've done a lot of learning by observation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-elliott/i-m-really-fascinated-by-other-directors-methods-i-ve-done-a-lot-of/) [Marianne Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-elliott/) > [I'm interested in teasing out the contemporary issues in what I'm working on, however old the piece might be, whenever I'm working on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-elliott/i-m-interested-in-teasing-out-the-contemporary-issues-in-what-i-m/) [Marianne Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-elliott/) > [It's incredible how London-centric the theatre world is. Certain actors won't travel away from London anymore for work; practitioners often aren't taken seriously enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-elliott/it-s-incredible-how-london-centric-the-theatre-world-is-certain/) [Marianne Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-elliott/) > [I just think that you have to approach anything you do with a huge amount of integrity - I don't really care where it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-elliott/i-just-think-that-you-have-to-approach-anything-you-do-with-a-huge/) [Marianne Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-elliott/) > [I used to love getting older.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-elliott/i-used-to-love-getting-older/) [Marianne Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-elliott/) > [I didn't want to just be remembered for 'War Horse.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-elliott/i-didn-t-want-to-just-be-remembered-for-war-horse/) [Marianne Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-elliott/) > [If you are working in a publicly subsidized building, then you have a responsibility to deliver truly interesting, risky, innovative, even provocative work. Work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-elliott/if-you-are-working-in-a-publicly-subsidized-building-then-you-have-a/) [Marianne Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-elliott/) > [There's a certain type of theatre that I haven't got any time for at all - established, boring, same-old stuff without any reason or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-elliott/there-s-a-certain-type-of-theatre-that-i-haven-t-got-any-time-for-at/) [Marianne Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-elliott/) > [As you get older, you realise that your identity becomes more important - the environment in which you have grown is actually part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-elliott/as-you-get-older-you-realise-that-your-identity-becomes-more/) [Marianne Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-elliott/) > [It is draining when you have a child, and there aren't many women directors with kids out there as role models.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-elliott/it-is-draining-when-you-have-a-child-and-there-aren-t-many-women/) [Marianne Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-elliott/) > [The actors work out how to create the show with me during the rehearsals. They owe it to themselves and each other to maintain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-elliott/the-actors-work-out-how-to-create-the-show-with-me-during-the/) [Marianne Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-elliott/) > [I worked in casting for about five years before I became a director, and that taught me a huge amount because you never actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-elliott/i-worked-in-casting-for-about-five-years-before-i-became-a-director/) [Marianne Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-elliott/) > [I'm always drawn to female stories with female protagonists, and I particularly yearn for more older actresses to take centre stage in 2018.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-elliott/i-m-always-drawn-to-female-stories-with-female-protagonists-and-i/) [Marianne Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-elliott/) [Explore all 72 Marianne Elliott quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-elliott/) ## More Confidence quotes > [The CIA has concluded in a secret assessment that Russia intervened in the 2016 election to help Donald Trump win the presidency rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/the-cia-has-concluded-in-a-secret-assessment-that-russia-intervened/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [I was just confident my work was good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bunny-yeager/i-was-just-confident-my-work-was-good/) [Bunny Yeager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bunny-yeager/) > [I am confident when I take the penalty otherwise I would pass for somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/i-am-confident-when-i-take-the-penalty-otherwise-i-would-pass-for/) [Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/) > [I started out dancing on a reality TV show, but always with the intention of making my way over to film. I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [My friend made me a leather dress for the MTV awards. It gives you confidence, wearing something you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-deeley/my-friend-made-me-a-leather-dress-for-the-mtv-awards-it-gives-you/) [Cat Deeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-deeley/) > [Confidence comes from cutting yourself some slack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-daly/confidence-comes-from-cutting-yourself-some-slack/) [Tess Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-daly/) > [I would rather regret the things that I have done than the things that I have not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-ball/i-would-rather-regret-the-things-that-i-have-done-than-the-things/) [Lucille Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-ball/) > [You want to remain hungry and stay in a good place as a competitor; at the same time, you want to be confident but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-odom/you-want-to-remain-hungry-and-stay-in-a-good-place-as-a-competitor-at/) [Lamar Odom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-odom/) > [Get to know yourself well enough to not only expect, but also control, your response to the unexpected challenges in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/get-to-know-yourself-well-enough-to-not-only-expect-but-also-control/) [Senoraroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senoraroy/) > [The four Cs of making dreams come true: Curiosity, Courage, Consistency, Confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/the-four-cs-of-making-dreams-come-true-curiosity-courage-consistency/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [I look for someone who has confidence. Also someone whose energetic, cause I'm NOT that energetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-jonas/i-look-for-someone-who-has-confidence-also-someone-whose-energetic/) [Nick Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-jonas/) > [Why shouldn't I be confident? I'm well educated, I can deliver a line, and I have more than three expressions. That's good right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonakshi-sinha/why-shouldn-t-i-be-confident-i-m-well-educated-i-can-deliver-a-line/) [Sonakshi Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonakshi-sinha/) > [I was very confident on the stage, and I stood out in a red gown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-johnson/i-was-very-confident-on-the-stage-and-i-stood-out-in-a-red-gown/) [Nicole Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-johnson/) > [If you go to any nunnery and ask them what the main obstacle is, they'll always say low self-esteem and lack of confidence. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/if-you-go-to-any-nunnery-and-ask-them-what-the-main-obstacle-is-they/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) [Browse all 11,290 Confidence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was 28 before I started putting on productions. I got in the back door by doing fringe shows and a lot of assisting, and I learned on the job. There weren't many female directors when I was starting out. 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