--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first time I saw 'Macbeth' was not…" description: "\"The first time I saw 'Macbeth' was not the entire play. It was at acting school, and this student was working on Lady Macbeth's soliloquy. I felt somet..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a0/marion-cotillard-2955_acting_the-first-time-i-saw-macbeth-was-not-the_1817367.jpg" --- # The first time I saw 'Macbeth' was not the entire play. It… ![“The first time I saw 'Macbeth' was not the entire play. It was at acting school, and this student was working on Lady Macbeth's soliloquy. I felt something very special, and I knew then that I would one day experience Lady Macbeth, but I always thought it would be on stage and in French.” quote by Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a0/marion-cotillard-2955_acting_the-first-time-i-saw-macbeth-was-not-the_1817367.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a0/marion-cotillard-2955_acting_the-first-time-i-saw-macbeth-was-not-the_1817367.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a0/marion-cotillard-2955_acting_the-first-time-i-saw-macbeth-was-not-the_1817367.jpg) > “The first time I saw 'Macbeth' was not the entire play. It was at acting school, and this student was working on Lady Macbeth's soliloquy. I felt something very special, and I knew then that I would one day experience Lady Macbeth, but I always thought it would be on stage and in French.” [Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Seeing a fragment of a classic sparked a deep, personal connection, foreshadowing future artistic pursuits. **In simple terms:** A glimpse ignited lasting passion. Key Takeaway Seek early experiences that inspire future goals. Themes art inspiration career theatre language Mood reflective hopeful Type personal motivational When to use this quote - acting classes - language learning - career planning Key Concepts passion identity future aspirations Questions to Reflect On - What moments have shaped your artistic path? - How can you nurture early inspiration? A Different Perspective Early exposure may not guarantee sustained interest without practice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Macbeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/macbeth/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I always want to abandon myself to my characters, and I never knew if I was actually abandoning myself to Lady Macbeth. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-cotillard/i-always-want-to-abandon-myself-to-my-characters-and-i-never-knew-if/) [Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/) > [I was very surprised that they would ask a foreign actress to be Lady Macbeth, but I felt it was an opportunity that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-cotillard/i-was-very-surprised-that-they-would-ask-a-foreign-actress-to-be-lady/) [Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/) > [For me, what Macbeth is about is people who cannot face their fears and pain and instead of facing them and going beyond, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-cotillard/for-me-what-macbeth-is-about-is-people-who-cannot-face-their-fears/) [Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/) > [“Infected minds to their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/infected-minds-to-their-deaf-pillows-will-discharge-their-secrets/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [The most likely explanation is the most practical. 'Macbeth' is a very popular play with audiences. If you want to sell out a theater,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/the-most-likely-explanation-is-the-most-practical-macbeth-is-a-very/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [When I was 16, I played Macbeth at school and my English teacher said, 'I think you may have acting talent. Try to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suchet/when-i-was-16-i-played-macbeth-at-school-and-my-english-teacher-said/) [David Suchet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suchet/) > [“What, you egg?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/what-you-egg/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“your son has paid the soldier’s price: death. He only lived long enough to become a man, and as soon as he proved that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/your-son-has-paid-the-soldier-s-price-death-he-only-lived-long-enough/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I've always wanted to play 'Lady Macbeth' and Strindberg's 'Miss Julie'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-d-abo/i-ve-always-wanted-to-play-lady-macbeth-and-strindberg-s-miss-julie/) [Olivia d'Abo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-d-abo/) > [The idea of Macbeth as a conscience-torm ented man is a platitude as false as Macbeth himself. Macbeth has no conscience. His main concern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccarthy/the-idea-of-macbeth-as-a-conscience-torm-ented-man-is-a-platitude-as/) [Mary McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccarthy/) > ['Macbeth' is one of those books that demand all of your attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mannie-fresh/macbeth-is-one-of-those-books-that-demand-all-of-your-attention/) [Mannie Fresh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mannie-fresh/) > [“Macbeth's self-justifications were feeble – and his conscience devoured him. Yes, even Iago was a little lamb, too. The imagination and spiritual strength of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-solschenizyn/macbeth-s-self-justifications-were-feeble-and-his-conscience-devoured/) [Alexander Solschenizyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-solschenizyn/) > [“You're like Lady MacBeth without the murder." "Thank you. You have no idea how much of a compliment that is to me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corey-whaley/you-re-like-lady-macbeth-without-the-murder-thank-you-you-have-no/) [John Corey Whaley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corey-whaley/) > [Maybe because Im a nice and sweet person in life, I like the darker roles. The really dark one is Lady Macbeth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-netrebko/maybe-because-im-a-nice-and-sweet-person-in-life-i-like-the-darker/) [Anna Netrebko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-netrebko/) > [Very fun! Here is one I like: Double, dubloe toil and trouble; fire burn and cauldron bubble. ~ Shakespeare Macbeth Hope you Halloween is spirit-filled!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin/very-fun-here-is-one-i-like-double-dubloe-toil-and-trouble-fire-burn/) Marvin ## More by Marion Cotillard > [I have a tendency to often share the point of view of the conspiracy theory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-cotillard/i-have-a-tendency-to-often-share-the-point-of-view-of-the-conspiracy/) [Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/) > [There is something strange about me. I don't ever feel at ease in a group of people. I have to fight hard to overcome…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-cotillard/there-is-something-strange-about-me-i-don-t-ever-feel-at-ease-in-a/) [Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/) > [I think that you always learn something from working with good actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-cotillard/i-think-that-you-always-learn-something-from-working-with-good-actors/) [Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/) > [I couldn't identify with anyone. At school, I was considered very strange. I didn't understand the relationships between people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-cotillard/i-couldn-t-identify-with-anyone-at-school-i-was-considered-very/) [Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/) > [I always thought that I was a terrible writer. And I started to write songs. And I started to like what I was writing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-cotillard/i-always-thought-that-i-was-a-terrible-writer-and-i-started-to-write/) [Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/) > [I started to write songs. And I started to like what I was writing. I think it's a new way for me to express…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-cotillard/i-started-to-write-songs-and-i-started-to-like-what-i-was-writing-i/) [Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/) > [For me, what Macbeth is about is people who cannot face their fears and pain and instead of facing them and going beyond, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-cotillard/for-me-what-macbeth-is-about-is-people-who-cannot-face-their-fears/) [Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/) > [I love to work this way - I love the time of preparation. If you feed yourself with all the information and you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-cotillard/i-love-to-work-this-way-i-love-the-time-of-preparation-if-you-feed/) [Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/) > [When someone would come up to me in the street, I would either run away or burst into tears. I didn't know what to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-cotillard/when-someone-would-come-up-to-me-in-the-street-i-would-either-run/) [Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/) > [I would love to go into an animal's dream - like a lion's or a cat's. I'm sure that's pretty awesome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-cotillard/i-would-love-to-go-into-an-animal-s-dream-like-a-lion-s-or-a-cat-s-i/) [Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/) > [I was shy. I was more than shy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-cotillard/i-was-shy-i-was-more-than-shy/) [Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/) > [Im very happy with whats happening now and how the awareness is spreading. Because 10 years ago my mind-set wasnt really normal for most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-cotillard/im-very-happy-with-whats-happening-now-and-how-the-awareness-is/) [Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/) > [There are so many actresses that I love. I think Jennifer Lawrence is a prodigy. I think Elle Fanning is absolutely amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-cotillard/there-are-so-many-actresses-that-i-love-i-think-jennifer-lawrence-is/) [Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/) > [I think in friendship, you want to be there for your friend, and sometimes you just don't know what to do or the relationship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-cotillard/i-think-in-friendship-you-want-to-be-there-for-your-friend-and/) [Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/) > [It's pretty refreshing to be in a situation where the spotlight is on someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-cotillard/it-s-pretty-refreshing-to-be-in-a-situation-where-the-spotlight-is-on/) [Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/) [Explore all 144 Marion Cotillard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/) ## 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 > [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": "The first time I saw 'Macbeth' was not the entire play. It was at acting school, and this student was working on Lady Macbeth's soliloquy. 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