--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sandy Meisner would say it takes 20 years…" description: "\"Sandy Meisner would say it takes 20 years to make an actor. Some people it takes five, some people 30. And you have to have patience and forgiveness fo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/729/mark-pellegrino-13557_actor_sandy-meisner-would-say-it-takes-20-year_2947639.png" --- # Sandy Meisner would say it takes 20 years to make an… ![“Sandy Meisner would say it takes 20 years to make an actor. Some people it takes five, some people 30. And you have to have patience and forgiveness for yourself. It's hard when you see people at your age or younger becoming successful.” quote by Mark Pellegrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/729/mark-pellegrino-13557_actor_sandy-meisner-would-say-it-takes-20-year_2947639.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/729/mark-pellegrino-13557_actor_sandy-meisner-would-say-it-takes-20-year_2947639.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/729/mark-pellegrino-13557_actor_sandy-meisner-would-say-it-takes-20-year_2947639.png) > “Sandy Meisner would say it takes 20 years to make an actor. Some people it takes five, some people 30. And you have to have patience and forgiveness for yourself. It's hard when you see people at your age or younger becoming successful.” [Mark Pellegrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-pellegrino/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Developing acting skill is a long, personal process requiring self‑compassion and realistic expectations. **In simple terms:** Acting takes decades, patience and self‑forgiveness are essential. Key Takeaway Cultivate patience and self‑kindness. Themes patience self‑compassion career development Mood reflective encouraging Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - audition preparation - career planning - mentorship - handling comparison Key Concepts skill acquisition personal growth industry expectations Questions to Reflect On - How do you measure personal growth versus public milestones? - What practices help maintain self‑forgiveness? A Different Perspective Progress varies; external success can distort self‑assessment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [30 Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/30-patience-4426159/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actor People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-people/) [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Becoming successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/becoming-successful/) [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Make Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-actor-1184423/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Years Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-make-519042/) ## Related quotes > [A director, I forget who, told me that it takes 30 years to make an actor. And I believe that. You have to learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cillian-murphy/a-director-i-forget-who-told-me-that-it-takes-30-years-to-make-an/) [Cillian Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cillian-murphy/) > [So it takes years to make a solid company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninette-de-valois/so-it-takes-years-to-make-a-solid-company/) [Ninette de Valois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninette-de-valois/) > [“He’s had ten years to make you fall in love with him. I haven’t had ten weeks! Tell me how that’s fair!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-williams/he-s-had-ten-years-to-make-you-fall-in-love-with-him-i-haven-t-had/) [Sandy Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-williams/) > [Because I gave myself - I left school after the second semester of my junior year to pursue a career in music. and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-studdard/because-i-gave-myself-i-left-school-after-the-second-semester-of-my/) [Ruben Studdard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-studdard/) > [Shows than run for years together make you stagnant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satish-kaushik/shows-than-run-for-years-together-make-you-stagnant/) [Satish Kaushik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satish-kaushik/) > [Ninety percent of the time, you're going to hear no. It took me seven years to make 'Once Upon a Time... When We Were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-reid/ninety-percent-of-the-time-you-re-going-to-hear-no-it-took-me-seven/) [Tim Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-reid/) > [My M.O. over the years is that I make things better, where people give me that freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ironside/my-m-o-over-the-years-is-that-i-make-things-better-where-people-give/) [Michael Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ironside/) > [It takes 20 years to make an overnight success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-cantor/it-takes-20-years-to-make-an-overnight-success/) [Eddie Cantor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-cantor/) > [“You've had five years to make her happy, Collins. Now back the hell off and I'll show you how a real man gets it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcallister/you-ve-had-five-years-to-make-her-happy-collins-now-back-the-hell-off/) [Scott McAllister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcallister/) > [That's the nature of this business. Something that took ten years to make can crumble in an instant. It could be snatched away from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-eazy/that-s-the-nature-of-this-business-something-that-took-ten-years-to/) [G-Eazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-eazy/) > [“Taking five or ten or fifteen years to make an album, like Guns N’ Roses did, is just f\*\*king ridiculous, end of story. By…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/taking-five-or-ten-or-fifteen-years-to-make-an-album-like-guns-n/) [Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/) > [Athletes have their career for 15 years and you have to make the most of it because once it's over, it's over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-russell/athletes-have-their-career-for-15-years-and-you-have-to-make-the-most/) [George Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-russell/) > [We'll meet again. We'll meet when years have passed, and years make such a difference, don't they?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/we-ll-meet-again-we-ll-meet-when-years-have-passed-and-years-make/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [It takes years to make an overnight success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-cantor/it-takes-years-to-make-an-overnight-success/) [Eddie Cantor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-cantor/) > [Life expectancy in America is about 79, we should be able to live to 92. Somewhere along the line, we're leaving 13 years on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-buettner/life-expectancy-in-america-is-about-79-we-should-be-able-to-live-to/) [Dan Buettner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-buettner/) ## More by Mark Pellegrino > [I feel like I've lived four or five lifetimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-pellegrino/i-feel-like-i-ve-lived-four-or-five-lifetimes/) [Mark Pellegrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-pellegrino/) > [I believe that much of Hollywood is confused about Israel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-pellegrino/i-believe-that-much-of-hollywood-is-confused-about-israel/) [Mark Pellegrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-pellegrino/) > [What we get in the States is a pro-Palestinian point of view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-pellegrino/what-we-get-in-the-states-is-a-pro-palestinian-point-of-view/) [Mark Pellegrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-pellegrino/) > [For me, teaching helps to reaffirm the right principles and values of acting. It helps me focus on the good stuff that can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-pellegrino/for-me-teaching-helps-to-reaffirm-the-right-principles-and-values-of/) [Mark Pellegrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-pellegrino/) > [I try to find the human element in the character's problem. And often, it is; even if the struggle is grand and on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-pellegrino/i-try-to-find-the-human-element-in-the-character-s-problem-and-often/) [Mark Pellegrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-pellegrino/) > [What's great about Vasquez Rocks is that they filmed several 'Star Trek' episodes there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-pellegrino/what-s-great-about-vasquez-rocks-is-that-they-filmed-several-star/) [Mark Pellegrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-pellegrino/) > [Israel uses weapons to safeguard civilians. 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Why did this happen?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-pellegrino/what-makes-a-show-good-for-me-personally-is-a-mystery-that-just-doesn/) [Mark Pellegrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-pellegrino/) > [I've always been a huge supporter of the only democracy in the Middle East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-pellegrino/i-ve-always-been-a-huge-supporter-of-the-only-democracy-in-the-middle/) [Mark Pellegrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-pellegrino/) > [Without the villain, the hero sits at home on his couch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-pellegrino/without-the-villain-the-hero-sits-at-home-on-his-couch/) [Mark Pellegrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-pellegrino/) > [You develop relationships with people, and suddenly a family of actors and crew that you became so close to are now not around anymore.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-pellegrino/you-develop-relationships-with-people-and-suddenly-a-family-of-actors/) [Mark Pellegrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-pellegrino/) > [You can't get any more evil than Iago or Richard III. Those guys are bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-pellegrino/you-can-t-get-any-more-evil-than-iago-or-richard-iii-those-guys-are/) [Mark Pellegrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-pellegrino/) > [There's a lot of speculation on what the zombie apocalypse thing means. I have a feeling that it's kind of an expression of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-pellegrino/there-s-a-lot-of-speculation-on-what-the-zombie-apocalypse-thing/) [Mark Pellegrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-pellegrino/) [Explore all 50 Mark Pellegrino quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-pellegrino/) ## 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": "Sandy Meisner would say it takes 20 years to make an actor. Some people it takes five, some people 30. And you have to have patience and forgiveness for yourself. 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