--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wasn't a child who wanted to be an actor." description: "\"I wasn't a child who wanted to be an actor.\" — Mary Badham" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d1/mary-badham-38506_actor_i-wasn-t-a-child-who-wanted-to-be-an-act_1110659.jpg" --- # I wasn't a child who wanted to be an actor. ![“I wasn't a child who wanted to be an actor.” quote by Mary Badham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d1/mary-badham-38506_actor_i-wasn-t-a-child-who-wanted-to-be-an-act_1110659.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d1/mary-badham-38506_actor_i-wasn-t-a-child-who-wanted-to-be-an-act_1110659.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d1/mary-badham-38506_actor_i-wasn-t-a-child-who-wanted-to-be-an-act_1110659.jpg) > “I wasn't a child who wanted to be an actor.” [Mary Badham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-badham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She grew up without aspiring to acting, highlighting unexpected career paths. **In simple terms:** She never wanted to be an actor. Key Takeaway Embrace unexpected opportunities. Themes identity career growth Mood reflective thoughtful Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - choosing a profession - navigating family expectations - discovering passion - adapting to fame Key Concepts self‑discovery unplanned destiny Questions to Reflect On - What hidden talents might you overlook? - How do you respond when a path appears unintentionally? A Different Perspective Even without desire, external forces can shape a career. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [Child Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child-wanted-1301445/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [Wanted Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-actor/) [Wasn Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wasn-child-2095565/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) ## Related quotes > [From the time I was a child, I wanted to be an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harshvardhan-rane/from-the-time-i-was-a-child-i-wanted-to-be-an-actor/) [Harshvardhan Rane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harshvardhan-rane/) > [I was a late bloomer. I wasn't a child performer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-borle/i-was-a-late-bloomer-i-wasn-t-a-child-performer/) [Christian Borle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-borle/) > [I was a 'Duck Hunt' and 'Mario' guy, and stuff like that. I was never technologically driven. I never had all the cool, new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-hedlund/i-was-a-duck-hunt-and-mario-guy-and-stuff-like-that-i-was-never/) [Garrett Hedlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hedlund/) > [I wasn't a child star, so hopefully I can keep my head on straight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellar-coltrane/i-wasn-t-a-child-star-so-hopefully-i-can-keep-my-head-on-straight/) [Ellar Coltrane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellar-coltrane/) > [I wasn't a child actor. It was just three weeks of my life when I was eight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-sturridge/i-wasn-t-a-child-actor-it-was-just-three-weeks-of-my-life-when-i-was/) [Tom Sturridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-sturridge/) > [I wasn't a child at 13, were you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-zimmer-bradley/i-wasn-t-a-child-at-13-were-you/) [Marion Zimmer Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-zimmer-bradley/) > [I come from Nova Scotia, and I'd never seen a theater or been inside of a theater. When I was 17, my dad asked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-sutherland/i-come-from-nova-scotia-and-i-d-never-seen-a-theater-or-been-inside/) [Donald Sutherland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-sutherland/) > [I wanted to be an actor since I was nine years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-since-i-was-nine-years-old/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [I wasn't sure I wanted to be an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romain-duris/i-wasn-t-sure-i-wanted-to-be-an-actor/) [Romain Duris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romain-duris/) > [Well, I knew I wanted to be an actor, and I didn't necessarily need or want to be famous or a celebrity actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-fischer/well-i-knew-i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-and-i-didn-t-necessarily-need-or/) [Jenna Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-fischer/) > [It's a short step from the belief that every child should be wanted to the belief that a child exists to satisfy our wants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-kass/it-s-a-short-step-from-the-belief-that-every-child-should-be-wanted/) [Leon Kass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-kass/) > [Every child a wanted child; every mother a willing mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-morgentaler/every-child-a-wanted-child-every-mother-a-willing-mother/) [Henry Morgentaler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-morgentaler/) > [The first right of every child is to be wanted, to be desired, to be planned for with an intensity of love that gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-sanger/the-first-right-of-every-child-is-to-be-wanted-to-be-desired-to-be/) [Margaret Sanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-sanger/) > [“Something happened to you, they discovered, when you were given the unconditional love and trust of a child. You wanted to try to deserve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/something-happened-to-you-they-discovered-when-you-were-given-the/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [As a child I wanted to be a professional athlete or lawyer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-dean-myers/as-a-child-i-wanted-to-be-a-professional-athlete-or-lawyer/) [Walter Dean Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-dean-myers/) ## More by Mary Badham > [If more people would try and reach up instead of going to the lowest common denominator, I think we'd be a lot better off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-badham/if-more-people-would-try-and-reach-up-instead-of-going-to-the-lowest/) [Mary Badham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-badham/) > [My mother was a leading lady in a local theatre in Birmingham, Alabama, where I grew up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-badham/my-mother-was-a-leading-lady-in-a-local-theatre-in-birmingham-alabama/) [Mary Badham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-badham/) > [In 'To Kill a Mockingbird,' I was just playing and having a good time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-badham/in-to-kill-a-mockingbird-i-was-just-playing-and-having-a-good-time/) [Mary Badham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-badham/) > [I lost my parents very early in my life. My mom died three weeks after I graduated from high school, and my dad died…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-badham/i-lost-my-parents-very-early-in-my-life-my-mom-died-three-weeks-after/) [Mary Badham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-badham/) > [I didn't know anything about movies or movie stars or the Academy or anything. I was just a blank sheet of paper. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-badham/i-didn-t-know-anything-about-movies-or-movie-stars-or-the-academy-or/) [Mary Badham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-badham/) > [When I retired, I was at an in-between age. I wasn't a child anymore, I wasn't really a woman yet, and they weren't really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-badham/when-i-retired-i-was-at-an-in-between-age-i-wasn-t-a-child-anymore-i/) [Mary Badham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-badham/) > [Most of the performances I see on TV and in movies are so self-conscious and overacted. I would think a natural actress would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-badham/most-of-the-performances-i-see-on-tv-and-in-movies-are-so-self/) [Mary Badham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-badham/) > [That's so important for children when they're growing up, to have a strong male role model.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-badham/that-s-so-important-for-children-when-they-re-growing-up-to-have-a/) [Mary Badham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-badham/) > [I know that I wouldn't mind going back to work if I could find the right script and the right crew to work with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-badham/i-know-that-i-wouldn-t-mind-going-back-to-work-if-i-could-find-the/) [Mary Badham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-badham/) > [I was very much a tomboy. I've always been rather outspoken, headstrong, and I'm pretty much that way to this day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-badham/i-was-very-much-a-tomboy-i-ve-always-been-rather-outspoken-headstrong/) [Mary Badham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-badham/) [Explore all 11 Mary Badham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-badham/) ## 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 wasn't a child who wanted to be an actor.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mary Badham" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-badham/i-wasn-t-a-child-who-wanted-to-be-an-actor/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-badham/i-wasn-t-a-child-who-wanted-to-be-an-actor/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d1/mary-badham-38506_actor_i-wasn-t-a-child-who-wanted-to-be-an-act_1110659.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d1/mary-badham-38506_actor_i-wasn-t-a-child-who-wanted-to-be-an-act_1110659.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d1/mary-badham-38506_actor_i-wasn-t-a-child-who-wanted-to-be-an-act_1110659.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I wasn't a child who wanted to be an actor.” — Mary Badham", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Mary Badham", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-badham/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I wasn't a child who wanted...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-badham/i-wasn-t-a-child-who-wanted-to-be-an-actor/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-badham/i-wasn-t-a-child-who-wanted-to-be-an-actor/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```