--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Being an actor only came about because…" description: "\"Being an actor only came about because Arnaud Desplechin, the guy who did 'Kings and Queen', had this curious idea to think that I could be an actor, b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d37/mathieu-amalric-29777_about_being-an-actor-only-came-about-because-a_1264967.jpg" --- # Being an actor only came about because Arnaud Desplechin… ![“Being an actor only came about because Arnaud Desplechin, the guy who did 'Kings and Queen', had this curious idea to think that I could be an actor, but I had never acted before, and I was supposed to direct my own film!” quote by Mathieu Amalric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d37/mathieu-amalric-29777_about_being-an-actor-only-came-about-because-a_1264967.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d37/mathieu-amalric-29777_about_being-an-actor-only-came-about-because-a_1264967.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d37/mathieu-amalric-29777_about_being-an-actor-only-came-about-because-a_1264967.jpg) > “Being an actor only came about because Arnaud Desplechin, the guy who did 'Kings and Queen', had this curious idea to think that I could be an actor, but I had never acted before, and I was supposed to direct my own film!” [Mathieu Amalric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mathieu-amalric/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A chance suggestion from a director sparked an unexpected career shift from directing to acting. **In simple terms:** A director’s idea led him to act without prior experience. Key Takeaway Embrace unexpected opportunities. Themes career chance creativity risk identity Mood surprised curious optimistic Type anecdotal inspirational When to use this quote - film auditions - networking events - career pivots - creative collaborations Key Concepts self-discovery role fluidity artistic serendipity Questions to Reflect On - How do you adapt when thrust into a new role? - What risks are worth taking for growth? A Different Perspective Lack of training can hinder performance quality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Acted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acted/) [Acted Supposed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acted-supposed-4033986/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actor Acted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-acted-4033984/) [Actor Came](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-came-917970/) [Because](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/because/) [Before](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/before/) [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Came](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/came/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Could](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/could/) [Curious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curious/) [Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did/) [Did Kings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did-kings-4033985/) [Direct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direct/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guy/) [Had](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/had/) [Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea/) [Kings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kings/) [My own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-own/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/own/) [Queen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/queen/) [Supposed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supposed/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Think Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-actor-234675/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) ## Related quotes > [“Who built Thebes of the seven gates? In the books you will find the name of kings. Did the kings haul up the lumps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertolt-brecht/who-built-thebes-of-the-seven-gates-in-the-books-you-will-find-the/) [Bertolt Brecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertolt-brecht/) > [I don't think of myself as an actor. I just happen to be a guy who acted in a movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wahl/i-don-t-think-of-myself-as-an-actor-i-just-happen-to-be-a-guy-who/) [Ken Wahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wahl/) > [“Recently an actor came to visit me. He is a new entrant into the film world. He asked for my autograph with a message…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/recently-an-actor-came-to-visit-me-he-is-a-new-entrant-into-the-film/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [Comedy is far more difficult, as it involves improvisation and impromptu acting, and as an actor, that came as a welcome break for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divyanka-tripathi/comedy-is-far-more-difficult-as-it-involves-improvisation-and/) [Divyanka Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divyanka-tripathi/) > [I can't compete with really big stars. I'm not a big star; I'm just an actor who came from Delhi to pursue her passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huma-qureshi/i-can-t-compete-with-really-big-stars-i-m-not-a-big-star-i-m-just-an/) [Huma Qureshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huma-qureshi/) > [Nobody aspired to be an actor where I came from and I didn't think I would get in anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-henshall/nobody-aspired-to-be-an-actor-where-i-came-from-and-i-didn-t-think-i/) [Douglas Henshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-henshall/) > [I am probably the only actor who came from television serials to films and was able to work in films this long. Of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anoop-menon/i-am-probably-the-only-actor-who-came-from-television-serials-to/) [Anoop Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anoop-menon/) > [Almost everything I learned about being an actor came from those early years at the Actor's Studio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/almost-everything-i-learned-about-being-an-actor-came-from-those/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [I always made a living as an actor when I came to California. I never had to do anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-dern/i-always-made-a-living-as-an-actor-when-i-came-to-california-i-never/) [Bruce Dern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-dern/) > [Johnny Depp already seen how alcohol and drugs can get in the way of a career. And you have to remember one thing: Johnny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-cooper/johnny-depp-already-seen-how-alcohol-and-drugs-can-get-in-the-way-of/) [Alice Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-cooper/) > [I was happy being a lawyer, and the thought of becoming a model or even actor never came to my mind, even though I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaheer-sheikh/i-was-happy-being-a-lawyer-and-the-thought-of-becoming-a-model-or/) [Shaheer Sheikh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaheer-sheikh/) > [I never wanted to be an actor. I only came to Hollywood to drive my mother out to visit my grandmother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-macmurray/i-never-wanted-to-be-an-actor-i-only-came-to-hollywood-to-drive-my/) [Fred MacMurray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-macmurray/) > [It's rare to get a really truly wonderfully written, acted and produced sci-fi show, period.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hatch/it-s-rare-to-get-a-really-truly-wonderfully-written-acted-and/) [Richard Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hatch/) > [I've acted for as long as I can remember, really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-purnell/i-ve-acted-for-as-long-as-i-can-remember-really/) [Ella Purnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-purnell/) > [I never really acted at school. It was doing small parts on TV that really got me started.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-highmore/i-never-really-acted-at-school-it-was-doing-small-parts-on-tv-that/) [Freddie Highmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-highmore/) ## More by Mathieu Amalric > [ I directed three films and each time \[I act\] I hope it's the last time so I have time to do my film \[directing\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mathieu-amalric/i-directed-three-films-and-each-time-i-act-i-hope-it-s-the-last-time/) [Mathieu Amalric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mathieu-amalric/) > [Arnaud Desplechin invented me as an actor. I never imagined I'd be acting in movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mathieu-amalric/arnaud-desplechin-invented-me-as-an-actor-i-never-imagined-i-d-be/) [Mathieu Amalric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mathieu-amalric/) > [I first started working in film when I was 17. I was a director's assistant, an editor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mathieu-amalric/i-first-started-working-in-film-when-i-was-17-i-was-a-director-s/) [Mathieu Amalric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mathieu-amalric/) > [I keep meeting directors that are so irresistible. I only do irresistible films, because I don't need to act to feel myself alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mathieu-amalric/i-keep-meeting-directors-that-are-so-irresistible-i-only-do/) [Mathieu Amalric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mathieu-amalric/) > [I don't want to be a star!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mathieu-amalric/i-don-t-want-to-be-a-star/) [Mathieu Amalric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mathieu-amalric/) > [I'm always intrigued when you are travelling through a place and there is somebody who has lived there and done the same job for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mathieu-amalric/i-m-always-intrigued-when-you-are-travelling-through-a-place-and/) [Mathieu Amalric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mathieu-amalric/) > [Cannes is a circus, so you have to have fun with it. Everything suddenly becomes funny. And the promotion of a movie - that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mathieu-amalric/cannes-is-a-circus-so-you-have-to-have-fun-with-it-everything/) [Mathieu Amalric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mathieu-amalric/) > [If you approach Cannes with a sense of humor, nothing is that bad. You have to take it for what it is; otherwise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mathieu-amalric/if-you-approach-cannes-with-a-sense-of-humor-nothing-is-that-bad-you/) [Mathieu Amalric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mathieu-amalric/) > [Sometimes with anger you can be much more dangerous than with skill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mathieu-amalric/sometimes-with-anger-you-can-be-much-more-dangerous-than-with-skill/) [Mathieu Amalric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mathieu-amalric/) > [Acting is about animality. It's great to be allowed to be animal. But I feel more alive as a director. Every morning, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mathieu-amalric/acting-is-about-animality-it-s-great-to-be-allowed-to-be-animal-but-i/) [Mathieu Amalric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mathieu-amalric/) > [Im always intrigued when you are travelling through a place and there is somebody who has lived there and done the same job for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mathieu-amalric/im-always-intrigued-when-you-are-travelling-through-a-place-and-there/) [Mathieu Amalric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mathieu-amalric/) > [My life as an actor has submerged me completely because I dont know why.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mathieu-amalric/my-life-as-an-actor-has-submerged-me-completely-because-i-dont-know/) [Mathieu Amalric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mathieu-amalric/) > [There is the melancholy of Europe. There is the romantic malaise. Feeling sad is almost a form of deepness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mathieu-amalric/there-is-the-melancholy-of-europe-there-is-the-romantic-malaise/) [Mathieu Amalric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mathieu-amalric/) > [My life as an actor has submerged me completely because I don't know why.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mathieu-amalric/my-life-as-an-actor-has-submerged-me-completely-because-i-don-t-know/) [Mathieu Amalric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mathieu-amalric/) > [If you love movies, then you love America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mathieu-amalric/if-you-love-movies-then-you-love-america/) [Mathieu Amalric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mathieu-amalric/) [Explore all 18 Mathieu Amalric quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mathieu-amalric/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [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/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) [Browse all 26,122 About quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Being an actor only came about because Arnaud Desplechin, the guy who did 'Kings and Queen', had this curious idea to think that I could be an actor, but I had never acted before, and I was supposed to direct my own film!", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mathieu Amalric" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mathieu-amalric/being-an-actor-only-came-about-because-arnaud-desplechin-the-guy-who/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "About" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mathieu-amalric/being-an-actor-only-came-about-because-arnaud-desplechin-the-guy-who/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d37/mathieu-amalric-29777_about_being-an-actor-only-came-about-because-a_1264967.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d37/mathieu-amalric-29777_about_being-an-actor-only-came-about-because-a_1264967.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d37/mathieu-amalric-29777_about_being-an-actor-only-came-about-because-a_1264967.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Being an actor only came about because Arnaud Desplechin, the guy who did 'Kings and Queen', had this…” — Mathieu Amalric", "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": "Mathieu Amalric", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mathieu-amalric/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Being an actor only came about...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mathieu-amalric/being-an-actor-only-came-about-because-arnaud-desplechin-the-guy-who/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mathieu-amalric/being-an-actor-only-came-about-because-arnaud-desplechin-the-guy-who/#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 } } ] } ```