--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a kid, as a young actor, I really…" description: "\"As a kid, as a young actor, I really wanted to pop. I wanted to create something different. I wanted to be Sean Penn, but I didn't have all the words t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5d/matthew-lillard-13590_actor_as-a-kid-as-a-young-actor-i-really-wante_2979204.jpg" --- # As a kid, as a young actor, I really wanted to pop. I… ![“As a kid, as a young actor, I really wanted to pop. I wanted to create something different. I wanted to be Sean Penn, but I didn't have all the words to be Sean Penn. But I was trying to do something different in every role.” quote by Matthew Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5d/matthew-lillard-13590_actor_as-a-kid-as-a-young-actor-i-really-wante_2979204.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5d/matthew-lillard-13590_actor_as-a-kid-as-a-young-actor-i-really-wante_2979204.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5d/matthew-lillard-13590_actor_as-a-kid-as-a-young-actor-i-really-wante_2979204.jpg) > “As a kid, as a young actor, I really wanted to pop. I wanted to create something different. I wanted to be Sean Penn, but I didn't have all the words to be Sean Penn. But I was trying to do something different in every role.” [Matthew Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lillard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He desired to stand out and emulate a great actor, yet felt limited by his own voice and experience, prompting him to seek uniqueness in each role. **In simple terms:** He wanted to be like Sean Penn but lacked the words, so he pursued distinctiveness. Key Takeaway Embrace your own voice and aim for originality. Themes creativity identity ambition Mood reflective determined Type inspirational motivational When to use this quote - auditions - character development - personal branding Key Concepts self‑expression role‑selection Questions to Reflect On - How can you differentiate yourself when role admire a role model? - What unique qualities can you bring to each performance? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Young actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-actor/) [Young actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-actors/) ## Related quotes > [I think the young actor who really wants to act will find a way ... to keep at it and seize every opportunity that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gielgud/i-think-the-young-actor-who-really-wants-to-act-will-find-a-way-to/) [John Gielgud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gielgud/) > [When you see the documentary, you'll see that there were parallels. Michael and I both wanted Daniel Craig, and it was the same as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-broccoli/when-you-see-the-documentary-you-ll-see-that-there-were-parallels/) [Barbara Broccoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-broccoli/) > [I want to kiss Sean Penn. He is an intense actor whom I really adore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallika-sherawat/i-want-to-kiss-sean-penn-he-is-an-intense-actor-whom-i-really-adore/) [Mallika Sherawat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallika-sherawat/) > [Even though I wanted to be John Malkovich or Sean Penn when I was a kid, mostly I was a music nerd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-kirk/even-though-i-wanted-to-be-john-malkovich-or-sean-penn-when-i-was-a/) [Justin Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-kirk/) > [Sean Penn has announced his retirement from acting about 72 times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gray/sean-penn-has-announced-his-retirement-from-acting-about-72-times/) [James Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/) > [Hanks is a good man, and he produced the "John Adams" series as well. He does good work. But I'm more worried about a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/hanks-is-a-good-man-and-he-produced-the-john-adams-series-as-well-he/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [With Sean Penn, he wants to be surprised. He doesn't necessarily want what he's written, although we'll do what he's written. He likes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morse/with-sean-penn-he-wants-to-be-surprised-he-doesn-t-necessarily-want/) [David Morse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morse/) > [I thought it was very humanitarian of Sean Penn and Madonna to marry each other. That way, they make only two people miserable instead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-romero/i-thought-it-was-very-humanitarian-of-sean-penn-and-madonna-to-marry/) [Cesar Romero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-romero/) > [Daniel Day-Lewis and Sean Penn to me are the two best actors of all time. 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So, the question everyone is asking now is how did Sean Penn miss this?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/u-n-weapons-inspectors-found-empty-chemical-warheads-in-iraq-so-the/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Oscar nominations came out today. Up for best actor, Sean Penn for 'Mystic River,' Jude Law for 'Cold Mountain,' and of course, George W.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/oscar-nominations-came-out-today-up-for-best-actor-sean-penn-for/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [There's no way you ask Sean Penn a question and then, you're gonna be HUGE !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-c-k/there-s-no-way-you-ask-sean-penn-a-question-and-then-you-re-gonna-be/) [Louis C. K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-c-k/) > [I'm crazy about the Coen brothers, I'm crazy about Sean Penn. I love the usual suspects like Susan Sarandon, Meryl Streep and people like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacki-weaver/i-m-crazy-about-the-coen-brothers-i-m-crazy-about-sean-penn-i-love/) [Jacki Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacki-weaver/) ## More by Matthew Lillard > [I direct with energy. I believe in energy. I think energy is an electric thing in actors. I try to inspire, encourage, and make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lillard/i-direct-with-energy-i-believe-in-energy-i-think-energy-is-an/) [Matthew Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lillard/) > [There are several times when I walked into a room and just felt like such a sham. 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