--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think I was about 16 when I first…" description: "\"I think I was about 16 when I first figured I wanted to be an actor. I wanted to be a fighter pilot before that, but then I thought I don't want to kil..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c91/max-irons-12586_actors_i-think-i-was-about-16-when-i-first-figu_1036129.jpg" --- # I think I was about 16 when I first figured I wanted to be… ![“I think I was about 16 when I first figured I wanted to be an actor. I wanted to be a fighter pilot before that, but then I thought I don't want to kill people so that ruled that out.” quote by Max Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c91/max-irons-12586_actors_i-think-i-was-about-16-when-i-first-figu_1036129.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c91/max-irons-12586_actors_i-think-i-was-about-16-when-i-first-figu_1036129.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c91/max-irons-12586_actors_i-think-i-was-about-16-when-i-first-figu_1036129.jpg) > “I think I was about 16 when I first figured I wanted to be an actor. I wanted to be a fighter pilot before that, but then I thought I don't want to kill people so that ruled that out.” [Max Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-irons/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early career aspirations shifted from combat to acting after moral reflection. **In simple terms:** He changed his dream from pilot to actor because he didn’t want to kill. Key Takeaway Align career with personal values. Themes career values identity Mood reflective inquisitive Type inspirational personal When to use this quote - acting auditions - career counseling - personal reflection Key Concepts moral decision career change Questions to Reflect On - What values guide your career choices? - How do you handle fear of change? A Different Perspective Changing paths can involve uncertainty and risk. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actor Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-wanted-901329/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Fighter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighter/) [Fighter pilot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighter-pilot/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Pilot Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pilot-thought-1210466/) [Pilots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pilots/) [Think 16](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-16-359948/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [Wanted Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-actor/) ## Related quotes > [I always wanted to become an actor but I wanted to act in films. But when I saw there are really good opportunities on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiten-tejwani/i-always-wanted-to-become-an-actor-but-i-wanted-to-act-in-films-but/) [Hiten Tejwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiten-tejwani/) > [As actors, we don't shy away from saying, 'I wanted to be an actor because I wanted to meet girls.' Directors cannot say the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gael-garcia-bernal/as-actors-we-don-t-shy-away-from-saying-i-wanted-to-be-an-actor/) [Gael Garcia Bernal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gael-garcia-bernal/) > [ I wanted to be an actor and I wanted to be a performer. Like Hugh \[Grant\] said earlier, we might all have this weird… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-moore/i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-and-i-wanted-to-be-a-performer-like-hugh/) [Mandy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-moore/) > [Before I even wanted to be an actor, I wanted to be a figure skater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-janney/before-i-even-wanted-to-be-an-actor-i-wanted-to-be-a-figure-skater/) [Allison Janney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-janney/) > [I always wanted to be an actor, and I wanted to be a part of good movies. Wherever I get to do these two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamannaah/i-always-wanted-to-be-an-actor-and-i-wanted-to-be-a-part-of-good/) [Tamannaah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamannaah/) > [I wanted to be an actor, but only because I wanted to be everything, and that was the only way I could be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/essie-davis/i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-but-only-because-i-wanted-to-be-everything/) [Essie Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/essie-davis/) > [I wanted to become an actor because I wanted friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/i-wanted-to-become-an-actor-because-i-wanted-friends/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [The first thing I wanted to be was an actor, even before I wanted to be a singer, before I discovered I could sing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-cliff/the-first-thing-i-wanted-to-be-was-an-actor-even-before-i-wanted-to/) [Jimmy Cliff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-cliff/) > [I knew I wanted to be an actor, and I didn't necessarily need or want to be famous or a celebrity actor. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-fischer/i-knew-i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-and-i-didn-t-necessarily-need-or-want/) [Jenna Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-fischer/) > [The truth is, ever since I was little, I've wanted to be an actor more than I ever wanted to be a movie star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-moriarty/the-truth-is-ever-since-i-was-little-i-ve-wanted-to-be-an-actor-more/) [Cathy Moriarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-moriarty/) > [ “A teacher by profession, \[a much-decorated Bomber Command pilot\] thought nothing of the war for years afterwards. Then a younger generation of his colleagues… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-hastings/a-teacher-by-profession-a-much-decorated-bomber-command-pilot-thought/) [Max Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-hastings/) > [Between the ages of 12 and 15, I wanted to be a pilot because I thought it would be glamorous and dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-mercurio/between-the-ages-of-12-and-15-i-wanted-to-be-a-pilot-because-i/) [Jed Mercurio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-mercurio/) > [I've always been a good flier, thank God! If I was bad to start with I'm sure I'd be worse now, because I fly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilie-de-ravin/i-ve-always-been-a-good-flier-thank-god-if-i-was-bad-to-start-with-i/) [Emilie De Ravin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emilie-de-ravin/) > [Garcia wondered why people with JESUS stickers on their bumper always drove twenty miles per hour under the speed limit. If God was my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-hiaasen/garcia-wondered-why-people-with-jesus-stickers-on-their-bumper-always/) [Carl Hiaasen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-hiaasen/) > [A top World War II ace once said that fighter pilots fall into two broad categories: those who go out to kill and those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-top-world-war-ii-ace-once-said-that-fighter-pilots-fall-into-two/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Max Irons > [Once you become the story off-screen, you are less likely to be the onscreen one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-irons/once-you-become-the-story-off-screen-you-are-less-likely-to-be-the/) [Max Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-irons/) > [Bullingdon would never go co-ed. I'm not going to give anything away, but there are a couple of girls involved in our story and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-irons/bullingdon-would-never-go-co-ed-i-m-not-going-to-give-anything-away/) [Max Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-irons/) > [I never wear sneakers. I don't feel comfortable in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-irons/i-never-wear-sneakers-i-don-t-feel-comfortable-in-them/) [Max Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-irons/) > [I haven't read the 'Twilight' books. But it's everywhere so I feel like I know it. Edward, Bella, Jacob, etc. but... I haven't read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-irons/i-haven-t-read-the-twilight-books-but-it-s-everywhere-so-i-feel-like/) [Max Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-irons/) > [There are certain things that cut right to the bone, but as an actor you have to because you get turned down for things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-irons/there-are-certain-things-that-cut-right-to-the-bone-but-as-an-actor/) [Max Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-irons/) > [I don't think I've got enough energy to be competitive! Most of my energy is just devoted to me being nervous and trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-irons/i-don-t-think-i-ve-got-enough-energy-to-be-competitive-most-of-my/) [Max Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-irons/) > [I was supposed to go up for something recently that was a six-year commitment, and I didn't want to do it. It was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-irons/i-was-supposed-to-go-up-for-something-recently-that-was-a-six-year/) [Max Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-irons/) > [Also I don't want to refer to myself as Maximilian. You'd have to win an Oscar or become mind-numbingly wealthy or hit 50. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-irons/also-i-don-t-want-to-refer-to-myself-as-maximilian-you-d-have-to-win/) [Max Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-irons/) > [Auditioning is a funny one. It's all about energy. If you walk into a room and the room feels off or the people feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-irons/auditioning-is-a-funny-one-it-s-all-about-energy-if-you-walk-into-a/) [Max Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-irons/) > [I mean, it's fine when you're a kid and someone runs into the playground and goes, 'I've got this great game of pretend,' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-irons/i-mean-it-s-fine-when-you-re-a-kid-and-someone-runs-into-the/) [Max Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-irons/) > [If you try to bring 'teen drama,' you end up doing nothing but pouting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-irons/if-you-try-to-bring-teen-drama-you-end-up-doing-nothing-but-pouting/) [Max Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-irons/) > [I know I haven't done it. I've done a couple of films, which were intended to go straight up. Thankfully they didn't. So now,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-irons/i-know-i-haven-t-done-it-i-ve-done-a-couple-of-films-which-were/) [Max Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-irons/) > [I always feel kind of awkward when I look at pictures of myself. Watching videos of myself is really uncomfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-irons/i-always-feel-kind-of-awkward-when-i-look-at-pictures-of-myself/) [Max Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-irons/) > [I don't look on the Internet; it's a world of pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-irons/i-don-t-look-on-the-internet-it-s-a-world-of-pain/) [Max Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-irons/) > [As an actor, variety is the spice of life. I love theatre… it's what I enjoy the most. But a bit of TV, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-irons/as-an-actor-variety-is-the-spice-of-life-i-love-theatre-it-s-what-i/) [Max Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-irons/) [Explore all 54 Max Irons quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-irons/) ## 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 think I was about 16 when I first figured I wanted to be an actor. I wanted to be a fighter pilot before that, but then I thought I don't want to kill people so that ruled that out.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Max Irons" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-irons/i-think-i-was-about-16-when-i-first-figured-i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-irons/i-think-i-was-about-16-when-i-first-figured-i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c91/max-irons-12586_actors_i-think-i-was-about-16-when-i-first-figu_1036129.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c91/max-irons-12586_actors_i-think-i-was-about-16-when-i-first-figu_1036129.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c91/max-irons-12586_actors_i-think-i-was-about-16-when-i-first-figu_1036129.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think I was about 16 when I first figured I wanted to be an actor. I wanted to be a fighter pilot before…” — Max Irons", "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": "Max Irons", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-irons/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think I was about 16...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-irons/i-think-i-was-about-16-when-i-first-figured-i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-irons/i-think-i-was-about-16-when-i-first-figured-i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-i/#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 } } ] } ```