--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was at university and I was studying…" description: "\"I was at university and I was studying modern drama and studying English, and I just was like, 'I don't wanna be in this place. I wanna be acting.\" — M..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b72/melanie-lynskey-11682_acting_i-was-at-university-and-i-was-studying-m_2358885.jpg" --- # I was at university and I was studying modern drama and… ![“I was at university and I was studying modern drama and studying English, and I just was like, 'I don't wanna be in this place. I wanna be acting.” quote by Melanie Lynskey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b72/melanie-lynskey-11682_acting_i-was-at-university-and-i-was-studying-m_2358885.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b72/melanie-lynskey-11682_acting_i-was-at-university-and-i-was-studying-m_2358885.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b72/melanie-lynskey-11682_acting_i-was-at-university-and-i-was-studying-m_2358885.jpg) > “I was at university and I was studying modern drama and studying English, and I just was like, 'I don't wanna be in this place. I wanna be acting.” [Melanie Lynskey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-lynskey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A yearning for authentic creative work can clash with academic expectations. **In simple terms:** Desire for acting over studies. Key Takeaway Pursue true passion despite pressure. Themes career choice artistic identity education Mood reflective ambitious Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - college decision - career change - creative projects Key Concepts Self‑actualization career transition Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take toward acting? - How to balance study and art? A Different Perspective Practical constraints may limit artistic pursuits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Drama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama/) [Studying English](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/studying-english/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [University](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/university/) ## Related quotes > [I was at Sussex University studying English lit and philosophy, I had two essays due in and three seminars that day, and at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mura-masa/i-was-at-sussex-university-studying-english-lit-and-philosophy-i-had/) [Mura Masa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mura-masa/) > [I remember I was doing a movie with Charlton Heston, and the director said to me, 'Why do you wanna do acting? You know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/i-remember-i-was-doing-a-movie-with-charlton-heston-and-the-director/) [Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) > [I like the idea of going to university and studying. I didn't do it because it was a back-up plan. In some ways, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-paige/i-like-the-idea-of-going-to-university-and-studying-i-didn-t-do-it/) [Yasmin Paige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-paige/) > [... the modern drama, operating through the double channel of dramatist and interpreter, affecting as it does both mind and heart,is the strongest force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-modern-drama-operating-through-the-double-channel-of-dramatist/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [I like the fact that a modern television and modern drama on cable has characters that are really intricate and deep and have multiple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lillard/i-like-the-fact-that-a-modern-television-and-modern-drama-on-cable/) [Matthew Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lillard/) > [A handful of works in history have had a direct impact on social policy: one or two works of Dickens, some of Zola, 'Uncle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-kushner/a-handful-of-works-in-history-have-had-a-direct-impact-on-social/) [Tony Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-kushner/) > [I went to Ohio University studying arts and history, and playing football. But I was only interested in girls, my pals and sports. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-o-neill/i-went-to-ohio-university-studying-arts-and-history-and-playing/) [Ed O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-o-neill/) > [“Our textbooks were ridiculous propaganda. The first English sentence we learned was "Long live Chairman Mao!" But no one dared to explain the sentence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jung-chang/our-textbooks-were-ridiculous-propaganda-the-first-english-sentence/) [Jung Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jung-chang/) > [Studying English was useless, completely useless. It took me years to recover from that. Every time I tried to write, it sounded like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/studying-english-was-useless-completely-useless-it-took-me-years-to/) [Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/) > [I'm working hard not only during training, but also studying English to talk to the crowd and respond by myself during interviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oliveira/i-m-working-hard-not-only-during-training-but-also-studying-english/) [Charles Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oliveira/) > [“I love to read, but all through school I hated it when books were pulled apart and analyzed. Winnie-the-pooh as a political allegory, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-kearsley/i-love-to-read-but-all-through-school-i-hated-it-when-books-were/) [Susanna Kearsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-kearsley/) > [About time, what I really learned from studying English is: time is different with timing. I understand the difference of these two words so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xiaolu-guo/about-time-what-i-really-learned-from-studying-english-is-time-is/) [Xiaolu Guo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xiaolu-guo/) > [I get scripts and think, 'There's not enough here to get my teeth stuck into.' That's a result of studying English, where you luxuriate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ophelia-lovibond/i-get-scripts-and-think-there-s-not-enough-here-to-get-my-teeth-stuck/) [Ophelia Lovibond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ophelia-lovibond/) > [When I'm studying English I love to watch 'Friends' or 'Nikita.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liu-wen/when-i-m-studying-english-i-love-to-watch-friends-or-nikita/) [Liu Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liu-wen/) > [I'm trying to talk to my kids in Japanese, because I'm not a pro English speaker. My wife speaks to them in English. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miyavi/i-m-trying-to-talk-to-my-kids-in-japanese-because-i-m-not-a-pro/) [Miyavi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miyavi/) ## More by Melanie Lynskey > [I don't think I've played a lot of crazy people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-lynskey/i-don-t-think-i-ve-played-a-lot-of-crazy-people/) [Melanie Lynskey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-lynskey/) > [I've definitely had times in my life where I've been depressed and not able to do anything at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-lynskey/i-ve-definitely-had-times-in-my-life-where-i-ve-been-depressed-and/) [Melanie Lynskey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-lynskey/) > [ There's a rhythm to script \[ in "I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore"\], as well, especially the pacing of it. But… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-lynskey/there-s-a-rhythm-to-script-in-i-don-t-feel-at-home-in-this-world/) [Melanie Lynskey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-lynskey/) > [Sometimes you just feel so fortunate to be in the company that you're in and you just want to soak it all up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-lynskey/sometimes-you-just-feel-so-fortunate-to-be-in-the-company-that-you-re/) [Melanie Lynskey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-lynskey/) > [I was a kid who didn't have a lot of self-esteem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-lynskey/i-was-a-kid-who-didn-t-have-a-lot-of-self-esteem/) [Melanie Lynskey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-lynskey/) > [I feel weird when I go to the movies and everybody's faces are perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-lynskey/i-feel-weird-when-i-go-to-the-movies-and-everybody-s-faces-are-perfect/) [Melanie Lynskey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-lynskey/) > [I read every single review, because I love film criticism and I'm interested.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-lynskey/i-read-every-single-review-because-i-love-film-criticism-and-i-m/) [Melanie Lynskey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-lynskey/) > [It's good to feel tired at the end of the day. It's not often as an actor that you're like, "Oof. Ow. I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-lynskey/it-s-good-to-feel-tired-at-the-end-of-the-day-it-s-not-often-as-an/) [Melanie Lynskey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-lynskey/) > [I want to go and have a real experience and it's just lovely to sit and watch a movie and just be really transported…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-lynskey/i-want-to-go-and-have-a-real-experience-and-it-s-just-lovely-to-sit/) [Melanie Lynskey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-lynskey/) > [ For "The Intervention" I came up with a back-story and Clea \[Duvall\] was like, "No." And I was like, "I don't care." ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-lynskey/for-the-intervention-i-came-up-with-a-back-story-and-clea-duvall-was/) [Melanie Lynskey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-lynskey/) > [I feel so grateful when I see a movie and there's a woman who looks somewhat like me. I'm like, 'Thank you, Samantha Morton!'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-lynskey/i-feel-so-grateful-when-i-see-a-movie-and-there-s-a-woman-who-looks/) [Melanie Lynskey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-lynskey/) > [Even when I'm reading a script where I'm supposed to be looking at the lead role, I'll find myself gravitating toward some small weirdo…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-lynskey/even-when-i-m-reading-a-script-where-i-m-supposed-to-be-looking-at/) [Melanie Lynskey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-lynskey/) > [I know a lot of actors have all these expectations and believe that one thing should lead to another thing, and that's probably the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-lynskey/i-know-a-lot-of-actors-have-all-these-expectations-and-believe-that/) [Melanie Lynskey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-lynskey/) > [I think that for me as a person, it's very easy for me to hear, 'It's too difficult.' Or, 'You're not easy to cast.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-lynskey/i-think-that-for-me-as-a-person-it-s-very-easy-for-me-to-hear-it-s/) [Melanie Lynskey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-lynskey/) > [ Even just reading "I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore,"I got a sense of the world and the story \[Macon Blair\] wanted… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-lynskey/even-just-reading-i-don-t-feel-at-home-in-this-world-anymore-i-got-a/) [Melanie Lynskey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-lynskey/) [Explore all 58 Melanie Lynskey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-lynskey/) ## More Acting 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/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [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/) > [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/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) Ryan Newman > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was at university and I was studying modern drama and studying English, and I just was like, 'I don't wanna be in this place. 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