--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even though I'm very fortunate and…" description: "\"Even though I'm very fortunate and grateful to have played Aladdin, there were still four, five casting directors who never gave me a shot in Toronto. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1e/mena-massoud-9728_day_even-though-i-m-very-fortunate-and-grate_1960078.jpg" --- # Even though I'm very fortunate and grateful to have played… ![“Even though I'm very fortunate and grateful to have played Aladdin, there were still four, five casting directors who never gave me a shot in Toronto. They didn't give me the time of day. I never got to audition for them.” quote by Mena Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1e/mena-massoud-9728_day_even-though-i-m-very-fortunate-and-grate_1960078.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1e/mena-massoud-9728_day_even-though-i-m-very-fortunate-and-grate_1960078.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1e/mena-massoud-9728_day_even-though-i-m-very-fortunate-and-grate_1960078.jpg) > “Even though I'm very fortunate and grateful to have played Aladdin, there were still four, five casting directors who never gave me a shot in Toronto. They didn't give me the time of day. I never got to audition for them.” [Mena Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even with talent, many doors stay closed due to industry gatekeeping. **In simple terms:** Talent isn’t always enough. Key Takeaway Network and stay resilient. Themes career industry gatekeeping resilience Mood determined hopeful Type motivational realistic When to use this quote - auditions - casting calls - agent outreach - skill development Key Concepts systemic bias opportunity inequality Questions to Reflect On - How can you broaden your network? - What alternative paths exist? A Different Perspective Opportunities may be limited by bias. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aladdin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aladdin/) [Aladdin Casting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aladdin-casting-3230508/) [Casting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/casting/) [Casting directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/casting-directors/) [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Fortunate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortunate/) [Grateful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grateful/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Played Aladdin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/played-aladdin-3230509/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time of day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-of-day/) ## Related quotes > [My ability to model does not have an effect on my ability to be an actress. But casting directors and agents in the U.K.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keeley-hazell/my-ability-to-model-does-not-have-an-effect-on-my-ability-to-be-an/) [Keeley Hazell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keeley-hazell/) > [I'm being called in by all the great casting directors. It's no longer based on a headshot. I realize now what they're buying is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-gonzalez/i-m-being-called-in-by-all-the-great-casting-directors-it-s-no-longer/) [Nicholas Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-gonzalez/) > [It's very difficult to put together an independent movie and a lot of times people really don't hire casting directors for that. Instead, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-crampton/it-s-very-difficult-to-put-together-an-independent-movie-and-a-lot-of/) [Barbara Crampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-crampton/) > [Casting director was a part-time thing, which later became a full-time job because there was a lack of casting directors in our industry and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-banerjee/casting-director-was-a-part-time-thing-which-later-became-a-full-time/) [Abhishek Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-banerjee/) > [I’ve been an actor for 10 years now, and if anything I want to talk more about my dad. He taught me that even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafe-spall/i-ve-been-an-actor-for-10-years-now-and-if-anything-i-want-to-talk/) [Rafe Spall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafe-spall/) > [I can remember getting rejected systematically by casting directors as a young kid. I felt like the biggest outsider there ever was; that I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/i-can-remember-getting-rejected-systematically-by-casting-directors/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [My agent in Sweden used to send off interview tapes but I decided to take it upon myself and come to London to visit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-vikander/my-agent-in-sweden-used-to-send-off-interview-tapes-but-i-decided-to/) [Alicia Vikander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-vikander/) > [One of the great things about this cast is that we've been able to take actors of relatively the same age group that would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-pill/one-of-the-great-things-about-this-cast-is-that-we-ve-been-able-to/) [Alison Pill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-pill/) > [I think that what 'Oz' did is it spawned a great generation of television production. But people know its place in television and just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje/i-think-that-what-oz-did-is-it-spawned-a-great-generation-of/) [Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje/) > [It is so great to go to a casting director and have them wanting to talk about the show that you are in. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathalie-emmanuel/it-is-so-great-to-go-to-a-casting-director-and-have-them-wanting-to/) [Nathalie Emmanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathalie-emmanuel/) > [As I continue through my acting career I tend to wish I were a little shorter and a few pounds lighter so casting directors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-preston-rogers/as-i-continue-through-my-acting-career-i-tend-to-wish-i-were-a-little/) [James Preston Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-preston-rogers/) > [People who work with me think I should cut my hair. They say casting directors are less likely to hire me with long hair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-culkin/people-who-work-with-me-think-i-should-cut-my-hair-they-say-casting/) [Rory Culkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-culkin/) > [Such a big part of this business is rejection. Each time that you get rejected, a big part of it is just staying positive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-campbell/such-a-big-part-of-this-business-is-rejection-each-time-that-you-get/) [Danielle Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-campbell/) > [Villains are always the best roles, but that meant that for months afterwards, all I got offered were absolute cads and bounders and really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-pigott-smith/villains-are-always-the-best-roles-but-that-meant-that-for-months/) [Tim Pigott-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-pigott-smith/) > [My first soldier role was in 'Flags of Our Fathers.' Casting director Jay Binder saw that movie and was looking for soldiers for 'Journey's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stark-sands/my-first-soldier-role-was-in-flags-of-our-fathers-casting-director/) [Stark Sands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stark-sands/) ## More by Mena Massoud > [Art is very subjective and having to put numbers on it seems counterintuitive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mena-massoud/art-is-very-subjective-and-having-to-put-numbers-on-it-seems/) [Mena Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/) > [I'm pretty good at going incognito.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mena-massoud/i-m-pretty-good-at-going-incognito/) [Mena Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/) > [I think Middle Eastern hair is very resilient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mena-massoud/i-think-middle-eastern-hair-is-very-resilient/) [Mena Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/) > [There's always a wild card or two when you're casting. I'm usually the wild card. In a room of Caucasian guys, a director might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mena-massoud/there-s-always-a-wild-card-or-two-when-you-re-casting-i-m-usually-the/) [Mena Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/) > [When we uplift artists who reflect diverse perspectives their stories not only tell us how people view others, but how they view themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mena-massoud/when-we-uplift-artists-who-reflect-diverse-perspectives-their-stories/) [Mena Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/) > [I'm trying to be a voice for the North African Arab community. We've got to continue to fight for our place in the industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mena-massoud/i-m-trying-to-be-a-voice-for-the-north-african-arab-community-we-ve/) [Mena Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/) > [I put in my time, I worked hard and I followed my dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mena-massoud/i-put-in-my-time-i-worked-hard-and-i-followed-my-dreams/) [Mena Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/) > [I went through it in high school. It's like, 'Who am I? Am I good enough? Is my background good enough? I know I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mena-massoud/i-went-through-it-in-high-school-it-s-like-who-am-i-am-i-good-enough/) [Mena Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/) > [There is such a peace out in the middle of the desert. There's nothing like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mena-massoud/there-is-such-a-peace-out-in-the-middle-of-the-desert-there-s-nothing/) [Mena Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/) > [My first professional gig was on a show called 'Nikita,' and I played Al Qaeda No. 2. At that time I had to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mena-massoud/my-first-professional-gig-was-on-a-show-called-nikita-and-i-played-al/) [Mena Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/) > [My parents knew about the story of Aladdin far before the animation film. It's a folk tale that is very prevalent in Egypt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mena-massoud/my-parents-knew-about-the-story-of-aladdin-far-before-the-animation/) [Mena Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/) > [We don't tell Canadian stories enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mena-massoud/we-don-t-tell-canadian-stories-enough/) [Mena Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/) > [I grew up in Canada and I was 10 years old when 9/11 happened. And I think that really changed the landscape for Arabs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mena-massoud/i-grew-up-in-canada-and-i-was-10-years-old-when-9-11-happened-and-i/) [Mena Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/) > [I went to schools that had a significantly large Caucasian population and I feel very fortunate because I was able to compare that perspective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mena-massoud/i-went-to-schools-that-had-a-significantly-large-caucasian-population/) [Mena Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/) > [Ryerson helped me because I was around acting all the time. It was pretty much all I thought about, even if I didn't really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mena-massoud/ryerson-helped-me-because-i-was-around-acting-all-the-time-it-was/) [Mena Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/) [Explore all 70 Mena Massoud quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/) ## More Aladdin quotes > [“So, Royal Princess- excuse me, Sultana Jasmine- coming to admire your soon-to-be kingdom?" he said with a smile. "Yes, I want to make some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-braswell/so-royal-princess-excuse-me-sultana-jasmine-coming-to-admire-your/) [Liz Braswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-braswell/) > [Ready money is Aladdin's lamp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/ready-money-is-aladdin-s-lamp/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) > [I remember the first time I saw a Broadway show and how excited I was. That really fuels me and for some, it's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-jacobs/i-remember-the-first-time-i-saw-a-broadway-show-and-how-excited-i-was/) [Adam Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-jacobs/) > [I am not Jasmine, I'm Aladdin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-minaj/i-am-not-jasmine-i-m-aladdin/) [Nicki Minaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-minaj/) > [I fancy cartoons; don't even get me started on 'Aladdin.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-atack/i-fancy-cartoons-don-t-even-get-me-started-on-aladdin/) [Emily Atack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-atack/) > [We would liken music to Aladdin's lamp — worthless in itself, not so for the spirits which obey its call. We love it for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/we-would-liken-music-to-aladdin-s-lamp-worthless-in-itself-not-so-for/) [Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/) > [I remember seeing Aladdin when I was five or six and loving it. I looked at the big screen and said to my mum,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-criss/i-remember-seeing-aladdin-when-i-was-five-or-six-and-loving-it-i/) [Darren Criss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-criss/) > [My parents knew about the story of Aladdin far before the animation film. It's a folk tale that is very prevalent in Egypt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mena-massoud/my-parents-knew-about-the-story-of-aladdin-far-before-the-animation/) [Mena Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/) > [“The stable boy whose charge is this horse will receive fifty lashes for losing him," the old man said, cackling in delight as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-braswell/the-stable-boy-whose-charge-is-this-horse-will-receive-fifty-lashes/) [Liz Braswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-braswell/) > [Genie, I wish for you to make me a prince! -Aladdin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aladdin/genie-i-wish-for-you-to-make-me-a-prince-aladdin/) [Aladdin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aladdin/) > [“You think I'm pretty?" she asked, eyes wide. Aladdin paused with his mouth hanging open, unsure what to say. "Ha! I'm kidding, of course…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-braswell/you-think-i-m-pretty-she-asked-eyes-wide-aladdin-paused-with-his/) [Liz Braswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-braswell/) > [“And as you see, poor Idris was...persuaded,shall we say? Yes,persuaded to tell me about Tyre and his own route back to Al-Kal'as from there.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-o-tunnell/and-as-you-see-poor-idris-was-persuaded-shall-we-say-yes-persuaded-to/) [Michael O. Tunnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-o-tunnell/) > [It's a funny thing that's happening online. The Middle Easterners want 'Aladdin' to be a Middle Eastern story, and the Indians want 'Aladdin' to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mena-massoud/it-s-a-funny-thing-that-s-happening-online-the-middle-easterners-want/) [Mena Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/) > [“He makes a face and tosses the flower at me. It lands on my cheek, and I pick it up and twirl it between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-khoury/he-makes-a-face-and-tosses-the-flower-at-me-it-lands-on-my-cheek-and/) [Jessica Khoury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-khoury/) > [You have to realize that when I started to work on 'Aladdin', Disney Theatrical wasn't in existence. I suppose I had always hoped that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-freeman/you-have-to-realize-that-when-i-started-to-work-on-aladdin-disney/) [Jonathan Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-freeman/) [Browse all 66 Aladdin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aladdin/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Even though I'm very fortunate and grateful to have played Aladdin, there were still four, five casting directors who never gave me a shot in Toronto. They didn't give me the time of day. 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