--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think I had a shyness about me, I think…" description: "\"I think I had a shyness about me, I think I discovered acting as a way to break out of that and as a way of belonging, a sense of being special.\" — Mic..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95a/michael-c-hall-18635_acting_i-think-i-had-a-shyness-about-me-i-think_1918151.png" --- # I think I had a shyness about me, I think I discovered… ![“I think I had a shyness about me, I think I discovered acting as a way to break out of that and as a way of belonging, a sense of being special.” quote by Michael C. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95a/michael-c-hall-18635_acting_i-think-i-had-a-shyness-about-me-i-think_1918151.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95a/michael-c-hall-18635_acting_i-think-i-had-a-shyness-about-me-i-think_1918151.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95a/michael-c-hall-18635_acting_i-think-i-had-a-shyness-about-me-i-think_1918151.png) > “I think I had a shyness about me, I think I discovered acting as a way to break out of that and as a way of belonging, a sense of being special.” [Michael C. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-c-hall/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting can serve as a catalyst to overcome shyness and find a sense of belonging and uniqueness. **In simple terms:** Acting helps break social barriers and feel special. Key Takeaway Embrace performance to build confidence. Themes self‑esteem acting belonging Mood inspirational introspective Type personal motivational When to use this quote - theatre class - audition prep - social anxiety - creative expression Key Concepts performance therapy identity formation Questions to Reflect On - What does “special” mean to you in performance? - How does acting change your self‑perception? A Different Perspective Acting may not address deeper insecurities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Belonging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belonging/) [Break](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/break/) [Discovered Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovered-acting-390682/) [Shyness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shyness/) [Shyness Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shyness-think-2928369/) [Special](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special/) [Think Shyness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-shyness-979769/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [It's hard because people often don't recognise shyness; they think it's just someone being rude. I have had to work to overcome that, especially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/it-s-hard-because-people-often-don-t-recognise-shyness-they-think-it/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I was shy as a child. Now I'm not really shy any more, unless I'm with shy people. I find it contagious and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigella-lawson/i-was-shy-as-a-child-now-i-m-not-really-shy-any-more-unless-i-m-with/) [Nigella Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigella-lawson/) > [The level of shyness has gone up dramatically in the last decade. I think shyness is an index of social pathology rather than a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-zimbardo/the-level-of-shyness-has-gone-up-dramatically-in-the-last-decade-i/) [Philip Zimbardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-zimbardo/) > [I think the shyness one feels in childhood is often overcome with time. There are children who hide behind their parents' legs, but you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/i-think-the-shyness-one-feels-in-childhood-is-often-overcome-with/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [I prefer to be out of the way, not because of an insecurity or shyness but because I think art is at its best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jp-saxe/i-prefer-to-be-out-of-the-way-not-because-of-an-insecurity-or-shyness/) [JP Saxe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jp-saxe/) > [I actually got hurt in a steel factory in 1985 and so that changed my life. I went to a junior college and that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corbett/i-actually-got-hurt-in-a-steel-factory-in-1985-and-so-that-changed-my/) [John Corbett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corbett/) > [I discovered that acting gave me this spark, this thing. 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But then, after that, I discovered acting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-studi/i-tried-bull-riding-i-wasn-t-good-at-all-i-don-t-think-i-ever-got/) [Wes Studi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-studi/) > [When I discovered that, through acting, you can speak a beautiful language aloud and have a relationship to language that isn't one that's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/when-i-discovered-that-through-acting-you-can-speak-a-beautiful/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [I came to Mumbai to participate in a dance reality show and thought that could be my ticket to Bollywood. Gradually, I discovered that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanya-malhotra/i-came-to-mumbai-to-participate-in-a-dance-reality-show-and-thought/) [Sanya Malhotra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanya-malhotra/) > [I went whole hog at the actor's lifestyle - really embraced it. I had by then known how much I loved acting already, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-jurasik/i-went-whole-hog-at-the-actor-s-lifestyle-really-embraced-it-i-had-by/) [Peter Jurasik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-jurasik/) > [My singing led into acting, and that is how I discovered acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lalaine/my-singing-led-into-acting-and-that-is-how-i-discovered-acting/) [Lalaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lalaine/) ## More by Michael C. Hall > [When people go get chemo, they're not injecting themselves with will - I have lost various loved ones to cancer, and I certainly don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-c-hall/when-people-go-get-chemo-they-re-not-injecting-themselves-with-will-i/) [Michael C. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-c-hall/) > [I mean, the competition is really created by the buzz around the Emmys. It's a totally subjective thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-c-hall/i-mean-the-competition-is-really-created-by-the-buzz-around-the-emmys/) [Michael C. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-c-hall/) > [Sometimes men present a swagger that suggests a prowess, whether it's sexual or financial. L.A. seems to be a place where trying too hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-c-hall/sometimes-men-present-a-swagger-that-suggests-a-prowess-whether-it-s/) [Michael C. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-c-hall/) > [I've always been really fascinated by Vincent van Gogh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-c-hall/i-ve-always-been-really-fascinated-by-vincent-van-gogh/) [Michael C. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-c-hall/) > [Ultimately, I'm a mess. I don't mean I'm a mess, like, emotionally - I mean, I think probably everybody's a mess. 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Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-c-hall/) > [It's interesting to play a role where you don't really have to preoccupy yourself with any need to convince yourself that you're not acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-c-hall/it-s-interesting-to-play-a-role-where-you-don-t-really-have-to/) [Michael C. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-c-hall/) > [I have this dream where Little Chino keeps showing up at my door. I would have to kill him even though I was at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-c-hall/i-have-this-dream-where-little-chino-keeps-showing-up-at-my-door-i/) [Michael C. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-c-hall/) > [“One thing that was beyond our wildest dreams was that somehow the simulation of arguably justifiable serial murder could bring people together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-c-hall/one-thing-that-was-beyond-our-wildest-dreams-was-that-somehow-the/) [Michael C. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-c-hall/) > [I think anybody would be hard pressed not to relate to at least one of the characters, because there's so many different multifaceted people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-c-hall/i-think-anybody-would-be-hard-pressed-not-to-relate-to-at-least-one/) [Michael C. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-c-hall/) > [So it's really nice after about a year and a half to get back on stage and flex those old muscles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-c-hall/so-it-s-really-nice-after-about-a-year-and-a-half-to-get-back-on/) [Michael C. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-c-hall/) > [As time passes, I feel more and more a sense of acting being a fundamental part of who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-c-hall/as-time-passes-i-feel-more-and-more-a-sense-of-acting-being-a/) [Michael C. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-c-hall/) > [I think Dexter is a man who ... a part of himself is very much frozen, or arrested in a place that is pre-memory,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-c-hall/i-think-dexter-is-a-man-who-a-part-of-himself-is-very-much-frozen-or/) [Michael C. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-c-hall/) > [I like to think I am well-mannered. If I have the option at a breakfast place, I'll go with the grits. That's how Southern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-c-hall/i-like-to-think-i-am-well-mannered-if-i-have-the-option-at-a/) [Michael C. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-c-hall/) [Explore all 34 Michael C. Hall quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-c-hall/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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. 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