---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That pesky acting career has always…"
description: "\"That pesky acting career has always gotten in the way of me doing something with music.\" — Michael Chiklis"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/460/michael-chiklis-27931_acting_that-pesky-acting-career-has-always-gott_17069.png"
---

#  That pesky acting career has always gotten in the way of…

![“That pesky acting career has always gotten in the way of me doing something with music.” quote by Michael Chiklis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/460/michael-chiklis-27931_acting_that-pesky-acting-career-has-always-gott_17069.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/460/michael-chiklis-27931_acting_that-pesky-acting-career-has-always-gott_17069.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/460/michael-chiklis-27931_acting_that-pesky-acting-career-has-always-gott_17069.png)

> “That pesky acting career has always gotten in the way of me doing something with music.”

[Michael Chiklis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chiklis/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker laments that their acting pursuits repeatedly interfere with their desire to create or perform music.

**In simple terms:** Acting blocks musical ambition.

Key Takeaway

Balancing multiple creative passions is hard.

Themes

conflict identity artistic ambition career tension self‑expression

Mood

frustrated reflective determined

Type

personal anecdote career reflection

When to use this quote

- when juggling two artistic professions
- during a career crossroads
- while seeking artistic authenticity

Key Concepts

career vs. passion time allocation creative fulfillment

Practical Applications

- prioritizing one art form
- integrating acting and music

Questions to Reflect On

- How can one reconcile competing artistic drives?
- What compromises are acceptable for creative satisfaction?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-career/) [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/)

## Related quotes

> [I like working with authors who are a bit pesky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rees/i-like-working-with-authors-who-are-a-bit-pesky/)

[Roger Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rees/)

> [I'm one of those pesky Brits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-lewis/i-m-one-of-those-pesky-brits/)

[Damian Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-lewis/)

> [What I believe will make my acting career successful going forward is hard work. I like to challenge myself. Then it's the people I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barkhad-abdi/what-i-believe-will-make-my-acting-career-successful-going-forward-is/)

[Barkhad Abdi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barkhad-abdi/)

> [Acting is my career. I am pursuing it with passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priyamani/acting-is-my-career-i-am-pursuing-it-with-passion/)

[Priyamani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priyamani/)

> [I started my acting career at around when I was getting stressed from my singing career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seo-in-guk/i-started-my-acting-career-at-around-when-i-was-getting-stressed-from/)

[Seo In-guk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seo-in-guk/)

> [Growing up I did commercials and things like that, but nothing serious. As I got older, my family is really hardcore into academics. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-doubleday/growing-up-i-did-commercials-and-things-like-that-but-nothing-serious/)

[Portia Doubleday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-doubleday/)

> [I was so lucky and blessed to have gotten 'White Chicks' so early into my career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rochelle-aytes/i-was-so-lucky-and-blessed-to-have-gotten-white-chicks-so-early-into/)

[Rochelle Aytes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rochelle-aytes/)

> [My parents wanted me to be a doctor, and they weren't very happy at the idea of me choosing acting as a career. Everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caterina-murino/my-parents-wanted-me-to-be-a-doctor-and-they-weren-t-very-happy-at/)

[Caterina Murino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caterina-murino/)

> [I hope to make acting my career for the rest of my life, if I can. If acting doesn't work out I'd love to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-grace-moretz/i-hope-to-make-acting-my-career-for-the-rest-of-my-life-if-i-can-if/)

[Chloe Grace Moretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chloe-grace-moretz/)

> [I did some theatre. I had some smaller roles in a couple TV shows and films. I used to think I did a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-saylor/i-did-some-theatre-i-had-some-smaller-roles-in-a-couple-tv-shows-and/)

[Morgan Saylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-saylor/)

> [The one thing that's closest to my story is the thing about trying out for the juvenile delinquent role and getting it. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mazursky/the-one-thing-that-s-closest-to-my-story-is-the-thing-about-trying/)

[Paul Mazursky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mazursky/)

> [People always ask me if I'm going to stop modeling because I have started an acting career. I hope to continue to model for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyra-banks/people-always-ask-me-if-i-m-going-to-stop-modeling-because-i-have/)

[Tyra Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyra-banks/)

> [Im thinking of going into rehab. Im not addicted to anything, but I think its good way to jumpstart an acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-spiner/im-thinking-of-going-into-rehab-im-not-addicted-to-anything-but-i/)

[Brent Spiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-spiner/)

> [Well, basically I started when I was 12 years old in Montreal doing different Canadian children shows, which amounts to basically relative obscurity in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-baruchel/well-basically-i-started-when-i-was-12-years-old-in-montreal-doing/)

[Jay Baruchel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-baruchel/)

> [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/)

## More by Michael Chiklis

> [The best part of being married is, everything we face in life, we face as a team. I don't do a thing - professionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiklis/the-best-part-of-being-married-is-everything-we-face-in-life-we-face/)

[Michael Chiklis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chiklis/)

> [This is a tried and true genre directed by a guy who's famous for character work. This could take a genre picture and lift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiklis/this-is-a-tried-and-true-genre-directed-by-a-guy-who-s-famous-for/)

[Michael Chiklis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chiklis/)

> [I am the first to admit my iPad is the coolest thing in the world, but when we can be in a room together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiklis/i-am-the-first-to-admit-my-ipad-is-the-coolest-thing-in-the-world-but/)

[Michael Chiklis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chiklis/)

> [I think one of the most humiliating moments of my life was putting on spandex, personally. It's always nice when four women pull you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiklis/i-think-one-of-the-most-humiliating-moments-of-my-life-was-putting-on/)

[Michael Chiklis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chiklis/)

> [I usually work from the inside out but sometimes in comedy it's fun to work from the outside in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiklis/i-usually-work-from-the-inside-out-but-sometimes-in-comedy-it-s-fun/)

[Michael Chiklis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chiklis/)

> [Prior to 'The Shield,' basic cable was just a wasteland of reruns and NASCAR. When we came along, I think there was a collective,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiklis/prior-to-the-shield-basic-cable-was-just-a-wasteland-of-reruns-and/)

[Michael Chiklis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chiklis/)

> [A brick layer, lays bricks... I'm an Actor, that's what I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiklis/a-brick-layer-lays-bricks-i-m-an-actor-that-s-what-i-do/)

[Michael Chiklis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chiklis/)

> [I'm a workaholic. I could easily work 300-plus days of the year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiklis/i-m-a-workaholic-i-could-easily-work-300-plus-days-of-the-year/)

[Michael Chiklis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chiklis/)

> [It's much less interesting as an actor playing someone who's purely good or purely evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiklis/it-s-much-less-interesting-as-an-actor-playing-someone-who-s-purely/)

[Michael Chiklis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chiklis/)

> [Some people have questioned whether or not I can play a nice guy. Sometimes you can't win for losing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiklis/some-people-have-questioned-whether-or-not-i-can-play-a-nice-guy/)

[Michael Chiklis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chiklis/)

> [I've been a musician my whole life. I'm really enjoying making music again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiklis/i-ve-been-a-musician-my-whole-life-i-m-really-enjoying-making-music/)

[Michael Chiklis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chiklis/)

> [Well, the clown suit is a riot, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiklis/well-the-clown-suit-is-a-riot-too/)

[Michael Chiklis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chiklis/)

> [I don't have hate in my heart. I don't hate any person, place or thing...but I hate the Yankees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiklis/i-don-t-have-hate-in-my-heart-i-don-t-hate-any-person-place-or-thing/)

[Michael Chiklis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chiklis/)

> [The most challenging part of being a dad is self-restraint. So often your instinct is to teach and tell. I am constantly reminding myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiklis/the-most-challenging-part-of-being-a-dad-is-self-restraint-so-often/)

[Michael Chiklis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chiklis/)

> [Patience has never been my strong suit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiklis/patience-has-never-been-my-strong-suit/)

[Michael Chiklis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chiklis/)

[Explore all 20 Michael Chiklis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chiklis/)

## 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": "That pesky acting career has always gotten in the way of me doing something with music.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Michael Chiklis"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiklis/that-pesky-acting-career-has-always-gotten-in-the-way-of-me-doing/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Acting"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiklis/that-pesky-acting-career-has-always-gotten-in-the-way-of-me-doing/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/460/michael-chiklis-27931_acting_that-pesky-acting-career-has-always-gott_17069.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/460/michael-chiklis-27931_acting_that-pesky-acting-career-has-always-gott_17069.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/460/michael-chiklis-27931_acting_that-pesky-acting-career-has-always-gott_17069.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“That pesky acting career has always gotten in the way of me doing something with music.” — Michael Chiklis",
                "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": "Michael Chiklis",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chiklis/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "That pesky acting career has always...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiklis/that-pesky-acting-career-has-always-gotten-in-the-way-of-me-doing/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiklis/that-pesky-acting-career-has-always-gotten-in-the-way-of-me-doing/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
