--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My first ten years in Hollywood were…" description: "\"My first ten years in Hollywood were really tough. I'd be coaching friends who came to me for acting advice, and then they'd make it before I did. I'd ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dee/michael-pena-3926_acting_my-first-ten-years-in-hollywood-were-rea_596655.jpg" --- # My first ten years in Hollywood were really tough. I'd be… ![“My first ten years in Hollywood were really tough. I'd be coaching friends who came to me for acting advice, and then they'd make it before I did. I'd still be helping them while they were on movie sets and I had four lines on a TV show.” quote by Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dee/michael-pena-3926_acting_my-first-ten-years-in-hollywood-were-rea_596655.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dee/michael-pena-3926_acting_my-first-ten-years-in-hollywood-were-rea_596655.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dee/michael-pena-3926_acting_my-first-ten-years-in-hollywood-were-rea_596655.jpg) > “My first ten years in Hollywood were really tough. I'd be coaching friends who came to me for acting advice, and then they'd make it before I did. I'd still be helping them while they were on movie sets and I had four lines on a TV show.” [Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He describes early career frustration as seeing peers succeed before him while he remained in minor roles. **In simple terms:** Early career struggle watching friends succeed before him. Key Takeaway Focus on growth, not comparison. Themes career jealousy growth perseverance Mood frustrated determined reflective Type personal career When to use this quote - acting auditions - networking events - career setbacks - peer success Key Concepts entertainment industry mentor dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn others' success into personal motivation? - What steps can you take to advance your own career? A Different Perspective Success of others can feel demotivating but also inspire improvement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) [Coaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coaching/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Hollywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hollywood/) [Tv shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tv-shows/) ## Related quotes > [Acting advice is a bit like your parents teaching you how to drive a car. You know they're right, but you still kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-irons/acting-advice-is-a-bit-like-your-parents-teaching-you-how-to-drive-a/) [Max Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-irons/) > [It was tough coaching Australia. They were so set in their ways because they have been the right ways - but the culture needed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-arthur/it-was-tough-coaching-australia-they-were-so-set-in-their-ways/) [Mickey Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-arthur/) > [I've spent several years in Hollywood, and I still think the movie heroes are in the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilson-mizner/i-ve-spent-several-years-in-hollywood-and-i-still-think-the-movie/) [Wilson Mizner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilson-mizner/) > [I considered the years in Hollywood nothing but an interim. What I always wanted was to be was a musical comedy star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlene-dahl/i-considered-the-years-in-hollywood-nothing-but-an-interim-what-i/) [Arlene Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlene-dahl/) > [Every so often in the last 20 years, Hollywood has called. And every time they've called, we've answered? because they have lots of money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margo-timmins/every-so-often-in-the-last-20-years-hollywood-has-called-and-every/) [Margo Timmins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margo-timmins/) > [It's only in relatively recent years that Hollywood became the playground of multinational corporations which regard movies and TV shows as a minor irritant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bart/it-s-only-in-relatively-recent-years-that-hollywood-became-the/) [Peter Bart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bart/) > [There are MAYBE 30 years worth of ideas out there... watch for the feature version of ER in about 25 years... Hollywood has become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/there-are-maybe-30-years-worth-of-ideas-out-there-watch-for-the/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [After my years in Hollywood, I got tired of apologizing for work that really wasn't mine to begin with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-grafton/after-my-years-in-hollywood-i-got-tired-of-apologizing-for-work-that/) [Sue Grafton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-grafton/) > [I was a very extrovert kid. It felt normal to me to act. I always went to regular schools. I've never been catty or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-dunst/i-was-a-very-extrovert-kid-it-felt-normal-to-me-to-act-i-always-went/) [Kirsten Dunst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-dunst/) > [I was a bit scared because I came from the acting world. There was a fear that people would think of me kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jana-kramer/i-was-a-bit-scared-because-i-came-from-the-acting-world-there-was-a/) [Jana Kramer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jana-kramer/) > [Once I came to acting, it was almost a thing where there weren't enough hours in the day to work on stuff because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-tveit/once-i-came-to-acting-it-was-almost-a-thing-where-there-weren-t/) [Aaron Tveit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-tveit/) > [When I first came into acting, I had great opportunities to make a decent movie. I had a run there in 2005, '06, '07…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/when-i-first-came-into-acting-i-had-great-opportunities-to-make-a/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [I came out here to do the acting, and then after a year of auditions and not getting anything, I met these Italian guys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malin-akerman/i-came-out-here-to-do-the-acting-and-then-after-a-year-of-auditions/) [Malin Akerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malin-akerman/) > [Until I came out, my acting was all about disguise, and thereafter it became about telling the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/until-i-came-out-my-acting-was-all-about-disguise-and-thereafter-it/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [When 'Nil By Mouth' was released, people thought that's what we were actually like, that they'd put me and Ray in front of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-burke/when-nil-by-mouth-was-released-people-thought-that-s-what-we-were/) [Kathy Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-burke/) ## More by Michael Pena > [I was in L.A., like, four months, and I got my first part. Then I was like, 'OK, I'm staying.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pena/i-was-in-l-a-like-four-months-and-i-got-my-first-part-then-i-was-like/) [Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) > [Kicks to the legs, they're not very cool. They're brutal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pena/kicks-to-the-legs-they-re-not-very-cool-they-re-brutal/) [Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) > [There's a bigger percentage of good cops than bad cops. But the bad cops should be penalised like regular people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pena/there-s-a-bigger-percentage-of-good-cops-than-bad-cops-but-the-bad/) [Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) > [I grew up in the ghetto, and the thing is when there were problems, I knew when to get away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pena/i-grew-up-in-the-ghetto-and-the-thing-is-when-there-were-problems-i/) [Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) > [I think, in any debate, you have to respect the other person's point of view, if you agree or disagree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pena/i-think-in-any-debate-you-have-to-respect-the-other-person-s-point-of/) [Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) > [I didn't realise I lived in the ghetto until we moved out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pena/i-didn-t-realise-i-lived-in-the-ghetto-until-we-moved-out/) [Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) > [The joy of 'Crash' was that it was all about the work. It was my first real part. Before that, it was a line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pena/the-joy-of-crash-was-that-it-was-all-about-the-work-it-was-my-first/) [Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) > [I don't think people are experiencing superhero fatigue. Do you hear people complaining that there are too many action movies? I think it's good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pena/i-don-t-think-people-are-experiencing-superhero-fatigue-do-you-hear/) [Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) > [I think that when you’re doing a comedy and it makes you laugh, there’s a certain… like you can reject it, and it’s okay.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pena/i-think-that-when-you-re-doing-a-comedy-and-it-makes-you-laugh-there/) [Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) > [I thought of myself as an individual ever since I was little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pena/i-thought-of-myself-as-an-individual-ever-since-i-was-little/) [Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) > [I just wanted to be a part of something that's a horror movie that scares you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pena/i-just-wanted-to-be-a-part-of-something-that-s-a-horror-movie-that/) [Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) > [I don't know why - I have a ton of books: five full cabinets of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pena/i-don-t-know-why-i-have-a-ton-of-books-five-full-cabinets-of-them/) [Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) > [I feel really comfortable with going for the reality of the drama, but I'm not much for the comedy of it. You have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pena/i-feel-really-comfortable-with-going-for-the-reality-of-the-drama-but/) [Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) > [The reason I love Lollapalooza is because it's a great music festival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pena/the-reason-i-love-lollapalooza-is-because-it-s-a-great-music-festival/) [Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) > [I was in really good shape after I finished this movie, 'End of Watch.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pena/i-was-in-really-good-shape-after-i-finished-this-movie-end-of-watch/) [Michael Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) [Explore all 119 Michael Pena quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pena/) ## 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": "My first ten years in Hollywood were really tough. I'd be coaching friends who came to me for acting advice, and then they'd make it before I did. 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