--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I first started acting, I never…" description: "\"When I first started acting, I never thought I'd be on TV or film. I always wanted to be on stage.\" — Michael Socha" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/358/michael-socha-29969_acting_when-i-first-started-acting-i-never-thou_722640.jpg" --- # When I first started acting, I never thought I'd be on TV… ![“When I first started acting, I never thought I'd be on TV or film. I always wanted to be on stage.” quote by Michael Socha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/358/michael-socha-29969_acting_when-i-first-started-acting-i-never-thou_722640.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/358/michael-socha-29969_acting_when-i-first-started-acting-i-never-thou_722640.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/358/michael-socha-29969_acting_when-i-first-started-acting-i-never-thou_722640.jpg) > “When I first started acting, I never thought I'd be on TV or film. I always wanted to be on stage.” [Michael Socha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-socha/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He aspired to theater but found success in screen acting, showing flexibility in career paths **In simple terms:** Dreams can shift as opportunities arise Key Takeaway Embrace unexpected opportunities in creative fields Themes career adaptability creativity Mood hopeful realistic Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - auditions - film sets - theater workshops - career counseling Key Concepts professional growth artistic fulfillment Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance passion with practicality? - When is it right to pivot? A Different Perspective Success may require compromising original goals ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-thought-867889/) [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Started Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-acting/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Wanted Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-stage-309237/) ## Related quotes > [When I started acting, I thought everything should be issue-based and that there should be a helpline at the end of every program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isaacs/when-i-started-acting-i-thought-everything-should-be-issue-based-and/) [Jason Isaacs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isaacs/) > [If I wanted to do something on stage, I wanted it to be something I could really get into and feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-socha/if-i-wanted-to-do-something-on-stage-i-wanted-it-to-be-something-i/) [Michael Socha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-socha/) > [I wanted to be a stage actress. I wanted to be a New York actress and have a community with other actors. I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-tomlin/i-wanted-to-be-a-stage-actress-i-wanted-to-be-a-new-york-actress-and/) [Lily Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-tomlin/) > [I was very shy about acting. I thought you had to be confident. I was confident with my friends, but I would never think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarita-choudhury/i-was-very-shy-about-acting-i-thought-you-had-to-be-confident-i-was/) [Sarita Choudhury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarita-choudhury/) > [When I first moved out to Los Angeles I was thinking, you know, I wanted to be an actor but I didn't really know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-biehn/when-i-first-moved-out-to-los-angeles-i-was-thinking-you-know-i/) [Michael Biehn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-biehn/) > [I remember growing up knowing I wanted to be on the stage. I wanted to get to London as soon as possible and start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-zeta-jones/i-remember-growing-up-knowing-i-wanted-to-be-on-the-stage-i-wanted-to/) [Catherine Zeta-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-zeta-jones/) > [I've always wanted to be on stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lee-o-donnell/i-ve-always-wanted-to-be-on-stage/) [Jamie-Lee O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lee-o-donnell/) > [I didn't know I wanted to go into entertainment, but I knew I wanted to be on stage when I was about seven. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-kane/i-didn-t-know-i-wanted-to-go-into-entertainment-but-i-knew-i-wanted/) [Carol Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-kane/) > [Be it in school, society, or college, I just wanted to be on stage and used to love performing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicky-kaushal/be-it-in-school-society-or-college-i-just-wanted-to-be-on-stage-and/) [Vicky Kaushal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicky-kaushal/) > [I left 'Death in Paradise' because I wanted to get back on stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-john-jules/i-left-death-in-paradise-because-i-wanted-to-get-back-on-stage/) [Danny John-Jules](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-john-jules/) > [I didn't even think about movies where I came from. I wanted to be on the stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-zeta-jones/i-didn-t-even-think-about-movies-where-i-came-from-i-wanted-to-be-on/) [Catherine Zeta-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-zeta-jones/) > [Ever since I was younger I wanted to be on stage, singing my songs in a glittering costume. And that happened and is still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-perry/ever-since-i-was-younger-i-wanted-to-be-on-stage-singing-my-songs-in/) [Katy Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-perry/) > [Well it was a lot fun with John Boy and stuff, but I always knew that I wanted to be on the front of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-montgomery/well-it-was-a-lot-fun-with-john-boy-and-stuff-but-i-always-knew-that/) [Eddie Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-montgomery/) > [I was very vocal about how I wanted to be portrayed on the show, and how I wanted the stage setup to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-martinez/i-was-very-vocal-about-how-i-wanted-to-be-portrayed-on-the-show-and/) [Melanie Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-martinez/) > [I loved to dance, and I just knew I wanted to be on stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariana-debose/i-loved-to-dance-and-i-just-knew-i-wanted-to-be-on-stage/) [Ariana DeBose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariana-debose/) ## More by Michael Socha > [It's fun finding your way to the performance instead of coming in and hoping to God you're impressing the director - and hoping you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-socha/it-s-fun-finding-your-way-to-the-performance-instead-of-coming-in-and/) [Michael Socha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-socha/) > [What I say about 'This Is England' is they're like my best friends back home. Normal, working-class, beautiful people who I'm creative with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-socha/what-i-say-about-this-is-england-is-they-re-like-my-best-friends-back/) [Michael Socha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-socha/) > [Sometimes I'm on a TV set, and I can't feel what I'm supposed to feel as that character because I've not worked my way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-socha/sometimes-i-m-on-a-tv-set-and-i-can-t-feel-what-i-m-supposed-to-feel/) [Michael Socha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-socha/) > [The thing is, with 'This Is England', you're always thinking as yourself. You're acting on an instinct. You're acting on what you've heard, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-socha/the-thing-is-with-this-is-england-you-re-always-thinking-as-yourself/) [Michael Socha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-socha/) > [I like to go for auditions. I enjoy that aspect of this job until I actually need a job, and then that becomes a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-socha/i-like-to-go-for-auditions-i-enjoy-that-aspect-of-this-job-until-i/) [Michael Socha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-socha/) > [I find the fans really interesting and nice, and I'll go over and say hello.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-socha/i-find-the-fans-really-interesting-and-nice-and-i-ll-go-over-and-say/) [Michael Socha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-socha/) > [If I wanted to do something on stage, I wanted it to be something I could really get into and feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-socha/if-i-wanted-to-do-something-on-stage-i-wanted-it-to-be-something-i/) [Michael Socha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-socha/) > ['Wonderland' was incredible, but 'Once Upon A Time,' I found it quite soul-destroying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-socha/wonderland-was-incredible-but-once-upon-a-time-i-found-it-quite-soul/) [Michael Socha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-socha/) > [I love watching people, guessing what they are going to do next. I'm no Derren Brown, but I love that people stuff. Maybe that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-socha/i-love-watching-people-guessing-what-they-are-going-to-do-next-i-m-no/) [Michael Socha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-socha/) > [I suppose, back in the day, when I was on the stage, I had nothing to lose, and I did the accents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-socha/i-suppose-back-in-the-day-when-i-was-on-the-stage-i-had-nothing-to/) [Michael Socha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-socha/) > [Your character - you own it. That's something you have to grab hold of on 'This Is England'. Your character is your character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-socha/your-character-you-own-it-that-s-something-you-have-to-grab-hold-of/) [Michael Socha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-socha/) > [You feel that your character is special. It's not your normal nine-to-five. You're not someone who goes home and lives a normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-socha/you-feel-that-your-character-is-special-it-s-not-your-normal-nine-to/) [Michael Socha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-socha/) > [I started in theatre; the first bit of drama I did was amateur dramatics, up until I was 19. Then the TV and film…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-socha/i-started-in-theatre-the-first-bit-of-drama-i-did-was-amateur/) [Michael Socha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-socha/) > [Generally, nowadays, I'm using my own accent because casting directors want it; they like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-socha/generally-nowadays-i-m-using-my-own-accent-because-casting-directors/) [Michael Socha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-socha/) > [I don't want to be doing a job where I'm not doing a job, just sitting around in my flat just bored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-socha/i-don-t-want-to-be-doing-a-job-where-i-m-not-doing-a-job-just-sitting/) [Michael Socha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-socha/) [Explore all 18 Michael Socha quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-socha/) ## 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. 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": "When I first started acting, I never thought I'd be on TV or film. 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