--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Soaps are a great springboard for any…" description: "\"Soaps are a great springboard for any actor but if you want to be taken seriously, you have to be careful.\" — Michelle Ryan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f73/michelle-ryan-20966_actors_soaps-are-a-great-springboard-for-any-ac_1431426.jpg" --- # Soaps are a great springboard for any actor but if you… ![“Soaps are a great springboard for any actor but if you want to be taken seriously, you have to be careful.” quote by Michelle Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f73/michelle-ryan-20966_actors_soaps-are-a-great-springboard-for-any-ac_1431426.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f73/michelle-ryan-20966_actors_soaps-are-a-great-springboard-for-any-ac_1431426.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f73/michelle-ryan-20966_actors_soaps-are-a-great-springboard-for-any-ac_1431426.jpg) > “Soaps are a great springboard for any actor but if you want to be taken seriously, you have to be careful.” [Michelle Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-ryan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Soap operas provide exposure but require careful role selection to be respected as a serious actor. **In simple terms:** Soap roles give visibility but need strategic choices for credibility. Key Takeaway Choose roles that build reputation. Themes career strategy acting reputation Mood reflective strategic Type advice career When to use this quote - audition choices - career planning - public image - agency negotiations Key Concepts typecasting brand management Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance exposure with artistic integrity? - What criteria define a "serious" role? A Different Perspective Risk of being pigeonholed if not selective. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) ## Related quotes > [Soaps are great. You learn to work very fast - some say superficially, but that's not really true. You do some very serious character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-shaughnessy/soaps-are-great-you-learn-to-work-very-fast-some-say-superficially/) Charles Shaughnessy > [Honestly, soaps are great training. You're doing 90-plus pages a day. It was my acting class, where I built my foundation for showing up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/honestly-soaps-are-great-training-you-re-doing-90-plus-pages-a-day-it/) [Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/) > [I'm trying to get some building work done at the moment, quite seriously. Be careful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-chiles/i-m-trying-to-get-some-building-work-done-at-the-moment-quite/) [Adrian Chiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-chiles/) > [In soaps, people come back from the dead all the time, to the point where death is just a bus stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-geary/in-soaps-people-come-back-from-the-dead-all-the-time-to-the-point/) [Anthony Geary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-geary/) > [Soaps are one of the few areas on TV that really embrace older women. In drama, there's this ridiculous invisibility for women between the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-donohoe/soaps-are-one-of-the-few-areas-on-tv-that-really-embrace-older-women/) [Amanda Donohoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-donohoe/) > [Soaps are the best. They really are. If you can do a soap, well, you can do anything. You have to learn pages of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alec-baldwin/soaps-are-the-best-they-really-are-if-you-can-do-a-soap-well-you-can/) [Alec Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alec-baldwin/) > [The thing I love about soaps, and from what I know about this is its run in a very old school way, which I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darius-mccrary/the-thing-i-love-about-soaps-and-from-what-i-know-about-this-is-its/) [Darius McCrary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darius-mccrary/) > [Considering the popularity of soaps with the African-American audience, it's grotesque that the entertainment industry, for all its vaunted liberalism, is lagging so far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/considering-the-popularity-of-soaps-with-the-african-american/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [People who work on soaps all the time understand the formula of how to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-hill/people-who-work-on-soaps-all-the-time-understand-the-formula-of-how/) [Amy Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-hill/) > [I'm not that keen to do a daily soap, but I'm always ready for reality soaps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-khan/i-m-not-that-keen-to-do-a-daily-soap-but-i-m-always-ready-for-reality/) [Sara Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-khan/) > [I didn't even watch the soaps when I was in them because it's like a coal miner coming home and staring at the coal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-kemp/i-didn-t-even-watch-the-soaps-when-i-was-in-them-because-it-s-like-a/) [Ross Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-kemp/) > [I just don't see ABC letting go of soaps completely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-easton/i-just-don-t-see-abc-letting-go-of-soaps-completely/) [Michael Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-easton/) > [They're amazing, these actors who have worked on soaps for years and years and years. They know what they're doing. They don't hold you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-hill/they-re-amazing-these-actors-who-have-worked-on-soaps-for-years-and/) [Amy Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-hill/) > [People tell me not to do a soap, but it was a great learning experience because I became familiar with the technical aspects of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-michelle-gellar/people-tell-me-not-to-do-a-soap-but-it-was-a-great-learning/) [Sarah Michelle Gellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-michelle-gellar/) > [The press mainly want to destroy a program by revealing what's coming up. For some reason, soaps like doing that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-bonneville/the-press-mainly-want-to-destroy-a-program-by-revealing-what-s-coming/) [Hugh Bonneville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-bonneville/) ## More by Michelle Ryan > [I love doing action; I love doing martial arts. There's almost something balletic about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-ryan/i-love-doing-action-i-love-doing-martial-arts-there-s-almost/) [Michelle Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-ryan/) > [I just believe that sometimes in life you're like a shark - you have to keep moving through water; otherwise, you'll die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-ryan/i-just-believe-that-sometimes-in-life-you-re-like-a-shark-you-have-to/) [Michelle Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-ryan/) > [There's such a huge world out there; I haven't even begun to scratch the surface.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-ryan/there-s-such-a-huge-world-out-there-i-haven-t-even-begun-to-scratch/) [Michelle Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-ryan/) > [I like to hang out with my friends, go to the theatre, watch DVDs, read, play with my niece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-ryan/i-like-to-hang-out-with-my-friends-go-to-the-theatre-watch-dvds-read/) [Michelle Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-ryan/) > [Money doesn't drive me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-ryan/money-doesn-t-drive-me/) [Michelle Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-ryan/) > [Sometimes in life, random things can blind-side you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-ryan/sometimes-in-life-random-things-can-blind-side-you/) [Michelle Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-ryan/) > [I adore water, so it would be a real adventure to visit the Amazon before they chop down all the trees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-ryan/i-adore-water-so-it-would-be-a-real-adventure-to-visit-the-amazon/) [Michelle Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-ryan/) > [All that celebrity stuff isn't me. It's just not acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-ryan/all-that-celebrity-stuff-isn-t-me-it-s-just-not-acting/) [Michelle Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-ryan/) > [If I wear make-up, then people recognise me, but the rest of the time, no one really bothers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-ryan/if-i-wear-make-up-then-people-recognise-me-but-the-rest-of-the-time/) [Michelle Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-ryan/) > [When I left EastEnders, I could have earned an absolute fortune from sexy calendars, shoots for lads' mags, fitness videos and reality shows. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-ryan/when-i-left-eastenders-i-could-have-earned-an-absolute-fortune-from/) [Michelle Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-ryan/) > [I toned down my accent at school; otherwise, people would pick on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-ryan/i-toned-down-my-accent-at-school-otherwise-people-would-pick-on-me/) [Michelle Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-ryan/) > ['Bionic Woman' really enriched my career. It was a big, amazing thing to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-ryan/bionic-woman-really-enriched-my-career-it-was-a-big-amazing-thing-to/) [Michelle Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-ryan/) > [I've always loved the guitar. You see Jimi Hendrix playing the guitar with his teeth, and OK, you know you're never going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-ryan/i-ve-always-loved-the-guitar-you-see-jimi-hendrix-playing-the-guitar/) [Michelle Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-ryan/) > [I just don't know anything about jazz, really. I've never really listened to it, but I'd definitely like to discover more about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-ryan/i-just-don-t-know-anything-about-jazz-really-i-ve-never-really/) [Michelle Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-ryan/) > [I really like Billie Holiday's husky voice, and I'd definitely like to find out more about her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-ryan/i-really-like-billie-holiday-s-husky-voice-and-i-d-definitely-like-to/) [Michelle Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-ryan/) [Explore all 30 Michelle Ryan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-ryan/) ## More Actors quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/) [Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [When we watch a film as actors, you have to understand that we always see much more than what's on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/when-we-watch-a-film-as-actors-you-have-to-understand-that-we-always/) [Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/) > [As actors, you become an expert at starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-actors-you-become-an-expert-at-starting-over/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [A rapper is about being completely true to yourself. Being an actor is about changing who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/a-rapper-is-about-being-completely-true-to-yourself-being-an-actor-is/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [I've been a professional actor for almost 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-been-a-professional-actor-for-almost-40-years/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [American actors are coy. We all have pricks and cunts, or are you different from the rest of us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/american-actors-are-coy-we-all-have-pricks-and-cunts-or-are-you/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) [Browse all 11,394 Actors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Soaps are a great springboard for any actor but if you want to be taken seriously, you have to be careful.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michelle Ryan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-ryan/soaps-are-a-great-springboard-for-any-actor-but-if-you-want-to-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actors" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-ryan/soaps-are-a-great-springboard-for-any-actor-but-if-you-want-to-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f73/michelle-ryan-20966_actors_soaps-are-a-great-springboard-for-any-ac_1431426.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f73/michelle-ryan-20966_actors_soaps-are-a-great-springboard-for-any-ac_1431426.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f73/michelle-ryan-20966_actors_soaps-are-a-great-springboard-for-any-ac_1431426.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Soaps are a great springboard for any actor but if you want to be taken seriously, you have to be careful.” — Michelle Ryan", "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": "Michelle Ryan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-ryan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Soaps are a great springboard for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-ryan/soaps-are-a-great-springboard-for-any-actor-but-if-you-want-to-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-ryan/soaps-are-a-great-springboard-for-any-actor-but-if-you-want-to-be/#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 } } ] } ```