---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had started off, before I ever got an…"
description: "\"I had started off, before I ever got an acting job, working at Robert De Niro's Tribeca Productions as a reader. I was always interested in that side o..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d76/mira-sorvino-11683_acting_i-had-started-off-before-i-ever-got-an-a_359569.png"
---

#  I had started off, before I ever got an acting job…

![“I had started off, before I ever got an acting job, working at Robert De Niro's Tribeca Productions as a reader. I was always interested in that side of the camera.” quote by Mira Sorvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d76/mira-sorvino-11683_acting_i-had-started-off-before-i-ever-got-an-a_359569.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d76/mira-sorvino-11683_acting_i-had-started-off-before-i-ever-got-an-a_359569.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d76/mira-sorvino-11683_acting_i-had-started-off-before-i-ever-got-an-a_359569.png)

> “I had started off, before I ever got an acting job, working at Robert De Niro's Tribeca Productions as a reader. I was always interested in that side of the camera.”

[Mira Sorvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-sorvino/)

## About This Quote

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

Early exposure to behind‑the‑scenes work sparked a lasting curiosity about filmmaking beyond acting.

**In simple terms:** Started as a reader for film.

Key Takeaway

Explore all film roles.

Themes

career development curiosity film industry

Mood

inspirational practical

Type

career personal

When to use this quote

- film school
- internships
- networking

Key Concepts

production screenwriting directing

Questions to Reflect On

- What skills did you acquire as a reader?
- How does this background inform your acting?

A Different Perspective

Transitioning roles can be challenging without formal training.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Cameras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cameras/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/)

## Related quotes

> [The life of an action star is very short. I want to be an actor like Robert De Niro , like Dustin Hoffman or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-chan/the-life-of-an-action-star-is-very-short-i-want-to-be-an-actor-like/)

[Jackie Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-chan/)

> [People say I'm into black women. Robert De Niro is into black women. I'm just into women who are real, and they happen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/people-say-i-m-into-black-women-robert-de-niro-is-into-black-women-i/)

[Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/)

> [You know some people will say, 'I am doing a film with Robert De Niro,' and people will go, 'Wow.' Well, to some people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morrissey/you-know-some-people-will-say-i-am-doing-a-film-with-robert-de-niro/)

[David Morrissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morrissey/)

> [The fact is, though, what I think we really like is Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro and James Gandolfini. We like what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tod-goldberg/the-fact-is-though-what-i-think-we-really-like-is-marlon-brando-al/)

[Tod Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tod-goldberg/)

> [I saw 'Taxi Driver,' and 'Taxi Driver' kind of saved my life. The scene where Robert De Niro is looking at himself in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-biehn/i-saw-taxi-driver-and-taxi-driver-kind-of-saved-my-life-the-scene/)

[Michael Biehn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-biehn/)

> [In my twenties, I thought I was Robert De Niro and I invested all of myself in my acting. But, as I've got older,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-rhys/in-my-twenties-i-thought-i-was-robert-de-niro-and-i-invested-all-of/)

[Matthew Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-rhys/)

> [When I was growing up and somebody like Robert De Niro had a movie come out, it was a cultural event. Because he had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-penn/when-i-was-growing-up-and-somebody-like-robert-de-niro-had-a-movie/)

[Sean Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-penn/)

> [“There was, he thought, an emotional truth here somewhere, and he could see now that his role-playing had a previously unsuspected artistic element to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/there-was-he-thought-an-emotional-truth-here-somewhere-and-he-could/)

[Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/)

> [I want to be an Asian Robert De Niro.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-chan/i-want-to-be-an-asian-robert-de-niro/)

[Jackie Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-chan/)

> [Robert De Niro, even though I've been in two other movies with him, I never really got to know him at all. But on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-keaton/robert-de-niro-even-though-i-ve-been-in-two-other-movies-with-him-i/)

[Diane Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-keaton/)

> [Robert De Niro, I have loved this man forever. I mean, I think I have seen the 'Godfather' 300 times, but he is so special.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-mangano/robert-de-niro-i-have-loved-this-man-forever-i-mean-i-think-i-have/)

[Joy Mangano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-mangano/)

> [Just watching Robert De Niro was all the words of wisdom I really needed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-rasuk/just-watching-robert-de-niro-was-all-the-words-of-wisdom-i-really/)

[Victor Rasuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-rasuk/)

> [I was thrilled to work opposite Carl Reiner and Robert De Niro. Mr. Reiner was very chatty and delightful, but I learned that if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/i-was-thrilled-to-work-opposite-carl-reiner-and-robert-de-niro-mr/)

[Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/)

> [Robert De Niro taught me how to listen, and how to be part of the conversation. It's not just about reading your lines and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-moriarty/robert-de-niro-taught-me-how-to-listen-and-how-to-be-part-of-the/)

[Cathy Moriarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-moriarty/)

> [I will never be a Robert De Niro or Meryl Streep, the kind of actor that disappears into a role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jordan/i-will-never-be-a-robert-de-niro-or-meryl-streep-the-kind-of-actor/)

[Leslie Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jordan/)

## More by Mira Sorvino

> [I'm doing things that are more artistic again, more close to the material that I love. I don't disparage those things that I did.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-sorvino/i-m-doing-things-that-are-more-artistic-again-more-close-to-the/)

[Mira Sorvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-sorvino/)

> [There's a side of my personality that goes completely against the educated &amp; serious woman. The side who wants to be a pin-up girl…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-sorvino/there-s-a-side-of-my-personality-that-goes-completely-against-the/)

[Mira Sorvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-sorvino/)

> [I had been looking for a New York apartment, but I said, Why not give LA a go?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-sorvino/i-had-been-looking-for-a-new-york-apartment-but-i-said-why-not-give/)

[Mira Sorvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-sorvino/)

> [Being a good mother is really so hard and so important, and it's this thing that all people long for. Think of all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-sorvino/being-a-good-mother-is-really-so-hard-and-so-important-and-it-s-this/)

[Mira Sorvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-sorvino/)

> [I hope that doing truthful portrayals of people in a variety of circumstances gives people a kind of subterranean link to those characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-sorvino/i-hope-that-doing-truthful-portrayals-of-people-in-a-variety-of/)

[Mira Sorvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-sorvino/)

> [I hate it when people use sex as a weapon against the people who are engaging in it. It's so hypocritical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-sorvino/i-hate-it-when-people-use-sex-as-a-weapon-against-the-people-who-are/)

[Mira Sorvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-sorvino/)

> [When I was 5, my mother threw a party, and a friend and I wrote and performed a play called The Dutch Doll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-sorvino/when-i-was-5-my-mother-threw-a-party-and-a-friend-and-i-wrote-and/)

[Mira Sorvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-sorvino/)

> [The cognitive dissonance, the denial and cowardice that spare us painful truths and prevent us from acting in defense of innocent victims while allowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-sorvino/the-cognitive-dissonance-the-denial-and-cowardice-that-spare-us/)

[Mira Sorvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-sorvino/)

> [I was offered one of the roles in a big project that shall remain nameless. I thought the whole thing encouraged violent sex crimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-sorvino/i-was-offered-one-of-the-roles-in-a-big-project-that-shall-remain/)

[Mira Sorvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-sorvino/)

> [I feel like the world that ' Condor' lives in is very close to the world we're all living in every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-sorvino/i-feel-like-the-world-that-condor-lives-in-is-very-close-to-the-world/)

[Mira Sorvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-sorvino/)

> [There are all kinds of other things I could do, things I would probably like, but only acting would give me emotional fulfillment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-sorvino/there-are-all-kinds-of-other-things-i-could-do-things-i-would/)

[Mira Sorvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-sorvino/)

> [I had a Christian upbringing - it was all about sin and guilt. I was very happy just kissing people. I was like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-sorvino/i-had-a-christian-upbringing-it-was-all-about-sin-and-guilt-i-was/)

[Mira Sorvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-sorvino/)

> [I did a Christmas movie where I played Mrs. Claus because my children's favorite movie of all time was a Christmas movie that my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-sorvino/i-did-a-christmas-movie-where-i-played-mrs-claus-because-my-children/)

[Mira Sorvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-sorvino/)

> [We all struggle with our failure to communicate and our failure to reach beyond fear to love people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-sorvino/we-all-struggle-with-our-failure-to-communicate-and-our-failure-to/)

[Mira Sorvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-sorvino/)

> [I try to become more humble and more myself with every year. There was a while when I got famous where I was so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-sorvino/i-try-to-become-more-humble-and-more-myself-with-every-year-there-was/)

[Mira Sorvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-sorvino/)

[Explore all 58 Mira Sorvino quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-sorvino/)

## 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": "I had started off, before I ever got an acting job, working at Robert De Niro's Tribeca Productions as a reader. I was always interested in that side of the camera.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Mira Sorvino"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-sorvino/i-had-started-off-before-i-ever-got-an-acting-job-working-at-robert/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Acting"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-sorvino/i-had-started-off-before-i-ever-got-an-acting-job-working-at-robert/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d76/mira-sorvino-11683_acting_i-had-started-off-before-i-ever-got-an-a_359569.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d76/mira-sorvino-11683_acting_i-had-started-off-before-i-ever-got-an-a_359569.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d76/mira-sorvino-11683_acting_i-had-started-off-before-i-ever-got-an-a_359569.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I had started off, before I ever got an acting job, working at Robert De Niro's Tribeca Productions as a…” — Mira Sorvino",
                "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": "Mira Sorvino",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-sorvino/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I had started off, before I...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-sorvino/i-had-started-off-before-i-ever-got-an-acting-job-working-at-robert/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-sorvino/i-had-started-off-before-i-ever-got-an-acting-job-working-at-robert/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
