---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the beginning, I didn't know if I was…"
description: "\"In the beginning, I didn't know if I was still a model, if I was an actress. I knew I wanted to be an actress, but it was so difficult to be believed.\"..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37f/monica-bellucci-3930_actress_in-the-beginning-i-didn-t-know-if-i-was_1882817.jpg"
---

#  In the beginning, I didn't know if I was still a model, if…

![“In the beginning, I didn't know if I was still a model, if I was an actress. I knew I wanted to be an actress, but it was so difficult to be believed.” quote by Monica Bellucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37f/monica-bellucci-3930_actress_in-the-beginning-i-didn-t-know-if-i-was_1882817.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37f/monica-bellucci-3930_actress_in-the-beginning-i-didn-t-know-if-i-was_1882817.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37f/monica-bellucci-3930_actress_in-the-beginning-i-didn-t-know-if-i-was_1882817.jpg)

> “In the beginning, I didn't know if I was still a model, if I was an actress. I knew I wanted to be an actress, but it was so difficult to be believed.”

[Monica Bellucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-bellucci/)

## About This Quote

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

Early career doubt stemmed from lack of belief in her acting identity, highlighting gender bias.

**In simple terms:** She doubted being seen as an actress.

Key Takeaway

Persist despite doubts and seek validation.

Themes

identity gender bias career

Mood

reflective hopeful

Type

motivational philosophical

When to use this quote

- auditions
- casting decisions
- career coaching

Key Concepts

selfesteem industry stereotypes perseverance

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you combat bias?
- What supports reinforce confidence?

A Different Perspective

Industry may resist change.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Actress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actress/) [Actress Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actress-difficult-2670935/) [Actress Knew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actress-knew-845641/) [Beginning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginning/) [Believed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believed/) [Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) [Difficult Believed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult-believed-2670936/) [In the beginning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/in-the-beginning/) [Knew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knew/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Model](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/model/) [Model Actress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/model-actress-232358/) [Still](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/still/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/)

## Related quotes

> [ She \[Monica Vitti\] was a great actress, but a very difficult person. I am not in contact with her at the moment because she… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giovanna-cau/she-monica-vitti-was-a-great-actress-but-a-very-difficult-person-i-am/)

[Giovanna Cau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giovanna-cau/)

> [As an actress I knew I had to control my weight gain somehow as any director or producer would like to sign in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mumtaj/as-an-actress-i-knew-i-had-to-control-my-weight-gain-somehow-as-any/)

[Mumtaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mumtaj/)

> [Even when I was young I wanted to be an actress. I knew the actors and the paparazzi. It was just kind of always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troian-bellisario/even-when-i-was-young-i-wanted-to-be-an-actress-i-knew-the-actors-and/)

[Troian Bellisario](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troian-bellisario/)

> [My illusions didn't have anything to do with being a fine actress. I knew how third rate I was. I could actually feel my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/my-illusions-didn-t-have-anything-to-do-with-being-a-fine-actress-i/)

[Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/)

> [I didn't know where film came from when I was under 10. I just thought I'd be a stage actress. I always knew money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosamund-pike/i-didn-t-know-where-film-came-from-when-i-was-under-10-i-just-thought/)

[Rosamund Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosamund-pike/)

> [I've always been business-minded. I worked in corporate America before becoming an actress and knew that acting wasn't the end but a means to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-longoria/i-ve-always-been-business-minded-i-worked-in-corporate-america-before/)

[Eva Longoria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-longoria/)

> [The thing I really know is that I'm not a model. I'm an actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-kirby/the-thing-i-really-know-is-that-i-m-not-a-model-i-m-an-actress/)

[Vanessa Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-kirby/)

> [I wanted to become a model and an actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-nicole-smith/i-wanted-to-become-a-model-and-an-actress/)

[Anna Nicole Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-nicole-smith/)

> [Being a model and an actress, I feel we a have a responsibility towards society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/urvashi-rautela/being-a-model-and-an-actress-i-feel-we-a-have-a-responsibility/)

[Urvashi Rautela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/urvashi-rautela/)

> [My father, Ralph Fernandes, was a model before he became an interior designer. He was very supportive of my decision to become a model…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-fernandes/my-father-ralph-fernandes-was-a-model-before-he-became-an-interior/)

[Erica Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-fernandes/)

> [Just about every young model and actress is dating somebody in the entertainment field, because these are the people you meet. You're not going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bebe-buell/just-about-every-young-model-and-actress-is-dating-somebody-in-the/)

[Bebe Buell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bebe-buell/)

> [I always wanted to be a model, never an actress. I would see children in ads and stuff and wanted to be like them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anushka-sharma/i-always-wanted-to-be-a-model-never-an-actress-i-would-see-children/)

[Anushka Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anushka-sharma/)

> [A lot of people don't make the correlation between acting and modeling, they think of them as two separate things. But I really believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-flutie/a-lot-of-people-don-t-make-the-correlation-between-acting-and/)

[Michael Flutie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-flutie/)

> [I feel I've made the transition from model to actress, but I'm not that secure about it. Lauren Hutton, Jennifer O'Neill - we all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maud-adams/i-feel-i-ve-made-the-transition-from-model-to-actress-but-i-m-not/)

[Maud Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maud-adams/)

> [Winning the Miss India Earth 2013 title proved to be a stepping stone for a career in modelling and, eventually, films, though I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sobhita-dhulipala/winning-the-miss-india-earth-2013-title-proved-to-be-a-stepping-stone/)

[Sobhita Dhulipala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sobhita-dhulipala/)

## More by Monica Bellucci

> [I have a lot of adrenaline. I have a naturally fast system. But I love to eat, and I am not skinny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-bellucci/i-have-a-lot-of-adrenaline-i-have-a-naturally-fast-system-but-i-love/)

[Monica Bellucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-bellucci/)

> [A woman has so many facets, and when you create an image, you have to play with all the different moments of your femininity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-bellucci/a-woman-has-so-many-facets-and-when-you-create-an-image-you-have-to/)

[Monica Bellucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-bellucci/)

> [If You want a man to notice you, just wear red lipstick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-bellucci/if-you-want-a-man-to-notice-you-just-wear-red-lipstick/)

[Monica Bellucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-bellucci/)

> [I like to be in the spotlight once in a while, and then I like to be in the shadows. It's really regenerating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-bellucci/i-like-to-be-in-the-spotlight-once-in-a-while-and-then-i-like-to-be/)

[Monica Bellucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-bellucci/)

> [Love does not go away, it changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-bellucci/love-does-not-go-away-it-changes/)

[Monica Bellucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-bellucci/)

> [I have always loved lipstick. For women, that love comes from our mother and grandmothers. It's so natural for a woman to open up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-bellucci/i-have-always-loved-lipstick-for-women-that-love-comes-from-our/)

[Monica Bellucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-bellucci/)

> [We should not be worried about age when it comes to love and attraction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-bellucci/we-should-not-be-worried-about-age-when-it-comes-to-love-and/)

[Monica Bellucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-bellucci/)

> [My body is so important to me... my face, my arms, my legs, my hands, my eyes, everything. I use everything I have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-bellucci/my-body-is-so-important-to-me-my-face-my-arms-my-legs-my-hands-my/)

[Monica Bellucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-bellucci/)

> [Beauty is a gift, just like good health or intelligence. The only thing is not to be proud of being beautiful. Because you didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-bellucci/beauty-is-a-gift-just-like-good-health-or-intelligence-the-only-thing/)

[Monica Bellucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-bellucci/)

> [When I did 'The Passion,' nobody believed in the movie. Everybody was telling me, 'You shouldn't do this movie... But I wanted to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-bellucci/when-i-did-the-passion-nobody-believed-in-the-movie-everybody-was/)

[Monica Bellucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-bellucci/)

> [If you believe what you are on the red carpet, then you would have to go see a doctor, and there are so many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-bellucci/if-you-believe-what-you-are-on-the-red-carpet-then-you-would-have-to/)

[Monica Bellucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-bellucci/)

> [British people don't express when they are in pain. They don't think it's elegant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-bellucci/british-people-don-t-express-when-they-are-in-pain-they-don-t-think/)

[Monica Bellucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-bellucci/)

> [Men have the power in everything: journalism, acting, direction; in banks, finances, schools. All the laws are made by men. Men think that women,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-bellucci/men-have-the-power-in-everything-journalism-acting-direction-in-banks/)

[Monica Bellucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-bellucci/)

> [My body is an object of work. That's why I think to be an actor is one of the most violent jobs. If you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-bellucci/my-body-is-an-object-of-work-that-s-why-i-think-to-be-an-actor-is-one/)

[Monica Bellucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-bellucci/)

> [I went to a modeling agency and said I wanted to be a model. I worked, worked, worked so much while I was studying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-bellucci/i-went-to-a-modeling-agency-and-said-i-wanted-to-be-a-model-i-worked/)

[Monica Bellucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-bellucci/)

[Explore all 119 Monica Bellucci quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-bellucci/)

## More Actress quotes

> [Sigourney Weaver is a wonderful person. I was so lucky to have the opportunity to meet and work with such an amazing actress. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-henn/sigourney-weaver-is-a-wonderful-person-i-was-so-lucky-to-have-the/)

[Carrie Henn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-henn/)

> [People forget I'm an actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-heatherton/people-forget-i-m-an-actress/)

[Joey Heatherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-heatherton/)

> [I adore Kelly Bishop as a human being and as an actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-gunn/i-adore-kelly-bishop-as-a-human-being-and-as-an-actress/)

[Sean Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-gunn/)

> [I've been told before, and I tend to believe it, I'm not like most actresses out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moira-kelly/i-ve-been-told-before-and-i-tend-to-believe-it-i-m-not-like-most/)

[Moira Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moira-kelly/)

> [Marilyn was a great actress, not a dumb blond bombshell. She was very smart, very astute and a good businesswoman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-schiller/marilyn-was-a-great-actress-not-a-dumb-blond-bombshell-she-was-very/)

[Lawrence Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-schiller/)

> [I'm an actress, not a pin-up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/i-m-an-actress-not-a-pin-up/)

[Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/)

> [My father was a GP; my mother was a teacher and amateur actress. My father was a bit of a storyteller, but the acting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ciaran-hinds/my-father-was-a-gp-my-mother-was-a-teacher-and-amateur-actress-my/)

[Ciaran Hinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ciaran-hinds/)

> [I never wished that I was a superstar. Hell, I never even wished that I was an actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-lane/i-never-wished-that-i-was-a-superstar-hell-i-never-even-wished-that-i/)

[Diane Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-lane/)

> [Many of the heroines from outside Karnataka have worked in my films, but the attitude and adjusting nature of top South Indian actress Nayantara…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rockline-venkatesh/many-of-the-heroines-from-outside-karnataka-have-worked-in-my-films/)

[Rockline Venkatesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rockline-venkatesh/)

> [There are a lot of great actresses out there. You learn to appreciate each one for what they offer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-pratt/there-are-a-lot-of-great-actresses-out-there-you-learn-to-appreciate/)

[Victoria Pratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-pratt/)

> [There's certain things I try to avoid, as an actress, just to keep my world from being as narrow as it could be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/famke-janssen/there-s-certain-things-i-try-to-avoid-as-an-actress-just-to-keep-my/)

[Famke Janssen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/famke-janssen/)

> [I never wanted to be an opera singer. I wanted to be an actress, maybe a rock singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-opolais/i-never-wanted-to-be-an-opera-singer-i-wanted-to-be-an-actress-maybe/)

[Kristine Opolais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-opolais/)

> [When an actor charges high fees, nobody says anything. But when an actress does the same, it becomes news.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijayashanti/when-an-actor-charges-high-fees-nobody-says-anything-but-when-an/)

[Vijayashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijayashanti/)

> [I am going to be a great actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivien-leigh/i-am-going-to-be-a-great-actress/)

[Vivien Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivien-leigh/)

> [As a black actress you've got to work doubly hard. But it doesn't ever get me to the point where I give up on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naturi-naughton/as-a-black-actress-you-ve-got-to-work-doubly-hard-but-it-doesn-t-ever/)

[Naturi Naughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naturi-naughton/)

[Browse all 2,244 Actress quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actress/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "In the beginning, I didn't know if I was still a model, if I was an actress. I knew I wanted to be an actress, but it was so difficult to be believed.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Monica Bellucci"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-bellucci/in-the-beginning-i-didn-t-know-if-i-was-still-a-model-if-i-was-an/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Actress"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-bellucci/in-the-beginning-i-didn-t-know-if-i-was-still-a-model-if-i-was-an/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37f/monica-bellucci-3930_actress_in-the-beginning-i-didn-t-know-if-i-was_1882817.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37f/monica-bellucci-3930_actress_in-the-beginning-i-didn-t-know-if-i-was_1882817.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37f/monica-bellucci-3930_actress_in-the-beginning-i-didn-t-know-if-i-was_1882817.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“In the beginning, I didn't know if I was still a model, if I was an actress. I knew I wanted to be an…” — Monica Bellucci",
                "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": "Monica Bellucci",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-bellucci/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "In the beginning, I didn't know...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-bellucci/in-the-beginning-i-didn-t-know-if-i-was-still-a-model-if-i-was-an/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-bellucci/in-the-beginning-i-didn-t-know-if-i-was-still-a-model-if-i-was-an/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
