--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I got knockback after knockback at…" description: "\"I got knockback after knockback at auditions. Just before ‘Mulholland Dr.’ my agent told me I was so intense I was freaking people out. She told me I w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56b/naomi-watts-7964_actors_i-got-knockback-after-knockback-at-audit_877192.jpg" --- # I got knockback after knockback at auditions. Just before… ![“I got knockback after knockback at auditions. Just before ‘Mulholland Dr.’ my agent told me I was so intense I was freaking people out. She told me I was a brilliant actor but the feedback was that I made people feel uncomfortable because I was so nervous and intense. I just sat there and blubbed…” quote by Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56b/naomi-watts-7964_actors_i-got-knockback-after-knockback-at-audit_877192.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56b/naomi-watts-7964_actors_i-got-knockback-after-knockback-at-audit_877192.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56b/naomi-watts-7964_actors_i-got-knockback-after-knockback-at-audit_877192.jpg) > “I got knockback after knockback at auditions. Just before ‘Mulholland Dr.’ my agent told me I was so intense I was freaking people out. She told me I was a brilliant actor but the feedback was that I made people feel uncomfortable because I was so nervous and intense. I just sat there and blubbed. My mum was staying in LA at the time and I went to her and said: ‘I just can’t do this. I’m not cut out for it.’ She just said: ‘Don’t believe a word people say about you. Forget them.’” [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Repeated rejection can erode confidence, but external validation and self‑belief are crucial to persist in a demanding field. **In simple terms:** Rejection hurts, but belief matters. Key Takeaway Trust supportive voices and keep practicing. Themes career resilience self‑esteem acting rejection Mood determined reflective Type motivational practical When to use this quote - audition preparation - acting workshops - mentor support - personal journaling Key Concepts Growth mindset mental health industry pressure Questions to Reflect On - What strategies help balance intensity with audience comfort? - How can you turn nervous energy into compelling art? A Different Perspective Intense performances may alienate audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor Feedback](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-feedback-1015586/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Agents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agents/) [Auditions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/auditions/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brilliant/) [Cutting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cutting/) [Don't believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-t-believe/) [Drs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drs/) [Feedback](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feedback/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Forget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forget/) [Intense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intense/) [Knockback Auditions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knockback-auditions-1015583/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Mum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mum/) [Nervous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nervous/) [Nervous Intense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nervous-intense-1015585/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Sat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sat/) [Staying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/staying/) [Told Intense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/told-intense-1015584/) [Uncomfortable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncomfortable/) [Uncomfortable Nervous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncomfortable-nervous-1015587/) ## Related quotes > [People told me, 'you can't do intense characters.' Some said 'you look too commercial,' and I would wonder what a 'commercial look' is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhea-chakraborty/people-told-me-you-can-t-do-intense-characters-some-said-you-look-too/) [Rhea Chakraborty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhea-chakraborty/) > [People always ask me if I'm nervous about the intense sci-fi fans. To me that doesn't seem weird or scary. I get really intense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-apanowicz/people-always-ask-me-if-i-m-nervous-about-the-intense-sci-fi-fans-to/) [Magda Apanowicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-apanowicz/) > [People always ask me if Im nervous about the intense sci-fi fans. To me that doesnt seem weird or scary. I get really intense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-apanowicz/people-always-ask-me-if-im-nervous-about-the-intense-sci-fi-fans-to/) [Magda Apanowicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-apanowicz/) > [It's almost like he has Dr. Who's Tardis because he always turns up on time. (on Teddy Sheringham)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-pardew/it-s-almost-like-he-has-dr-who-s-tardis-because-he-always-turns-up-on/) [Alan Pardew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-pardew/) > [Many of the things that have happened in the laboratory have happened in ways it would have been impossible to foresee, but not impossible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-langmuir/many-of-the-things-that-have-happened-in-the-laboratory-have-happened/) [Irving Langmuir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-langmuir/) > [I generally like very visually striking films. I love a lot of Stanley Kubrick's films. I would have to say 'Dr. Strangelove', which of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gibbons/i-generally-like-very-visually-striking-films-i-love-a-lot-of-stanley/) [Dave Gibbons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gibbons/) > [... I'm on the road right now ... all is well ... Dr.Ducks Ax Wax is great, loved it ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-rosas/i-m-on-the-road-right-now-all-is-well-dr-ducks-ax-wax-is-great-loved/) [Cesar Rosas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-rosas/) > [Dr Dean Burk, who has spent more than fifty years in cancer research, mainly at the National Cancer Institute states: 'More people have died…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-burk/dr-dean-burk-who-has-spent-more-than-fifty-years-in-cancer-research/) [Dean Burk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-burk/) > [But the fascinating and unbelievable-but-true thing about Dr. Jefferson Jeffersonis that he was not a doctor of any kind. He was just an orange…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/but-the-fascinating-and-unbelievable-but-true-thing-about-dr/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Dr. Arnold . . . the admired reformer of public schools, came across some cranks who thought it a mistake to flog boys. Anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/dr-arnold-the-admired-reformer-of-public-schools-came-across-some/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [I like Dr. Daniel Amen's 18/40/60 Rule: When you're 18, you worry about what everybody is thinking of you; when you're 40, you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/i-like-dr-daniel-amen-s-18-40-60-rule-when-you-re-18-you-worry-about/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [The only thing that I'm scared of is not livin' up to the expectations of Dr. Dre and Eminem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-jackson/the-only-thing-that-i-m-scared-of-is-not-livin-up-to-the-expectations/) [Curtis Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-jackson/) > [But the saddest difference between them was that Zazetsky, as Luria said, 'fought to regain his lost faculties with the indomitable tenacity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-sacks/but-the-saddest-difference-between-them-was-that-zazetsky-as-luria/) [Oliver Sacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-sacks/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“He blinked. His eyes fell as he processed her response. Then he lifted his chin and attempted a grin that was almost painfully dejected.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/he-blinked-his-eyes-fell-as-he-processed-her-response-then-he-lifted/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) ## More by Naomi Watts > [I don't know that any woman could ever not think about that at some point - even making the choice not to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/i-don-t-know-that-any-woman-could-ever-not-think-about-that-at-some/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [There was a time I was very much blaming the way I felt on L.A, that it was a vacuum of creativity, of humor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/there-was-a-time-i-was-very-much-blaming-the-way-i-felt-on-l-a-that/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [It's always nerve-racking to take off your clothes on film. But doing it with a woman felt safer than with a man. You know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/it-s-always-nerve-racking-to-take-off-your-clothes-on-film-but-doing/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [I've always loved to dance and keep fit but more recently I feel like I cannot keep up any longer and my back starts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/i-ve-always-loved-to-dance-and-keep-fit-but-more-recently-i-feel-like/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [You're always nervous about how a film lands with an audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/you-re-always-nervous-about-how-a-film-lands-with-an-audience/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [Pain is such an important thing in life. I think that as an artist you have to experience suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/pain-is-such-an-important-thing-in-life-i-think-that-as-an-artist-you/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [I was never completely destitute. I think I borrowed money once off a friend, but I've always been quite careful with my money, having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/i-was-never-completely-destitute-i-think-i-borrowed-money-once-off-a/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [My spirit had been broken a bit over the years by my having to work on films I didn't love. Hollywood's a surreal place,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/my-spirit-had-been-broken-a-bit-over-the-years-by-my-having-to-work/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [If we could just trust the moment that we're in and live it in the way that you best can embrace it, it would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/if-we-could-just-trust-the-moment-that-we-re-in-and-live-it-in-the/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [Female roles in comedies are usually quite silly, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/female-roles-in-comedies-are-usually-quite-silly-i-think/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [Some movies are the kind you take home with you at the end of the day, and some, you can let go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/some-movies-are-the-kind-you-take-home-with-you-at-the-end-of-the-day/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [There's nothing as strong as King Kong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/there-s-nothing-as-strong-as-king-kong/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [The thing that I love about acting is the fact that I can help people feel things, know themselves or feel less alone. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/the-thing-that-i-love-about-acting-is-the-fact-that-i-can-help-people/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [Directors are our teachers, and I'm always craving to work with a great director. They're pretty much the first thing that interests me about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/directors-are-our-teachers-and-i-m-always-craving-to-work-with-a/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [I think I have better taste now than I did then.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/i-think-i-have-better-taste-now-than-i-did-then/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) [Explore all 85 Naomi Watts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) ## 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. 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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. 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Just before ‘Mulholland Dr.’ my agent told me I was so intense I was freaking people out. She told me I was a brilliant actor but the feedback was that I made people feel uncomfortable because I was so nervous and intense. I just sat there and blubbed. My mum was staying in LA at the time and I went to her and said: ‘I just can’t do this. I’m not cut out for it.’ She just said: ‘Don’t believe a word people say about you. Forget them.’", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Naomi Watts" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/i-got-knockback-after-knockback-at-auditions-just-before-mulholland/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actors" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/i-got-knockback-after-knockback-at-auditions-just-before-mulholland/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56b/naomi-watts-7964_actors_i-got-knockback-after-knockback-at-audit_877192.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56b/naomi-watts-7964_actors_i-got-knockback-after-knockback-at-audit_877192.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56b/naomi-watts-7964_actors_i-got-knockback-after-knockback-at-audit_877192.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I got knockback after knockback at auditions. 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