--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had gotten to a place where I truly…" description: "\"I had gotten to a place where I truly believed everything I was called: 'not sexy,' 'not funny,' 'too intense,' desperate.' All those labels they gave ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72a/naomi-watts-7964_desperate_i-had-gotten-to-a-place-where-i-truly-be_3031650.jpg" --- # I had gotten to a place where I truly believed everything… ![“I had gotten to a place where I truly believed everything I was called: 'not sexy,' 'not funny,' 'too intense,' desperate.' All those labels they gave me, I took them because there wasn't a trace of my true self left.” quote by Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72a/naomi-watts-7964_desperate_i-had-gotten-to-a-place-where-i-truly-be_3031650.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72a/naomi-watts-7964_desperate_i-had-gotten-to-a-place-where-i-truly-be_3031650.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72a/naomi-watts-7964_desperate_i-had-gotten-to-a-place-where-i-truly-be_3031650.jpg) > “I had gotten to a place where I truly believed everything I was called: 'not sexy,' 'not funny,' 'too intense,' desperate.' All those labels they gave me, I took them because there wasn't a trace of my true self left.” [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. She internalized negative labels, losing sense of self. **In simple terms:** Self‑labeling can erode identity. Key Takeaway Reject harmful labels, rediscover self. Themes self‑image labels psychology growth Mood vulnerable hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - therapy - journaling - support groups Key Concepts identity reconstruction self‑compassion Questions to Reflect On - Which labels have you outgrown? - How can you affirm your true self? A Different Perspective Societal expectations reinforce labels. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believed Called](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believed-called-4955511/) [Desperate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperate/) [Desperate Labels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperate-labels-4955510/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Intense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intense/) [Labels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labels/) [Labels Gave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labels-gave-4955509/) [Left](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Sexy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sexy/) [True self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-self/) [Truly Believed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truly-believed-607742/) ## Related quotes > [I will always remember how Al Davis made me feel that he truly believed and had confidence in me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-janikowski/i-will-always-remember-how-al-davis-made-me-feel-that-he-truly/) [Sebastian Janikowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-janikowski/) > [As Mr. Backlund, I truly believed in what I was saying. I believed in every word that I said. I believed that society had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-backlund/as-mr-backlund-i-truly-believed-in-what-i-was-saying-i-believed-in/) [Bob Backlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-backlund/) > [We truly believed in something back then, and we knew we were the kind of people capable of believing in something - with all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/we-truly-believed-in-something-back-then-and-we-knew-we-were-the-kind/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“Everyone deserves something lovely, she said. It was something that she truly believed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-salcedo/everyone-deserves-something-lovely-she-said-it-was-something-that-she/) [Nicki Salcedo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-salcedo/) > [The man who has truly believed in his heart ... his life will be marked by a biblical confession of Christ in word and deed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/the-man-who-has-truly-believed-in-his-heart-his-life-will-be-marked/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [Dad truly believed that Christians should be involved in the political process and should make their voices heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-falwell-jr/dad-truly-believed-that-christians-should-be-involved-in-the/) [Jerry Falwell, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-falwell-jr/) > [... if a man really and truly believed that black was white, you might advise him to see an oculist, but you mustn't call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-deland/if-a-man-really-and-truly-believed-that-black-was-white-you-might/) [Margaret Deland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-deland/) > [If you're not willing to fight for that you believe in then you never truly believed in it in the first place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uknees-purple/if-you-re-not-willing-to-fight-for-that-you-believe-in-then-you-never/) [Uknees Purple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uknees-purple/) > [“Though they never put it in these specific terms, the early Christians’ actions and reactions indicate that they fully understood and truly believed that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramon-presson/though-they-never-put-it-in-these-specific-terms-the-early-christians/) [Ramon Presson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramon-presson/) > [“Part of me tingled with excitement. This was it. I was finally going to be with Will. We were going to make love for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-ashley/part-of-me-tingled-with-excitement-this-was-it-i-was-finally-going-to/) [Katie Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-ashley/) > [I truly believed that other people in my position didn't make mistakes; I couldn't see that everybody makes them, even people with great experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-graham/i-truly-believed-that-other-people-in-my-position-didn-t-make/) [Katharine Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-graham/) > [“If our people truly believed someone had already died for their sins, none would have dared die for our independence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mwanandeke-kindembo/if-our-people-truly-believed-someone-had-already-died-for-their-sins/) [Mwanandeke Kindembo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mwanandeke-kindembo/) > [“Your journey through life and self-discovery is much like the start of a new day. As you grow, develop, and reinvent yourself, the tendrils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-narofsky/your-journey-through-life-and-self-discovery-is-much-like-the-start/) [Thomas Narofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-narofsky/) > [My true Self is free. I cannot be contained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/my-true-self-is-free-i-cannot-be-contained/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [In school math and science were my favorite subjects, but I probably in my true self I'm more of a people person. At the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/in-school-math-and-science-were-my-favorite-subjects-but-i-probably/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) ## 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 Desperate quotes > [Marriage is a desperate thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-selden/marriage-is-a-desperate-thing/) [John Selden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-selden/) > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [“I am a desperate romantic. I love the idea of random collisions of the heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-thompson/i-am-a-desperate-romantic-i-love-the-idea-of-random-collisions-of-the/) [Jessica Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-thompson/) > [Worship isn't destructive, Martin. I know that. I don't. I only know it's the core of his life. What else has he got? He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shaffer/worship-isn-t-destructive-martin-i-know-that-i-don-t-i-only-know-it-s/) [Peter Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shaffer/) > [“Really? I'm trying to place you. It seems like we've met before." Did I just issue him a pick up line? Fantastic, I've now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/really-i-m-trying-to-place-you-it-seems-like-we-ve-met-before-did-i/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [Never be desperate. Get rid of your insecurities. Know your worth. Believe in yourself and go get what you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-be-desperate-get-rid-of-your-insecurities-know-your-worth/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“She was stupid and lonely. So desperate to be touched and loved with a good love. I need you, don't leave me, you're all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian-bane/she-was-stupid-and-lonely-so-desperate-to-be-touched-and-loved-with-a/) [Lucian Bane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian-bane/) > [You mostly know that you want to be funny, know that you have the desire. It's not like people who grow up beautiful and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/you-mostly-know-that-you-want-to-be-funny-know-that-you-have-the/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [I had to smile when stories emerged questioning whether I was gay. Obviously I knew I wasn't but people were curiously desperate to suggest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/i-had-to-smile-when-stories-emerged-questioning-whether-i-was-gay/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > [The World Health Organisation has a lot of its medical experts sitting in Geneva while hospitals in Africa have no drugs and desperate patients…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-hanson/the-world-health-organisation-has-a-lot-of-its-medical-experts/) [Pauline Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-hanson/) > [There, in the center of that silence was not eternity but the death of time and a loneliness so profound the word itself had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/there-in-the-center-of-that-silence-was-not-eternity-but-the-death-of/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [I know it's a film and all of that, and it's a Hollywood film, but it kind of feels like this sometimes, when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-marber/i-know-it-s-a-film-and-all-of-that-and-it-s-a-hollywood-film-but-it/) [Patrick Marber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-marber/) > [“you think I"m that desperate?" "The raging hard-on jabbing at me says yes." ~Creed/Annika”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-croft/you-think-i-m-that-desperate-the-raging-hard-on-jabbing-at-me-says/) [Sydney Croft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-croft/) > [Along with a livable wage, many parents are desperate for quality affordable child care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-gillibrand/along-with-a-livable-wage-many-parents-are-desperate-for-quality/) [Kirsten Gillibrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-gillibrand/) > [As a player, if a club is desperate to sign you, then you can benefit from that. Desperate clubs are prepared to pay more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-forlan/as-a-player-if-a-club-is-desperate-to-sign-you-then-you-can-benefit/) [Diego Forlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-forlan/) [Browse all 1,618 Desperate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I had gotten to a place where I truly believed everything I was called: 'not sexy,' 'not funny,' 'too intense,' desperate.' 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