--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I found myself at Cambridge, loved my…" description: "\"I found myself at Cambridge, loved my course, and met these amazing people who got me heavily involved. I presumed I would have to go to drama school, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7d/nicola-walker-7390_actor_i-found-myself-at-cambridge-loved-my-cou_2367475.jpg" --- # I found myself at Cambridge, loved my course, and met… ![“I found myself at Cambridge, loved my course, and met these amazing people who got me heavily involved. I presumed I would have to go to drama school, but I did a play with my uni friends, who were doing lots of pub theatre in London, and through that met my agent. She said 'Don't go to drama…” quote by Nicola Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7d/nicola-walker-7390_actor_i-found-myself-at-cambridge-loved-my-cou_2367475.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7d/nicola-walker-7390_actor_i-found-myself-at-cambridge-loved-my-cou_2367475.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7d/nicola-walker-7390_actor_i-found-myself-at-cambridge-loved-my-cou_2367475.jpg) > “I found myself at Cambridge, loved my course, and met these amazing people who got me heavily involved. I presumed I would have to go to drama school, but I did a play with my uni friends, who were doing lots of pub theatre in London, and through that met my agent. She said 'Don't go to drama school. I'll get you a job' and two weeks later she did.” [Nicola Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-walker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She entered acting via university theatre, met an agent who offered a job, bypassing drama school. **In simple terms:** She got an acting job through university theatre, not drama school. Key Takeaway Leverage networks and real-world experience. Themes career paths networking acting Mood inspirational pragmatic Type professional personal When to use this quote - University productions - agent discovery - career pivots - job offers Key Concepts Industry entry talent scouting Questions to Reflect On - How can informal routes replace formal education? - What are risks of bypassing training? A Different Perspective Skipping formal training can limit skill development. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Amazing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amazing/) [Amazing people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amazing-people/) [Drama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama/) [Drama school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama-school/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/london/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [He loved her, of course, but better than that, he chose her, day after day. Choice: that was the thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/he-loved-her-of-course-but-better-than-that-he-chose-her-day-after/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [If I had only one more round to play, I would choose to play it at Pebble Beach. I've loved this course from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/if-i-had-only-one-more-round-to-play-i-would-choose-to-play-it-at/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [I never went to drama school, but I did learn a couple of things along the way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-byrne/i-never-went-to-drama-school-but-i-did-learn-a-couple-of-things-along/) [Gabriel Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-byrne/) > [In my first year at drama school, I did this kids' show called 'Let's See.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cumming/in-my-first-year-at-drama-school-i-did-this-kids-show-called-let-s-see/) [Alan Cumming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cumming/) > [I went to drama school in the U.K., where we did endless Chekov plays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-anderson/i-went-to-drama-school-in-the-u-k-where-we-did-endless-chekov-plays/) [Joe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-anderson/) > [My next step must be to go to drama school. Well, I get into drama school, so I did that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-irons/my-next-step-must-be-to-go-to-drama-school-well-i-get-into-drama/) [Jeremy Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-irons/) > [I never did drama at school. I did it for one term, when it was compulsory, and I hated it. Tennis was the main…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-mitchell/i-never-did-drama-at-school-i-did-it-for-one-term-when-it-was/) [Luke Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-mitchell/) > [My agent said to me five years ago, 'Hugh, I can see one day you... if I had to plan a goal for you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/my-agent-said-to-me-five-years-ago-hugh-i-can-see-one-day-you-if-i/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [I came first to America in 1977 at the invitation of a man who wanted to make my life story into a musical. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/i-came-first-to-america-in-1977-at-the-invitation-of-a-man-who-wanted/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) > [My agent said that every Monday after an episode of 'Entourage,' at the staff meeting at the agency, that's all they do is talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-connolly/my-agent-said-that-every-monday-after-an-episode-of-entourage-at-the/) [Kevin Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-connolly/) > [My agent sent me the script and I loved it. I wondered how they would turn me into a chimp. My agent said it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-hunter/my-agent-sent-me-the-script-and-i-loved-it-i-wondered-how-they-would/) [Kim Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-hunter/) > [We basically got a call from our agent that said we were on the list of directors that Marvel was interested in talking to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-russo/we-basically-got-a-call-from-our-agent-that-said-we-were-on-the-list/) [Anthony Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-russo/) > [I think, being an actress, you know that you're getting old. I'm 44. I mean, an agent said when I turned 40, "It won't get better."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-gainsbourg/i-think-being-an-actress-you-know-that-you-re-getting-old-i-m-44-i/) [Charlotte Gainsbourg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-gainsbourg/) > [My agent said that I was one of the top three busiest people in the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-kasem/my-agent-said-that-i-was-one-of-the-top-three-busiest-people-in-the/) [Casey Kasem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-kasem/) > [My agent once said, 'You're not very driven.' And it's true. I'm not the type to ring up and go, 'Get me this part!'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-vegas/my-agent-once-said-you-re-not-very-driven-and-it-s-true-i-m-not-the/) [Johnny Vegas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-vegas/) ## More by Nicola Walker > [My two great fears are either not working or working on something that means you can't do something else you really want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-walker/my-two-great-fears-are-either-not-working-or-working-on-something/) [Nicola Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-walker/) > [My husband says I'm a grumpy lioness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-walker/my-husband-says-i-m-a-grumpy-lioness/) [Nicola Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-walker/) > ['Spooks' was very much of its time and rather unique, so I was more than happy to be in that as a long-runner -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-walker/spooks-was-very-much-of-its-time-and-rather-unique-so-i-was-more-than/) [Nicola Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-walker/) > [I don't really have a treasured possession, but I do love my family's proper old photo album. We all have hundreds of photos on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-walker/i-don-t-really-have-a-treasured-possession-but-i-do-love-my-family-s/) [Nicola Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-walker/) > [My whole family were from the East End, but they moved away when I was a child. They still cannot get their heads around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-walker/my-whole-family-were-from-the-east-end-but-they-moved-away-when-i-was/) [Nicola Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-walker/) > [I'm a proper Essex girl because my family was part of that great exodus from the East End.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-walker/i-m-a-proper-essex-girl-because-my-family-was-part-of-that-great/) [Nicola Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-walker/) > [The best thing my mum and dad did was to send me to the local youth theatre. I loved that; I felt I'd found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-walker/the-best-thing-my-mum-and-dad-did-was-to-send-me-to-the-local-youth/) [Nicola Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-walker/) > [I would like to think that there are more women in positions of power, to actually get these projects off the ground that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-walker/i-would-like-to-think-that-there-are-more-women-in-positions-of-power/) [Nicola Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-walker/) > [I'm a hoarder, but then, when it all gets too much, I turn into a ruthless chucker. I'm very good at clearing out and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-walker/i-m-a-hoarder-but-then-when-it-all-gets-too-much-i-turn-into-a/) [Nicola Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-walker/) > [My family moved out of London's East End to a tiny village. The school I went to was supposed to be mixed gender, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-walker/my-family-moved-out-of-london-s-east-end-to-a-tiny-village-the-school/) [Nicola Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-walker/) > [We're all used to seeing a lot of cop shows, some of them brilliant, some of them very generic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-walker/we-re-all-used-to-seeing-a-lot-of-cop-shows-some-of-them-brilliant/) [Nicola Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-walker/) > [You can't escape your face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-walker/you-can-t-escape-your-face/) [Nicola Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-walker/) > [My dad always jokes that if I ever write an autobiography, which I'm not going to, it'll be called 'It's Tough in the Middle.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-walker/my-dad-always-jokes-that-if-i-ever-write-an-autobiography-which-i-m/) [Nicola Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-walker/) > [Cornwall is my favourite place - I wish I could earn a living there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-walker/cornwall-is-my-favourite-place-i-wish-i-could-earn-a-living-there/) [Nicola Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-walker/) > [It was really unusual that the crews on 'Spooks' were a real mix of men and women, and you'd struggle to see many women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-walker/it-was-really-unusual-that-the-crews-on-spooks-were-a-real-mix-of-men/) [Nicola Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-walker/) [Explore all 91 Nicola Walker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-walker/) ## More Actor 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/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [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/) > [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/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [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/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I found myself at Cambridge, loved my course, and met these amazing people who got me heavily involved. I presumed I would have to go to drama school, but I did a play with my uni friends, who were doing lots of pub theatre in London, and through that met my agent. She said 'Don't go to drama school. 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