--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I went into acting because I was hiding…" description: "\"I went into acting because I was hiding from myself, and although acting has become more of a habit now, I think I am still hiding.\" — Nigel Hawthorne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4a/nigel-hawthorne-10749_acting_i-went-into-acting-because-i-was-hiding_1305101.jpg" --- # I went into acting because I was hiding from myself, and… ![“I went into acting because I was hiding from myself, and although acting has become more of a habit now, I think I am still hiding.” quote by Nigel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4a/nigel-hawthorne-10749_acting_i-went-into-acting-because-i-was-hiding_1305101.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4a/nigel-hawthorne-10749_acting_i-went-into-acting-because-i-was-hiding_1305101.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4a/nigel-hawthorne-10749_acting_i-went-into-acting-because-i-was-hiding_1305101.jpg) > “I went into acting because I was hiding from myself, and although acting has become more of a habit now, I think I am still hiding.” [Nigel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-hawthorne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting became a habit that masks deeper personal issues. **In simple terms:** Acting hides personal truths. Key Takeaway Explore why you hide behind roles. Themes self‑discovery creativity habit Mood thoughtful introspective Type psychological inspirational When to use this quote - career counseling - art therapy - personal development - coaching Key Concepts identity self‑reflection Questions to Reflect On - What parts of yourself do you reveal when acting? - Can acting become a path to authenticity? A Different Perspective Habitual acting may also foster genuine self‑expression over time. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-habit-4299171/) [Acting Hiding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-hiding-4299169/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Hiding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hiding/) [Hiding Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hiding-acting-4299170/) [I am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-am/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Went Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/went-acting/) ## Related quotes > [What once was an expression of who I was - acting - also became my hiding place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salma-hayek/what-once-was-an-expression-of-who-i-was-acting-also-became-my-hiding/) [Salma Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salma-hayek/) > [I went to acting school for like a year and ended up doing voiceovers and stuff. I could have done a lot more with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mic-geronimo/i-went-to-acting-school-for-like-a-year-and-ended-up-doing-voiceovers/) [Mic Geronimo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mic-geronimo/) > [In many ways, Nog is a lot like me, like the way he goes after Starfleet with such tenacity, much the same way I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aron-eisenberg/in-many-ways-nog-is-a-lot-like-me-like-the-way-he-goes-after/) [Aron Eisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aron-eisenberg/) > [I never really saw my dad as entertained as when he was just completely blown away by somebody on the television screen or at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-basinger/i-never-really-saw-my-dad-as-entertained-as-when-he-was-just/) [Kim Basinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-basinger/) > [My background is a small town with no movie theater. So... I always pictured myself onstage. I went to acting school and learned all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franka-potente/my-background-is-a-small-town-with-no-movie-theater-so-i-always/) [Franka Potente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franka-potente/) > [I never went into acting to be able to scare everybody. If I'd wanted to frighten people, I could have joined the C.I.A.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shannon/i-never-went-into-acting-to-be-able-to-scare-everybody-if-i-d-wanted/) [Michael Shannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shannon/) > [I didn't go to film school, I went to acting school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-s-dutton/i-didn-t-go-to-film-school-i-went-to-acting-school/) [Charles S. Dutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-s-dutton/) > [I never went to acting school. I started in the circus, music hall, I was in a group, did kids' bits. I've always had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-graves/i-never-went-to-acting-school-i-started-in-the-circus-music-hall-i/) [Rupert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-graves/) > [I never went to school. I never went to acting school because I was so scared.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-andress/i-never-went-to-school-i-never-went-to-acting-school-because-i-was-so/) [Ursula Andress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-andress/) > [I've suffered from an identity crisis my entire life. It's why I went into acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-rhys/i-ve-suffered-from-an-identity-crisis-my-entire-life-it-s-why-i-went/) [Matthew Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-rhys/) > [I went into acting because I had to make a good living. I had a child now and I had to support him any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-soul/i-went-into-acting-because-i-had-to-make-a-good-living-i-had-a-child/) [David Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-soul/) > [I had spent my childhood making up adventures in my head. Then I realized when I went to acting school that there were adventures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-marchand/i-had-spent-my-childhood-making-up-adventures-in-my-head-then-i/) [Nancy Marchand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-marchand/) > [I used to do puppet theatre and also mime and musical theatre in Florida for competitions and festivals, which was great. I was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-snipes/i-used-to-do-puppet-theatre-and-also-mime-and-musical-theatre-in/) [Wesley Snipes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-snipes/) > [“ 'I went to one acting coach when I first started who told me that acting is reacting to the stimuli we are presented…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-rice/i-went-to-one-acting-coach-when-i-first-started-who-told-me-that/) [Christopher Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-rice/) > [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/) ## More by Nigel Hawthorne > [I don't have the vocal dexterity, nor do I have the desire to put myself in among the giants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-hawthorne/i-don-t-have-the-vocal-dexterity-nor-do-i-have-the-desire-to-put/) [Nigel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-hawthorne/) > [There is nobody on earth who could totally impersonate Jack Lewis, because you may look like him from the front or from the side,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-hawthorne/there-is-nobody-on-earth-who-could-totally-impersonate-jack-lewis/) [Nigel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-hawthorne/) > [I live in the country, and I have a very happy life. I just do the job and go home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-hawthorne/i-live-in-the-country-and-i-have-a-very-happy-life-i-just-do-the-job/) [Nigel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-hawthorne/) > [I know people say plays are only an evening's entertainment. But you can make it mean a lot to the audience, even a farce…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-hawthorne/i-know-people-say-plays-are-only-an-evening-s-entertainment-but-you/) [Nigel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-hawthorne/) > [I've been a homosexual all my life. My partner and I don't want to stand up and say we're gay, because we think that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-hawthorne/i-ve-been-a-homosexual-all-my-life-my-partner-and-i-don-t-want-to/) [Nigel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-hawthorne/) > [One of the things about George III is that he was aware that the monarchy was slipping away. There was revolution in the air…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-hawthorne/one-of-the-things-about-george-iii-is-that-he-was-aware-that-the/) [Nigel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-hawthorne/) > [We've had other things come up in their place, but I don't think' anything beats morals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-hawthorne/we-ve-had-other-things-come-up-in-their-place-but-i-don-t-think/) [Nigel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-hawthorne/) > [I was quite a plain boy. I stayed in work and eeked out a living, bit parts on TV, walk-ons in films, repertory companies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-hawthorne/i-was-quite-a-plain-boy-i-stayed-in-work-and-eeked-out-a-living-bit/) [Nigel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-hawthorne/) > [I think you start in middle life to recognize your vulnerabilities, if you're lucky. You admit them and people find that interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-hawthorne/i-think-you-start-in-middle-life-to-recognize-your-vulnerabilities-if/) [Nigel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-hawthorne/) > [It's like the Boy Scouts' motto, be prepared. You've got to be ready when the moment is offered. If you're not, you can actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-hawthorne/it-s-like-the-boy-scouts-motto-be-prepared-you-ve-got-to-be-ready/) [Nigel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-hawthorne/) > [Surprise! Surprise! An Academy Award nomination and suddenly you're outed? Did I mind? Oh, very, very much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-hawthorne/surprise-surprise-an-academy-award-nomination-and-suddenly-you-re/) [Nigel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-hawthorne/) > [People still talk about 'Yes, Minister.' Americans, too; they love it. It was a happy period for me and it did change my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-hawthorne/people-still-talk-about-yes-minister-americans-too-they-love-it-it/) [Nigel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-hawthorne/) > [I've never been afraid of being vulnerable on stage. It's a large part of life, and I think it's being dishonest to disallow an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-hawthorne/i-ve-never-been-afraid-of-being-vulnerable-on-stage-it-s-a-large-part/) [Nigel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-hawthorne/) > [Jennifer Aniston was a lovely girl, very unspoilt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-hawthorne/jennifer-aniston-was-a-lovely-girl-very-unspoilt/) [Nigel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-hawthorne/) > [I'm very lucky in that my feet are firmly on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-hawthorne/i-m-very-lucky-in-that-my-feet-are-firmly-on-the-ground/) [Nigel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-hawthorne/) [Explore all 63 Nigel Hawthorne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-hawthorne/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 went into acting because I was hiding from myself, and although acting has become more of a habit now, I think I am still hiding.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nigel Hawthorne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-hawthorne/i-went-into-acting-because-i-was-hiding-from-myself-and-although/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-hawthorne/i-went-into-acting-because-i-was-hiding-from-myself-and-although/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4a/nigel-hawthorne-10749_acting_i-went-into-acting-because-i-was-hiding_1305101.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4a/nigel-hawthorne-10749_acting_i-went-into-acting-because-i-was-hiding_1305101.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4a/nigel-hawthorne-10749_acting_i-went-into-acting-because-i-was-hiding_1305101.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I went into acting because I was hiding from myself, and although acting has become more of a habit now, I…” — Nigel Hawthorne", "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": "Nigel Hawthorne", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-hawthorne/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I went into acting because I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-hawthorne/i-went-into-acting-because-i-was-hiding-from-myself-and-although/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-hawthorne/i-went-into-acting-because-i-was-hiding-from-myself-and-although/#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 } } ] } ```