--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was starting out, I always wanted…" description: "\"When I was starting out, I always wanted to be able to do everything - comedy and drama and action, and everything in between. Film is so diverse, and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54a/olivia-thirlby-16453_able_when-i-was-starting-out-i-always-wanted_591414.jpg" --- # When I was starting out, I always wanted to be able to do… ![“When I was starting out, I always wanted to be able to do everything - comedy and drama and action, and everything in between. Film is so diverse, and it's fun to be able to take advantage of all of it.” quote by Olivia Thirlby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54a/olivia-thirlby-16453_able_when-i-was-starting-out-i-always-wanted_591414.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54a/olivia-thirlby-16453_able_when-i-was-starting-out-i-always-wanted_591414.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54a/olivia-thirlby-16453_able_when-i-was-starting-out-i-always-wanted_591414.jpg) > “When I was starting out, I always wanted to be able to do everything - comedy and drama and action, and everything in between. Film is so diverse, and it's fun to be able to take advantage of all of it.” [Olivia Thirlby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-thirlby/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Highlights the value of versatility in acting, embracing multiple genres for creative fulfillment. **In simple terms:** Versatility enriches performance. Key Takeaway Explore diverse roles and styles. Themes creativity career development artistic freedom Mood enthusiastic curious Type artistic motivational When to use this quote - audition preparation - acting workshops - film festivals - portfolio building Key Concepts genre fluidity skill diversification adaptability Questions to Reflect On - Which genre challenges you most? - How does genre blending affect storytelling? A Different Perspective Specialization may limit opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Action film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action-film/) [Advantage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advantage/) [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Between](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/between/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Diverse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diverse/) [Diverse Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diverse-fun-4839738/) [Drama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama/) [Drama Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama-action-991285/) [Everything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everything/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Film Diverse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film-diverse-4839737/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/out/) [Starting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/starting/) [Starting out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/starting-out/) [Take](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/take/) [Take advantage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/take-advantage/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) ## Related quotes > [Drama is action, sir, action and not confounded philosophy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luigi-pirandello/drama-is-action-sir-action-and-not-confounded-philosophy/) [Luigi Pirandello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luigi-pirandello/) > [I want to take up anything that excites me. It can be a drama, action or a comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prateik-babbar/i-want-to-take-up-anything-that-excites-me-it-can-be-a-drama-action/) [Prateik Babbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prateik-babbar/) > [Carl Rinsch has a good balance between the visual and the drama and action, so I thought if he's going to direct, we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiroyuki-sanada/carl-rinsch-has-a-good-balance-between-the-visual-and-the-drama-and/) [Hiroyuki Sanada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiroyuki-sanada/) > [Just by nature, I think in comedy. I think in sketches and what have you. In every drama or action movie I've been in,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/just-by-nature-i-think-in-comedy-i-think-in-sketches-and-what-have/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [You want to suggest something new, but at the same time, resolve the drama of the action in the novel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/you-want-to-suggest-something-new-but-at-the-same-time-resolve-the/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [I think my life has everything, you know; it has comedy, has drama, has action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-millan/i-think-my-life-has-everything-you-know-it-has-comedy-has-drama-has/) [Cesar Millan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-millan/) > [The only way to avoid disruption is to constantly do what you would if you were just starting out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-levie/the-only-way-to-avoid-disruption-is-to-constantly-do-what-you-would/) [Aaron Levie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-levie/) > [It's no good starting out by thinking one is a heaven-born genius- some people are, but very few. No, one is a tradesman -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/it-s-no-good-starting-out-by-thinking-one-is-a-heaven-born-genius/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [ I worked more intensively hour after hour when I was starting out \[writing\]. More laboriously. I'd say quantity is important as well as quality,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-davis/i-worked-more-intensively-hour-after-hour-when-i-was-starting-out/) [Lydia Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-davis/) > [Think for yourself. Unplug yourself from follow-the-follower groupthink, and virtually ignore what everyone else in your industry is saying (except the ones everyone agrees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-pavlina/think-for-yourself-unplug-yourself-from-follow-the-follower/) [Steve Pavlina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-pavlina/) > [Epic things start with small humble steps. Pay respect to your beginnings. And if you're just starting out, know that it's OK to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vishen-lakhiani/epic-things-start-with-small-humble-steps-pay-respect-to-your/) [Vishen Lakhiani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vishen-lakhiani/) > [I know a famous violinist who told me he can't compose because he knows too many pieces. So, when he starts thinking of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-portman/i-know-a-famous-violinist-who-told-me-he-can-t-compose-because-he/) [Natalie Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-portman/) > [When I was starting out, being a young entrepreneur was not fashionable. Parents would ask, 'When are you going to get a real job?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-harrington/when-i-was-starting-out-being-a-young-entrepreneur-was-not/) [Kevin Harrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-harrington/) > [I can say for myself that I feel like I've gotten a ton of opportunities in the digital space and not a lot in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-helbig/i-can-say-for-myself-that-i-feel-like-i-ve-gotten-a-ton-of/) [Grace Helbig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-helbig/) > [If you're starting out or trying to get to the next level, surround yourself with people who keep you motivated and energized - people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-famiglietti/if-you-re-starting-out-or-trying-to-get-to-the-next-level-surround/) [Anthony Famiglietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-famiglietti/) ## More by Olivia Thirlby > [I think we all suffer from acute blindness at times. Life is a constant journey of trying to open your eyes. I'm just beginning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-thirlby/i-think-we-all-suffer-from-acute-blindness-at-times-life-is-a/) [Olivia Thirlby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-thirlby/) > [But I loved doing the physical stuff for 'Dredd.' I have to give a shout-out to the stunt team that I worked with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-thirlby/but-i-loved-doing-the-physical-stuff-for-dredd-i-have-to-give-a-shout/) [Olivia Thirlby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-thirlby/) > [My hair had been dyed blonde for 'Dredd.' After 'Dredd,' I was really fried because of the blonde hair dye, and so I cut…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-thirlby/my-hair-had-been-dyed-blonde-for-dredd-after-dredd-i-was-really-fried/) [Olivia Thirlby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-thirlby/) > [My boyfriend and I just got a projector, so we've been screening movies on the roof and projecting them against the wall next door.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-thirlby/my-boyfriend-and-i-just-got-a-projector-so-we-ve-been-screening/) [Olivia Thirlby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-thirlby/) > [There's so much with my character in 'Dredd' that I identify with. She's my favorite character I think I've ever played. She's the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-thirlby/there-s-so-much-with-my-character-in-dredd-that-i-identify-with-she-s/) [Olivia Thirlby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-thirlby/) > [I'm such a homebody. I don't party. I don't drink. That may be because I got it out all out of my system before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-thirlby/i-m-such-a-homebody-i-don-t-party-i-don-t-drink-that-may-be-because-i/) [Olivia Thirlby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-thirlby/) > ['The Movie' is something that I made with some friends of mine in L.A. My friend, Luke Eberl, is the filmmaker. He shot this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-thirlby/the-movie-is-something-that-i-made-with-some-friends-of-mine-in-l-a/) [Olivia Thirlby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-thirlby/) > [I don't think I'm the world's most die-hard sci-fi fan, but I definitely grew up watching 'Star Trek' religiously - all of them: the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-thirlby/i-don-t-think-i-m-the-world-s-most-die-hard-sci-fi-fan-but-i/) [Olivia Thirlby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-thirlby/) > [I still audition a lot and work really hard to get work. So I don't really walk around feeling like I've made it. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-thirlby/i-still-audition-a-lot-and-work-really-hard-to-get-work-so-i-don-t/) [Olivia Thirlby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-thirlby/) > [The older I get and the longer I live in New York City, the more I have the desire to go elsewhere and be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-thirlby/the-older-i-get-and-the-longer-i-live-in-new-york-city-the-more-i/) [Olivia Thirlby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-thirlby/) > [I didn't have an incredibly active social life as a teenager. I always wished it was a little bit more exciting than it was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-thirlby/i-didn-t-have-an-incredibly-active-social-life-as-a-teenager-i-always/) [Olivia Thirlby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-thirlby/) > [I love to cook. My dad's a really excellent cook and his style is: Look in the fridge and make whatever there is with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-thirlby/i-love-to-cook-my-dad-s-a-really-excellent-cook-and-his-style-is-look/) [Olivia Thirlby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-thirlby/) > [I'm not an eye-candy kind of girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-thirlby/i-m-not-an-eye-candy-kind-of-girl/) [Olivia Thirlby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-thirlby/) > [Sometimes in my life I feel like a bit of a sorceress who can't totally control all their power. I'm a Libra, so... Libra…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-thirlby/sometimes-in-my-life-i-feel-like-a-bit-of-a-sorceress-who-can-t/) [Olivia Thirlby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-thirlby/) > [I trained in Shakespeare, and that's all comedy, even when it's tragedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-thirlby/i-trained-in-shakespeare-and-that-s-all-comedy-even-when-it-s-tragedy/) [Olivia Thirlby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-thirlby/) [Explore all 39 Olivia Thirlby quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-thirlby/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) [Greg Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-perry/) > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) [Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was starting out, I always wanted to be able to do everything - comedy and drama and action, and everything in between. 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