--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn't know box office was a thing you…" description: "\"I didn't know box office was a thing you could possess but I don't have it. I go up for lovely roles and people with this nebulous thing called box off..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fae/olivia-williams-10935_box-office_i-didn-t-know-box-office-was-a-thing-you_3008898.jpg" --- # I didn't know box office was a thing you could possess but… ![“I didn't know box office was a thing you could possess but I don't have it. I go up for lovely roles and people with this nebulous thing called box office get them so there isn't much I can do about that unless you know where I can get some box-office myself!” quote by Olivia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fae/olivia-williams-10935_box-office_i-didn-t-know-box-office-was-a-thing-you_3008898.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fae/olivia-williams-10935_box-office_i-didn-t-know-box-office-was-a-thing-you_3008898.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fae/olivia-williams-10935_box-office_i-didn-t-know-box-office-was-a-thing-you_3008898.jpg) > “I didn't know box office was a thing you could possess but I don't have it. I go up for lovely roles and people with this nebulous thing called box office get them so there isn't much I can do about that unless you know where I can get some box-office myself!” [Olivia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-williams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Box office success is elusive; she seeks roles over commercial metrics, highlighting artistic focus. **In simple terms:** She values roles more than box office numbers. Key Takeaway Prioritize artistic fulfillment over fame. Themes career artistic integrity industry dynamics Mood pragmatic hopeful Type industry personal When to use this quote - casting decisions - indie projects - career planning Key Concepts economics of film personal values Questions to Reflect On - What defines success for you? - How do you balance art and commerce? A Different Perspective May limit financial opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [Is not life the most precious thing we possess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushil/is-not-life-the-most-precious-thing-we-possess/) [Sushil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushil/) > [It is said, that the thing you possess is worth more than two you may have in the future. The one is sure and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/it-is-said-that-the-thing-you-possess-is-worth-more-than-two-you-may/) [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) > [Love is really the only thing we can possess, keep with us, and take with us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/love-is-really-the-only-thing-we-can-possess-keep-with-us-and-take/) [Elisabeth Kubler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) > [Everything you and I will ever have will come to us as the result of the way we use our minds, the one thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-nightingale/everything-you-and-i-will-ever-have-will-come-to-us-as-the-result-of/) [Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/) > [What seems different in yourself; that's the rare thing you possess. The one thing that gives each of us his worth, and that's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-gide/what-seems-different-in-yourself-that-s-the-rare-thing-you-possess/) [Andre Gide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-gide/) > [“Most people lose the only thing they possess—Life—while acquiring the many things that will finally never be theirs.-RVM”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rvm/most-people-lose-the-only-thing-they-possess-life-while-acquiring-the/) RVM > [To the extent that movies get released, they are generally not big box-office generators. Hollywood is clearly focusing on their holiday releases coming up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-arnold/to-the-extent-that-movies-get-released-they-are-generally-not-big-box/) [Tom Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-arnold/) > [I would do 'John Carter' again tomorrow. I'm very proud of 'John Carter.' Box office doesn't validate me as a person, or as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-kitsch/i-would-do-john-carter-again-tomorrow-i-m-very-proud-of-john-carter/) [Taylor Kitsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-kitsch/) > [When you have box-office results, Hollywood treats you different. Hollywood stands up. Once you get to the point where Hollywood sees that you create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hart/when-you-have-box-office-results-hollywood-treats-you-different/) [Kevin Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hart/) > [Women were real box office stars in the '40s, more so than men. People loved to see women's films. I think it was better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwyneth-paltrow/women-were-real-box-office-stars-in-the-40s-more-so-than-men-people/) [Gwyneth Paltrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwyneth-paltrow/) > [I guess I judge my films by how pleased I am with the work I do, so it's kind of on another level. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-weaving/i-guess-i-judge-my-films-by-how-pleased-i-am-with-the-work-i-do-so-it/) [Hugo Weaving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-weaving/) > [And yes, it is harder to make movies because budgets are getting smaller, and the companies stocks are down. The only good news on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bruckheimer/and-yes-it-is-harder-to-make-movies-because-budgets-are-getting/) [Jerry Bruckheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bruckheimer/) > [You know how many movies it took Tom Cruise before he was making 5, 6 million dollars? It probably took a billion dollars in box office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-patric/you-know-how-many-movies-it-took-tom-cruise-before-he-was-making-5-6/) [Jason Patric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-patric/) > [I believe in my privacy. I always have, and I always will. I don't think that my private life needs to be on display…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kajol/i-believe-in-my-privacy-i-always-have-and-i-always-will-i-don-t-think/) [Kajol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kajol/) > [When I was young I didn't care about education, just money and box office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-chan/when-i-was-young-i-didn-t-care-about-education-just-money-and-box/) [Jackie Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-chan/) ## More by Olivia Williams > [I am a pathetic and gushing Nick Hornby fan, and I wanted to be in High Fidelity, and I wanted to be in About…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-williams/i-am-a-pathetic-and-gushing-nick-hornby-fan-and-i-wanted-to-be-in/) [Olivia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-williams/) > [My very first friend was my stand-in, who's a very dear friend to this day, and she kind of saved my ass. She told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-williams/my-very-first-friend-was-my-stand-in-who-s-a-very-dear-friend-to-this/) [Olivia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-williams/) > [It was as big as a Beatles concert, I guess. Friends was unbelievably popular in Britain, and it was incredibly exciting. I had never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-williams/it-was-as-big-as-a-beatles-concert-i-guess-friends-was-unbelievably/) [Olivia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-williams/) > [I guess maybe I was hired to play in the Doll House because of my dinner scene in The Sixth Sense, which has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-williams/i-guess-maybe-i-was-hired-to-play-in-the-doll-house-because-of-my/) [Olivia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-williams/) > [There are movies where I've walked onto the set and felt, "This is home," and I'm confident in myself and my work, but that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-williams/there-are-movies-where-i-ve-walked-onto-the-set-and-felt-this-is-home/) [Olivia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-williams/) > [I love the ups and downs and the eccentricities of my career. The worst movies have produced some of the best friendships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-williams/i-love-the-ups-and-downs-and-the-eccentricities-of-my-career-the/) [Olivia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-williams/) > [For me, selfishly, The Postman didn't kill my career. It meant I didn't shoot straight and painfully into the limelight, but Rushmore came out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-williams/for-me-selfishly-the-postman-didn-t-kill-my-career-it-meant-i-didn-t/) [Olivia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-williams/) > [As an actor, you're just taking temperature. I am anyway, all the time, and responding appropriately. I was again cast very last-minute for Rushmore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-williams/as-an-actor-you-re-just-taking-temperature-i-am-anyway-all-the-time/) [Olivia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-williams/) > [Ewan McGregor and I said this to each other after we saw The Ghost Writer. Every time Roman Polanski did a "No, no, no!,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-williams/ewan-mcgregor-and-i-said-this-to-each-other-after-we-saw-the-ghost/) [Olivia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-williams/) > [My parents' long and happy marriage was a great ideal to live up to, but a tough one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-williams/my-parents-long-and-happy-marriage-was-a-great-ideal-to-live-up-to/) [Olivia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-williams/) > [Ewan McGregor is a very genial and entertaining man, and Pierce Brosnan is possibly the nicest man in the world. Actually, it was quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-williams/ewan-mcgregor-is-a-very-genial-and-entertaining-man-and-pierce/) [Olivia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-williams/) > [The excruciating moments of drama are when people are allowed to show or say what they feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-williams/the-excruciating-moments-of-drama-are-when-people-are-allowed-to-show/) [Olivia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-williams/) > [I really needed to have something in my life, because I realized there were other things more important than my career. So I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-williams/i-really-needed-to-have-something-in-my-life-because-i-realized-there/) [Olivia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-williams/) > [My parents taught me everything and set me up for life. I owe to them all the things I'm passionate about: music, art, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-williams/my-parents-taught-me-everything-and-set-me-up-for-life-i-owe-to-them/) [Olivia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-williams/) > [Carey Mulligan is completely self-possessed. She knows what she's doing, and again, quite like the big-hitters I was talking about, my job was just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-williams/carey-mulligan-is-completely-self-possessed-she-knows-what-she-s/) [Olivia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-williams/) [Explore all 62 Olivia Williams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-williams/) ## More Box office quotes > [I don't think that 'Just Mohabbat' or 'Tarzan' were a hindrance. 'Tarzan' didn't do well at the box office but I would say the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vatsal-sheth/i-don-t-think-that-just-mohabbat-or-tarzan-were-a-hindrance-tarzan/) [Vatsal Sheth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vatsal-sheth/) > [When I was young I didn't care about education, just money and box office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-chan/when-i-was-young-i-didn-t-care-about-education-just-money-and-box/) [Jackie Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-chan/) > [The box office in an arthouse film is always going to be small. We have to face this and overcome this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiran-rao/the-box-office-in-an-arthouse-film-is-always-going-to-be-small-we/) [Kiran Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiran-rao/) > [I believe in my privacy. I always have, and I always will. I don't think that my private life needs to be on display…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kajol/i-believe-in-my-privacy-i-always-have-and-i-always-will-i-don-t-think/) [Kajol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kajol/) > [Film is not just about the art form but also how it fares at the box office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamannaah/film-is-not-just-about-the-art-form-but-also-how-it-fares-at-the-box/) [Tamannaah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamannaah/) > [You know how many movies it took Tom Cruise before he was making 5, 6 million dollars? It probably took a billion dollars in box office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-patric/you-know-how-many-movies-it-took-tom-cruise-before-he-was-making-5-6/) [Jason Patric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-patric/) > [If I or any other black can deliver at the box office, I'll get a lot of work. Too many young actors, regardless of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-van-peebles/if-i-or-any-other-black-can-deliver-at-the-box-office-i-ll-get-a-lot/) [Mario Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-van-peebles/) > [And yes, it is harder to make movies because budgets are getting smaller, and the companies stocks are down. The only good news on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bruckheimer/and-yes-it-is-harder-to-make-movies-because-budgets-are-getting/) [Jerry Bruckheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bruckheimer/) > [I guess I judge my films by how pleased I am with the work I do, so it's kind of on another level. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-weaving/i-guess-i-judge-my-films-by-how-pleased-i-am-with-the-work-i-do-so-it/) [Hugo Weaving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-weaving/) > [Women were real box office stars in the '40s, more so than men. People loved to see women's films. I think it was better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwyneth-paltrow/women-were-real-box-office-stars-in-the-40s-more-so-than-men-people/) [Gwyneth Paltrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwyneth-paltrow/) > [For a broad, star-powered picture like 'The Interview,' a big-tent release in 2,000 to 3,000 theaters is the top choice for a movie studio…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stelter/for-a-broad-star-powered-picture-like-the-interview-a-big-tent/) [Brian Stelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stelter/) > [When you have box-office results, Hollywood treats you different. Hollywood stands up. Once you get to the point where Hollywood sees that you create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hart/when-you-have-box-office-results-hollywood-treats-you-different/) [Kevin Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hart/) > [I would never want to do a content-driven film with a box office life of Rs 20 crore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farah-khan/i-would-never-want-to-do-a-content-driven-film-with-a-box-office-life/) [Farah Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farah-khan/) > [I would do 'John Carter' again tomorrow. I'm very proud of 'John Carter.' Box office doesn't validate me as a person, or as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-kitsch/i-would-do-john-carter-again-tomorrow-i-m-very-proud-of-john-carter/) [Taylor Kitsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-kitsch/) > [Box office success definitely matters. I will be lying if say it does not matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-penty/box-office-success-definitely-matters-i-will-be-lying-if-say-it-does/) [Diana Penty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-penty/) Browse all 292 Box office quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I didn't know box office was a thing you could possess but I don't have it. 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