---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm just going to try to do the best work…"
description: "\"I'm just going to try to do the best work at whatever I'm going to be, and I don't think I'm going to be an actress.\" — Pam Grier"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ef/pam-grier-7817_actress_i-m-just-going-to-try-to-do-the-best-wor_2524364.jpg"
---

#  I'm just going to try to do the best work at whatever I'm…

![“I'm just going to try to do the best work at whatever I'm going to be, and I don't think I'm going to be an actress.” quote by Pam Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ef/pam-grier-7817_actress_i-m-just-going-to-try-to-do-the-best-wor_2524364.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ef/pam-grier-7817_actress_i-m-just-going-to-try-to-do-the-best-wor_2524364.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ef/pam-grier-7817_actress_i-m-just-going-to-try-to-do-the-best-wor_2524364.jpg)

> “I'm just going to try to do the best work at whatever I'm going to be, and I don't think I'm going to be an actress.”

[Pam Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-grier/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

She emphasizes doing her best in any role, even if acting isn’t her destiny.

**In simple terms:** Do your best, regardless of the job.

Key Takeaway

Focus on excellence, not titles.

Themes

work ethic self‑efficacy identity career perseverance

Mood

determined reflective

Type

motivational practical

When to use this quote

- job interview
- career transition
- creative projects
- personal development
- team collaboration

Key Concepts

personal growth role adaptability self‑concept

Questions to Reflect On

- What does “best work” look like in a non‑acting role?
- How can you apply this mindset to unrelated fields?

A Different Perspective

May lack formal training limit performance.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Actresses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actresses/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/)

## Related quotes

> [You can go out and try to do the best work that you can do within the context of what that is, but it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/you-can-go-out-and-try-to-do-the-best-work-that-you-can-do-within-the/)

[Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/)

> [All I can do is try to do the best work I can. I need to work, I like to work... although I complain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-scorsese/all-i-can-do-is-try-to-do-the-best-work-i-can-i-need-to-work-i-like/)

[Martin Scorsese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-scorsese/)

> [What you aim for, in the first place, is to be as good as you can possibly be. This is what I do, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-summers/what-you-aim-for-in-the-first-place-is-to-be-as-good-as-you-can/)

[Andy Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-summers/)

> [Whatever coach asks of us, we're going to try and do it to the best of our abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sony-michel/whatever-coach-asks-of-us-we-re-going-to-try-and-do-it-to-the-best-of/)

[Sony Michel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sony-michel/)

> [“Please, Grace, whatever it is you're going after, please try to find it here with me. I will try my best to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-zolendz/please-grace-whatever-it-is-you-re-going-after-please-try-to-find-it/)

[Christine Zolendz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-zolendz/)

> [I'm always going to go out there and try my best to help us win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-poole/i-m-always-going-to-go-out-there-and-try-my-best-to-help-us-win/)

[Jordan Poole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-poole/)

> [I'm going to go out and try to be the best player I can be and help the Chicago Bears win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-griese/i-m-going-to-go-out-and-try-to-be-the-best-player-i-can-be-and-help/)

[Brian Griese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-griese/)

> [I'm going to try my best and do everything I can to compete and do everything I can to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sofia-kenin/i-m-going-to-try-my-best-and-do-everything-i-can-to-compete-and-do/)

[Sofia Kenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sofia-kenin/)

> [I'm going to try to go out and do my best, and I'm going to try and compete every play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-thielen/i-m-going-to-try-to-go-out-and-do-my-best-and-i-m-going-to-try-and/)

[Adam Thielen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-thielen/)

> [I'm going to try my best to do everything I can for Detroit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tee-grizzley/i-m-going-to-try-my-best-to-do-everything-i-can-for-detroit/)

[Tee Grizzley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tee-grizzley/)

> [I am not Russell Westbrook. I do not have the same name, same body type, stuff like that. So, I'm just going to try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-am-not-russell-westbrook-i-do-not-have-the-same-name-same-body-type/)

[Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/)

> [If you're going to try something , give it your best. What would be the point of trying without you giving your goal your all?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-country/if-you-re-going-to-try-something-give-it-your-best-what-would-be-the/)

[Michael Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-country/)

> [When it comes to me, I just write the most beautiful music I can, I do the best work I can, and then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-manilow/when-it-comes-to-me-i-just-write-the-most-beautiful-music-i-can-i-do/)

[Barry Manilow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-manilow/)

> [Every job in Hollywood is a risk. You don't know, when you sign a contract, if something is going to pop, you don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-wahlberg/every-job-in-hollywood-is-a-risk-you-don-t-know-when-you-sign-a/)

[Donnie Wahlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-wahlberg/)

> [The only thing I can do is wipe my arse, brush my teeth, turn up and do the best work I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hardy/the-only-thing-i-can-do-is-wipe-my-arse-brush-my-teeth-turn-up-and-do/)

[Tom Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hardy/)

## More by Pam Grier

> [And as I reinvent myself and I'm constantly curious about everything, I can't wait to see what's around the corner in newfound art and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-grier/and-as-i-reinvent-myself-and-i-m-constantly-curious-about-everything/)

[Pam Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-grier/)

> [It's always fun to put on bell bottoms and have your butt hanging out and hip huggers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-grier/it-s-always-fun-to-put-on-bell-bottoms-and-have-your-butt-hanging-out/)

[Pam Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-grier/)

> [But I just loved looking at the clothes of the '70s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-grier/but-i-just-loved-looking-at-the-clothes-of-the-70s/)

[Pam Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-grier/)

> [You can get hurt at any time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-grier/you-can-get-hurt-at-any-time/)

[Pam Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-grier/)

> [I never thought I was pretty. I couldn't even put on eyelashes or makeup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-grier/i-never-thought-i-was-pretty-i-couldn-t-even-put-on-eyelashes-or/)

[Pam Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-grier/)

> [I felt beauty was a magnet for abuse, and I had suffered greatly for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-grier/i-felt-beauty-was-a-magnet-for-abuse-and-i-had-suffered-greatly-for-it/)

[Pam Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-grier/)

> [Yes, you can have art films about the triumph of the human spirit and all of that, but you'll have it done with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-grier/yes-you-can-have-art-films-about-the-triumph-of-the-human-spirit-and/)

[Pam Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-grier/)

> [You can be on top of everything, and the next minute, you're going to be on the bottom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-grier/you-can-be-on-top-of-everything-and-the-next-minute-you-re-going-to/)

[Pam Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-grier/)

> [I don't believe that I should just do A-movies, I just do the work as an artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-grier/i-don-t-believe-that-i-should-just-do-a-movies-i-just-do-the-work-as/)

[Pam Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-grier/)

> [I never went in thinking, "You're an African-American woman, so you're never going to win." I was just in career doing beauty pageants for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-grier/i-never-went-in-thinking-you-re-an-african-american-woman-so-you-re/)

[Pam Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-grier/)

> [Women are allowed more freedoms and we're fighting for more freedoms, we're experiencing more freedoms won.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-grier/women-are-allowed-more-freedoms-and-we-re-fighting-for-more-freedoms/)

[Pam Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-grier/)

> [The African-American community is not monolithic. It's liberal and conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-grier/the-african-american-community-is-not-monolithic-it-s-liberal-and/)

[Pam Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-grier/)

> [I really do not care if it is a B-movie or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-grier/i-really-do-not-care-if-it-is-a-b-movie-or-not/)

[Pam Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-grier/)

> [Driving a cab is not really a nurturing type of relationship. You take people and they tip you, they may not tip you, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-grier/driving-a-cab-is-not-really-a-nurturing-type-of-relationship-you-take/)

[Pam Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-grier/)

> [I'm an Air force Brat and I've lived all over the world and this country and there were people in my community who were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-grier/i-m-an-air-force-brat-and-i-ve-lived-all-over-the-world-and-this/)

[Pam Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-grier/)

[Explore all 87 Pam Grier quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-grier/)

## More Actress quotes

> [Sigourney Weaver is a wonderful person. I was so lucky to have the opportunity to meet and work with such an amazing actress. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-henn/sigourney-weaver-is-a-wonderful-person-i-was-so-lucky-to-have-the/)

[Carrie Henn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-henn/)

> [People forget I'm an actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-heatherton/people-forget-i-m-an-actress/)

[Joey Heatherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-heatherton/)

> [I adore Kelly Bishop as a human being and as an actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-gunn/i-adore-kelly-bishop-as-a-human-being-and-as-an-actress/)

[Sean Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-gunn/)

> [I've been told before, and I tend to believe it, I'm not like most actresses out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moira-kelly/i-ve-been-told-before-and-i-tend-to-believe-it-i-m-not-like-most/)

[Moira Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moira-kelly/)

> [Marilyn was a great actress, not a dumb blond bombshell. She was very smart, very astute and a good businesswoman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-schiller/marilyn-was-a-great-actress-not-a-dumb-blond-bombshell-she-was-very/)

[Lawrence Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-schiller/)

> [I'm an actress, not a pin-up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/i-m-an-actress-not-a-pin-up/)

[Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/)

> [My father was a GP; my mother was a teacher and amateur actress. My father was a bit of a storyteller, but the acting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ciaran-hinds/my-father-was-a-gp-my-mother-was-a-teacher-and-amateur-actress-my/)

[Ciaran Hinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ciaran-hinds/)

> [I never wished that I was a superstar. Hell, I never even wished that I was an actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-lane/i-never-wished-that-i-was-a-superstar-hell-i-never-even-wished-that-i/)

[Diane Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-lane/)

> [Many of the heroines from outside Karnataka have worked in my films, but the attitude and adjusting nature of top South Indian actress Nayantara…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rockline-venkatesh/many-of-the-heroines-from-outside-karnataka-have-worked-in-my-films/)

[Rockline Venkatesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rockline-venkatesh/)

> [There are a lot of great actresses out there. You learn to appreciate each one for what they offer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-pratt/there-are-a-lot-of-great-actresses-out-there-you-learn-to-appreciate/)

[Victoria Pratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-pratt/)

> [There's certain things I try to avoid, as an actress, just to keep my world from being as narrow as it could be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/famke-janssen/there-s-certain-things-i-try-to-avoid-as-an-actress-just-to-keep-my/)

[Famke Janssen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/famke-janssen/)

> [I never wanted to be an opera singer. I wanted to be an actress, maybe a rock singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-opolais/i-never-wanted-to-be-an-opera-singer-i-wanted-to-be-an-actress-maybe/)

[Kristine Opolais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-opolais/)

> [When an actor charges high fees, nobody says anything. But when an actress does the same, it becomes news.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijayashanti/when-an-actor-charges-high-fees-nobody-says-anything-but-when-an/)

[Vijayashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijayashanti/)

> [I am going to be a great actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivien-leigh/i-am-going-to-be-a-great-actress/)

[Vivien Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivien-leigh/)

> [As a black actress you've got to work doubly hard. But it doesn't ever get me to the point where I give up on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naturi-naughton/as-a-black-actress-you-ve-got-to-work-doubly-hard-but-it-doesn-t-ever/)

[Naturi Naughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naturi-naughton/)

Browse all 2,244 Actress quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I'm just going to try to do the best work at whatever I'm going to be, and I don't think I'm going to be an actress.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Pam Grier"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-grier/i-m-just-going-to-try-to-do-the-best-work-at-whatever-i-m-going-to-be/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Actress"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-grier/i-m-just-going-to-try-to-do-the-best-work-at-whatever-i-m-going-to-be/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ef/pam-grier-7817_actress_i-m-just-going-to-try-to-do-the-best-wor_2524364.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ef/pam-grier-7817_actress_i-m-just-going-to-try-to-do-the-best-wor_2524364.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ef/pam-grier-7817_actress_i-m-just-going-to-try-to-do-the-best-wor_2524364.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I'm just going to try to do the best work at whatever I'm going to be, and I don't think I'm going to be an…” — Pam Grier",
                "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": "Pam Grier",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-grier/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I'm just going to try to...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-grier/i-m-just-going-to-try-to-do-the-best-work-at-whatever-i-m-going-to-be/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-grier/i-m-just-going-to-try-to-do-the-best-work-at-whatever-i-m-going-to-be/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
