--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When somebody mentions that I did a play…" description: "\"When somebody mentions that I did a play with George C. Scott, I'm like, it can't have happened. What was I doing on a Broadway stage at 11 years old? ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65a/paul-dano-2579_broadway_when-somebody-mentions-that-i-did-a-play_4166.jpg" --- # When somebody mentions that I did a play with George C… ![“When somebody mentions that I did a play with George C. Scott, I'm like, it can't have happened. What was I doing on a Broadway stage at 11 years old? It's so far in the distance now.” quote by Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65a/paul-dano-2579_broadway_when-somebody-mentions-that-i-did-a-play_4166.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65a/paul-dano-2579_broadway_when-somebody-mentions-that-i-did-a-play_4166.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65a/paul-dano-2579_broadway_when-somebody-mentions-that-i-did-a-play_4166.jpg) > “When somebody mentions that I did a play with George C. Scott, I'm like, it can't have happened. What was I doing on a Broadway stage at 11 years old? It's so far in the distance now.” [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A nostalgic disbelief at an impossible past achievement, highlighting how time reshapes perception of youthful experiences. **In simple terms:** Surreal nostalgia for a forgotten early success. Key Takeaway Memory can feel alien as years pass. Themes nostalgia self-doubt time perception identity career reflection Mood wistful amused reflective Type anecdotal self‑deprecating conversational When to use this quote - reminiscing about childhood fame - explaining a surprising credential - conversing with skeptics - writing a memoir - interviewing for a role Key Concepts memory distortion career myth age vs achievement Practical Applications - clarify personal narrative - use as a conversational ice‑breaker Questions to Reflect On - How does recalling improbable events affect self‑esteem? - What role does age play in validating achievements? A Different Perspective It may be a fabricated anecdote to impress others. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Broadway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broadway/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [I would love to play Bobby in 'Company.' Also, I would love to play George in 'Sunday.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-young/i-would-love-to-play-bobby-in-company-also-i-would-love-to-play/) [Josh Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-young/) > [I'll never forget the first moment I stepped on a Broadway stage. It was in Grease, and I knew it was momentous. My parents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helene-yorke/i-ll-never-forget-the-first-moment-i-stepped-on-a-broadway-stage-it/) [Helene Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helene-yorke/) > [Having spent time on the Broadway stage definitely helps one's confidence in terms of feeling just validated in that world. Most people only know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-nettles/having-spent-time-on-the-broadway-stage-definitely-helps-one-s/) [Jennifer Nettles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-nettles/) > [There's just nothing funnier or crazier than that - doing your Broadway debut as Spider-Man in 'Spider-Man' the musical. It was, like, the last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-epstein/there-s-just-nothing-funnier-or-crazier-than-that-doing-your-broadway/) [Jake Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-epstein/) > [I am always in much better shape when I am doing a Broadway show because you have the eight shows a week to kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-krakowski/i-am-always-in-much-better-shape-when-i-am-doing-a-broadway-show/) [Jane Krakowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-krakowski/) > [To be an English person in my 20s, doing a Broadway show - it's one of the mountains I wanted to climb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-sturridge/to-be-an-english-person-in-my-20s-doing-a-broadway-show-it-s-one-of/) [Tom Sturridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-sturridge/) > [I remember doing Broadway, I started Broadway in 2005, and, of course, I sing two songs in the play, 'Hairspray'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tevin-campbell/i-remember-doing-broadway-i-started-broadway-in-2005-and-of-course-i/) [Tevin Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tevin-campbell/) > [I got the regular call, that they were doing a Broadway musical of Hairspray, and would I come and audition. I was familiar with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/i-got-the-regular-call-that-they-were-doing-a-broadway-musical-of/) [Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/) > [It's always been a dream of mine to do a voice for a Disney movie. I think Disney movies and theater are very closely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexa-ray-joel/it-s-always-been-a-dream-of-mine-to-do-a-voice-for-a-disney-movie-i/) [Alexa Ray Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexa-ray-joel/) > [I love and respect theatre, so I am truly honored to have the opportunity to take my voice to the Broadway stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-fonsi/i-love-and-respect-theatre-so-i-am-truly-honored-to-have-the/) [Luis Fonsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-fonsi/) > [I get psyched about coming onto a Broadway stage every night. it's very exciting. You develop a kind of gratefulness for it when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-stan/i-get-psyched-about-coming-onto-a-broadway-stage-every-night-it-s/) [Sebastian Stan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-stan/) > [I certainly have dreams of being on a Broadway stage someday, if they'll have me. I think I want to stay really open to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-bareilles/i-certainly-have-dreams-of-being-on-a-broadway-stage-someday-if-they/) [Sara Bareilles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-bareilles/) > [There's nothing more romantic after not seeing your husband for four months than to have our first night back together, on a Broadway stage,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborra-lee-furness/there-s-nothing-more-romantic-after-not-seeing-your-husband-for-four/) [Deborra-Lee Furness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborra-lee-furness/) > [It's always a thrill to walk through a Broadway stage door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-bishop/it-s-always-a-thrill-to-walk-through-a-broadway-stage-door/) [Kelly Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-bishop/) > [The only thing I haven't done as an actor, other than Thai puppet theater somewhere, is act on a Broadway stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-larroquette/the-only-thing-i-haven-t-done-as-an-actor-other-than-thai-puppet/) [John Larroquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-larroquette/) ## More by Paul Dano > [ Of course I think it's a movie for everybody \[Insane Farting Corpse\], but that's probably just because it's a movie for me. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/of-course-i-think-it-s-a-movie-for-everybody-insane-farting-corpse/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [Some projects go as you hope or imagine, and some change or reveal themselves in a different way; it depends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/some-projects-go-as-you-hope-or-imagine-and-some-change-or-reveal/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [I try to leave my work at the door when I leave the set. It's almost like summer camp. You go in hard, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/i-try-to-leave-my-work-at-the-door-when-i-leave-the-set-it-s-almost/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [I dont normally like getting dressed up, but when I go to events, I like to look put together. Ive got to say, getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/i-dont-normally-like-getting-dressed-up-but-when-i-go-to-events-i/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [Nobody is a perfect actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/nobody-is-a-perfect-actor/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [The better the acting is, the harder it is to see what the process is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/the-better-the-acting-is-the-harder-it-is-to-see-what-the-process-is/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [ If you could call me buff, my version of buff was when I finished that film \[Swiss Army Man\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/if-you-could-call-me-buff-my-version-of-buff-was-when-i-finished-that/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [The only constant I can find is hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/the-only-constant-i-can-find-is-hard-work/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [ Reading the script \[Insane Farting Corpse\], by page two or three, I felt that way. I thought, I'm in. It was so beautiful and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/reading-the-script-insane-farting-corpse-by-page-two-or-three-i-felt/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [I went to tranny bars and kind of got used to being around that and then getting dressed up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/i-went-to-tranny-bars-and-kind-of-got-used-to-being-around-that-and/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [ I'm really excited to share the movie \[Swiss Army Man\] with people, so I'm glad that people are seeing it. And I want them… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/i-m-really-excited-to-share-the-movie-swiss-army-man-with-people-so-i/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [I want to do some bigger films, so long as there's some sort of exciting creative element or a good filmmaker behind them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/i-want-to-do-some-bigger-films-so-long-as-there-s-some-sort-of/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [As an actor, I always feel you basically have to be able to delude yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/as-an-actor-i-always-feel-you-basically-have-to-be-able-to-delude/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [People have asked me about playing outsiders. I don't consider myself an outsider. Maybe that's why I'm interested in that. I'm not really sure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/people-have-asked-me-about-playing-outsiders-i-don-t-consider-myself/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [New York is kind of a mythological city in may ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/new-york-is-kind-of-a-mythological-city-in-may-ways/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) [Explore all 160 Paul Dano quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) ## More Broadway quotes > [I thought my first few jobs would just be off, off, off, off, off broadway. And by chance and how the world works, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/i-thought-my-first-few-jobs-would-just-be-off-off-off-off-off/) [Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/) > [A lot of Broadway has that immigrant narrative of America as a place where you can become something else against all odds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-kass/a-lot-of-broadway-has-that-immigrant-narrative-of-america-as-a-place/) [Deborah Kass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-kass/) > [I would love to go back to Broadway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-finneran/i-would-love-to-go-back-to-broadway/) [Katie Finneran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-finneran/) > [“On Broadway it was still bright afternoon and the gassy air was almost motionless under the leaden spokes of sunlight, and sawdust footprints lay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/on-broadway-it-was-still-bright-afternoon-and-the-gassy-air-was/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [That's why I had to leave Hair on Broadway, because I did it for about a year, and one night I was doing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-mcguire/that-s-why-i-had-to-leave-hair-on-broadway-because-i-did-it-for-about/) [Barry McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mcguire/) > [I starred in a Broadway play that was Sidney Poitier's first directing job and the cast was Lou Gossett, Cicely Tyson, Diana Ladd and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/i-starred-in-a-broadway-play-that-was-sidney-poitier-s-first/) [David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) > [All of a sudden, I was a young kid in my early 20s, and I had a couple of Broadway shows to my credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tenney/all-of-a-sudden-i-was-a-young-kid-in-my-early-20s-and-i-had-a-couple/) [Jon Tenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tenney/) > [When I was little, I saw the play 'Les Miserables' on Broadway, I thought it was the most amazing thing I have ever seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-tisdale/when-i-was-little-i-saw-the-play-les-miserables-on-broadway-i-thought/) [Ashley Tisdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-tisdale/) > [I never thought my life's path would take me to Broadway, but when I heard they were creating a musical based on one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorrie-morgan/i-never-thought-my-life-s-path-would-take-me-to-broadway-but-when-i/) [Lorrie Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorrie-morgan/) > [I aspired from early on to write a novel, to be in the 'New Yorker,' to be on Broadway, and at least in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-o-donnell/i-aspired-from-early-on-to-write-a-novel-to-be-in-the-new-yorker-to/) [Mark O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-o-donnell/) > [The Beatles have a deeper appreciation of all music. There's a humor, there's a Broadway sense, and later on, the Indian stuff came in.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-vivino/the-beatles-have-a-deeper-appreciation-of-all-music-there-s-a-humor/) Jimmy Vivino > [I remember going onstage on Broadway in this Leigh Bowery thing for a track like "Ich Bin Kunst." I've got breasts, this latex dripping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boy-george/i-remember-going-onstage-on-broadway-in-this-leigh-bowery-thing-for-a/) [Boy George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boy-george/) > [I am an off-Broadway, nonprofit kind of guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lapine/i-am-an-off-broadway-nonprofit-kind-of-guy/) [James Lapine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lapine/) > [I never wanted to just be on Broadway, I wanted to be Simba.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caleb-mclaughlin/i-never-wanted-to-just-be-on-broadway-i-wanted-to-be-simba/) [Caleb McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caleb-mclaughlin/) > [I did a thing called 24 Hour Plays, a thing they do every year on Broadway. A bunch of playwrights and actors get together,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-raab/i-did-a-thing-called-24-hour-plays-a-thing-they-do-every-year-on/) [Scott Raab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-raab/) [Browse all 1,139 Broadway quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broadway/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When somebody mentions that I did a play with George C. Scott, I'm like, it can't have happened. What was I doing on a Broadway stage at 11 years old? 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