--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I remember when I got my first…" description: "\"I remember when I got my first opportunity to work in America, I didn't speak a lot of English, so I only really knew my lines for the movie I was doin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57a/penelope-cruz-2508_america_i-remember-when-i-got-my-first-opportuni_1593608.png" --- # I remember when I got my first opportunity to work in… ![“I remember when I got my first opportunity to work in America, I didn't speak a lot of English, so I only really knew my lines for the movie I was doing.” quote by Penelope Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57a/penelope-cruz-2508_america_i-remember-when-i-got-my-first-opportuni_1593608.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57a/penelope-cruz-2508_america_i-remember-when-i-got-my-first-opportuni_1593608.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57a/penelope-cruz-2508_america_i-remember-when-i-got-my-first-opportuni_1593608.png) > “I remember when I got my first opportunity to work in America, I didn't speak a lot of English, so I only really knew my lines for the movie I was doing.” [Penelope Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-cruz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She struggled with language barriers early in her US career, relying on memorized lines. **In simple terms:** Language barriers made her rely on memorized lines. Key Takeaway Practice and preparation help overcome language challenges. Themes language immigration career challenges Mood determined hopeful Type practical motivational When to use this quote - acting auditions - public speaking - new job - travel Key Concepts Cultural adaptation learning strategies confidence building Questions to Reflect On - How can you improve language fluency quickly? - What support systems aid newcomers? A Different Perspective Memorization alone limits deeper understanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing/) [English](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/english/) [English Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/english-really-721336/) [First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first/) [Got](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got/) [I remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-remember/) [Knew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knew/) [Knew Lines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knew-lines-4537366/) [Lines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lines/) [Lines Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lines-movie-2862314/) [Lot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lot/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Movie Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie-doing-351067/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Remember when](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember-when/) [Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak/) [Speak Lot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak-lot-1353554/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [I learned English kind of late. I remember when I got my first opportunity to work in America, I didn't speak a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-cruz/i-learned-english-kind-of-late-i-remember-when-i-got-my-first/) [Penelope Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-cruz/) > [For me the writing, when I'm going to direct it myself, is really just the first draft, and I don't change it very much;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sayles/for-me-the-writing-when-i-m-going-to-direct-it-myself-is-really-just/) [John Sayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sayles/) > ['No one sits Baby in a corner,' one of the best lines in movie history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-quinn/no-one-sits-baby-in-a-corner-one-of-the-best-lines-in-movie-history/) [Christine Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-quinn/) > [He knew these last lines by heart and mouthed them now in the darkness. My reason for life. Not living, but life. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/he-knew-these-last-lines-by-heart-and-mouthed-them-now-in-the/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [I was a hard worker, and I always knew my lines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-cilento/i-was-a-hard-worker-and-i-always-knew-my-lines/) [Diane Cilento](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-cilento/) > [With TV presenting, I speak a lot anyway!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oti-mabuse/with-tv-presenting-i-speak-a-lot-anyway/) [Oti Mabuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oti-mabuse/) > [Nathan Lane always wanted to play Oscar. When he came in the first day, he already knew his lines. He said he'd known them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-simon/nathan-lane-always-wanted-to-play-oscar-when-he-came-in-the-first-day/) [Neil Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-simon/) > [I speak for a lot of church groups, youth groups, schools, colleges and do personal appearances. I've done conventions and trade shows. A lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-douglas/i-speak-for-a-lot-of-church-groups-youth-groups-schools-colleges-and/) [Donna Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-douglas/) > [I don't speak a lot of English, of course, but I do try to express myself, and usually, I can get across to people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richarlison/i-don-t-speak-a-lot-of-english-of-course-but-i-do-try-to-express/) [Richarlison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richarlison/) > [Because I was newly pregnant, I was sick as a dog, yet I knew all my lines from a year before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwyneth-paltrow/because-i-was-newly-pregnant-i-was-sick-as-a-dog-yet-i-knew-all-my/) [Gwyneth Paltrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwyneth-paltrow/) > [It's been about ten years since I've worked with actors who knew their lines!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hughes/it-s-been-about-ten-years-since-i-ve-worked-with-actors-who-knew/) [John Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hughes/) > [I think that I speak a lot like I write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-think-that-i-speak-a-lot-like-i-write/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [I am not the life and soul of the camp, but I do speak a lot throughout the team and to everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-ramsey/i-am-not-the-life-and-soul-of-the-camp-but-i-do-speak-a-lot/) [Aaron Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-ramsey/) > [I have never known what is Arabic or English, or which one was really mine beyond any doubt. What I do know, however, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/i-have-never-known-what-is-arabic-or-english-or-which-one-was-really/) [Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/) > [Country music... doesn't bend notes in the same way, so I suppose it's very English, really. Even though it's been very Americanized, it feels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-jagger/country-music-doesn-t-bend-notes-in-the-same-way-so-i-suppose-it-s/) [Mick Jagger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-jagger/) ## More by Penelope Cruz > [I think superstition has a lot to do with fear: the less, the better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-cruz/i-think-superstition-has-a-lot-to-do-with-fear-the-less-the-better/) [Penelope Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-cruz/) > [Being actors we are dealing with the beauty and complexity of human confusion, no? And we are always trying to get answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-cruz/being-actors-we-are-dealing-with-the-beauty-and-complexity-of-human/) [Penelope Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-cruz/) > [I would always cast Meryl Streep for everything. I would do with something inspired by the work of Guy Bourdin, my favorite photographer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-cruz/i-would-always-cast-meryl-streep-for-everything-i-would-do-with/) [Penelope Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-cruz/) > [I am not somebody who likes to give advice, or anything like that, unless it's my closest friends or family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-cruz/i-am-not-somebody-who-likes-to-give-advice-or-anything-like-that/) [Penelope Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-cruz/) > [I love ballet, and it's a little boring for me to go to the gym because I'm used to the dancing discipline - it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-cruz/i-love-ballet-and-it-s-a-little-boring-for-me-to-go-to-the-gym/) [Penelope Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-cruz/) > [There are roles I have said no to, but for different reasons. And, I never talk about those because I feel it's disrespectful to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-cruz/there-are-roles-i-have-said-no-to-but-for-different-reasons-and-i/) [Penelope Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-cruz/) > [I won't go to places where you're going to find more attention. I go to the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-cruz/i-won-t-go-to-places-where-you-re-going-to-find-more-attention-i-go/) [Penelope Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-cruz/) > [You can always keep learning with acting, because the school is life and yourself and your friends and your relationships. I'm fascinated by it!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-cruz/you-can-always-keep-learning-with-acting-because-the-school-is-life/) [Penelope Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-cruz/) > [When I am dreaming at night, I see everything as a shot from a movie. I have cranes and extras in my dreams. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-cruz/when-i-am-dreaming-at-night-i-see-everything-as-a-shot-from-a-movie-i/) [Penelope Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-cruz/) > [I always feel scared and insecure on a film set. I don't know any other way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-cruz/i-always-feel-scared-and-insecure-on-a-film-set-i-don-t-know-any/) [Penelope Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-cruz/) > [As an actress, I really love people like Anna Magnani and Debra Winger. I also think there is nobody better than Meryl Streep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-cruz/as-an-actress-i-really-love-people-like-anna-magnani-and-debra-winger/) [Penelope Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-cruz/) > [I always knew I wanted a family because of the way I grew up. Family has always been the most important thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-cruz/i-always-knew-i-wanted-a-family-because-of-the-way-i-grew-up-family/) [Penelope Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-cruz/) > [Sometimes I feel we express more with dancing or acting or painting than with words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-cruz/sometimes-i-feel-we-express-more-with-dancing-or-acting-or-painting/) [Penelope Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-cruz/) > [When I was 16, I got 'Jamon, Jamon.' Of course, I had to lie about my age. And I had to lie to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-cruz/when-i-was-16-i-got-jamon-jamon-of-course-i-had-to-lie-about-my-age/) [Penelope Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-cruz/) > [When I was 16 or 17, when I started, I never even considered not doing a project. I just wanted to work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-cruz/when-i-was-16-or-17-when-i-started-i-never-even-considered-not-doing/) [Penelope Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-cruz/) [Explore all 163 Penelope Cruz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-cruz/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I remember when I got my first opportunity to work in America, I didn't speak a lot of English, so I only really knew my lines for the movie I was doing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Penelope Cruz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-cruz/i-remember-when-i-got-my-first-opportunity-to-work-in-america-i-didn/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "America" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-cruz/i-remember-when-i-got-my-first-opportunity-to-work-in-america-i-didn/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57a/penelope-cruz-2508_america_i-remember-when-i-got-my-first-opportuni_1593608.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57a/penelope-cruz-2508_america_i-remember-when-i-got-my-first-opportuni_1593608.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57a/penelope-cruz-2508_america_i-remember-when-i-got-my-first-opportuni_1593608.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I remember when I got my first opportunity to work in America, I didn't speak a lot of English, so I only…” — Penelope Cruz", "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": "Penelope Cruz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-cruz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I remember when I got my...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-cruz/i-remember-when-i-got-my-first-opportunity-to-work-in-america-i-didn/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-cruz/i-remember-when-i-got-my-first-opportunity-to-work-in-america-i-didn/#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 } } ] } ```