--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's a difficult world for lots of child…" description: "\"It's a difficult world for lots of child actors, and it's difficult to be a teenager under any circumstances. Add to that notoriety and fame, and thing..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/peter-billingsley-19112_child-actors_it-s-a-difficult-world-for-lots-of-child_489302.png" --- # It's a difficult world for lots of child actors, and it's… ![“It's a difficult world for lots of child actors, and it's difficult to be a teenager under any circumstances. Add to that notoriety and fame, and things can go really wrong. But I had a terrific family and grew up very normal in Phoenix.” quote by Peter Billingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/peter-billingsley-19112_child-actors_it-s-a-difficult-world-for-lots-of-child_489302.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/peter-billingsley-19112_child-actors_it-s-a-difficult-world-for-lots-of-child_489302.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/peter-billingsley-19112_child-actors_it-s-a-difficult-world-for-lots-of-child_489302.png) > “It's a difficult world for lots of child actors, and it's difficult to be a teenager under any circumstances. Add to that notoriety and fame, and things can go really wrong. But I had a terrific family and grew up very normal in Phoenix.” [Peter Billingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-billingsley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He describes challenges for teen actors, especially with fame, but credits a normal family upbringing. **In simple terms:** Fame complicates teen life, yet family stability helps. Key Takeaway Seek supportive family amid fame. Themes celebrity adolescence family dynamics Mood reflective hopeful Type personal advisory When to use this quote - film sets - school life - public scrutiny Key Concepts psychosocial development media pressure Questions to Reflect On - How did your family protect you? - What safeguards help teen actors? A Different Perspective Not all child actors have supportive families. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors-difficult-1149592/) [Child actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child-actors/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) [Difficult Teenager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult-teenager-1316092/) [Fame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fame/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Normal Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/normal-phoenix-4189894/) [Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phoenix/) [Teenager Circumstances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teenager-circumstances-4189893/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ## Related quotes > [I was a pretty difficult teenager.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-stevens/i-was-a-pretty-difficult-teenager/) [Dan Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-stevens/) > [People look at me, they know I've appeared in costume dramas and they automatically assume I must be a Tory, I must be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-stevens/people-look-at-me-they-know-i-ve-appeared-in-costume-dramas-and-they/) [Dan Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-stevens/) > [A lot of people don't like child actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-billingsley/a-lot-of-people-don-t-like-child-actors/) [Peter Billingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-billingsley/) > [I think as actors we just have to appreciate what we've been given. We have got such a tendency to moan all the time!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-page/i-think-as-actors-we-just-have-to-appreciate-what-we-ve-been-given-we/) [Joanna Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-page/) > [I've worked with very few actors who have been at all difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-pfeiffer/i-ve-worked-with-very-few-actors-who-have-been-at-all-difficult/) [Michelle Pfeiffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-pfeiffer/) > [I'm well aware that I have put my actors in difficult positions because of my vision, but when they see I work for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-s-rajamouli/i-m-well-aware-that-i-have-put-my-actors-in-difficult-positions/) [S. S. Rajamouli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-s-rajamouli/) > [As a director and an actor, it is very difficult to say "this person was better than another person." I judge by chemistry of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-wiseau/as-a-director-and-an-actor-it-is-very-difficult-to-say-this-person/) [Tommy Wiseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-wiseau/) > [To work with kids is difficult. To work with non-actors is difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-hazanavicius/to-work-with-kids-is-difficult-to-work-with-non-actors-is-difficult/) [Michel Hazanavicius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-hazanavicius/) > [I've become one of those actors who find it difficult to say 'no' when things are offered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/i-ve-become-one-of-those-actors-who-find-it-difficult-to-say-no-when/) [Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/) > [I don't get jobs in films by auditioning. I'm not blonde. You can't place me in movies the way you can with certain actors.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-oh/i-don-t-get-jobs-in-films-by-auditioning-i-m-not-blonde-you-can-t/) [Sandra Oh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-oh/) > [Americans are very good at animating voices. I don't know why. They have a freedom with them that we British actors find more difficult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mirren/americans-are-very-good-at-animating-voices-i-don-t-know-why-they/) [Helen Mirren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mirren/) > [When the St. Louis Cardinals arrived in Arizona as the Phoenix Cardinals, I became a fan and still am today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-billingsley/when-the-st-louis-cardinals-arrived-in-arizona-as-the-phoenix/) [Peter Billingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-billingsley/) > [I got to Arizona in 1980, before the Cardinals, Diamondbacks and Coyotes. The sun rose and set with the Phoenix Suns, and it wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-billingsley/i-got-to-arizona-in-1980-before-the-cardinals-diamondbacks-and/) [Peter Billingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-billingsley/) > [Child actors going on to become adult actors never really works, apart from a few. Jodie Foster was the exception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lester/child-actors-going-on-to-become-adult-actors-never-really-works-apart/) [Mark Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lester/) > [People often say that you should never work with child actors. I think that's all wrong. Children have not had the imagination kicked out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/people-often-say-that-you-should-never-work-with-child-actors-i-think/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) ## More by Peter Billingsley > [I think if you turn down the volume on the good comedy, you should not even know if it's a comedy or not. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-billingsley/i-think-if-you-turn-down-the-volume-on-the-good-comedy-you-should-not/) [Peter Billingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-billingsley/) > [I guess I've always had a similar-looking face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-billingsley/i-guess-i-ve-always-had-a-similar-looking-face/) [Peter Billingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-billingsley/) > [It is important to me that I was not raised in Los Angeles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-billingsley/it-is-important-to-me-that-i-was-not-raised-in-los-angeles/) [Peter Billingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-billingsley/) > [I'm a big watcher of sports, consumer of sports content, so I love documentaries; I love the format.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-billingsley/i-m-a-big-watcher-of-sports-consumer-of-sports-content-so-i-love/) [Peter Billingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-billingsley/) > [I've always been self-motivated, but I can't take a ton of credit for any success I've had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-billingsley/i-ve-always-been-self-motivated-but-i-can-t-take-a-ton-of-credit-for/) [Peter Billingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-billingsley/) > [I think you always win in storytelling when you let the best creative ideas guide you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-billingsley/i-think-you-always-win-in-storytelling-when-you-let-the-best-creative/) [Peter Billingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-billingsley/) > [An actor can come in with a specific energy and get it on film over several days or weeks, but as the producer, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-billingsley/an-actor-can-come-in-with-a-specific-energy-and-get-it-on-film-over/) [Peter Billingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-billingsley/) > [I had brothers and sisters and did chores and had to pick up the dog crap in the yard and mow the lawn and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-billingsley/i-had-brothers-and-sisters-and-did-chores-and-had-to-pick-up-the-dog/) [Peter Billingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-billingsley/) > [I only get involved with projects as a producer if I feel creatively inspired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-billingsley/i-only-get-involved-with-projects-as-a-producer-if-i-feel-creatively/) [Peter Billingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-billingsley/) > [I've been really lucky in that I've been able to work so much, and pretty much everything I've done has been really great fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-billingsley/i-ve-been-really-lucky-in-that-i-ve-been-able-to-work-so-much-and/) [Peter Billingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-billingsley/) > [I have already done two Christmas films: 'Elf' and 'Four Christmases.' I guess I really am a sucker for Christmas. Both movies are really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-billingsley/i-have-already-done-two-christmas-films-elf-and-four-christmases-i/) [Peter Billingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-billingsley/) > [When I was a kid, I really wanted a metal detector for Christmas, convinced I was going to find buried treasure and could retire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-billingsley/when-i-was-a-kid-i-really-wanted-a-metal-detector-for-christmas/) [Peter Billingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-billingsley/) > [When you're a child actor and play the precocious kid, the temptation is to wear leather pants or a cutoff shirt to redefine yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-billingsley/when-you-re-a-child-actor-and-play-the-precocious-kid-the-temptation/) [Peter Billingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-billingsley/) > [I've had a nontabloid life because I had a really good family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-billingsley/i-ve-had-a-nontabloid-life-because-i-had-a-really-good-family/) [Peter Billingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-billingsley/) > [I'm generally not a fan of remaking great films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-billingsley/i-m-generally-not-a-fan-of-remaking-great-films/) [Peter Billingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-billingsley/) [Explore all 33 Peter Billingsley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-billingsley/) ## More Child actors quotes > [People often say that you should never work with child actors. I think that's all wrong. Children have not had the imagination kicked out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/people-often-say-that-you-should-never-work-with-child-actors-i-think/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) > [Child actors going on to become adult actors never really works, apart from a few. Jodie Foster was the exception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lester/child-actors-going-on-to-become-adult-actors-never-really-works-apart/) [Mark Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lester/) > [I was never really a child actor. I was working sporadically in indie films in Pennsylvania, but I was still living at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-mcdermott/i-was-never-really-a-child-actor-i-was-working-sporadically-in-indie/) [Charlie McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-mcdermott/) > [I feel like fame can get into people's head, and you always hear that child actors are doing this, or parents are making their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsai-martin/i-feel-like-fame-can-get-into-people-s-head-and-you-always-hear-that/) [Marsai Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsai-martin/) > [Most aspiring child actors or child stars have a passion for it. But as easy as it is for me to say that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cannon/most-aspiring-child-actors-or-child-stars-have-a-passion-for-it-but/) [Nick Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cannon/) > [I didn't realise my upbringing was unusual until my teens. As the child of two actors, I presumed that visiting film sets and being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilia-fox/i-didn-t-realise-my-upbringing-was-unusual-until-my-teens-as-the/) [Emilia Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emilia-fox/) > [I had great parents, and they trained me well and instilled great values in me. They also taught me common sense about money and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-osmond/i-had-great-parents-and-they-trained-me-well-and-instilled-great/) [Ken Osmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-osmond/) > [I've never fancied that footballer lifestyle. I suppose I could live that kind of flash life. People stereotype child actors and kind of expect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-grint/i-ve-never-fancied-that-footballer-lifestyle-i-suppose-i-could-live/) [Rupert Grint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-grint/) > [When child actors act well they're just reacting to situations, and they're acting very real because their life experience is so short; there's no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariel-hemingway/when-child-actors-act-well-they-re-just-reacting-to-situations-and/) [Mariel Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariel-hemingway/) > [I don't know if child actors are necessarily more screwed up than most people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rider-strong/i-don-t-know-if-child-actors-are-necessarily-more-screwed-up-than/) [Rider Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rider-strong/) > [If I can make a career for myself after Potter, and it goes well, and is varied and with longevity, then that puts to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/if-i-can-make-a-career-for-myself-after-potter-and-it-goes-well-and/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > [I find that a lot of child actors are ruined once they've done a job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taika-waititi/i-find-that-a-lot-of-child-actors-are-ruined-once-they-ve-done-a-job/) [Taika Waititi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taika-waititi/) > [People view child actors the same way that girls treat their Barbie dolls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mara-wilson/people-view-child-actors-the-same-way-that-girls-treat-their-barbie/) [Mara Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mara-wilson/) > [So often when you meet child actors, they're weird - they're freaks. No, I mean it, they're really odd people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mccrory/so-often-when-you-meet-child-actors-they-re-weird-they-re-freaks-no-i/) [Helen McCrory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mccrory/) > [When I was a child actor, I had the fear that I was going to be cast as the tree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vin-diesel/when-i-was-a-child-actor-i-had-the-fear-that-i-was-going-to-be-cast/) [Vin Diesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vin-diesel/) [Browse all 67 Child actors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child-actors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's a difficult world for lots of child actors, and it's difficult to be a teenager under any circumstances. Add to that notoriety and fame, and things can go really wrong. 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