--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What I've learnt being an actor is that…" description: "\"What I've learnt being an actor is that you've got to be lucky. I got less lucky, and nobody was interested. If a part came up, it would be for the mai..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d75/peter-capaldi-2535_actor_what-i-ve-learnt-being-an-actor-is-that_908021.png" --- # What I've learnt being an actor is that you've got to be… ![“What I've learnt being an actor is that you've got to be lucky. I got less lucky, and nobody was interested. If a part came up, it would be for the main corpse's friend's brother who was having problems with his marriage.” quote by Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d75/peter-capaldi-2535_actor_what-i-ve-learnt-being-an-actor-is-that_908021.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d75/peter-capaldi-2535_actor_what-i-ve-learnt-being-an-actor-is-that_908021.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d75/peter-capaldi-2535_actor_what-i-ve-learnt-being-an-actor-is-that_908021.png) > “What I've learnt being an actor is that you've got to be lucky. I got less lucky, and nobody was interested. If a part came up, it would be for the main corpse's friend's brother who was having problems with his marriage.” [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success in acting often depends on luck and timing, not just talent. **In simple terms:** Luck matters in acting career Key Takeaway Recognize role and seek opportunities Themes career luck opportunity Mood reflective realistic Type advice motivational When to use this quote - auditions - networking events - self‑promotion Key Concepts probability networking industry dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can you increase your chances beyond luck? - What strategies mitigate reliance on luck? A Different Perspective Talent alone may not secure roles without chance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Brother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brother/) [Came](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/came/) [Corpse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corpse/) [Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend/) [Friend Brother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend-brother/) [Got](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got/) [Having](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/having/) [His](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/his/) [Interested](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interested/) [Learnt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learnt/) [Learnt Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learnt-actor-1304913/) [Less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/less/) [Lucky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lucky/) [Lucky Interested](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lucky-interested-1304915/) [Main](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/main/) [Main Corpse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/main-corpse-1304914/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Nobody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nobody/) [Part](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/part/) [Problems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problems/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) [Would](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [I learnt that an actor should be willing to take risks, try new things and unlearn stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shraddha-srinath/i-learnt-that-an-actor-should-be-willing-to-take-risks-try-new-things/) [Shraddha Srinath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shraddha-srinath/) > [Whenever I would go to Hrithik's vanity van to chat or rehearse lines, I'd see him working out or watching inspirational videos. One thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrunal-thakur/whenever-i-would-go-to-hrithik-s-vanity-van-to-chat-or-rehearse-lines/) [Mrunal Thakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mrunal-thakur/) > [I've known nothing else than my father there to turn to, to advise me, not only as a father but as a friend and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-hoyle/i-ve-known-nothing-else-than-my-father-there-to-turn-to-to-advise-me/) [Lindsay Hoyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-hoyle/) > [When other people say, 'Oh you're so-and-so's friend, brother, or husband,' it's reductive to the point of being white noise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-affleck/when-other-people-say-oh-you-re-so-and-so-s-friend-brother-or-husband/) [Casey Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-affleck/) > [T.I.'s my mentor; he's a really close friend of mine. I call him my brother like we talk on the phone all the time.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iggy-azalea/t-i-s-my-mentor-he-s-a-really-close-friend-of-mine-i-call-him-my/) [Iggy Azalea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iggy-azalea/) > [He is more worth to you, perhaps. But the stranger is someone else's friend and brother. So which life is more important?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/he-is-more-worth-to-you-perhaps-but-the-stranger-is-someone-else-s/) [Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/) > [A friend is a brother your heart chose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-friend-is-a-brother-your-heart-chose/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Brothers & Sisters Fight like Cats...&...Dogs They also Teach...&...Learn And grow together Looking out for one another In the best of times And through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/brothers-sisters-fight-like-cats-dogs-they-also-teach-learn-and-grow/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [My Brother, My Friend I love my brother, my brother loves me. My friend, my hero, he always will be. In sundry ways our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-cobb/my-brother-my-friend-i-love-my-brother-my-brother-loves-me-my-friend/) [Michele Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-cobb/) > [When man to man shall be friend and brother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-massey/when-man-to-man-shall-be-friend-and-brother/) [Gerald Massey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-massey/) > [It's rare to have a best friend who is also your brother and also an NFL football player, and he knows exactly what I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/it-s-rare-to-have-a-best-friend-who-is-also-your-brother-and-also-an/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [Religion: A friend of a friend's brother's ex-girlfriend's dad's former classmate's boss's mother-in-law's co-worker's milkman's pen pal's, medicine man's babysitter's dog said... and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rock-cowles/religion-a-friend-of-a-friend-s-brother-s-ex-girlfriend-s-dad-s/) [Rock Cowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rock-cowles/) > [A Brother may not be a Friend, but a Friend will always be a Brother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/a-brother-may-not-be-a-friend-but-a-friend-will-always-be-a-brother/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [A brother is a friend God gave you; a friend is a brother your heart chose for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proverb/a-brother-is-a-friend-god-gave-you-a-friend-is-a-brother-your-heart/) [Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/proverb/) > [By Heaven! it is a splendid sight to see For one who hath no friend, no brother there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/by-heaven-it-is-a-splendid-sight-to-see-for-one-who-hath-no-friend-no/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) ## More by Peter Capaldi > [Being asked to play 'The Doctor' is an amazing privilege. Like the Doctor himself I find myself in a state of utter terror and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/being-asked-to-play-the-doctor-is-an-amazing-privilege-like-the/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [I never really think of acting and directing as being separate; they are just different expressions of the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/i-never-really-think-of-acting-and-directing-as-being-separate-they/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [I've only lost my temper three times in my whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/i-ve-only-lost-my-temper-three-times-in-my-whole-life/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [Comic-Con is so legendary, so a great thrill to be invited along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/comic-con-is-so-legendary-so-a-great-thrill-to-be-invited-along/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [It'll be sad not to be Doctor Who anymore because that's an incredible thing to wake up in the morning and go, 'Oh, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/it-ll-be-sad-not-to-be-doctor-who-anymore-because-that-s-an/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [The Americans just have a great sort of wit about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/the-americans-just-have-a-great-sort-of-wit-about-them/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [ I knew Richard E. Grant, and I went to him and said "Would you like to \[play Kafka in the film\]?" and he said… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/i-knew-richard-e-grant-and-i-went-to-him-and-said-would-you-like-to/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [It was great being brought up in a Glasgow working-class tenement. It wasn't miserable, and it wasn't poverty stricken. It felt very safe, full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/it-was-great-being-brought-up-in-a-glasgow-working-class-tenement-it/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > ['Atlantic City' is very good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/atlantic-city-is-very-good/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [It's one thing getting the job of Doctor Who, which is wonderful. And then the next thing they say to you is, 'We're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/it-s-one-thing-getting-the-job-of-doctor-who-which-is-wonderful-and/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [One of the very, very exciting things I have found here in L.A. is that no one talks to you about being Scottish. Whereas,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/one-of-the-very-very-exciting-things-i-have-found-here-in-l-a-is-that/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [Everybody loves monsters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/everybody-loves-monsters/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [I think the nice thing about 'Doctor Who' is whether people like it or don't like it, somewhere, someone loves you and will always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/i-think-the-nice-thing-about-doctor-who-is-whether-people-like-it-or/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [Even though I am a lifelong 'Doctor Who' fan, I've not played him since I was nine. I downloaded old scripts and practised those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/even-though-i-am-a-lifelong-doctor-who-fan-i-ve-not-played-him-since/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [I'm not an extravagant man. The fact that I can have a coffee out whenever I want still makes me feel grateful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/i-m-not-an-extravagant-man-the-fact-that-i-can-have-a-coffee-out/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) [Explore all 162 Peter Capaldi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) ## More Actor quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What I've learnt being an actor is that you've got to be lucky. I got less lucky, and nobody was interested. 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