--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn't know that I could be an actor…" description: "\"I didn't know that I could be an actor until I was 25 years old, and now I continue to go back to the prisons and probation camps and the inner city to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43e/richard-cabral-15527_actor_i-didn-t-know-that-i-could-be-an-actor-u_3090387.jpg" --- # I didn't know that I could be an actor until I was 25… ![“I didn't know that I could be an actor until I was 25 years old, and now I continue to go back to the prisons and probation camps and the inner city to say that you don't have to go through the violence, through the trauma like I did.” quote by Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43e/richard-cabral-15527_actor_i-didn-t-know-that-i-could-be-an-actor-u_3090387.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43e/richard-cabral-15527_actor_i-didn-t-know-that-i-could-be-an-actor-u_3090387.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43e/richard-cabral-15527_actor_i-didn-t-know-that-i-could-be-an-actor-u_3090387.jpg) > “I didn't know that I could be an actor until I was 25 years old, and now I continue to go back to the prisons and probation camps and the inner city to say that you don't have to go through the violence, through the trauma like I did.” [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Personal transformation can inspire others; sharing painful experiences can empower change. **In simple terms:** Sharing pain can help others. Key Takeaway Use your story to motivate and guide. Themes resilience storytelling community Mood hopeful determined Type inspirational educational When to use this quote - prison outreach - youth mentorship - public speaking Key Concepts trauma recovery role modeling social impact Questions to Reflect On - What personal experience can you share to help? - How can you ensure your message reaches those in need? A Different Perspective Stories may be dismissed if audience distrusts the speaker. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [25 Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/25-years/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actor 25](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-25-5310767/) [City](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/city/) [Continue Prisons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/continue-prisons-5310768/) [Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Trauma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trauma/) [Trauma Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trauma-like-2274935/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) [Violence Trauma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence-trauma-4037293/) ## Related quotes > [Violence is violence. Trauma is trauma. And we are taught to downplay it, even think about it as child's play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarana-burke/violence-is-violence-trauma-is-trauma-and-we-are-taught-to-downplay/) [Tarana Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarana-burke/) > [An unacknowledged trauma is like a wound that never heals over and may start to bleed again at any time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/an-unacknowledged-trauma-is-like-a-wound-that-never-heals-over-and/) [Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/) > [“Healing from toxic relationship trauma is like realizing you spent your entire life eating and having allergic reactions to rotten tomatoes when life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-storch/healing-from-toxic-relationship-trauma-is-like-realizing-you-spent/) [Pamela Storch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-storch/) > [There are those uncomfortable things that've passed that you have to deal with or they define you, like childhood trauma. Like when I'm lost,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-ness/there-are-those-uncomfortable-things-that-ve-passed-that-you-have-to/) [Mike Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-ness/) > [“I imagine that anyone who goes through trauma like I have wonders the same things I do: how God can exist and allow such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-park/i-imagine-that-anyone-who-goes-through-trauma-like-i-have-wonders-the/) [Jessica Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-park/) > [“Those with dissociative disorders face a big enough battle living as multiples and dealing with past trauma. Like everyone else, they deserve to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-broad/those-with-dissociative-disorders-face-a-big-enough-battle-living-as/) [Carol Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-broad/) > [I designed a bench in a few moments. But, of course, it took me 25 years to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-bellini/i-designed-a-bench-in-a-few-moments-but-of-course-it-took-me-25-years/) [Mario Bellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-bellini/) > [I grew up in poverty. For 25 years I was fed on aid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-jal/i-grew-up-in-poverty-for-25-years-i-was-fed-on-aid/) [Emmanuel Jal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-jal/) > [Although I was only 25 years old, I had been at Chelsea for five years. So, I was there long enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar/although-i-was-only-25-years-old-i-had-been-at-chelsea-for-five-years/) [Oscar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar/) > [With the film around for 25 years and the show being around even longer - still running and continuing to fill house all around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-o-brien/with-the-film-around-for-25-years-and-the-show-being-around-even/) [Richard O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-o-brien/) > [We make a lot of fun at President Clinton's expense. But this transition is going to be tough because it's been 25 years since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/we-make-a-lot-of-fun-at-president-clinton-s-expense-but-this/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [I am 25 years old, but I think I gained a lot of experience with PSG, and I think I can help Tottenham.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-moura/i-am-25-years-old-but-i-think-i-gained-a-lot-of-experience-with-psg/) [Lucas Moura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-moura/) > [If somebody told me people would still care about our music 25 years ago, I would have thought they were crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bart-millard/if-somebody-told-me-people-would-still-care-about-our-music-25-years/) [Bart Millard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bart-millard/) > [I really want people to know that I've worked hard, very hard, to get to where I am today.. this didn't just happen overnight.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/i-really-want-people-to-know-that-i-ve-worked-hard-very-hard-to-get/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [We're in a golden age for television. TV 25 years ago was slow, plodding , boring. The production values were not great. Today it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-dunbar/we-re-in-a-golden-age-for-television-tv-25-years-ago-was-slow/) [Adrian Dunbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-dunbar/) ## More by Richard Cabral > [In society, you are taught to belong. You have to belong to something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/in-society-you-are-taught-to-belong-you-have-to-belong-to-something/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [My family had been involved in gangs since the 1970s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/my-family-had-been-involved-in-gangs-since-the-1970s/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [There's comes a point when people who have lived a life of crime get tired and want to change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/there-s-comes-a-point-when-people-who-have-lived-a-life-of-crime-get/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [The agricultural fields throughout the Southwest, those jobs needed to be filled, and who were the ones to do it? It was the Mexicans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/the-agricultural-fields-throughout-the-southwest-those-jobs-needed-to/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [I think 98% of gang members in Los Angeles would agree that being a gang is just like being part of a community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/i-think-98-of-gang-members-in-los-angeles-would-agree-that-being-a/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [My father figures were all gang members.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/my-father-figures-were-all-gang-members/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [When you're in a gang, you go through life like any other individual. You have certain obligations, but you are not forced to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/when-you-re-in-a-gang-you-go-through-life-like-any-other-individual/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [The true meaning of an artist/actor is opening my heart to the audience and, at the same time, opening their heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/the-true-meaning-of-an-artist-actor-is-opening-my-heart-to-the/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [Homeboy Industries is a healing center for broken children. I was a broken child, and they showed me how to put all those pieces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/homeboy-industries-is-a-healing-center-for-broken-children-i-was-a/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [The power of belief, of God is beyond what mere mortals can Imagine. There is no restrictions in my Life. If I do what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/the-power-of-belief-of-god-is-beyond-what-mere-mortals-can-imagine/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [There are many things in common with my life and my character in 'American Crime.' My upbringing has definitely helped me out in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/there-are-many-things-in-common-with-my-life-and-my-character-in/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [Your only true obligation in a gang is to be committed and be there when your brothers need you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/your-only-true-obligation-in-a-gang-is-to-be-committed-and-be-there/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [I feel that in all kids that I've came across, that at the age of 12-13 is a big transition . They begin forming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/i-feel-that-in-all-kids-that-i-ve-came-across-that-at-the-age-of-12/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [I spent my life behind bars, and what people don't know is getting out of prison is really nerve-racking - you're not used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/i-spent-my-life-behind-bars-and-what-people-don-t-know-is-getting-out/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [In this society, you have to belong to something, I feel, and all we have in the neighborhood is a gang.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/in-this-society-you-have-to-belong-to-something-i-feel-and-all-we/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) [Explore all 43 Richard Cabral quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) ## 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": "I didn't know that I could be an actor until I was 25 years old, and now I continue to go back to the prisons and probation camps and the inner city to say that you don't have to go through the violence, through the trauma like I did.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Cabral" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/i-didn-t-know-that-i-could-be-an-actor-until-i-was-25-years-old-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/i-didn-t-know-that-i-could-be-an-actor-until-i-was-25-years-old-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43e/richard-cabral-15527_actor_i-didn-t-know-that-i-could-be-an-actor-u_3090387.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43e/richard-cabral-15527_actor_i-didn-t-know-that-i-could-be-an-actor-u_3090387.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43e/richard-cabral-15527_actor_i-didn-t-know-that-i-could-be-an-actor-u_3090387.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I didn't know that I could be an actor until I was 25 years old, and now I continue to go back to the…” — Richard Cabral", "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": "Richard Cabral", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I didn't know that I could...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/i-didn-t-know-that-i-could-be-an-actor-until-i-was-25-years-old-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/i-didn-t-know-that-i-could-be-an-actor-until-i-was-25-years-old-and/#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 } } ] } ```