--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had done some acting at school, but I…" description: "\"I had done some acting at school, but I wasn't particularly good at it. What inspired me was going to the Old Vic in the late 1960s and early 1970s, wh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a93/roger-allam-7409_acting_i-had-done-some-acting-at-school-but-i-w_1475414.jpg" --- # I had done some acting at school, but I wasn't… ![“I had done some acting at school, but I wasn't particularly good at it. What inspired me was going to the Old Vic in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when the National Theatre was based there.” quote by Roger Allam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a93/roger-allam-7409_acting_i-had-done-some-acting-at-school-but-i-w_1475414.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a93/roger-allam-7409_acting_i-had-done-some-acting-at-school-but-i-w_1475414.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a93/roger-allam-7409_acting_i-had-done-some-acting-at-school-but-i-w_1475414.jpg) > “I had done some acting at school, but I wasn't particularly good at it. What inspired me was going to the Old Vic in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when the National Theatre was based there.” [Roger Allam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-allam/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early exposure to renowned institutions can spark artistic ambition despite modest skill. **In simple terms:** Seeing great theatre inspires growth. Key Takeaway Seek inspiration from excellence. Themes art career inspiration growth Mood motivational introspective Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - acting workshops - career mentoring - self‑assessment - audition preparation Key Concepts personal development role models performing arts Questions to Reflect On - What role does mentorship play in skill development? - How can one turn admiration into ability? A Different Perspective Self‑doubt may limit progress without practice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-school/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Late](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/late/) [National Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national-theatre-559908/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Theatre Based](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre-based-2901837/) ## Related quotes > [I studied at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, which was founded by Laurence Olivier and has alumni like Jeremy Irons and Daniel Day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-strong/i-studied-at-the-bristol-old-vic-theatre-school-which-was-founded-by/) [Mark Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-strong/) > [When the National Theatre was built, it was a public building. If you wander round that building now, there are bits hived off for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-allam/when-the-national-theatre-was-built-it-was-a-public-building-if-you/) [Roger Allam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-allam/) > [I came to theatre as a teenager by going to the National Theatre when it was at the Old Vic and sitting on padded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-allam/i-came-to-theatre-as-a-teenager-by-going-to-the-national-theatre-when/) [Roger Allam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-allam/) > [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 didn't go to acting school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-chatwin/i-didn-t-go-to-acting-school/) [Justin Chatwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-chatwin/) > [Besides stray instances of acting in school and college, I hadn't prepared myself to be an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mawra-hocane/besides-stray-instances-of-acting-in-school-and-college-i-hadn-t/) [Mawra Hocane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mawra-hocane/) > [I worked in rep for six years, then I came to London and to the National Theatre. What's better than that](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-staunton/i-worked-in-rep-for-six-years-then-i-came-to-london-and-to-the/) [Imelda Staunton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-staunton/) > [And people are so het up about the fact I'm in the theatre - it's like, 'Ooh these telly names, can they be any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-page/and-people-are-so-het-up-about-the-fact-i-m-in-the-theatre-it-s-like/) [Joanna Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-page/) > [I spent most of my teenage years in the National Theatre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finty-williams/i-spent-most-of-my-teenage-years-in-the-national-theatre/) [Finty Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finty-williams/) > [My experience with the National Theatre in Kracow often involved many changes of storyline and character. This was particularly useful when working with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-kulig/my-experience-with-the-national-theatre-in-kracow-often-involved-many/) [Joanna Kulig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-kulig/) > [My mother would strike me off if I didn't say theatre was incredibly important, and when you see something like 'Network' at the National…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finty-williams/my-mother-would-strike-me-off-if-i-didn-t-say-theatre-was-incredibly/) [Finty Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finty-williams/) > [I was very lucky. I left college, and Richard Eyre was in charge of the National Theatre. I was offered the lead in 'The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mccrory/i-was-very-lucky-i-left-college-and-richard-eyre-was-in-charge-of-the/) [Helen McCrory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mccrory/) > [I just wanted to be one of those actors who works at the National Theatre the whole time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-emms/i-just-wanted-to-be-one-of-those-actors-who-works-at-the-national/) [Robert Emms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-emms/) > [Working at the National Theatre is just wonderful. There is no place like the South Bank on a summer's afternoon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harewood/working-at-the-national-theatre-is-just-wonderful-there-is-no-place/) [David Harewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harewood/) > [I spent two years in the military service, then I trudged around in repertory for quite a while. I somehow wound up at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/i-spent-two-years-in-the-military-service-then-i-trudged-around-in/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) ## More by Roger Allam > [I don't think there are roles that would attract me to do a long run in the theatre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-allam/i-don-t-think-there-are-roles-that-would-attract-me-to-do-a-long-run/) [Roger Allam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-allam/) > [I was very proud of doing Falstaff, because it seemed to go well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-allam/i-was-very-proud-of-doing-falstaff-because-it-seemed-to-go-well/) [Roger Allam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-allam/) > [A lot of actors are relatively shy people, surprisingly, so acting is a way of not being shy - and being paid not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-allam/a-lot-of-actors-are-relatively-shy-people-surprisingly-so-acting-is-a/) [Roger Allam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-allam/) > [I like to do a wide variety of things, and acting, particularly in the theatre, has given me that opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-allam/i-like-to-do-a-wide-variety-of-things-and-acting-particularly-in-the/) [Roger Allam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-allam/) > [In the theatre, there were plenty of people having sex all over the place - wanting to, and doing it quite successfully - but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-allam/in-the-theatre-there-were-plenty-of-people-having-sex-all-over-the/) [Roger Allam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-allam/) > [Try not to worry about embarrassing yourself. That's a lifetime's task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-allam/try-not-to-worry-about-embarrassing-yourself-that-s-a-lifetime-s-task/) [Roger Allam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-allam/) > [At one stage, I wanted to be a folk singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-allam/at-one-stage-i-wanted-to-be-a-folk-singer/) [Roger Allam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-allam/) > [I've never been to Barcelona, I'd like to go there; also South America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-allam/i-ve-never-been-to-barcelona-i-d-like-to-go-there-also-south-america/) [Roger Allam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-allam/) > [I don't know who can constantly afford to go and see things. A play, which has five people in it and one set and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-allam/i-don-t-know-who-can-constantly-afford-to-go-and-see-things-a-play/) [Roger Allam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-allam/) > [I've been choreographed in various musicals before. So I'm not completely two left feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-allam/i-ve-been-choreographed-in-various-musicals-before-so-i-m-not/) [Roger Allam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-allam/) > [Learn your lines so well that you never have to worry about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-allam/learn-your-lines-so-well-that-you-never-have-to-worry-about-them/) [Roger Allam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-allam/) > [Getting a good education was of immense importance to my parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-allam/getting-a-good-education-was-of-immense-importance-to-my-parents/) [Roger Allam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-allam/) > [Judi Dench told me to shut up once. I was probably going on and on about something, in the way that I do sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-allam/judi-dench-told-me-to-shut-up-once-i-was-probably-going-on-and-on/) [Roger Allam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-allam/) > [I don't get mobbed in the street or bothered. Well, people do stop and say nice things. 'I like 'Endeavour,' or, 'I loved The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-allam/i-don-t-get-mobbed-in-the-street-or-bothered-well-people-do-stop-and/) [Roger Allam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-allam/) > [What I don't believe is that DVDs or HD broadcasts can be a substitute for the real thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-allam/what-i-don-t-believe-is-that-dvds-or-hd-broadcasts-can-be-a/) [Roger Allam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-allam/) [Explore all 90 Roger Allam quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-allam/) ## More Acting 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/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [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/) > [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/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) [Ryan Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-newman/) > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I had done some acting at school, but I wasn't particularly good at it. 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