--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You had to be an over-the-top, demanding…" description: "\"You had to be an over-the-top, demanding, dramatic figure in order to progress as a woman in Europe over the last few hundred years. Now people say, \"Y..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee1/rufus-wainwright-2260_bits_you-had-to-be-an-over-the-top-demanding_1065510.png" --- # You had to be an over-the-top, demanding, dramatic figure… ![“You had to be an over-the-top, demanding, dramatic figure in order to progress as a woman in Europe over the last few hundred years. Now people say, "You're being such a prima donna," meaning you're being hard to deal with or crazy. It's a bit sexist.” quote by Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee1/rufus-wainwright-2260_bits_you-had-to-be-an-over-the-top-demanding_1065510.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee1/rufus-wainwright-2260_bits_you-had-to-be-an-over-the-top-demanding_1065510.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee1/rufus-wainwright-2260_bits_you-had-to-be-an-over-the-top-demanding_1065510.png) > “You had to be an over-the-top, demanding, dramatic figure in order to progress as a woman in Europe over the last few hundred years. Now people say, "You're being such a prima donna," meaning you're being hard to deal with or crazy. It's a bit sexist.” [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Women historically adopted exaggerated personas to navigate patriarchal constraints, making assertiveness appear as drama. **In simple terms:** Women used bold personas to survive male‑dominated societies. Key Takeaway Recognize the strategic use of performance in gender dynamics. Themes gender performance history sexism Mood reflective critical Type analytical commentary When to use this quote - career advancement - political activism - artistic expression Key Concepts social construction identity politics power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How does performance empower marginalized groups? - When does it reinforce stereotypes? A Different Perspective Such personas can be misread as personal flaws rather than systemic tactics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dramatic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dramatic/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [Feminism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Over the top](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/over-the-top/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Prima donnas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prima-donnas/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) ## Related quotes > [There is actually a great book called Prima Donna by Rupert -Christiansen that deconstructs the myth. In fact, many of the women who were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/there-is-actually-a-great-book-called-prima-donna-by-rupert/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > ['Prima Donna' is my kind of love song to opera but it's not the full experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/prima-donna-is-my-kind-of-love-song-to-opera-but-it-s-not-the-full/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [In retrospect, I'm really shocked at how far I put my heart out there on the line with 'Prima Donna'. I seem to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/in-retrospect-i-m-really-shocked-at-how-far-i-put-my-heart-out-there/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [I'm too homely for a prima donna and too ugly for a soubrette.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-dressler/i-m-too-homely-for-a-prima-donna-and-too-ugly-for-a-soubrette/) [Marie Dressler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-dressler/) > [Well, I'm not sure I know what you mean by a prima donna, but if something doesn't interest me or if someone bores me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-fischer/well-i-m-not-sure-i-know-what-you-mean-by-a-prima-donna-but-if/) [Bobby Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-fischer/) > [When will you give up these mad adventures, and leave others to fight their own battles and to save their own lives as best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-will-you-give-up-these-mad-adventures-and-leave-others-to-fight/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“That’s the first thing that strikes an American woman about Europe – that it’s unsanitary. Impossible for them to conceive of a paradise without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/that-s-the-first-thing-that-strikes-an-american-woman-about-europe/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [“That's the first thing that strikes an American woman about Europe-that it's unsanitary. Impossible for them to conceive of a paradise without modern plumbing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/that-s-the-first-thing-that-strikes-an-american-woman-about-europe-2/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [I am said to be the most beautiful woman in Europe. About that, of course, I cannot judge because I cannot know. But about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-of-romania/i-am-said-to-be-the-most-beautiful-woman-in-europe-about-that-of/) [Marie of Romania](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-of-romania/) > [I'm a prima donna, I can rule the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-a-prima-donna-i-can-rule-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've never had any prima donna attitude against me. It's always been very respectful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rey-mysterio/i-ve-never-had-any-prima-donna-attitude-against-me-it-s-always-been/) [Rey Mysterio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rey-mysterio/) > [There's only one prima donna in my pictures, and that's me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wyler/there-s-only-one-prima-donna-in-my-pictures-and-that-s-me/) [William Wyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wyler/) > [Somewhere in the brain of every prima donna there is a deep craving for security and comfort, linked with a fear of old age.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-mertens/somewhere-in-the-brain-of-every-prima-donna-there-is-a-deep-craving/) Andre Mertens > [There are different rules for comic books now. You've got prima donna's that are dealing with the direct sales market, so if they say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-royer/there-are-different-rules-for-comic-books-now-you-ve-got-prima-donna/) [Mike Royer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-royer/) > [The success of our operas rests most of the time in the hands of the conductor. This person is as necessary as a tenor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giuseppe-verdi/the-success-of-our-operas-rests-most-of-the-time-in-the-hands-of-the/) [Giuseppe Verdi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giuseppe-verdi/) ## More by Rufus Wainwright > [I have an ounce of Lady Gaga's full-bodied ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/i-have-an-ounce-of-lady-gaga-s-full-bodied-ambition/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [I definitely consider 'Poses' - the whole album in fact - to be kind of a miracle. Like the last breath of that moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/i-definitely-consider-poses-the-whole-album-in-fact-to-be-kind-of-a/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [You know the question: 'How do you get to Carnegie Hall?' Answer: 'Practise?' Well, in my case, I got there by not practising. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/you-know-the-question-how-do-you-get-to-carnegie-hall-answer-practise/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [I've had my ups and downs, and I definitely have a sense - in America, especially - that once you've made your mark and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/i-ve-had-my-ups-and-downs-and-i-definitely-have-a-sense-in-america/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [I'll always be a boulevardier. I have an extreme reverence and romantic longing for all that is decrepit and fatalistic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/i-ll-always-be-a-boulevardier-i-have-an-extreme-reverence-and/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [I'm very blessed, mainly because even though my family is mostly in show business, it's really centered around music. My parents were very successful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/i-m-very-blessed-mainly-because-even-though-my-family-is-mostly-in/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [Growing up, for years and years I had no idea what the plots of operas were, and that's part of what fascinated me -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/growing-up-for-years-and-years-i-had-no-idea-what-the-plots-of-operas/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [Once illness strikes, you realize there's not a lot of time for you to do what you really need to do. And there's no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/once-illness-strikes-you-realize-there-s-not-a-lot-of-time-for-you-to/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [I basically have needed to go to the piano and give voice periodically to, you know - I'm always afraid to describe it as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/i-basically-have-needed-to-go-to-the-piano-and-give-voice/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [And you will believe in love And all that it's supposed to be But just until the fish start to smell And you're struck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/and-you-will-believe-in-love-and-all-that-it-s-supposed-to-be-but/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [It's about how whenever I fall in love, I have these expectations of the experience being a perfect dream, which, of course, ruins it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/it-s-about-how-whenever-i-fall-in-love-i-have-these-expectations-of/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [Crazy as it sounds, I'm a believer in destiny and serendipity, and I have had cosmic experiences all my life. Something told me I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/crazy-as-it-sounds-i-m-a-believer-in-destiny-and-serendipity-and-i/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [I think everybody identified at a pretty young age that I was fairly entranced with myself. And that I had to be tempered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/i-think-everybody-identified-at-a-pretty-young-age-that-i-was-fairly/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [The song is about knowing the end result of every situation you're in, and being able to play it out in your mind and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/the-song-is-about-knowing-the-end-result-of-every-situation-you-re-in/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [I like to make the mundane fabulous whenever I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/i-like-to-make-the-mundane-fabulous-whenever-i-can/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) [Explore all 176 Rufus Wainwright quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) ## More Bits quotes > [ Brad \[Dourif\] would tell himself that he was not intentionally trying to mimic Jack Nicholson in any way. 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With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [If I had my brothers I think with just a little bit of the correct marketing, I'd like to be almost exclusively in small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bozzio/if-i-had-my-brothers-i-think-with-just-a-little-bit-of-the-correct/) [Terry Bozzio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bozzio/) > [Talented people can predict with great accuracy what's about to happen just a tiny bit ahead of their competitors. It might be two seconds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-maney/talented-people-can-predict-with-great-accuracy-what-s-about-to/) [Kevin Maney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-maney/) > [He referred to me as an 'insufferable puffed-up prat'. This is a bit rich coming from a man who actually married his own mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-morrissey/he-referred-to-me-as-an-insufferable-puffed-up-prat-this-is-a-bit/) [Steven Morrissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-morrissey/) > [It won't do you a bit of good to know everything if you don't do anything with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-fitzhugh/it-won-t-do-you-a-bit-of-good-to-know-everything-if-you-don-t-do/) [Louise Fitzhugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-fitzhugh/) > [I was told I had brain damage. I always knew it was an unfair label. Now I have a clearer understanding of what's wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-boyle/i-was-told-i-had-brain-damage-i-always-knew-it-was-an-unfair-label/) [Susan Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-boyle/) > [I think that's the beauty of the current setup, is that Legends is meant to be a bit of a revolving door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wentworth-miller/i-think-that-s-the-beauty-of-the-current-setup-is-that-legends-is/) [Wentworth Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wentworth-miller/) > [We, as pop stars, are people not androids. We’ve got views. I’ve got opinions and I don’t see why I shouldn’t use a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-meddows-taylor/we-as-pop-stars-are-people-not-androids-we-ve-got-views-i-ve-got/) [Roger Meddows Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-meddows-taylor/) > [In terms of style, too, I think I've been working with a somewhat limited -- although intentionally limited -- set of tools. 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