--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I started off doing theater as a kid, and…" description: "\"I started off doing theater as a kid, and I always played a character. I hid behind the script and was told where to go. But to actually perform as you..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23b/sam-smith-2934_character_i-started-off-doing-theater-as-a-kid-and_1509875.jpg" --- # I started off doing theater as a kid, and I always played… ![“I started off doing theater as a kid, and I always played a character. I hid behind the script and was told where to go. But to actually perform as yourself is very difficult. I didn't used to enjoy it, but now I do.” quote by Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23b/sam-smith-2934_character_i-started-off-doing-theater-as-a-kid-and_1509875.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23b/sam-smith-2934_character_i-started-off-doing-theater-as-a-kid-and_1509875.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23b/sam-smith-2934_character_i-started-off-doing-theater-as-a-kid-and_1509875.jpg) > “I started off doing theater as a kid, and I always played a character. I hid behind the script and was told where to go. But to actually perform as yourself is very difficult. I didn't used to enjoy it, but now I do.” [Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Performing authentically is harder than following a script, requiring personal vulnerability and self‑trust. **In simple terms:** Being yourself on stage is tough but rewarding. Key Takeaway Embrace authenticity despite difficulty. Themes self‑expression vulnerability performance growth Mood reflective motivational Type inspirational personal development When to use this quote - theater auditions - public speaking - personal storytelling Key Concepts identity creative risk personal development Questions to Reflect On - How can you practice authenticity in low‑stakes settings? - What fears arise when shedding a role? A Different Perspective Many fear exposing true self; audience may reject authenticity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character Hid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-hid-5555265/) [Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) [Doing Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-theater/) [Enjoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoy/) [Played Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/played-character/) [Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater/) [Theater Kid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater-kid-424173/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yourself/) ## Related quotes > [I was a theater kid in high school, but I also went to parties. Usually in movies, there's the jock and the theater person.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-gordon/i-was-a-theater-kid-in-high-school-but-i-also-went-to-parties-usually/) [Molly Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-gordon/) > [I think I made $55 a week, and it was bliss... I was doing theater. It was all I ever wanted to do. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/i-think-i-made-55-a-week-and-it-was-bliss-i-was-doing-theater-it-was/) [Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) > [Theater will always be a huge part of my life. The high I get from doing theater is not, quite honestly, matched by many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/theater-will-always-be-a-huge-part-of-my-life-the-high-i-get-from/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [I love doing theater. It's what I grew up in and is my roots. I get a huge fulfillment from it. But if my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stokes-mitchell/i-love-doing-theater-it-s-what-i-grew-up-in-and-is-my-roots-i-get-a/) [Brian Stokes Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stokes-mitchell/) > [I was doing theater in my high school, and I started writing sort of silly songs on the piano backstage in summer theater. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/i-was-doing-theater-in-my-high-school-and-i-started-writing-sort-of/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [I wanted to be a doctor when I was a kid, but I started doing theater in high school because it was a requirement.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-bush/i-wanted-to-be-a-doctor-when-i-was-a-kid-but-i-started-doing-theater/) [Sophia Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-bush/) > [When doing theater, you have to find great satisfaction in the small things. 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It's the least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/i-love-doing-theater-despite-the-fact-that-out-of-theater-film-and-tv/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [I wasn't a musical-theater kid. We went to plays at school and took field trips to see Shakespeare. And that really sparked that fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-ripley/i-wasn-t-a-musical-theater-kid-we-went-to-plays-at-school-and-took/) [Alice Ripley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-ripley/) > [I did some theater as a kid for fun. But it was really by chance that I landed into acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaspard-ulliel/i-did-some-theater-as-a-kid-for-fun-but-it-was-really-by-chance-that/) [Gaspard Ulliel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaspard-ulliel/) > [That's part of what made me interested in theater as a kid. It made it acceptable to be a man for an hour onstage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-and-the-queens/that-s-part-of-what-made-me-interested-in-theater-as-a-kid-it-made-it/) [Christine and the Queens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-and-the-queens/) > [I didn't know what the path was that I wanted to be as an actor, to be honest. I've been doing a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-pearce/i-didn-t-know-what-the-path-was-that-i-wanted-to-be-as-an-actor-to-be/) [Guy Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-pearce/) > [I was a musical theater kid in high school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rian-johnson/i-was-a-musical-theater-kid-in-high-school/) [Rian Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rian-johnson/) ## More by Sam Smith > [I'm really scared of flying. Like, really, really, really scared.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/i-m-really-scared-of-flying-like-really-really-really-scared/) [Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/) > [I had a role in developing the doctrine From the Sea, which was later modified to Forward From the Sea. But the way we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/i-had-a-role-in-developing-the-doctrine-from-the-sea-which-was-later/) [Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/) > [It was only until I started to be myself that the music started to flow and people started to listen. So, thank you guys...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/it-was-only-until-i-started-to-be-myself-that-the-music-started-to/) [Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/) > [My cross earrings are a mini statement; I wear them every day! 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It's just so horrible, especially when you can see their bellies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/i-hate-it-when-guys-wear-really-tight-t-shirts-it-s-just-so-horrible/) [Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/) > [Would to God, brethren, I could tell you WHO I am! Would to God I could tell you WHAT I know! But you would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/would-to-god-brethren-i-could-tell-you-who-i-am-would-to-god-i-could/) [Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/) > [Kill me if you will, I am not afraid to die; and I have endured so much oppression that I am weary of life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/kill-me-if-you-will-i-am-not-afraid-to-die-and-i-have-endured-so-much/) [Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/) > [I'm more comfortable performing in front of 50,000 people than five people - it's easier. When there's that many people, I feel like I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/i-m-more-comfortable-performing-in-front-of-50-000-people-than-five/) [Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/) > [It was only until I started to be myself that the music started to flow & people started to listen so thank you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/it-was-only-until-i-started-to-be-myself-that-the-music-started-to-2/) [Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/) > [When I'm performing, I'm not even thinking about the song. I'm thinking about the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/when-i-m-performing-i-m-not-even-thinking-about-the-song-i-m-thinking/) [Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/) > [I used to get very angry as I was getting older, because my voice was breaking. So I've trained my voice so religiously through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/i-used-to-get-very-angry-as-i-was-getting-older-because-my-voice-was/) [Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/) > [It's my job to have ups and downs because it makes good music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/it-s-my-job-to-have-ups-and-downs-because-it-makes-good-music/) [Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/) [Explore all 145 Sam Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) [David Hudgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hudgins/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. 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