--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you're an actor, seeing yourself for…" description: "\"When you're an actor, seeing yourself for the first time, you spend all your time just watching yourself and hating yourself and picking your performan..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/668/sandra-bullock-985_actor_when-you-re-an-actor-seeing-yourself-for_768102.jpg" --- # When you're an actor, seeing yourself for the first time… ![“When you're an actor, seeing yourself for the first time, you spend all your time just watching yourself and hating yourself and picking your performance apart. You say, "I look horrible. I should quit."” quote by Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/668/sandra-bullock-985_actor_when-you-re-an-actor-seeing-yourself-for_768102.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/668/sandra-bullock-985_actor_when-you-re-an-actor-seeing-yourself-for_768102.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/668/sandra-bullock-985_actor_when-you-re-an-actor-seeing-yourself-for_768102.jpg) > “When you're an actor, seeing yourself for the first time, you spend all your time just watching yourself and hating yourself and picking your performance apart. You say, "I look horrible. I should quit."” [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑criticism can trap actors in a loop of doubt, hindering growth. **In simple terms:** Self‑criticism can stall progress. Key Takeaway Cultivate constructive self‑review. Themes self‑esteem growth performance Mood thoughtful inspirational Type advice psychological When to use this quote - auditions - creative projects - public speaking - personal development Key Concepts psychology of perfectionism Questions to Reflect On - What strategies help you turn criticism into improvement? - How can you separate identity from performance? A Different Perspective Too much self‑analysis may cause paralysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actor Seeing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-seeing-2169287/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [First time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-time/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Hate you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate-you/) [Hating Picking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hating-picking-5943433/) [Hating yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hating-yourself/) [Horrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horrible/) [Look Horrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look-horrible-521713/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Performance Apart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performance-apart-919589/) [Performances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performances/) [Quit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quit/) [Quitting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quitting/) [Seeing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeing/) [Seeing yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeing-yourself/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [There was nothing wrong with the performance, apart from throwing away the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-hoddle/there-was-nothing-wrong-with-the-performance-apart-from-throwing-away/) [Glenn Hoddle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-hoddle/) > [Backstage life is terrific training for an actor, seeing shows from the wings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-alda/backstage-life-is-terrific-training-for-an-actor-seeing-shows-from/) [Alan Alda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-alda/) > [What really enthralls me is working with the actor and seeing where you can go with that. It's in that exchange and that relationship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdellatif-kechiche/what-really-enthralls-me-is-working-with-the-actor-and-seeing-where/) [Abdellatif Kechiche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdellatif-kechiche/) > [One of the things that made me want to be an actor more than ever was seeing a Chekhov play, "The Sea Gull," when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/one-of-the-things-that-made-me-want-to-be-an-actor-more-than-ever-was/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [I hate being self conscious, I always feel like I look horrible and that I'm being judged or laughed at](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-hate-being-self-conscious-i-always-feel-like-i-look-horrible-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Most people are telling me I look horrible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-griffith/most-people-are-telling-me-i-look-horrible/) [Melanie Griffith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-griffith/) > [The important question is, what will your wear for a wedding dress, Alexia? You look horrible in white.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/the-important-question-is-what-will-your-wear-for-a-wedding-dress/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [I've had some great gigs and had horrible ones. I always look at the horrible ones, and think there's got to be something in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-del-rio/i-ve-had-some-great-gigs-and-had-horrible-ones-i-always-look-at-the/) [Bianca Del Rio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-del-rio/) > [Blech... I Look HORRIBLE for school on March 6, 2013... ech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meee/blech-i-look-horrible-for-school-on-march-6-2013-ech/) [Meee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meee/) > [Omg so bored…ewww I look horrible!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-marie/omg-so-bored-ewww-i-look-horrible/) [Nikki Marie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-marie/) > [Sometimes I wake up and think I look horrible. And sometimes I see a strong woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irina-shayk/sometimes-i-wake-up-and-think-i-look-horrible-and-sometimes-i-see-a/) [Irina Shayk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irina-shayk/) > [Most people are lucky and only look horrible in the mornings. I look horrible at all times during the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/most-people-are-lucky-and-only-look-horrible-in-the-mornings-i-look/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [Some cosmetic enhancement is obvious. A lot of times, the people who aren't talking about it are the ones who look horrible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-zolciak-biermann/some-cosmetic-enhancement-is-obvious-a-lot-of-times-the-people-who/) [Kim Zolciak-Biermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-zolciak-biermann/) > [I hate it when I look horrible in a group photo and the person who looks good refuses to delete it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-hate-it-when-i-look-horrible-in-a-group-photo-and-the-person-who/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I wasn’t sure, but I thought it kind of suited me. With the right shoes and everything.” I displayed the new blue pumps. “I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-stirling/i-wasn-t-sure-but-i-thought-it-kind-of-suited-me-with-the-right-shoes/) [Joss Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-stirling/) ## More by Sandra Bullock > [I think most of us are raised with preconceived notions of the choices we're supposed to make. We waste so much time making decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-think-most-of-us-are-raised-with-preconceived-notions-of-the/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) > [To me, true beauty isn't something that will wash off in the shower at the end of the day. 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No. Maybe I'd do it when I'm old and have done everything else on this planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/would-i-like-to-go-into-space-no-maybe-i-d-do-it-when-i-m-old-and/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) > [I'm like the queen of planning and scheduling and I'm trying very hard to stop it. I just want to finish what I'm doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-m-like-the-queen-of-planning-and-scheduling-and-i-m-trying-very/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) > [There is something sexy about a computer nerd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/there-is-something-sexy-about-a-computer-nerd/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) > [I find that with some girls, the words 'work' and 'education' have gotten a bad rap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-find-that-with-some-girls-the-words-work-and-education-have-gotten/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) > [I don't want to not enjoy where I am at this very moment. So, every time I plan something the exact opposite happens. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-don-t-want-to-not-enjoy-where-i-am-at-this-very-moment-so-every/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) > [Go find your joy. It's what you're going to remember in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/go-find-your-joy-it-s-what-you-re-going-to-remember-in-the-end/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) > [I really am thankful that I got to do The Proposal movie the right way with people who taught me how to do comedy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-really-am-thankful-that-i-got-to-do-the-proposal-movie-the-right/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) > [Chocolate is the greatest gift to women ever created, next to the likes of Paul Newman and Gene Kelly. It's something that should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/chocolate-is-the-greatest-gift-to-women-ever-created-next-to-the/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) [Explore all 314 Sandra Bullock quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) ## 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. 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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! 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