--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I started acting, my parents gave me…" description: "\"When I started acting, my parents gave me three rules: I had to stay good in school, stay the kid they always knew I was, and I had to have fun. If I w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ad/shailene-woodley-4258_acting_when-i-started-acting-my-parents-gave-me_2568270.jpg" --- # When I started acting, my parents gave me three rules: I… ![“When I started acting, my parents gave me three rules: I had to stay good in school, stay the kid they always knew I was, and I had to have fun. If I wasn't doing those three things, then I couldn't do acting anymore.” quote by Shailene Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ad/shailene-woodley-4258_acting_when-i-started-acting-my-parents-gave-me_2568270.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ad/shailene-woodley-4258_acting_when-i-started-acting-my-parents-gave-me_2568270.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ad/shailene-woodley-4258_acting_when-i-started-acting-my-parents-gave-me_2568270.jpg) > “When I started acting, my parents gave me three rules: I had to stay good in school, stay the kid they always knew I was, and I had to have fun. If I wasn't doing those three things, then I couldn't do acting anymore.” [Shailene Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailene-woodley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Balancing personal identity with external expectations is essential for sustainable creative work. **In simple terms:** Stay true, keep school, have fun. Key Takeaway Maintain balance, protect joy. Themes identity creativity balance Mood reflective optimistic Type advice personal When to use this quote - acting career - school life - personal development - competition preparation Key Concepts self‑care discipline play Questions to Reflect On - How do you negotiate personal rules with professional demands? - What fun you do when fun feels compromised? A Different Perspective If rules become too rigid, they can stifle growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) [Rules](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rules/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) ## Related quotes > [I started acting in my parents living room when I was five years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-gallagher/i-started-acting-in-my-parents-living-room-when-i-was-five-years-old/) [Megan Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-gallagher/) > [I couldn't do an acting job just to be working. It really had to have some soul to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-cross/i-couldn-t-do-an-acting-job-just-to-be-working-it-really-had-to-have/) [Marcia Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-cross/) > [You couldn't take football away from me, you couldn't take acting away from me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dougray-scott/you-couldn-t-take-football-away-from-me-you-couldn-t-take-acting-away/) [Dougray Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dougray-scott/) > [I had to jump around in the arts for a while just to survive. I earned a little money here and there, playing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-had-to-jump-around-in-the-arts-for-a-while-just-to-survive-i-earned/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [When I went home from Juilliard, I couldn't find acting work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/when-i-went-home-from-juilliard-i-couldn-t-find-acting-work/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [I studied acting in school and then, of course, couldn't get an acting job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/i-studied-acting-in-school-and-then-of-course-couldn-t-get-an-acting/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [I couldn't get an acting job to save my life when I moved to L.A.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nia-vardalos/i-couldn-t-get-an-acting-job-to-save-my-life-when-i-moved-to-l-a/) [Nia Vardalos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nia-vardalos/) > [I will always be an actress. I couldn't see myself without acting. But I'd love to direct and keep writing. I don't think one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-del-castillo/i-will-always-be-an-actress-i-couldn-t-see-myself-without-acting-but/) [Kate del Castillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-del-castillo/) > [I left school and couldn't find acting work, so I started going to clubs where you could do stand-up. I've always improvised, and stand-up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/i-left-school-and-couldn-t-find-acting-work-so-i-started-going-to/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [I don't gamble anymore since I had a kid. I have fun in Vegas. I see shows, Cirque du Soleil. Don Rickles was in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-fitzsimmons/i-don-t-gamble-anymore-since-i-had-a-kid-i-have-fun-in-vegas-i-see/) [Greg Fitzsimmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-fitzsimmons/) > [I had a head start in acting. Because of my parents, I had a SAG card, an agent and a recognizable name. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-crosby/i-had-a-head-start-in-acting-because-of-my-parents-i-had-a-sag-card/) [Mary Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-crosby/) > [Acting with my parents was nerve-wracking. If they watch me act on the sets I feel nervous and blocked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meghana-raj/acting-with-my-parents-was-nerve-wracking-if-they-watch-me-act-on-the/) [Meghana Raj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meghana-raj/) > [My family are very supportive and always have been. They weren't the kind of parents that pushed me into it. I know a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/my-family-are-very-supportive-and-always-have-been-they-weren-t-the/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [I knew I wanted to get into acting and my parents were fine with that. My brother, thankfully, became a barrister so I went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-havers/i-knew-i-wanted-to-get-into-acting-and-my-parents-were-fine-with-that/) [Nigel Havers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-havers/) > [After high school, I was going to move out to L.A. and try to pursue my dreams of acting. My parents said, "Thats fine.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/after-high-school-i-was-going-to-move-out-to-l-a-and-try-to-pursue-my/) [Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/) ## More by Shailene Woodley > [I'd always wanted to do a film than TV show because film is always where my heart has been. I like diving into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailene-woodley/i-d-always-wanted-to-do-a-film-than-tv-show-because-film-is-always/) [Shailene Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailene-woodley/) > [If I'm passionate about something, I'll do everything I can to be a part of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailene-woodley/if-i-m-passionate-about-something-i-ll-do-everything-i-can-to-be-a/) [Shailene Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailene-woodley/) > [I had never been to Hawaii, and now I say that my body is from L.A. but my heart is from Hawaii, because I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailene-woodley/i-had-never-been-to-hawaii-and-now-i-say-that-my-body-is-from-l-a-but/) [Shailene Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailene-woodley/) > [I never thought Hollywood is the life I want to do. I thought acting is the life I want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailene-woodley/i-never-thought-hollywood-is-the-life-i-want-to-do-i-thought-acting/) [Shailene Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailene-woodley/) > [I'm always like 'I'm too skinny, I can't gain weight, even when I try.' I'd like to try to not let that get to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailene-woodley/i-m-always-like-i-m-too-skinny-i-can-t-gain-weight-even-when-i-try-i/) [Shailene Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailene-woodley/) > [Everything that I own and use are in a carry-on suitcase,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailene-woodley/everything-that-i-own-and-use-are-in-a-carry-on-suitcase/) [Shailene Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailene-woodley/) > [You turn on the shower or you do whatever, but especially right now with the drought in California, there are so many resources that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailene-woodley/you-turn-on-the-shower-or-you-do-whatever-but-especially-right-now/) [Shailene Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailene-woodley/) > [It doesn't matter how much more you have in your bank; if 50,000 people show up to your opponents' rallies and you only have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailene-woodley/it-doesn-t-matter-how-much-more-you-have-in-your-bank-if-50-000/) [Shailene Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailene-woodley/) > [I choose to surround myself with happy human beings. I went through the angsty period. I think every single person does. I think it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailene-woodley/i-choose-to-surround-myself-with-happy-human-beings-i-went-through/) [Shailene Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailene-woodley/) > [I'd like to be like a hummingbird. You see them every now and then. You don't see them everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailene-woodley/i-d-like-to-be-like-a-hummingbird-you-see-them-every-now-and-then-you/) [Shailene Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailene-woodley/) > [I'm a pretty romantic person, I love little notes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailene-woodley/i-m-a-pretty-romantic-person-i-love-little-notes/) [Shailene Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailene-woodley/) > [My only real insecurities in high school were having such long legs and thick hair — things I’m so very grateful for now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailene-woodley/my-only-real-insecurities-in-high-school-were-having-such-long-legs/) [Shailene Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailene-woodley/) > [Every single morning you wake up with the opportunity to be yourself, or be the idea of someone else. For me it is all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailene-woodley/every-single-morning-you-wake-up-with-the-opportunity-to-be-yourself/) [Shailene Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailene-woodley/) > [I think the best way to become a character is by osmosis as opposed to thinking directly about stuff. The more material that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailene-woodley/i-think-the-best-way-to-become-a-character-is-by-osmosis-as-opposed/) [Shailene Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailene-woodley/) > [The day the process of acting becomes something that I dread is the end. Obviously, why would you do something that you hate? I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailene-woodley/the-day-the-process-of-acting-becomes-something-that-i-dread-is-the/) [Shailene Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailene-woodley/) [Explore all 113 Shailene Woodley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailene-woodley/) ## 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 > [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": "When I started acting, my parents gave me three rules: I had to stay good in school, stay the kid they always knew I was, and I had to have fun. 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