--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I started acting long before I decided to…" description: "\"I started acting long before I decided to pursue it. I started acting as an amateur when I was a kid, but I wanted to become a diplomat. It was self-ce..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4c/stellan-skarsgard-3602_acting_i-started-acting-long-before-i-decided-t_2389813.png" --- # I started acting long before I decided to pursue it. I… ![“I started acting long before I decided to pursue it. I started acting as an amateur when I was a kid, but I wanted to become a diplomat. It was self-centered and weird, but I had this idea of going out in the world and solving conflicts and making the world a better place.” quote by Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4c/stellan-skarsgard-3602_acting_i-started-acting-long-before-i-decided-t_2389813.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4c/stellan-skarsgard-3602_acting_i-started-acting-long-before-i-decided-t_2389813.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4c/stellan-skarsgard-3602_acting_i-started-acting-long-before-i-decided-t_2389813.png) > “I started acting long before I decided to pursue it. I started acting as an amateur when I was a kid, but I wanted to become a diplomat. It was self-centered and weird, but I had this idea of going out in the world and solving conflicts and making the world a better place.” [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He reflects on a lifelong passion for acting and a desire to serve as a diplomat, highlighting a shift from self‑interest to global service. **In simple terms:** Acting began early; now seeks broader impact. Key Takeaway Channel performance into purposeful action. Themes career diplomacy service self‑growth Mood thoughtful ambitious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - acting - diplomacy - global outreach - personal evolution Key Concepts public service conflict resolution Questions to Reflect On - What skills from acting aid diplomatic goals? - How can artists influence world peace? A Different Perspective The transition from personal fame to public service can be challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Better place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-place/) [Conflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/) [Diplomats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diplomats/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self centered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-centered/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I started acting as an amateur when I was a kid, but I wanted to become a diplomat. It was self-centered and weird, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/i-started-acting-as-an-amateur-when-i-was-a-kid-but-i-wanted-to/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [I wanted to be a man who travelled the world to make peace. I didn't realise that most diplomats are megaphones for their governments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/i-wanted-to-be-a-man-who-travelled-the-world-to-make-peace-i-didn-t/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [I've been acting for so long it's more like - I won't say easy, exactly, but there's not the same angst with writing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ringwald/i-ve-been-acting-for-so-long-it-s-more-like-i-won-t-say-easy-exactly/) [Molly Ringwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ringwald/) > [I guess once you've been acting for a long time, you glean the great bits of good directors and the bad bits from other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/i-guess-once-you-ve-been-acting-for-a-long-time-you-glean-the-great/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [I'd like to continue acting as long as I enjoy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holliday-grainger/i-d-like-to-continue-acting-as-long-as-i-enjoy-it/) [Holliday Grainger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holliday-grainger/) > [For me, acting is a long-term thing. I'm not in a hurry to make it. I have no desire to explode onto the film…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriella-wilde/for-me-acting-is-a-long-term-thing-i-m-not-in-a-hurry-to-make-it-i/) [Gabriella Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriella-wilde/) > [I've had my share of villains and played some fairly nasty characters. But I've been acting for so long. I started out as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacki-weaver/i-ve-had-my-share-of-villains-and-played-some-fairly-nasty-characters/) [Jacki Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacki-weaver/) > [Acting has always been something I've wanted to get into. I think the best models are actors; you're taking on a character. In that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liberty-ross/acting-has-always-been-something-i-ve-wanted-to-get-into-i-think-the/) [Liberty Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liberty-ross/) > [When I first got into acting, I never had any long-term goals, never had any plan. I just thought it would be a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-farina/when-i-first-got-into-acting-i-never-had-any-long-term-goals-never/) [Dennis Farina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-farina/) > [I want to keep on progressing. I definitely think acting is a long process to be one of the greats like Morgan Freeman or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-gamble/i-want-to-keep-on-progressing-i-definitely-think-acting-is-a-long/) Nathan Gamble > [Modelling, initially, is interesting. I think acting is a long process and it is far more interesting a job. In acting you play a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dino-morea/modelling-initially-is-interesting-i-think-acting-is-a-long-process/) [Dino Morea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dino-morea/) > [If I'm producing, I'm not acting, and it's such a long road to get anything off the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-cattrall/if-i-m-producing-i-m-not-acting-and-it-s-such-a-long-road-to-get/) [Kim Cattrall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-cattrall/) > [I want to continue acting as long as I can because being on the sets is a big stress buster for me. I can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akkineni-nagarjuna/i-want-to-continue-acting-as-long-as-i-can-because-being-on-the-sets/) [Akkineni Nagarjuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akkineni-nagarjuna/) > [That one long scene in the Leftovers I have with David Gulpilil was seven pages long. When we finished it, Mimi Leder said, "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-glenn/that-one-long-scene-in-the-leftovers-i-have-with-david-gulpilil-was/) [Scott Glenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-glenn/) > [I had a really complicated relationship with acting for a long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-sprouse/i-had-a-really-complicated-relationship-with-acting-for-a-long-time/) [Cole Sprouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-sprouse/) ## More by Stellan Skarsgard > [I am not a nationalist in any way, and I hate flag waving, and I don't think much good has come out of nationalism.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/i-am-not-a-nationalist-in-any-way-and-i-hate-flag-waving-and-i-don-t/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [I am indeed a fan of John le Carre's novels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/i-am-indeed-a-fan-of-john-le-carre-s-novels/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [The ethical code of my upbringing was be good to people and try not to hurt them. You don't need a god to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/the-ethical-code-of-my-upbringing-was-be-good-to-people-and-try-not/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [Actors are different. Some actors play themselves very successfully, but I come from the theater. Having done Shakespeare, we sometimes did three or four…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/actors-are-different-some-actors-play-themselves-very-successfully/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [We have to know that the bad guys are not different from us in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/we-have-to-know-that-the-bad-guys-are-not-different-from-us-in-the/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [Any society that starts forbidding certain words or expressions is a society you should be wary about, whether it's the KGB or social consensus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/any-society-that-starts-forbidding-certain-words-or-expressions-is-a/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [Man is such an amazing animal, and the possibilities are infinite for each person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/man-is-such-an-amazing-animal-and-the-possibilities-are-infinite-for/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [It takes a long time to make me beautiful, but it goes fast to make me ugly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/it-takes-a-long-time-to-make-me-beautiful-but-it-goes-fast-to-make-me/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [Theres nothing more reassuring than a world thats crazier than you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/theres-nothing-more-reassuring-than-a-world-thats-crazier-than-you-are/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [Even if you're the President of the United States, you still act like a little child and think like a little child sometimes. Childish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/even-if-you-re-the-president-of-the-united-states-you-still-act-like/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [Most of my acting in general is about what's going on in the head, and the lines are just something that comes out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/most-of-my-acting-in-general-is-about-what-s-going-on-in-the-head-and/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [In Europe, the director is the king: it's his vision. It's an auteur tradition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/in-europe-the-director-is-the-king-it-s-his-vision-it-s-an-auteur/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [If you look at Kirsten Dunst's performance in 'Melancholia,' which I think is absolutely wonderful - it's not even in the text, because she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/if-you-look-at-kirsten-dunst-s-performance-in-melancholia-which-i/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [One of the beauties of 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' is the very delicate and strange relationship between the two main characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/one-of-the-beauties-of-the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-is-the-very/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [Kenneth Branagh is one of the funniest directors on the set. You laugh a lot. He's very skillful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/kenneth-branagh-is-one-of-the-funniest-directors-on-the-set-you-laugh/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) [Explore all 126 Stellan Skarsgard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) ## 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": "I started acting long before I decided to pursue it. I started acting as an amateur when I was a kid, but I wanted to become a diplomat. 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