--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wasn't an actor. They they take the…" description: "\"I wasn't an actor. They they take the externals. Here I was, a kid thrown into Hollywood with a brand-new name, starring in motion pictures.\" — Tab Hunter" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba3/tab-hunter-14724_actor_i-wasn-t-an-actor-they-they-take-the-ext_2982474.jpg" --- # I wasn't an actor. They they take the externals. Here I… ![“I wasn't an actor. They they take the externals. Here I was, a kid thrown into Hollywood with a brand-new name, starring in motion pictures.” quote by Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba3/tab-hunter-14724_actor_i-wasn-t-an-actor-they-they-take-the-ext_2982474.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba3/tab-hunter-14724_actor_i-wasn-t-an-actor-they-they-take-the-ext_2982474.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba3/tab-hunter-14724_actor_i-wasn-t-an-actor-they-they-take-the-ext_2982474.jpg) > “I wasn't an actor. They they take the externals. Here I was, a kid thrown into Hollywood with a brand-new name, starring in motion pictures.” [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The actor felt thrust into Hollywood without preparation, relying on external image rather than skill. **In simple terms:** He was a kid thrust into fame, judged by looks. Key Takeaway Develop inner talent beyond appearance. Themes celebrity identity media Mood reflective nostalgic Type memoir personal When to use this quote - acting career - public scrutiny - personal growth Key Concepts image vs. skill exploitation Questions to Reflect On - How does fame impact self‑worth? - What supports talent over looks? A Different Perspective Industry can prioritize image over substance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actor Externals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-externals-4645400/) [Brand new](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brand-new/) [Externals Kid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/externals-kid-4645401/) [Here](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/here/) [Hollywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hollywood/) [Kid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kid/) [Motion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motion/) [Motion picture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motion-picture/) [Motion pictures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motion-pictures/) [Name](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/name/) [Pictures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pictures/) [Starring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/starring-1049572/) [Take](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/take/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Thrown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thrown/) [Wasn Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wasn-actor-264770/) ## Related quotes > [I think I'm innocently representing a certain belief in motion pictures, and, well OK.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-luc-godard/i-think-i-m-innocently-representing-a-certain-belief-in-motion/) [Jean-Luc Godard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-luc-godard/) > [In the depths of the mirror the evening landscape moved by, the mirror and the reflected figures like motion pictures superimposed one on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasunari-kawabata/in-the-depths-of-the-mirror-the-evening-landscape-moved-by-the-mirror/) [Yasunari Kawabata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasunari-kawabata/) > [It's very difficult to break into motion pictures, but it's oddly easier for directors today because of independent films and cable, who have inherited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-rydell/it-s-very-difficult-to-break-into-motion-pictures-but-it-s-oddly/) [Mark Rydell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-rydell/) > [The conscience of America seems to be paralyzed... We seem to be insensible to the things that are now taking place on motion picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/the-conscience-of-america-seems-to-be-paralyzed-we-seem-to-be/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [I've been blessed. I have no complaints. I've been surrounded by people in radio, on stage and in motion pictures and television who love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-york/i-ve-been-blessed-i-have-no-complaints-i-ve-been-surrounded-by-people/) [Dick York](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-york/) > [The motion picture made in Hollywood, if it is to create art at all, must do so within such strangling limitations of subject and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/the-motion-picture-made-in-hollywood-if-it-is-to-create-art-at-all/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) > [The Jews are one of the principle forces attempting to lead the U.S. into the war. The Jews greatest danger to this country lies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/the-jews-are-one-of-the-principle-forces-attempting-to-lead-the-u-s/) [Charles Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/) > [The thing about a motion picture is that look of film on a big screen takes you into a magical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/the-thing-about-a-motion-picture-is-that-look-of-film-on-a-big-screen/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [The art of motion pictures is pictorial and language comes a distant second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-annaud/the-art-of-motion-pictures-is-pictorial-and-language-comes-a-distant/) [Jean-Jacques Annaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-annaud/) > [Life is like a motion picture, everything is like a movie. In one of my rhymes I say, "My life is like a movie/Directed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-louie/life-is-like-a-motion-picture-everything-is-like-a-movie-in-one-of-my/) [King Louie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-louie/) > [If you ever go to a music session, you'll notice that the musicians can sit down and start playing right away, and everyone knows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/if-you-ever-go-to-a-music-session-you-ll-notice-that-the-musicians/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [I began my career creating art for an animated feature film, and it has been a life-long dream to tell some of the story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-kinkade/i-began-my-career-creating-art-for-an-animated-feature-film-and-it/) [Thomas Kinkade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-kinkade/) > [Things danced on the screen do not look the way they do on the stage. On the stage, dancing is three-dimensional, but a motion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kelly/things-danced-on-the-screen-do-not-look-the-way-they-do-on-the-stage/) [Gene Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kelly/) > [Instead of agitating for war, the Jewish groups in this country should be opposing it in every possible way, for they will be among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/instead-of-agitating-for-war-the-jewish-groups-in-this-country-should/) [Charles Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/) > [Lenin in 1921 observed very presciently that motion pictures were the most powerful tool ever invented to shape the way we thought. He was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlton-heston/lenin-in-1921-observed-very-presciently-that-motion-pictures-were-the/) [Charlton Heston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlton-heston/) ## More by Tab Hunter > [I knew Jimmy Dean. He tested for 'Battle Cry'. Paul Newman tested for 'Battle Cry'. I did nine tests to finally get that role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/i-knew-jimmy-dean-he-tested-for-battle-cry-paul-newman-tested-for/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) > [Unless you're of a certain age, you may not know my name, but you can Google it - I was a pretty big movie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/unless-you-re-of-a-certain-age-you-may-not-know-my-name-but-you-can/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) > [I don't care about being in the public eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/i-don-t-care-about-being-in-the-public-eye/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) > [I've been a very, very fortunate man. I've had a lot of highs - and a great deal of lows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/i-ve-been-a-very-very-fortunate-man-i-ve-had-a-lot-of-highs-and-a/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) > [Divine was like a 400-pound beached whale. He was one of my favorite leading ladies, I've got to tell you. He was really terrific.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/divine-was-like-a-400-pound-beached-whale-he-was-one-of-my-favorite/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) > [I love singing. You know, my mother always used to encourage me, 'Sing, sing,' and I was in a choir in church, yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/i-love-singing-you-know-my-mother-always-used-to-encourage-me-sing/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) > [There would be no Tab Hunter if it were not for Dick Clayton.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/there-would-be-no-tab-hunter-if-it-were-not-for-dick-clayton/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) > [I was born in New York. I grew up in San Francisco, Long Beach, and Los Angeles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/i-was-born-in-new-york-i-grew-up-in-san-francisco-long-beach-and-los/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) > [My sexuality is only a thread of the tapestry of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/my-sexuality-is-only-a-thread-of-the-tapestry-of-my-life/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) > [I turned into a workaholic to the point of where my health was in jeopardy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/i-turned-into-a-workaholic-to-the-point-of-where-my-health-was-in/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) > [If I had come out during my acting career in the 1950s, I would not have had a career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/if-i-had-come-out-during-my-acting-career-in-the-1950s-i-would-not/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) > [I never mentioned my sexuality to Warner Bros. at all, and they never mentioned it to me, thank God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/i-never-mentioned-my-sexuality-to-warner-bros-at-all-and-they-never/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) > [Without a doubt, my sexuality was something that I just never discussed, especially in the 1950s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/without-a-doubt-my-sexuality-was-something-that-i-just-never/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) > [I'd work for John Waters again, because he's so off the wall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/i-d-work-for-john-waters-again-because-he-s-so-off-the-wall/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) > [I lived a very don't-ask, don't-tell life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/i-lived-a-very-don-t-ask-don-t-tell-life/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) [Explore all 44 Tab Hunter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) ## 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. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. 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! 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/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [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/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I wasn't an actor. They they take the externals. 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