---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was 19 years when I got into acting…"
description: "\"I was 19 years when I got into acting training classes at a TV station and then I found a way to express my feelings. My father left us when I was a ki..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/772/tony-leung-chiu-wai-2-44652_acting_i-was-19-years-when-i-got-into-acting-tr_2091028.jpg"
---

#  I was 19 years when I got into acting training classes at…

![“I was 19 years when I got into acting training classes at a TV station and then I found a way to express my feelings. My father left us when I was a kid and I just shut down all of my emotions. I wasn't talkative; I didn't know how to communicate with people. I tried to separate from people. After…” quote by Tony Leung Chiu Wai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/772/tony-leung-chiu-wai-2-44652_acting_i-was-19-years-when-i-got-into-acting-tr_2091028.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/772/tony-leung-chiu-wai-2-44652_acting_i-was-19-years-when-i-got-into-acting-tr_2091028.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/772/tony-leung-chiu-wai-2-44652_acting_i-was-19-years-when-i-got-into-acting-tr_2091028.jpg)

> “I was 19 years when I got into acting training classes at a TV station and then I found a way to express my feelings. My father left us when I was a kid and I just shut down all of my emotions. I wasn't talkative; I didn't know how to communicate with people. I tried to separate from people. After I got into the classes I found a way of expressing myself through characters. I can cry behind a character, I can shout behind a character and it became a relief. And it's fun.”

[Tony Leung Chiu Wai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-leung-chiu-wai-2/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Acting training helped him process suppressed emotions, using characters as a safe outlet for expression and relief.

**In simple terms:** Acting let him release hidden feelings.

Key Takeaway

Use creative outlets to process trauma.

Themes

self‑expression healing creativity

Mood

hopeful introspective

Type

motivational inspirational

When to use this quote

- theatre workshops
- support groups
- personal development
- emotional regulation

Key Concepts

psychological release art therapy

Questions to Reflect On

- How does embodying a role differ from speaking as yourself?
- What other arts could serve similar purposes?

A Different Perspective

Creative expression may not replace professional therapy for deep wounds.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character Relief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-relief-615935/) [Communicate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communicate/) [Cry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cry/) [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Emotions Wasn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotions-wasn-4133652/) [Express Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/express-feelings/) [Expressing Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expressing-myself/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Shut Emotions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shut-emotions-1769375/) [Talkative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talkative/) [Training](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/training/)

## Related quotes

> [Initially, I was worried about playing Hansa, because Hansa is someone who talks a lot but does nothing. But after I started playing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/supriya-pathak/initially-i-was-worried-about-playing-hansa-because-hansa-is-someone/)

[Supriya Pathak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/supriya-pathak/)

> [Lonesome Rhodes had wild mood swings. He'd be very happy, he'd be very said, he'd be very angry, very depressed, and I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-griffith/lonesome-rhodes-had-wild-mood-swings-he-d-be-very-happy-he-d-be-very/)

[Andy Griffith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-griffith/)

> [To shut down the ability to feel pain means you shut down all emotions, joy included. It makes our hearts feel small, it robs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jewel/to-shut-down-the-ability-to-feel-pain-means-you-shut-down-all/)

[Jewel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jewel/)

> [“It takes courage and strength to be sensitive to things and even more strength and courage to own up to it or be vocal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-crown/it-takes-courage-and-strength-to-be-sensitive-to-things-and-even-more/)

[Bruce Crown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-crown/)

> [“Sometimes she wondered if those who felt too deeply were the ones who, when hurt, shut down their emotions even tighter than others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christy-reece/sometimes-she-wondered-if-those-who-felt-too-deeply-were-the-ones-who/)

[Christy Reece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christy-reece/)

> [Don't shut down your emotions. Embrace them. Your emotions are your internal compass telling you whether or not you are on track. Use them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-michaels/don-t-shut-down-your-emotions-embrace-them-your-emotions-are-your/)

[Jillian Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-michaels/)

> [For a stunt woman, emotions don't matter to the shot. It was easier for me to do my job if I shut all my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/for-a-stunt-woman-emotions-don-t-matter-to-the-shot-it-was-easier-for/)

[Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/)

> [To be able to shut off your emotions drastically, I think that the only way you can do that is if you have some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-isaac/to-be-able-to-shut-off-your-emotions-drastically-i-think-that-the/)

[Oscar Isaac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-isaac/)

> [I've never been a really talkative person. Don't judge me. True introvert.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-never-been-a-really-talkative-person-don-t-judge-me-true/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I'm not the most talkative guy in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skeet-ulrich/i-m-not-the-most-talkative-guy-in-the-world/)

[Skeet Ulrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skeet-ulrich/)

> [I am very scared of Salman and intimidated by him. My talkative behaviour disappears and I am a very different person when Salman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zareen-khan/i-am-very-scared-of-salman-and-intimidated-by-him-my-talkative/)

[Zareen Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zareen-khan/)

> [The more gifted and talkative one's characters are, the greater the chances of their resembling the author in tone or tint of mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/the-more-gifted-and-talkative-one-s-characters-are-the-greater-the/)

[Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/)

> [I'm original, weird, dumb and talkative. I am who I am, I don't suck up, I say what is on my mind,But if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/i-m-original-weird-dumb-and-talkative-i-am-who-i-am-i-don-t-suck-up-i/)

[Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/)

> [Sometimes I'm just too talkative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-dewan-tatum/sometimes-i-m-just-too-talkative/)

[Jenna Dewan Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-dewan-tatum/)

> [I wouldn't just come home from school and watch TV everyday, they had me involved in lots of local theatre. I was a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-washington/i-wouldn-t-just-come-home-from-school-and-watch-tv-everyday-they-had/)

[Kerry Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-washington/)

## More by Tony Leung Chiu Wai

> [I think the love scenes are very powerful and they're not trying to simply show the bodies of the actors but trying to reflect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-leung-chiu-wai-2/i-think-the-love-scenes-are-very-powerful-and-they-re-not-trying-to/)

[Tony Leung Chiu Wai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-leung-chiu-wai-2/)

> [The most difficult thing is that I don't speak Mandarin and I had this experience - of working in a language that I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-leung-chiu-wai-2/the-most-difficult-thing-is-that-i-don-t-speak-mandarin-and-i-had/)

[Tony Leung Chiu Wai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-leung-chiu-wai-2/)

> [I really enjoy the process of making movies. The only thing that really concerns me is working with great directors and actors, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-leung-chiu-wai-2/i-really-enjoy-the-process-of-making-movies-the-only-thing-that/)

[Tony Leung Chiu Wai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-leung-chiu-wai-2/)

> [I don't want to be more famous. I enjoy making movies but I enjoy my private life too. As an actor, to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-leung-chiu-wai-2/i-don-t-want-to-be-more-famous-i-enjoy-making-movies-but-i-enjoy-my/)

[Tony Leung Chiu Wai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-leung-chiu-wai-2/)

> [I think movie makers in every country are looking for ideas. It's interactive. And sometimes we remake a lot of Hollywood films but we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-leung-chiu-wai-2/i-think-movie-makers-in-every-country-are-looking-for-ideas-it-s/)

[Tony Leung Chiu Wai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-leung-chiu-wai-2/)

> [My father left us three times when I was between three and six. You just couldn't tell - suddenly one day he would leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-leung-chiu-wai-2/my-father-left-us-three-times-when-i-was-between-three-and-six-you/)

[Tony Leung Chiu Wai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-leung-chiu-wai-2/)

> [I don't want to become more famous because I don't have any privacy anymore and I hate that very much. Outside of work I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-leung-chiu-wai-2/i-don-t-want-to-become-more-famous-because-i-don-t-have-any-privacy/)

[Tony Leung Chiu Wai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-leung-chiu-wai-2/)

> [I think doing love scenes is never easy without a strong emotional background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-leung-chiu-wai-2/i-think-doing-love-scenes-is-never-easy-without-a-strong-emotional/)

[Tony Leung Chiu Wai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-leung-chiu-wai-2/)

[Explore all 9 Tony Leung Chiu Wai quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-leung-chiu-wai-2/)

## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 was 19 years when I got into acting training classes at a TV station and then I found a way to express my feelings. My father left us when I was a kid and I just shut down all of my emotions. I wasn't talkative; I didn't know how to communicate with people. I tried to separate from people. After I got into the classes I found a way of expressing myself through characters. I can cry behind a character, I can shout behind a character and it became a relief. And it's fun.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Tony Leung Chiu Wai"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-leung-chiu-wai-2/i-was-19-years-when-i-got-into-acting-training-classes-at-a-tv/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Acting"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-leung-chiu-wai-2/i-was-19-years-when-i-got-into-acting-training-classes-at-a-tv/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/772/tony-leung-chiu-wai-2-44652_acting_i-was-19-years-when-i-got-into-acting-tr_2091028.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/772/tony-leung-chiu-wai-2-44652_acting_i-was-19-years-when-i-got-into-acting-tr_2091028.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/772/tony-leung-chiu-wai-2-44652_acting_i-was-19-years-when-i-got-into-acting-tr_2091028.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I was 19 years when I got into acting training classes at a TV station and then I found a way to express my…” — Tony Leung Chiu Wai",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Tony Leung Chiu Wai",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-leung-chiu-wai-2/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I was 19 years when I...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-leung-chiu-wai-2/i-was-19-years-when-i-got-into-acting-training-classes-at-a-tv/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-leung-chiu-wai-2/i-was-19-years-when-i-got-into-acting-training-classes-at-a-tv/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
