--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think I had something to prove to…" description: "\"I think I had something to prove to myself, that I could book a cis role and then if I did come out one day and start auditioning for trans roles, I co..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68d/trace-lysette-12900_day_i-think-i-had-something-to-prove-to-myse_1890721.jpg" --- # I think I had something to prove to myself, that I could… ![“I think I had something to prove to myself, that I could book a cis role and then if I did come out one day and start auditioning for trans roles, I could say, 'Look, I've already worked in a cis role.'” quote by Trace Lysette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68d/trace-lysette-12900_day_i-think-i-had-something-to-prove-to-myse_1890721.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68d/trace-lysette-12900_day_i-think-i-had-something-to-prove-to-myse_1890721.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68d/trace-lysette-12900_day_i-think-i-had-something-to-prove-to-myse_1890721.jpg) > “I think I had something to prove to myself, that I could book a cis role and then if I did come out one day and start auditioning for trans roles, I could say, 'Look, I've already worked in a cis role.'” [Trace Lysette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trace-lysette/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She wanted to prove herself by first succeeding in cis roles before transitioning to trans roles, using that experience as credibility. **In simple terms:** She aimed to build credibility in cis roles before moving to trans roles. Key Takeaway Use prior achievements to support future career shifts. Themes identity career representation authenticity growth Mood determined hopeful Type personal career When to use this quote - audition preparation - role selection - industry networking - public advocacy Key Concepts gender career strategy self validation Questions to Reflect On - How can you demonstrate authenticity beyond past roles? - What strategies can reduce typecasting? A Different Perspective Relying on past roles may not fully address bias in casting. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) ## Related quotes > [I'm not getting into rooms for cis roles. I started my career auditioning for those roles, and then I went to play trans roles.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trace-lysette/i-m-not-getting-into-rooms-for-cis-roles-i-started-my-career/) [Trace Lysette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trace-lysette/) > [When we get to a point when trans folks are included in the creative process, the narrative will be much more authentic. Trans actors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trace-lysette/when-we-get-to-a-point-when-trans-folks-are-included-in-the-creative/) [Trace Lysette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trace-lysette/) > [There are only so many 'series regular' trans roles on TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trace-lysette/there-are-only-so-many-series-regular-trans-roles-on-tv/) [Trace Lysette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trace-lysette/) > [I didn't start auditioning until my 10th birthday when I auditioned for 'Matilda' The Musical in London! It was actually the first time I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amybeth-mcnulty/i-didn-t-start-auditioning-until-my-10th-birthday-when-i-auditioned/) [Amybeth McNulty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amybeth-mcnulty/) > [It was hard to go into the world and start auditioning as real actors. Having to pay bills was rather scary, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaya-scodelario/it-was-hard-to-go-into-the-world-and-start-auditioning-as-real-actors/) [Kaya Scodelario](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaya-scodelario/) > [So, acting has been my dream. But I didn't groom myself for it. I was studying and then got into college. I thought I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ananya-panday/so-acting-has-been-my-dream-but-i-didn-t-groom-myself-for-it-i-was/) [Ananya Panday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ananya-panday/) > [I remember growing up knowing I wanted to be on the stage. I wanted to get to London as soon as possible and start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-zeta-jones/i-remember-growing-up-knowing-i-wanted-to-be-on-the-stage-i-wanted-to/) [Catherine Zeta-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-zeta-jones/) > [My parents were reluctant to let me start auditioning until I was at least a little bit emotionally stable - I'm still working on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoey-deutch/my-parents-were-reluctant-to-let-me-start-auditioning-until-i-was-at/) [Zoey Deutch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoey-deutch/) > [When I want more drama in my life, I'll start auditioning again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coral-levang/when-i-want-more-drama-in-my-life-i-ll-start-auditioning-again/) Coral Levang > [Having trans people play trans roles show that we are valid in our identities, and we exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/having-trans-people-play-trans-roles-show-that-we-are-valid-in-our/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [Cisgender actors don't take trans roles out of malice. I think it's just failure to realize the context behind having cisgender people play transgender…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/cisgender-actors-don-t-take-trans-roles-out-of-malice-i-think-it-s/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [So often, trans roles don't even go to trans actors. Most of the fabulous trans roles that have won people Oscars, we didn't get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laverne-cox/so-often-trans-roles-don-t-even-go-to-trans-actors-most-of-the/) [Laverne Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laverne-cox/) > [There are no trans roles, and if there are, they go to Jared Leto or Eddie Redmayne or Elle Fanning... Will there ever come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-nef/there-are-no-trans-roles-and-if-there-are-they-go-to-jared-leto-or/) [Hari Nef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-nef/) > [It's about time we had trans actors in trans roles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-root/it-s-about-time-we-had-trans-actors-in-trans-roles/) [Rebecca Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-root/) > [I think, if you can prove the existence of God, it can only be proven through love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakira/i-think-if-you-can-prove-the-existence-of-god-it-can-only-be-proven/) [Shakira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakira/) ## More by Trace Lysette > [I feel like if Hollywood can stretch for inclusion and intersectionality, and being intentional with its intersectionality, that that can ripple out past Hollywood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trace-lysette/i-feel-like-if-hollywood-can-stretch-for-inclusion-and/) [Trace Lysette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trace-lysette/) > [I'm not getting into rooms for cis roles. I started my career auditioning for those roles, and then I went to play trans roles.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trace-lysette/i-m-not-getting-into-rooms-for-cis-roles-i-started-my-career/) [Trace Lysette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trace-lysette/) > [It's not fun for an actor to be pigeonholed in any way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trace-lysette/it-s-not-fun-for-an-actor-to-be-pigeonholed-in-any-way/) [Trace Lysette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trace-lysette/) > [I used to watch 'Star Trek' on weeknights as a kid while I did my homework for school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trace-lysette/i-used-to-watch-star-trek-on-weeknights-as-a-kid-while-i-did-my/) [Trace Lysette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trace-lysette/) > [Trans women are women, we're just a different type of women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trace-lysette/trans-women-are-women-we-re-just-a-different-type-of-women/) [Trace Lysette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trace-lysette/) > [I had a lot of fights in high school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trace-lysette/i-had-a-lot-of-fights-in-high-school/) [Trace Lysette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trace-lysette/) > [As much of a privilege as it is to pass, it's painful. You have to compartmentalize your life. That's awkward. Dating can be horrible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trace-lysette/as-much-of-a-privilege-as-it-is-to-pass-it-s-painful-you-have-to/) [Trace Lysette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trace-lysette/) > [When we get to a point when trans folks are included in the creative process, the narrative will be much more authentic. Trans actors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trace-lysette/when-we-get-to-a-point-when-trans-folks-are-included-in-the-creative/) [Trace Lysette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trace-lysette/) > [That is the next step for out trans actors - to just be treated as actors and not 'trans actors.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trace-lysette/that-is-the-next-step-for-out-trans-actors-to-just-be-treated-as/) [Trace Lysette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trace-lysette/) > [I recall the magic being on set for season one of 'Transparent.' The trans inclusivity of our set was unparalleled at the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trace-lysette/i-recall-the-magic-being-on-set-for-season-one-of-transparent-the/) [Trace Lysette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trace-lysette/) > [Trans talent is not even making it into the audition room, and we're not even being afforded the opportunity to tell our own stories.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trace-lysette/trans-talent-is-not-even-making-it-into-the-audition-room-and-we-re/) [Trace Lysette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trace-lysette/) > [Trans folk are so often pushed to the margins and not afforded the resources and opportunities that some nontrans people are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trace-lysette/trans-folk-are-so-often-pushed-to-the-margins-and-not-afforded-the/) [Trace Lysette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trace-lysette/) > [A lot of my chosen family is black and I say that unabashedly. For anyone who doesn't understand that, they just don't understand me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trace-lysette/a-lot-of-my-chosen-family-is-black-and-i-say-that-unabashedly-for/) [Trace Lysette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trace-lysette/) > [I lived what we call 'stealth' for a number of years. Even when I started acting in the industry, I didn't disclose. I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trace-lysette/i-lived-what-we-call-stealth-for-a-number-of-years-even-when-i/) [Trace Lysette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trace-lysette/) > [Drag was not only my introduction to womanhood, but my introduction to entertainment. It was the first time I realized that I could move…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trace-lysette/drag-was-not-only-my-introduction-to-womanhood-but-my-introduction-to/) [Trace Lysette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trace-lysette/) [Explore all 52 Trace Lysette quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trace-lysette/) ## More Day quotes > [On Sundays, that's my pig out day and I do the pizza and the beer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-silvstedt/on-sundays-that-s-my-pig-out-day-and-i-do-the-pizza-and-the-beer/) [Victoria Silvstedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-silvstedt/) > [I don't drink much anymore, but when I traveled with Frank Sinatra, God rest his soul, I used to drink like I could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-don-t-drink-much-anymore-but-when-i-traveled-with-frank-sinatra-god/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [I would borrow money all day long, if the cost of borrowing is less than the expected return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/i-would-borrow-money-all-day-long-if-the-cost-of-borrowing-is-less/) [Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/) > [I had developed a relationship with one of the anti-abortion sidewalk counselors who stood in front of my facility. We talked regularly through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-johnson/i-had-developed-a-relationship-with-one-of-the-anti-abortion-sidewalk/) [Abby Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-johnson/) > [I loved the game so much that even though our playing field was muddy and we had many trees on it, I used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-clemente/i-loved-the-game-so-much-that-even-though-our-playing-field-was-muddy/) [Roberto Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-clemente/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [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/) > [I want to make my music and be a happy woman, a good wife, a good mom and one day hopefully have a child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leann-rimes/i-want-to-make-my-music-and-be-a-happy-woman-a-good-wife-a-good-mom/) [LeAnn Rimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leann-rimes/) > [Valentine's Day: Rubbing singles' noses in their lack of a mate and the noses of couples in their lack of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-mclaughlin/valentine-s-day-rubbing-singles-noses-in-their-lack-of-a-mate-and-the/) [Emma McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-mclaughlin/) > [One day I woke up and Juventus wanted me, another Manchester United and what I know is that there were approaches made. But an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-jimenez/one-day-i-woke-up-and-juventus-wanted-me-another-manchester-united/) [Raul Jimenez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul-jimenez/) > [I think naturally I've been kind of a lead-by-doing guy. Just showing up to work every day. You never ask teammates something you wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-suggs/i-think-naturally-i-ve-been-kind-of-a-lead-by-doing-guy-just-showing/) [Terrell Suggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-suggs/) > [For 11 straight years, I woke up pretty much every single day with nothing to do unless I created something to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rife/for-11-straight-years-i-woke-up-pretty-much-every-single-day-with/) [Matt Rife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rife/) > [I have tremendous admiration for companies with the kind of pioneering spirit and innovation eBay has demonstrated from day one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-hammer/i-have-tremendous-admiration-for-companies-with-the-kind-of/) [Bonnie Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-hammer/) > [Being under-recruited coming out of Highland, I've carried that with me. I keep pushing forward, keep working hard every day, keep my head on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-daniels/being-under-recruited-coming-out-of-highland-i-ve-carried-that-with/) [Mike Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-daniels/) > [You can't cheat comedy. You know, it either is going to be there on the day you capture or it's not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lin/you-can-t-cheat-comedy-you-know-it-either-is-going-to-be-there-on-the/) [Justin Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lin/) [Browse all 18,587 Day quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think I had something to prove to myself, that I could book a cis role and then if I did come out one day and start auditioning for trans roles, I could say, 'Look, I've already worked in a cis role.'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Trace Lysette" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trace-lysette/i-think-i-had-something-to-prove-to-myself-that-i-could-book-a-cis/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Day" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trace-lysette/i-think-i-had-something-to-prove-to-myself-that-i-could-book-a-cis/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68d/trace-lysette-12900_day_i-think-i-had-something-to-prove-to-myse_1890721.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68d/trace-lysette-12900_day_i-think-i-had-something-to-prove-to-myse_1890721.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68d/trace-lysette-12900_day_i-think-i-had-something-to-prove-to-myse_1890721.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think I had something to prove to myself, that I could book a cis role and then if I did come out one day…” — Trace Lysette", "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": "Trace Lysette", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trace-lysette/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think I had something to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trace-lysette/i-think-i-had-something-to-prove-to-myself-that-i-could-book-a-cis/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trace-lysette/i-think-i-had-something-to-prove-to-myself-that-i-could-book-a-cis/#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 } } ] } ```