--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's not like I refuse to try roles other…" description: "\"It's not like I refuse to try roles other than being a strong female boss, but I am 54, and I'm happy I'm still being sought after and that I have a ca..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/531/vanessa-williams-22976_boss_it-s-not-like-i-refuse-to-try-roles-othe_604599.jpg" --- # It's not like I refuse to try roles other than being a… ![“It's not like I refuse to try roles other than being a strong female boss, but I am 54, and I'm happy I'm still being sought after and that I have a career that allows me a lot of creativity.” quote by Vanessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/531/vanessa-williams-22976_boss_it-s-not-like-i-refuse-to-try-roles-othe_604599.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/531/vanessa-williams-22976_boss_it-s-not-like-i-refuse-to-try-roles-othe_604599.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/531/vanessa-williams-22976_boss_it-s-not-like-i-refuse-to-try-roles-othe_604599.jpg) > “It's not like I refuse to try roles other than being a strong female boss, but I am 54, and I'm happy I'm still being sought after and that I have a career that allows me a lot of creativity.” [Vanessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-williams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She embraces her age and success, valuing creativity and continued demand for her work despite societal expectations of women in leadership **In simple terms:** She celebrates her age, creativity, and ongoing demand for her work Key Takeaway Embrace experience, pursue creative work, defy age stereotypes Themes age creativity career gender expectations leadership Mood confident proud optimistic Type inspirational personal When to use this quote - executive leadership - creative projects - public speaking - mentorship - media appearances Key Concepts self-actualization empowerment ageism career longevity Questions to Reflect On - How can organizations better value experience over youth? - What creative outlets keep you energized? A Different Perspective Ageism can still limit opportunities for older women in some industries ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Boss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boss/) [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Strong female](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong-female/) ## Related quotes > [The female boss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulisa/the-female-boss/) [Tulisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulisa/) > [I feel very lucky that I have this career that allows me to say, 'I'm ready to start now on this project,' and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-englander/i-feel-very-lucky-that-i-have-this-career-that-allows-me-to-say-i-m/) [Nathan Englander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-englander/) > [I know I'm not bipolar or schizophrenic, but this career allows you to explore, to take some facets of yourself and spin it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-daniels/i-know-i-m-not-bipolar-or-schizophrenic-but-this-career-allows-you-to/) [Jeff Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-daniels/) > [I've been extremely fortunate in that my career allows me to be seen and heard by people all over the world and I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sufe-bradshaw/i-ve-been-extremely-fortunate-in-that-my-career-allows-me-to-be-seen/) [Sufe Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sufe-bradshaw/) > [I have always received roles of strong women from the beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neena-gupta/i-have-always-received-roles-of-strong-women-from-the-beginning/) [Neena Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neena-gupta/) > [So, first, I wanted to be a part of the project because I thought it was an important story to tell. On top of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kravitz/so-first-i-wanted-to-be-a-part-of-the-project-because-i-thought-it/) [Zoe Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kravitz/) > [I love Cate Blanchett. She's extremely classy and has this knack for taking on roles and being very, very strong, but also embedding vulnerability.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-greene/i-love-cate-blanchett-she-s-extremely-classy-and-has-this-knack-for/) [Ashley Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-greene/) > [I am drawn to roles that are strong, intelligent, and a little edgy. With Complications, I navigate my character Samantha Ellison through some really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-riesgraf/i-am-drawn-to-roles-that-are-strong-intelligent-and-a-little-edgy-2/) [Beth Riesgraf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-riesgraf/) > [There aren't enough good roles for strong women. I wish we had more female writers. Most of the female characters you see in films…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gal-gadot/there-aren-t-enough-good-roles-for-strong-women-i-wish-we-had-more/) [Gal Gadot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gal-gadot/) > [I am drawn to roles that are strong, intelligent, and a little edgy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-riesgraf/i-am-drawn-to-roles-that-are-strong-intelligent-and-a-little-edgy/) [Beth Riesgraf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-riesgraf/) > [I have never had an unsupportive female boss. I've had several female bosses. They've all been super supportive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-coles/i-have-never-had-an-unsupportive-female-boss-i-ve-had-several-female/) [Joanna Coles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-coles/) > [ I write a little bit about what it's like to be a female boss in my book \[ Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/i-write-a-little-bit-about-what-it-s-like-to-be-a-female-boss-in-my/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [I find that as a female boss in the music industry, it's difficult to actually be treated as if you actually are the boss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinead-o-connor/i-find-that-as-a-female-boss-in-the-music-industry-it-s-difficult-to/) [Sinead O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinead-o-connor/) > [Yes, women run my life. My boss at Extra is female, as is my boss at MTV and the director of Nip/Tuck. I've said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-lopez/yes-women-run-my-life-my-boss-at-extra-is-female-as-is-my-boss-at-mtv/) [Mario Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-lopez/) > [There was a reason they called me 'the female boss' in N-Dubz - I did all the talking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulisa/there-was-a-reason-they-called-me-the-female-boss-in-n-dubz-i-did-all/) [Tulisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulisa/) ## More by Vanessa Williams > [New York is my home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-williams/new-york-is-my-home/) [Vanessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-williams/) > [When Cuba Gooding Jr. and I were doing 'The Trip to Bountiful,' we would always go to BXL, a Belgian restaurant/bar. It was across…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-williams/when-cuba-gooding-jr-and-i-were-doing-the-trip-to-bountiful-we-would/) [Vanessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-williams/) > [Sometimes the very thing your looking for is the one thing you can't see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-williams/sometimes-the-very-thing-your-looking-for-is-the-one-thing-you-can-t/) [VANESSA WILLIAMS](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-williams/) > [I love to ski and drive fast cars and the thrill of exciting things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-williams/i-love-to-ski-and-drive-fast-cars-and-the-thrill-of-exciting-things/) [Vanessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-williams/) > [I don't really shop a lot, just cause I'd rather not spend my money on clothes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-williams/i-don-t-really-shop-a-lot-just-cause-i-d-rather-not-spend-my-money-on/) [Vanessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-williams/) > [As I grow older, I feel like my authentic self has been able to shine through more and more, and people can see that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-williams/as-i-grow-older-i-feel-like-my-authentic-self-has-been-able-to-shine/) [Vanessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-williams/) > [My parents were always supportive. They didn't say, 'Get a real job.' They believed in the arts, and they prepared me to be skilled.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-williams/my-parents-were-always-supportive-they-didn-t-say-get-a-real-job-they/) [Vanessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-williams/) > [Whether it's your family, friends, community that you connect with, don't be afraid to reach out. That's my biggest advice that I can say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-williams/whether-it-s-your-family-friends-community-that-you-connect-with-don/) [Vanessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-williams/) > [I've got a yoga instructor and a trainer. I just started a heavy-bag class, which is like boxing and cardio, and I salsa dance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-williams/i-ve-got-a-yoga-instructor-and-a-trainer-i-just-started-a-heavy-bag/) [Vanessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-williams/) > [Kids are on their keyboards so much, between their smartphones and laptops, no one writes anything anymore. It's atrocious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-williams/kids-are-on-their-keyboards-so-much-between-their-smartphones-and/) [Vanessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-williams/) > [I am not a lesbian and I am not a slut, and somehow I am going to make people believe me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-williams/i-am-not-a-lesbian-and-i-am-not-a-slut-and-somehow-i-am-going-to-make/) [Vanessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-williams/) > [Sometimes the snow comes down in June, sometimes the sun goes 'round the moon, just when I thought our chance had passed, you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-williams/sometimes-the-snow-comes-down-in-june-sometimes-the-sun-goes-round/) [Vanessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-williams/) > [I've picked up a lot of fans from doing 'Ugly Betty': a lot of teenagers who didn't even know I had a singing career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-williams/i-ve-picked-up-a-lot-of-fans-from-doing-ugly-betty-a-lot-of-teenagers/) [Vanessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-williams/) > [Both my parents were educators, so interviews and college applications and shaking hands and looking people in the eye and feeling confident and knowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-williams/both-my-parents-were-educators-so-interviews-and-college-applications/) [Vanessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-williams/) > [I've been really, really fortunate to get some fantastic opportunities on Broadway, and I cherish all of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-williams/i-ve-been-really-really-fortunate-to-get-some-fantastic-opportunities/) [Vanessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-williams/) [Explore all 26 Vanessa Williams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-williams/) ## More Boss quotes > [ME AND SUMMER GUNNA BE MOVING IN TOGETHER HELL YA ITS GUNNA BE BOSS!!!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hawes/me-and-summer-gunna-be-moving-in-together-hell-ya-its-gunna-be-boss/) [Jon Hawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hawes/) > [“having sex with her boss.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-henning/having-sex-with-her-boss/) Stephen Henning > [Once in a while there's wisdom in recognizing that the Boss is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/once-in-a-while-there-s-wisdom-in-recognizing-that-the-boss-is/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [I understand the formula that producers hire directors and directors are hired to direct and actors are hired to act. I don't have any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-trejo/i-understand-the-formula-that-producers-hire-directors-and-directors/) [Danny Trejo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-trejo/) > [It is reassuring for people to feel they have a boss, someone who knows the answers and has charted the course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-cukor/it-is-reassuring-for-people-to-feel-they-have-a-boss-someone-who/) [George Cukor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-cukor/) > [I don't have a boss or PR person, so I'm accountable to no one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/i-don-t-have-a-boss-or-pr-person-so-i-m-accountable-to-no-one/) [Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/) > [ I remember Robin \[Williams\] walked up to me after the last take and said, "Thanks boss! We nailed it!" That will probably be one… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-aguire/i-remember-robin-williams-walked-up-to-me-after-the-last-take-and/) Roberto Aguire > [For many of us, work is the one place where we feel appreciated. The things that we long to experience at home - pride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlie-russell-hochschild/for-many-of-us-work-is-the-one-place-where-we-feel-appreciated-the/) [Arlie Russell Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlie-russell-hochschild/) > [Your manager is your boss and tells you what to do, what to wear and who to be, so our relationship changed. I loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcdonald/your-manager-is-your-boss-and-tells-you-what-to-do-what-to-wear-and/) [Jane McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcdonald/) > [When I get home, I'm not the boss like I am at work - I slip into a more feminine role. I take everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-kerr/when-i-get-home-i-m-not-the-boss-like-i-am-at-work-i-slip-into-a-more/) [Miranda Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-kerr/) > [I can't say it was challenging for me to shake the image of Frasier. I've been fortunate to have had a very interesting career…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-grammer/i-can-t-say-it-was-challenging-for-me-to-shake-the-image-of-frasier-i/) [Kelsey Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-grammer/) > [You will be at your best forever, Even now you have good moments. Occasional glimpses of your heavenly self. When you change your baby's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/you-will-be-at-your-best-forever-even-now-you-have-good-moments/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Take lack of candor. ... I'm not talking about boldface lying, but a tendency to withhold information. That behavior is far more common, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/take-lack-of-candor-i-m-not-talking-about-boldface-lying-but-a/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [“Pizza as a reward at work, gotta love it. Personally, I'd rather have that than a raise. Give me a pizza, boss, and let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/pizza-as-a-reward-at-work-gotta-love-it-personally-i-d-rather-have/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Let me spell it out: with the psychotic boss, nothing you do is ever quite right. They set traps, asking you to do things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/let-me-spell-it-out-with-the-psychotic-boss-nothing-you-do-is-ever/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) [Browse all 1,833 Boss quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boss/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's not like I refuse to try roles other than being a strong female boss, but I am 54, and I'm happy I'm still being sought after and that I have a career that allows me a lot of creativity.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Vanessa Williams" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-williams/it-s-not-like-i-refuse-to-try-roles-other-than-being-a-strong-female/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Boss" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-williams/it-s-not-like-i-refuse-to-try-roles-other-than-being-a-strong-female/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/531/vanessa-williams-22976_boss_it-s-not-like-i-refuse-to-try-roles-othe_604599.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/531/vanessa-williams-22976_boss_it-s-not-like-i-refuse-to-try-roles-othe_604599.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/531/vanessa-williams-22976_boss_it-s-not-like-i-refuse-to-try-roles-othe_604599.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's not like I refuse to try roles other than being a strong female boss, but I am 54, and I'm happy I'm…” — Vanessa Williams", "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": "Vanessa Williams", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-williams/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's not like I refuse to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-williams/it-s-not-like-i-refuse-to-try-roles-other-than-being-a-strong-female/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-williams/it-s-not-like-i-refuse-to-try-roles-other-than-being-a-strong-female/#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 } } ] } ```