--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every job I've ever gotten has…" description: "\"Every job I've ever gotten has transformed me in some way as an actor.\" — Viola Davis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bd/viola-davis-1174_actor_every-job-i-ve-ever-gotten-has-transform_589240.png" --- # Every job I've ever gotten has transformed me in some way… ![“Every job I've ever gotten has transformed me in some way as an actor.” quote by Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bd/viola-davis-1174_actor_every-job-i-ve-ever-gotten-has-transform_589240.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bd/viola-davis-1174_actor_every-job-i-ve-ever-gotten-has-transform_589240.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bd/viola-davis-1174_actor_every-job-i-ve-ever-gotten-has-transform_589240.png) > “Every job I've ever gotten has transformed me in some way as an actor.” [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Each role reshapes an actor’s craft and identity, offering new perspectives and skills. **In simple terms:** Jobs change actors. Key Takeaway Embrace each role’s lessons. Themes growth craft identity transformation Mood reflective inspirational Type personal professional When to use this quote - theatre - film auditions - character workshops - career transitions Key Concepts method acting personal development career evolution Questions to Reflect On - How has a specific role altered your self‑view? - What do you seek in a new character? A Different Perspective Roles may typecast or limit future opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [I don't want people to define me. That's the best way for an actor to grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raashi-khanna/i-don-t-want-people-to-define-me-that-s-the-best-way-for-an-actor-to/) [Raashi Khanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raashi-khanna/) > [In that way, as an actor in particular, you're powerless. And so in that way as an actor in particular you can't make mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-gyllenhaal/in-that-way-as-an-actor-in-particular-you-re-powerless-and-so-in-that/) [Jake Gyllenhaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-gyllenhaal/) > [the one thing I've observed over the years is the best way to get an actor to not want to play a certain role…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-anderson/the-one-thing-i-ve-observed-over-the-years-is-the-best-way-to-get-an/) [Wes Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-anderson/) > [The only way to be an actor is to find ways to work as an actor, even if that means doing a one-man show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/the-only-way-to-be-an-actor-is-to-find-ways-to-work-as-an-actor-even/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > [The way you can see what an actor brings to a role is you turn the sound off. Everything else becomes subtext, the wink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-de-lancie/the-way-you-can-see-what-an-actor-brings-to-a-role-is-you-turn-the/) [John de Lancie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-de-lancie/) > [The way an actor is trained doesn't ultimately have much bearing on my work. I'm interested in the actor as artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leigh/the-way-an-actor-is-trained-doesn-t-ultimately-have-much-bearing-on/) [Mike Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leigh/) > [Direction is a thousand choices, a thousand decisions a day. And having a vision of what you want, and then knowing what you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-stone/direction-is-a-thousand-choices-a-thousand-decisions-a-day-and-having/) Sean Stone > [The way I see it, when I go out as an actor, it should be on a type of film I'm never going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-burns/the-way-i-see-it-when-i-go-out-as-an-actor-it-should-be-on-a-type-of/) [Edward Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-burns/) > [When you're making a show or a movie, there are a million people and things in your way. As an actor, you're like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-badgley/when-you-re-making-a-show-or-a-movie-there-are-a-million-people-and/) [Penn Badgley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-badgley/) > [I think that anybody who says 'This is the one way to go about being an actor' has probably not done a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/i-think-that-anybody-who-says-this-is-the-one-way-to-go-about-being/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) > [I'm a guy who had to perform some way. I had to perform in some way. If not as an actor, I'd perform as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kirby/i-m-a-guy-who-had-to-perform-some-way-i-had-to-perform-in-some-way-if/) [Jack Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kirby/) > ['GLOW' was the first time that, from head to toe, I was asked to use my body in a functional, powerful way as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-gilpin/glow-was-the-first-time-that-from-head-to-toe-i-was-asked-to-use-my/) [Betty Gilpin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-gilpin/) > [Sometimes you have to get out of your own way as an actor. Young actors tend to over prepare sometimes and over think it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-langella/sometimes-you-have-to-get-out-of-your-own-way-as-an-actor-young/) [Frank Langella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-langella/) > [I'm a New York person. I've never gone out of the way to speak to the press to change my persona - I probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-rapaport/i-m-a-new-york-person-i-ve-never-gone-out-of-the-way-to-speak-to-the/) [Michael Rapaport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-rapaport/) > [Once you're playing someone, you shouldn't be judging them in any way. That's what being an actor is - it's having empathy for people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/once-you-re-playing-someone-you-shouldn-t-be-judging-them-in-any-way/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) ## More by Viola Davis > [I look back at pictures of myself and I remember thinking, "I was so fat when I was growing up. I was 165 pounds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-look-back-at-pictures-of-myself-and-i-remember-thinking-i-was-so/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I am not a glam woman - this definitely is a mask I put on for the public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-am-not-a-glam-woman-this-definitely-is-a-mask-i-put-on-for-the/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I was bullied at school. The black girl in Central Falls, Rhode Island, in 1973. There'd be 8 or 10 boys; I would count…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-was-bullied-at-school-the-black-girl-in-central-falls-rhode-island/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [That's why there's so much bad acting out there, because you could see actors watching themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/that-s-why-there-s-so-much-bad-acting-out-there-because-you-could-see/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I want my work to reflect my level of gifts and talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-want-my-work-to-reflect-my-level-of-gifts-and-talent/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I don’t want anyone putting any limits on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-don-t-want-anyone-putting-any-limits-on-me/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [ I think that's why August \[Wilson\] named her Rose \[in "Fences"\]; I really do. She's a rose in her sweetness and her kindness and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-think-that-s-why-august-wilson-named-her-rose-in-fences-i-really-do/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [When you're working as an actor, you don't think that when you get out of school, it's going to be so hard to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/when-you-re-working-as-an-actor-you-don-t-think-that-when-you-get-out/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I suffered from low self-esteem for much of my life. And now to feel like maybe something that I'm projecting or saying could mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-suffered-from-low-self-esteem-for-much-of-my-life-and-now-to-feel/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I tell my daughter every morning, 'Now, what are the two most important parts of you?' And she says, 'My head and my heart.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-tell-my-daughter-every-morning-now-what-are-the-two-most-important/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I started a production company out of necessity, the need for great narratives for actors of color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-started-a-production-company-out-of-necessity-the-need-for-great/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [That's always the biggest surprise when people meet me: how buoyant I am and how fun and light I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/that-s-always-the-biggest-surprise-when-people-meet-me-how-buoyant-i/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [When you're working as an actor, you don't think that when you get out of school, it's going to be so hard to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/when-you-re-working-as-an-actor-you-don-t-think-that-when-you-get-out-2/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [ It was hard, that confrontation scene \[in "Fences"\], that was a hard one. I felt like it was relentless, I never felt like I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/it-was-hard-that-confrontation-scene-in-fences-that-was-a-hard-one-i/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I am addicted to any facial product that's anti-aging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-am-addicted-to-any-facial-product-that-s-anti-aging/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) [Explore all 279 Viola Davis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) ## 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": "Every job I've ever gotten has transformed me in some way as an actor.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Viola Davis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/every-job-i-ve-ever-gotten-has-transformed-me-in-some-way-as-an-actor/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/every-job-i-ve-ever-gotten-has-transformed-me-in-some-way-as-an-actor/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bd/viola-davis-1174_actor_every-job-i-ve-ever-gotten-has-transform_589240.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bd/viola-davis-1174_actor_every-job-i-ve-ever-gotten-has-transform_589240.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bd/viola-davis-1174_actor_every-job-i-ve-ever-gotten-has-transform_589240.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Every job I've ever gotten has transformed me in some way as an actor.” — Viola Davis", "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": "Viola Davis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Every job I've ever gotten has...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/every-job-i-ve-ever-gotten-has-transformed-me-in-some-way-as-an-actor/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/every-job-i-ve-ever-gotten-has-transformed-me-in-some-way-as-an-actor/#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 } } ] } ```