--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That's a tough question; I've been acting…" description: "\"That's a tough question; I've been acting since I was 10. My dad was an entrepreneur, so I guess something along those lines. I wouldn't want a 9-5 job..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f52/will-estes-24466_acting_that-s-a-tough-question-i-ve-been-acting_1023882.png" --- # That's a tough question; I've been acting since I was 10… ![“That's a tough question; I've been acting since I was 10. My dad was an entrepreneur, so I guess something along those lines. I wouldn't want a 9-5 job.” quote by Will Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f52/will-estes-24466_acting_that-s-a-tough-question-i-ve-been-acting_1023882.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f52/will-estes-24466_acting_that-s-a-tough-question-i-ve-been-acting_1023882.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f52/will-estes-24466_acting_that-s-a-tough-question-i-ve-been-acting_1023882.png) > “That's a tough question; I've been acting since I was 10. My dad was an entrepreneur, so I guess something along those lines. I wouldn't want a 9-5 job.” [Will Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-estes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He reflects on early acting, entrepreneurial family influence, and rejects conventional 9‑5 work, seeking creative freedom. **In simple terms:** Early exposure and family background shape career choices; desire for non‑traditional work. Key Takeaway Pursue creative, flexible careers. Themes career creativity family Mood inspirational pragmatic Type career personal When to use this quote - freelance acting - startup ventures - remote work - project‑based gigs Key Concepts entrepreneurship artistic expression non‑linear paths Questions to Reflect On - What alternative structures support sustainable creative work? - How can you balance freedom with stability? A Different Perspective Financial instability can be a risk. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) [Entrepreneur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entrepreneur/) [Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job/) ## Related quotes > [I've been acting since I was 10. My dad was an entrepreneur, so I guess something along those lines. I wouldn't want a 9-5 job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-estes/i-ve-been-acting-since-i-was-10-my-dad-was-an-entrepreneur-so-i-guess/) [Will Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-estes/) > [I've been acting since I was 10. At age 14, 15 and 16, it's difficult to find roles and to find yourself, even, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moises-arias/i-ve-been-acting-since-i-was-10-at-age-14-15-and-16-it-s-difficult-to/) [Moises Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moises-arias/) > [We didn't grow up in a jock household. In fact, my dad is an entrepreneur. He was a computer programmer; he was a professor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-winklevoss/we-didn-t-grow-up-in-a-jock-household-in-fact-my-dad-is-an/) [Tyler Winklevoss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-winklevoss/) > [I started acting when I was 10, doing musical theater. I was a brunette at that time. I was always cast in all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loni-anderson/i-started-acting-when-i-was-10-doing-musical-theater-i-was-a-brunette/) [Loni Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loni-anderson/) > [I fell in love with the art of acting back when I was 10 years old, actually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinqua-walls/i-fell-in-love-with-the-art-of-acting-back-when-i-was-10-years-old/) [Sinqua Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinqua-walls/) > [I studied acting for 10 years before I went for an audition. I studied with Lee Strasberg and Actors Studio teachers, and went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-barkin/i-studied-acting-for-10-years-before-i-went-for-an-audition-i-studied/) [Ellen Barkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-barkin/) > [It's important to have a fallback and other activities that keep you interested. I started acting when I was about nine or 10 years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-t-austin/it-s-important-to-have-a-fallback-and-other-activities-that-keep-you/) [Jake T. Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-t-austin/) > [It never occurred to me that I was a leading man until I was 19 years old. I had been acting since I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/it-never-occurred-to-me-that-i-was-a-leading-man-until-i-was-19-years/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [I started acting when I was 10.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariette-hartley/i-started-acting-when-i-was-10/) [Mariette Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariette-hartley/) > [I guess that compared to other comic strips, I'm edgy. But put me along something like 'South Park,' and I'm 'Captain Kangaroo.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/i-guess-that-compared-to-other-comic-strips-i-m-edgy-but-put-me-along/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [I wrote six nonfiction books before getting into narrative fiction with 'Robopocalypse,' including 'How to Survive a Robot Uprising.' My goal all along was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-wilson/i-wrote-six-nonfiction-books-before-getting-into-narrative-fiction/) [Daniel H. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-wilson/) > [If the modes are changing, one goes along with it, I guess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amitabh-bachchan/if-the-modes-are-changing-one-goes-along-with-it-i-guess/) [Amitabh Bachchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amitabh-bachchan/) > [Actually, I wanted to be a musician, either a guitarist or a drummer. I guess my dreams were in the entertainment industry, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israel-broussard/actually-i-wanted-to-be-a-musician-either-a-guitarist-or-a-drummer-i/) [Israel Broussard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israel-broussard/) > [I've been acting since I was 15 years old professionally, and I've never been asked on the 'TODAY' show or anything like that. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-sasso/i-ve-been-acting-since-i-was-15-years-old-professionally-and-i-ve/) [Will Sasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-sasso/) > [With a recent birthday, I've been acting now for twenty years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thayer-david/with-a-recent-birthday-i-ve-been-acting-now-for-twenty-years/) [Thayer David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thayer-david/) ## More by Will Estes > [I don't really get a chance to watch much television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-estes/i-don-t-really-get-a-chance-to-watch-much-television/) [Will Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-estes/) > [It's real time intensive so there's not much time for goofing around, but we are really close and we have a good time with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-estes/it-s-real-time-intensive-so-there-s-not-much-time-for-goofing-around/) [Will Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-estes/) > [My dogs are a priority and a big responsibility... but the payoffs are well worth it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-estes/my-dogs-are-a-priority-and-a-big-responsibility-but-the-payoffs-are/) [Will Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-estes/) > [I loved doing sitcoms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-estes/i-loved-doing-sitcoms/) [Will Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-estes/) > [I'd say you have to be really committed to the field, show up for every audition and to be aware that very few make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-estes/i-d-say-you-have-to-be-really-committed-to-the-field-show-up-for/) [Will Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-estes/) > [For me, one I love the 80's, I love 80's music, I'm sort of a baby of the 80's, I grew up in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-estes/for-me-one-i-love-the-80-s-i-love-80-s-music-i-m-sort-of-a-baby-of/) [Will Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-estes/) > [You know how most dogs lick you on the cheek? If you're sleeping and not ready for it, my dog, Joe, will get his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-estes/you-know-how-most-dogs-lick-you-on-the-cheek-if-you-re-sleeping-and/) [Will Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-estes/) > [It's drama, it's a lot of things, but you know it's always about every movie or every TV project ever made is meant to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-estes/it-s-drama-it-s-a-lot-of-things-but-you-know-it-s-always-about-every/) [Will Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-estes/) > [I try to date, but I take it so seriously. I am bad at having a casual relationship, so I kind of don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-estes/i-try-to-date-but-i-take-it-so-seriously-i-am-bad-at-having-a-casual/) [Will Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-estes/) > [I think education is one of the greatest tools for most kids not only to expand their book knowledge, but their ability to experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-estes/i-think-education-is-one-of-the-greatest-tools-for-most-kids-not-only/) [Will Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-estes/) > [I'm into all that sappy stuff - a surprise picnic, nice dinner, or traveling. I'm kind of an old romantic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-estes/i-m-into-all-that-sappy-stuff-a-surprise-picnic-nice-dinner-or/) [Will Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-estes/) > [A lot of directors are great and they are fine but you know I think that Harry really takes a special point to really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-estes/a-lot-of-directors-are-great-and-they-are-fine-but-you-know-i-think/) [Will Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-estes/) > [I don't really get a chance to watch much television. I mostly watch BBC Worldwide and repeats of Seinfeld and Everybody Loves Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-estes/i-don-t-really-get-a-chance-to-watch-much-television-i-mostly-watch/) [Will Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-estes/) > [I love the music, I love the times, so to me that was exciting personally just to play something that starts in 1986 with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-estes/i-love-the-music-i-love-the-times-so-to-me-that-was-exciting/) [Will Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-estes/) > [I've always been an animal lover. I've grown up with dogs my whole life. I think that is what helped me get the role…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-estes/i-ve-always-been-an-animal-lover-i-ve-grown-up-with-dogs-my-whole/) [Will Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-estes/) [Explore all 24 Will Estes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-estes/) ## 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 > [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": "That's a tough question; I've been acting since I was 10. My dad was an entrepreneur, so I guess something along those lines. I wouldn't want a 9-5 job.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Will Estes" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-estes/that-s-a-tough-question-i-ve-been-acting-since-i-was-10-my-dad-was-an/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-estes/that-s-a-tough-question-i-ve-been-acting-since-i-was-10-my-dad-was-an/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f52/will-estes-24466_acting_that-s-a-tough-question-i-ve-been-acting_1023882.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f52/will-estes-24466_acting_that-s-a-tough-question-i-ve-been-acting_1023882.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f52/will-estes-24466_acting_that-s-a-tough-question-i-ve-been-acting_1023882.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“That's a tough question; I've been acting since I was 10. My dad was an entrepreneur, so I guess something…” — Will Estes", "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": "Will Estes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-estes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "That's a tough question; I've been...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-estes/that-s-a-tough-question-i-ve-been-acting-since-i-was-10-my-dad-was-an/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-estes/that-s-a-tough-question-i-ve-been-acting-since-i-was-10-my-dad-was-an/#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 } } ] } ```