--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Acting was always in the back of my head." description: "\"Acting was always in the back of my head.\" — Yahya Abdul-Mateen II" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c9/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii-23757_acting_acting-was-always-in-the-back-of-my-head_821718.jpg" --- # Acting was always in the back of my head. ![“Acting was always in the back of my head.” quote by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c9/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii-23757_acting_acting-was-always-in-the-back-of-my-head_821718.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c9/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii-23757_acting_acting-was-always-in-the-back-of-my-head_821718.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c9/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii-23757_acting_acting-was-always-in-the-back-of-my-head_821718.jpg) > “Acting was always in the back of my head.” [Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative ambition constantly lingers, influencing choices and performance even when not actively pursued. **In simple terms:** Creative drive stays in the back of the mind. Key Takeaway Nurture hidden ambitions. Themes creativity career motivation mindset persistence Mood reflective inspired curious Type personal career When to use this quote - daily journaling - skill practice - mindful reflection Key Concepts artistic expression self‑actualization career development Questions to Reflect On - What hidden ambitions could you act on? - How does background creativity affect daily work? A Different Perspective Creative thoughts can be suppressed by routine pressures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-head-478990/) [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/back/) [Head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/head/) ## Related quotes > [I've had times in the past where I wanted to give up acting, get my head out of the arts because it was like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/i-ve-had-times-in-the-past-where-i-wanted-to-give-up-acting-get-my/) [Zawe Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zawe-ashton/) > [When Marvel approached me about possibly bringing back a She-Hulk solo series, a few touchstones for a take immediately popped into my head -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-soule/when-marvel-approached-me-about-possibly-bringing-back-a-she-hulk/) [Charles Soule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-soule/) > [No matter how long I go without riding winners, I know in the back of my head that I can ride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-mccoy/no-matter-how-long-i-go-without-riding-winners-i-know-in-the-back-of/) [Tony McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-mccoy/) > [There's very little about being in a functional-M.R.I. scanner that is natural: you are flat on your back, absolutely still, with your head immobilized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-marantz-henig/there-s-very-little-about-being-in-a-functional-m-r-i-scanner-that-is/) [Robin Marantz Henig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-marantz-henig/) > [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 always said the bass just happens to be the crayon I picked out of the box. I'd still be drawing the same pictures...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-claypool/i-ve-always-said-the-bass-just-happens-to-be-the-crayon-i-picked-out/) [Les Claypool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-claypool/) > [When I see a fan coming over, I can't help but make an assumption about what they want to talk about. A middle-aged American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-dormer/when-i-see-a-fan-coming-over-i-can-t-help-but-make-an-assumption/) [Natalie Dormer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-dormer/) > [Chhath Puja is very close to my heart. Few years back, I did a movie titled 'Chhathi Maiyya.' After acting in this movie, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-kishan/chhath-puja-is-very-close-to-my-heart-few-years-back-i-did-a-movie/) [Ravi Kishan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-kishan/) > [Going back to the films I made in the nineties, they might not have been the most thought-provoking movies, but there was always this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-steele/going-back-to-the-films-i-made-in-the-nineties-they-might-not-have/) [Taylor Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-steele/) > [It goes way, way back when we were under Sweden's rule. We always think they are better than us. We played against them so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saku-koivu/it-goes-way-way-back-when-we-were-under-sweden-s-rule-we-always-think/) [Saku Koivu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saku-koivu/) > [It's always great to be able to give back to the community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-vucevic/it-s-always-great-to-be-able-to-give-back-to-the-community/) [Nikola Vucevic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-vucevic/) > [It's always in the back of your mind that you want to stay at United, and you want to play for United.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-lingard/it-s-always-in-the-back-of-your-mind-that-you-want-to-stay-at-united/) [Jesse Lingard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-lingard/) > [Any time someone achieves success before they've earned it, it always comes back to haunt them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-white/any-time-someone-achieves-success-before-they-ve-earned-it-it-always/) [Ron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-white/) > [I've always stuck my arms behind my back anyway when trying to block a shot in the penalty area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millie-bright/i-ve-always-stuck-my-arms-behind-my-back-anyway-when-trying-to-block/) [Millie Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millie-bright/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) ## More by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II > [I had taken an acting class at Berkeley - I was on the track team, and a friend of mine on the team said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/i-had-taken-an-acting-class-at-berkeley-i-was-on-the-track-team-and-a/) [Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/) > [I'm so thankful every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/i-m-so-thankful-every-day/) [Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/) > [I'm from a place where young people traditionally do not have resources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/i-m-from-a-place-where-young-people-traditionally-do-not-have/) [Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/) > [For the things that I've been involved in, most of it has really been - it's been a mixture of action and then drama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/for-the-things-that-i-ve-been-involved-in-most-of-it-has-really-been/) [Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/) > [I think that everybody likes the bad guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/i-think-that-everybody-likes-the-bad-guy/) [Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/) > [When I think about it, I was working very hard the summer before I applied to graduate school. I was going to the library…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/when-i-think-about-it-i-was-working-very-hard-the-summer-before-i/) [Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/) > ['Baywatch' was terrifying. I could feel the financial stakes, you know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/baywatch-was-terrifying-i-could-feel-the-financial-stakes-you-know/) [Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/) > [I surprise myself by the things I get excited by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/i-surprise-myself-by-the-things-i-get-excited-by/) [Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/) > [When I was in college, it was on the recommendation of a friend of mine. He recommended that I take an acting class, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/when-i-was-in-college-it-was-on-the-recommendation-of-a-friend-of/) [Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/) > [I did not sit down and watch 'Baywatch' growing up. But I do specifically remember it coming on, and I remember it going off.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/i-did-not-sit-down-and-watch-baywatch-growing-up-but-i-do/) [Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/) > [I'm not very excitable as a person. What I say is, I'm always chillin', I'm always chillin'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/i-m-not-very-excitable-as-a-person-what-i-say-is-i-m-always-chillin-i/) [Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/) > [I kind of assumed all of Australia was like the Gold Coast - so I was telling people Australians just work out and go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/i-kind-of-assumed-all-of-australia-was-like-the-gold-coast-so-i-was/) [Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/) > [I have a lot of fun playing quote unquote villains because I think the bad guys get to have more fun, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/i-have-a-lot-of-fun-playing-quote-unquote-villains-because-i-think/) [Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/) > [My father was Muslim, and my mom is Christian, and we moved from New Orleans to Oakland, so I always had this appreciation for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/my-father-was-muslim-and-my-mom-is-christian-and-we-moved-from-new/) [Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/) > [I have a love-hate relationship with working out. I do not enjoy the experience when I'm doing it, but I never regret it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/i-have-a-love-hate-relationship-with-working-out-i-do-not-enjoy-the/) [Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/) [Explore all 25 Yahya Abdul-Mateen II quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/) ## 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": "Acting was always in the back of my head.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Yahya Abdul-Mateen II" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/acting-was-always-in-the-back-of-my-head/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/acting-was-always-in-the-back-of-my-head/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c9/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii-23757_acting_acting-was-always-in-the-back-of-my-head_821718.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c9/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii-23757_acting_acting-was-always-in-the-back-of-my-head_821718.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c9/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii-23757_acting_acting-was-always-in-the-back-of-my-head_821718.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Acting was always in the back of my head.” — Yahya Abdul-Mateen II", "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": "Yahya Abdul-Mateen II", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Acting was always in the back...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/acting-was-always-in-the-back-of-my-head/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/acting-was-always-in-the-back-of-my-head/#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 } } ] } ```