--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never had a real job. I started acting…" description: "\"I never had a real job. I started acting in high school, and then I started working. So, I never got to have that experience.\" — Zoe Kravitz" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/118/zoe-kravitz-4291_acting_i-never-had-a-real-job-i-started-acting_1307663.png" --- # I never had a real job. I started acting in high school… ![“I never had a real job. I started acting in high school, and then I started working. So, I never got to have that experience.” quote by Zoe Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/118/zoe-kravitz-4291_acting_i-never-had-a-real-job-i-started-acting_1307663.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/118/zoe-kravitz-4291_acting_i-never-had-a-real-job-i-started-acting_1307663.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/118/zoe-kravitz-4291_acting_i-never-had-a-real-job-i-started-acting_1307663.png) > “I never had a real job. I started acting in high school, and then I started working. So, I never got to have that experience.” [Zoe Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kravitz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Lacking traditional work experience, she pursued acting early, shaping her path **In simple terms:** She entered acting young, missing typical job experience Key Takeaway Embrace non‑traditional routes to skill development Themes career experience non‑linear paths Mood reflective optimistic Type career personal growth When to use this quote - acting auditions - entrepreneurial ventures - career pivots - skill workshops Key Concepts skill acquisition creative industries Questions to Reflect On - How does early artistic work impact later career options? - What strategies can fill gaps from unconventional backgrounds? A Different Perspective Non‑linear paths may limit certain professional networks ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Job Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job-started-2499865/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-job/) [Real jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-jobs/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Started Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-acting/) ## Related quotes > [My parents paid me small amounts for cleaning my room or cleaning the dishes and stuff, but I never really had a real job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-wozniacki/my-parents-paid-me-small-amounts-for-cleaning-my-room-or-cleaning-the/) [Caroline Wozniacki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-wozniacki/) > [I've never had a real job in my life. I didn't learn anything, I was terrible at school. It was just this thing. Music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-zimmer/i-ve-never-had-a-real-job-in-my-life-i-didn-t-learn-anything-i-was/) [Hans Zimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-zimmer/) > [I always assumed that at some point I would have to quit making jokes, get a real job and do something meaningful and productive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/i-always-assumed-that-at-some-point-i-would-have-to-quit-making-jokes/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [...we do not simply get showered with Hollywood money because we happened to write a little story about wizards one day. It's not winning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-harris/we-do-not-simply-get-showered-with-hollywood-money-because-we/) [Joanne Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-harris/) > [My aunt could never understand how writing could be a full-time job. She'd keep asking when I'd get a real job!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-spillman/my-aunt-could-never-understand-how-writing-could-be-a-full-time-job/) [Ken Spillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-spillman/) > [I don't go to conferences quite as much as I used to: having a child and movin away from the university leaves me with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-don-t-go-to-conferences-quite-as-much-as-i-used-to-having-a-child/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [I always say three things make a writer: inspiration, obviously; perspiration, doing the work. But the third is desperation. I'm not really fit for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/i-always-say-three-things-make-a-writer-inspiration-obviously/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [Middle names are kind of like vice presidents: It's a fine distinction and certainly an honor, but you're never not aware that someone else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-reiser/middle-names-are-kind-of-like-vice-presidents-it-s-a-fine-distinction/) [Paul Reiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-reiser/) > [I've never really had a real job. When I was young doing stand-up, I'd get 50 bucks a week here or 100 bucks a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-rogen/i-ve-never-really-had-a-real-job-when-i-was-young-doing-stand-up-i-d/) [Seth Rogen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-rogen/) > [I knew I wanted to be an actor. I just kept saying, "Until somebody tells me to stop, until I have to go get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/i-knew-i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-i-just-kept-saying-until-somebody/) [Joel McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/) > [I've been employed by the University of Helsinki, and that has been paying my bills. Obviously a ''real job'' pays better than most universities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-ve-been-employed-by-the-university-of-helsinki-and-that-has-been/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [IF YOUR JOB IS CUSTOMER SATISFACTION, YOUR REAL JOB TITLE IS PROBLEM SOLVER.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/if-your-job-is-customer-satisfaction-your-real-job-title-is-problem/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [When I was starting out, being a young entrepreneur was not fashionable. Parents would ask, 'When are you going to get a real job?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-harrington/when-i-was-starting-out-being-a-young-entrepreneur-was-not/) [Kevin Harrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-harrington/) > [Everybody has a calling. And your real job in life is to figure out as soon as possible what that is, who you were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/everybody-has-a-calling-and-your-real-job-in-life-is-to-figure-out-as/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [My only real job is to play well and do my job on the field. If I do that, all the other stuff will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddy-adu/my-only-real-job-is-to-play-well-and-do-my-job-on-the-field-if-i-do/) [Freddy Adu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddy-adu/) ## More by Zoe Kravitz > [I do focus my energy on music, but it's just the way that the industry works. I kind of have to take what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kravitz/i-do-focus-my-energy-on-music-but-it-s-just-the-way-that-the-industry/) [Zoe Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kravitz/) > [Turquoise is my birthstone; I'm a Sagittarius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kravitz/turquoise-is-my-birthstone-i-m-a-sagittarius/) [Zoe Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kravitz/) > [Be confident, and just do it. It's all about not questioning what everyone else is thinking, since they're probably looking to others to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kravitz/be-confident-and-just-do-it-it-s-all-about-not-questioning-what/) [Zoe Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kravitz/) > [Acting and making art is just something I love to do, and I love to tell stories that feel important, honest and necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kravitz/acting-and-making-art-is-just-something-i-love-to-do-and-i-love-to/) [Zoe Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kravitz/) > [I used to make my grandparents pay a dollar to watch me sing 'Grease' songs and 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' in their living room.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kravitz/i-used-to-make-my-grandparents-pay-a-dollar-to-watch-me-sing-grease/) [Zoe Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kravitz/) > [The whole Hollywood thing where people want to put me into this 'quirky-fashionista, daughter of' category makes me mad because it's promoting something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kravitz/the-whole-hollywood-thing-where-people-want-to-put-me-into-this/) [Zoe Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kravitz/) > [In high school, I had a really difficult time just loving myself. It's weird; I feel like in the world we live in today,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kravitz/in-high-school-i-had-a-really-difficult-time-just-loving-myself-it-s/) [Zoe Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kravitz/) > [I think less is more in terms of makeup in general.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kravitz/i-think-less-is-more-in-terms-of-makeup-in-general/) [Zoe Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kravitz/) > [I love London; I could totally live here, actually. I'm in New York most of the time, and it really reminds me a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kravitz/i-love-london-i-could-totally-live-here-actually-i-m-in-new-york-most/) [Zoe Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kravitz/) > [This might surprise you, but I do feel like I have, because the shooting of all these films was spread out, for the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kravitz/this-might-surprise-you-but-i-do-feel-like-i-have-because-the/) [Zoe Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kravitz/) > [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/) > [ When I read the script \[of Good Kill\], it read like a science fiction film. And Andrew \[writer/director Andrew Niccol\] is known for sci-fi.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kravitz/when-i-read-the-script-of-good-kill-it-read-like-a-science-fiction/) [Zoe Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kravitz/) > [I don't want to play everyone's best friend. I don't want to play the role of a girl struggling in the ghetto. It's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kravitz/i-don-t-want-to-play-everyone-s-best-friend-i-don-t-want-to-play-the/) [Zoe Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kravitz/) > [Music and acting are the most prominent. But I don't like to compare them, since they're both very, very important to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kravitz/music-and-acting-are-the-most-prominent-but-i-don-t-like-to-compare/) [Zoe Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kravitz/) > [ Women that look like me \[the black ones\] need to see more of themselves in social media, in film, in music. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kravitz/women-that-look-like-me-the-black-ones-need-to-see-more-of-themselves/) [Zoe Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kravitz/) [Explore all 113 Zoe Kravitz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kravitz/) ## 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": "I never had a real job. I started acting in high school, and then I started working. 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