--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't want to be a director, or to have…" description: "\"I don't want to be a director, or to have responsibility for hundreds of people.\" — Zoe Wanamaker" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80f/zoe-wanamaker-34685_cinema_i-don-t-want-to-be-a-director-or-to-have_1819900.jpg" --- # I don't want to be a director, or to have responsibility… ![“I don't want to be a director, or to have responsibility for hundreds of people.” quote by Zoe Wanamaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80f/zoe-wanamaker-34685_cinema_i-don-t-want-to-be-a-director-or-to-have_1819900.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80f/zoe-wanamaker-34685_cinema_i-don-t-want-to-be-a-director-or-to-have_1819900.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80f/zoe-wanamaker-34685_cinema_i-don-t-want-to-be-a-director-or-to-have_1819900.jpg) > “I don't want to be a director, or to have responsibility for hundreds of people.” [Zoe Wanamaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-wanamaker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She expresses reluctance to assume a director role due to the heavy responsibility for many people's lives. **In simple terms:** She doesn't want to lead many people. Key Takeaway Consider roles aligning with comfort level. Themes career leadership responsibility stress Mood thoughtful cautious Type career personal When to use this quote - corporate - film production - nonprofit - education Key Concepts management hierarchy personal values Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities do you enjoy? - How might you influence without direct authority? A Different Perspective Leadership can be rewarding despite pressure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Director](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/director/) [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) ## Related quotes > [An actor puts himself in the hands of a director. And the director's first responsibility, obviously, is to tell the story, but the smallest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobin-bell/an-actor-puts-himself-in-the-hands-of-a-director-and-the-director-s/) [Tobin Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobin-bell/) > [You're feeling the responsibility for hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people on your shoulder in a way that I couldn't feel as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-scranton/you-re-feeling-the-responsibility-for-hundreds-of-thousands-if-not/) [William Scranton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-scranton/) > [Sometimes you can't even find the director on a movie set. Sometimes you don't want to find the director on a movie set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-tucci/sometimes-you-can-t-even-find-the-director-on-a-movie-set-sometimes/) [Stanley Tucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-tucci/) > [As an actor, your focus is very finite. All you're worried about is your character and what you have to do, what your goals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-priestley/as-an-actor-your-focus-is-very-finite-all-you-re-worried-about-is/) [Jason Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-priestley/) > [I want to be a director's actor and stay true to their vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuthirakani/i-want-to-be-a-director-s-actor-and-stay-true-to-their-vision/) [Samuthirakani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuthirakani/) > [I didn't want to be a director for hire. It really just took me a long time to learn how to direct and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-apatow/i-didn-t-want-to-be-a-director-for-hire-it-really-just-took-me-a-long/) [Judd Apatow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-apatow/) > [To say you want to be a director is to risk sounding obnoxious, pretentious, arrogant, and I think women are more fearful of sounding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-holofcener/to-say-you-want-to-be-a-director-is-to-risk-sounding-obnoxious/) [Nicole Holofcener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-holofcener/) > [Choosing a director is like choosing a therapist - you want somebody who is going to be a step or two ahead of you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-margulies/choosing-a-director-is-like-choosing-a-therapist-you-want-somebody/) [Donald Margulies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-margulies/) > [A lot of directors don't know what they want to do. Every director I've seen that was a good director that I've admired knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milius/a-lot-of-directors-don-t-know-what-they-want-to-do-every-director-i/) [John Milius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milius/) > [I want to direct every now and then, but I don't want to be a director.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gael-garcia-bernal/i-want-to-direct-every-now-and-then-but-i-don-t-want-to-be-a-director/) [Gael Garcia Bernal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gael-garcia-bernal/) > [Your job, as an actor, is never to just do what you're told. That's boring, and life is too short. It's your job to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/your-job-as-an-actor-is-never-to-just-do-what-you-re-told-that-s/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [As an actor, you want a director who makes you feel comfortable in a place that you can really create and try a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ansel-elgort/as-an-actor-you-want-a-director-who-makes-you-feel-comfortable-in-a/) [Ansel Elgort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ansel-elgort/) > [There were movies that always made me want to be a director. You see brilliant scenes and the way the emotions were handled. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-beresford/there-were-movies-that-always-made-me-want-to-be-a-director-you-see/) [Bruce Beresford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-beresford/) > [One thing I know is that I don't want to be a director for hire, making genre films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mazursky/one-thing-i-know-is-that-i-don-t-want-to-be-a-director-for-hire/) [Paul Mazursky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mazursky/) > [I was an executive producer. I've done a lot of jobs and I think each one helps you get closer to what you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoya-akhtar/i-was-an-executive-producer-i-ve-done-a-lot-of-jobs-and-i-think-each/) [Zoya Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoya-akhtar/) ## More by Zoe Wanamaker > [My father's death from prostate cancer in 1993 was tragic. He never complained about pain. He was a fighter. By the time he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-wanamaker/my-father-s-death-from-prostate-cancer-in-1993-was-tragic-he-never/) [Zoe Wanamaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-wanamaker/) > [I don't have any regrets about not having had children. What's the point? It's just something else to beat yourself up over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-wanamaker/i-don-t-have-any-regrets-about-not-having-had-children-what-s-the/) [Zoe Wanamaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-wanamaker/) > [My mother was adorable, a great giggler. My father was very strong and could be quite frightening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-wanamaker/my-mother-was-adorable-a-great-giggler-my-father-was-very-strong-and/) [Zoe Wanamaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-wanamaker/) > [I don't have the confidence to be a personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-wanamaker/i-don-t-have-the-confidence-to-be-a-personality/) [Zoe Wanamaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-wanamaker/) > [I don't know any woman who is happy with her looks. I certainly wouldn't want to be friends with anyone who was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-wanamaker/i-don-t-know-any-woman-who-is-happy-with-her-looks-i-certainly-wouldn/) [Zoe Wanamaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-wanamaker/) > [Shakespeare's taught me that there are more words in the English language than I have got in my head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-wanamaker/shakespeare-s-taught-me-that-there-are-more-words-in-the-english/) [Zoe Wanamaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-wanamaker/) > [And children? 'I don't have any regrets about not having had children. What's the point? It's just something else to beat yourself up over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-wanamaker/and-children-i-don-t-have-any-regrets-about-not-having-had-children/) [Zoe Wanamaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-wanamaker/) > [I have lots of passions - gardens, art, music and reading. I have eclectic taste and read a huge variety of books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-wanamaker/i-have-lots-of-passions-gardens-art-music-and-reading-i-have-eclectic/) [Zoe Wanamaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-wanamaker/) > [I absolutely hate clothes shopping, though I love clothes. It's my idea of heaven to be handed things to wear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-wanamaker/i-absolutely-hate-clothes-shopping-though-i-love-clothes-it-s-my-idea/) [Zoe Wanamaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-wanamaker/) > [I'm constantly intimidated by Shakespeare's work. Trying to decipher what he's saying and holding on to that thought - not just as an actor,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-wanamaker/i-m-constantly-intimidated-by-shakespeare-s-work-trying-to-decipher/) [Zoe Wanamaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-wanamaker/) > [As You Like It' was the first Shakespeare production I ever did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-wanamaker/as-you-like-it-was-the-first-shakespeare-production-i-ever-did/) [Zoe Wanamaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-wanamaker/) > [Shakespeare showed me that once I understand the rules, I can break them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-wanamaker/shakespeare-showed-me-that-once-i-understand-the-rules-i-can-break/) [Zoe Wanamaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-wanamaker/) > [I dont have the confidence to be a personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-wanamaker/i-dont-have-the-confidence-to-be-a-personality/) [Zoe Wanamaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-wanamaker/) [Explore all 14 Zoe Wanamaker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-wanamaker/) ## More Cinema quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [You have to have a great director to make a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/you-have-to-have-a-great-director-to-make-a-great-movie/) [Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [There was a time in the 1980s when I worked in 22 films a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radha-ravi/there-was-a-time-in-the-1980s-when-i-worked-in-22-films-a-year/) [Radha Ravi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radha-ravi/) > [To an ever greater extent out experience is governed by pictures, pictures in newspapers and magazines, on television and in the cinema. Next to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-crimp/to-an-ever-greater-extent-out-experience-is-governed-by-pictures/) [Douglas Crimp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-crimp/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [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/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [I even see the cinema itself as a woman, with its alternation of light and darkness, of appearing and disappearing images](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-fellini/i-even-see-the-cinema-itself-as-a-woman-with-its-alternation-of-light/) [Federico Fellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-fellini/) > ['Rear Window' isn't really a horror film, but it is a psychological drama, which I love. It is very tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-silvers/rear-window-isn-t-really-a-horror-film-but-it-is-a-psychological/) [Diana Silvers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-silvers/) > [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/) Jessica Yu > [I am not interested in churning out a certain number of films every year. For me, it's about the quality of work. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepika-padukone/i-am-not-interested-in-churning-out-a-certain-number-of-films-every/) [Deepika Padukone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepika-padukone/) [Browse all 23,940 Cinema quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't want to be a director, or to have responsibility for hundreds of people.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zoe Wanamaker" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-wanamaker/i-don-t-want-to-be-a-director-or-to-have-responsibility-for-hundreds/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cinema" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-wanamaker/i-don-t-want-to-be-a-director-or-to-have-responsibility-for-hundreds/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80f/zoe-wanamaker-34685_cinema_i-don-t-want-to-be-a-director-or-to-have_1819900.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80f/zoe-wanamaker-34685_cinema_i-don-t-want-to-be-a-director-or-to-have_1819900.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80f/zoe-wanamaker-34685_cinema_i-don-t-want-to-be-a-director-or-to-have_1819900.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't want to be a director, or to have responsibility for hundreds of people.” — Zoe Wanamaker", "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": "Zoe Wanamaker", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-wanamaker/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't want to be a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-wanamaker/i-don-t-want-to-be-a-director-or-to-have-responsibility-for-hundreds/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-wanamaker/i-don-t-want-to-be-a-director-or-to-have-responsibility-for-hundreds/#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 } } ] } ```