Misty Copeland Quotes

My parents weren't keen on the giving up of school at the beginning to go into singing and dancing, but once they saw I was serious about it, they gave support. I was quite stubborn about my decision, and in the end, they realised it was for the best.

I always knew I would act. It was just a matter of time.

In terms of acting, I've been acting from a very young age. I've always loved it and wanted to have a career in acting or something to do with it.

I hope to be an actor and never retire.

I've been a ballerina since I was two, but I've always wanted to be an actress.

I had a lot of time to think in the service; I swore that, if I survived, nothing would keep me from an acting career.

Acting was all I ever really wanted to do.

Ever since I was a very little girl, I've dreamed of acting.

I remember my dreams when I was a junior soloist. 'Oh, I hope I don't end here,' I thought. 'I want to do the ballerina in 'Scotch Symphony.' I don't want to be the little Scotch girl.' And I actually went beyond my wildest dreams. I worked with Balanchine. I had ballets choreographed for me.

I just know I'm going to be an actress. I want it so bad.

Acting and singing were just a hobby, but getting into drama school made me realise I could actually do it for a living.

I always knew I would act. It was just a matter of time.

I couldn't see a future of doing anything other than performing. I didn't like school if I'm being honest. I would have settled for performing in any capacity.

My teachers probably tried to get me interested in other things at school, but I was very young when I decided that I wanted to act. By the time I was 12, I was hell-bent on it.

When I was 15 and had the light bulb moment I wanted to be an actor, it was my sole focus and goal, and I went after it with determination.

I had my dreams, and even though everyone told me that they weren't practical, I knew in my heart that this is what I had to do. Even if it ended up being a failure, I had to make the attempt.

I don't know if it was a defining moment. I knew it as soon as I could comprehend the possibility of having a career. I knew very young I wanted to be a movie star. As much as I grew into love of the craft. As soon as I could speak I was auditioning and going to classes every day. It was my life.

I came to my mom and told her I wanted to do this[acting].

I always wanted to be an actor. I had the arrogance to believe I couldn't be anything else.

When it finally came my way and doors opened up for me to do it and to be on stage, it felt like a natural thing to try out. And it just so happened to speak to me. I really couldn't do what I needed to do in the most fulfilling way in Hayward, Calif., or in the Bay Area, that it required me to go off to NYU.

When I first went on the stage I was 17 and under the legal age for performers.

I grew up doing theater when I was very young - always enjoyed it.

You have to be bold because there will be folks who will say, "You can't" or "You shouldn't" or "Why?" There is a certain boldness to saying, "Well, I really don't want to be a high-powered corporate lawyer. I'm really passionate about painting."

I don't go out much to see bands. I prefer to be on stage.

Theater's my first love. I love it. It excites me. It feeds me.