Susanna Thompson Quotes

I did a couple of movies when I was little. You have to be possessed to be an actress, and I was not possessed... It was not my life's passion.

I never lost my appetite for acting.

Becoming an actor? If it's not a calling, don't do it. It's too hard.

You have to remember that for more than half my life - probably until my children were born - acting was everything to me. I was obsessed by it, and I spent so much time just trying to get to the point where I was being paid to do it. Literally, I spent every waking moment thinking about acting.

Persistence is incredibly important. Persistence proves to the person you're trying to reach that you're passionate about something, that you really want something.

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 it in this field.

Acting is a tough business, but if you really want to do it, you should go full force.

Desire is the key to motivation, but it's the determination and commitment to unrelenting pursuit of your goal - a commitment to excellence - that will enable you to attain the success you seek.

I had heard about how people struggle and how hard it is to get into acting. But I did not care because it's something I love.

What you lack in talent can be made up with desire, hustle and giving 110 percent all the time.

If you hang around long enough to show these people what you can do, you have a chance in this acting business.

Motivation will almost always beat mere talent.

When you want something very dearly, you make the time.

There are definitely roles within this industry that are industry-related, but to be a good actor, you really have to want to act first. At the same time, my goal was never to go to Hollywood to make movies. I think if you come here with that attitude, then you've missed a few steps.

I studied acting for five years. I quit college at that point. You know, I go hard. When I know I'm supposed to go in a direction, I'm fully committed and I go all the way. Everything falls to the side and I'm all in. So I completely dove into acting even though I was almost 30.

You must have to want it so badly, if there is any way you can live without it, get out of it. Being an unsuccessful actor is like having a skin disease. Make sure your passion is not misplaced.

If you have the talent and if you have the ability, and you work for it, you can achieve your goals.

I've been in showbusiness all my life, but as an actress I have never been overly driven.

I consider myself a fortunate working actor, but I really work at it all the time. If I have a couple of weeks off, I'm taking class. You never stop. I started when I was 10 years old in Cleveland, and I've never stopped working my butt off.

I might not be the greatest actor, but I walk into every project willing to work hard.

I've known lots of people that are talented and nothing happens. It's not about talent, it's relentless drive.

Music always came first. I never set out to be an actor.

I fell into the theatre because I felt I was doing it well, and I stuck to it for the same reason.

Wanting to be an actor and wanting to be famous are different.

Wanting to be a good actor is not good enough. You must want to be a great actor. You just have to have that.