Tina Yothers Quotes

Get yourself into every audition that you can. Even in those for smaller roles, you'll never know when someone may recommend you for a bigger one.

I remember when I first came to Los Angeles being staggered by the range of roles open to me. These were leading parts in shiny new projects, and what always excited me was knowing there was a possibility that I could actually get these parts. I always had the impression that I had a chance.

I've only ever really been in shows of friends, so I don't know exactly what happened. I think I'm incredibly cheap to hire. That can buy some traction. I'm as cheap as it's possible for an actor to be legally.

I've never pursued a role. I always hear stories about actors going after parts and I'm, like, 'How do they do that?' It seems so weird. It seems like a total myth or something.

But it's hard to sustain a successful acting career today.

Basically, one of the hardest things about being an actor is getting your first break. I'm a product of nepotism. The doors were open to me. I'd done several movies before I decided what I wanted to do.

If you're a young actor, unless you're on a very short list at the studios, we have to be very creative about moving your career along. Otherwise, all we can do is hope to get lucky and find that perfect role that pops you into stardom.

As an actor, it's hard to get work. Sometimes you have to make do with the jobs that you get.

I'm always surprised that I get called to work. I always feel the way I felt when I was 24 or 25 trying to get a job. I'm amazed I have my SAG card and my Equity card.

All my life, I struggled to get roles.

A good performance from me - no matter what kind of film it is, or who I'm acting with - will help me get better offers.

As an Asian American at pilot season you take whatever there is.

I was fresh out of drama school and had no idea what I was doing. They hustled me along and Bill Cosby tolerated my rookie behavior. It was great. Once you have 'The Cosby Show' on your resume, you can keep going.

I was not a child star. I was more like a young auditioner.

When you start out acting, you dream of getting an agent and getting a job. For years, you audition and you get what you can. Choice isn't something that you have much of.

'Cuckoo's Nest' was my first film, and I had wanted to do film for some time, but somehow I had not clicked. I would go in for interviews or readings, and I never had the sense that I was anywhere near what they were looking for.

The transitional period is tough. You can find yourself too old to play high school roles but too young to play the leading man. You have to be quite smart about how you present yourself. Your public image reflects your range.

I'm auditioning for anything that's good that comes my way.

I think you judge your career by the scripts that are being sent your way.

When I'm in Los Angeles, sometimes I hesitate saying that I'm an actor because people are like, 'Of course you are.' And I'm like 'No,' not, 'Of course I am.' In L.A., being an actor is like a pastime: everybody there is like, 'I was on this reality show; I'm an actor.' It becomes a word that is loosely thrown around.

Within a five-month period, I got 'Weeds,' 'Supernatural,' and 'Grey's.' I think a lot of it had to do with luck.

I've been doing this journey in acting and singing since I was six years old, and I definitely think this will take me to the next level - in movies.

At the most base level, what an actor represents to the film industry is an investment. Depending on the risk profile, an investor needs 1,000 reasons to commit and one reason not to. That means you've got to do more work on your own, and that the machine is not going to necessarily do the blocking for you. The machine rarely accepted my code.

I know how difficult it is for actors to get work, because I did casting for all those years.

I think everyone has different challenges as a young actress in Hollywood.