I found it all very scary. This fairytale gets built around you – as if you’ve been walking through the streets and then Sydney Pollack sees you and goes, ‘I’ll put you in something!’

Meaning of the quote

This quote by British actress Julia Ormond describes how it can feel strange and overwhelming when you suddenly become famous. It's like a fairy tale is built around you, even though you were just going about your normal life. Imagine walking down the street, and then a famous director like Sydney Pollack spots you and decides to cast you in a movie. That would be a surprising and a bit scary experience! The quote captures how quickly fame can come, even if you weren't expecting it.

About Julia Ormond

Julia Ormond is an acclaimed English actress who has starred in numerous films, including Legends of the Fall, Sabrina, and The Walking Dead: World Beyond. She has won an Emmy Award for her role in the HBO film Temple Grandin.

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More quotes from Julia Ormond

I feel that David took a risk with me. I have a sense that by starting off in the theatre and going off to do films you are seen to sell out in some way. I don’t hold truck with that, but you can’t stop people from feeling it.

Julia Ormond

British actress

I found it all very scary. This fairytale gets built around you – as if you’ve been walking through the streets and then Sydney Pollack sees you and goes, ‘I’ll put you in something!’

Julia Ormond

British actress

When really you’ve gone to drama school and rep and then you’ve come to London and gone to auditions and you’ve worked, solidly, for years. But that all gets forgotten.

Julia Ormond

British actress

That made me feel very disturbed, because it never seemed to be about how much hard work was involved. Ever. It was about… ‘hazel eyes’. It does help if you can brush that stuff off.

Julia Ormond

British actress

If you do anything for too long, it starts to lack edge, to become too easy. Easy is the kiss of death.

Julia Ormond

British actress

And it’s not that going out for a hack is wrong or bad, I certainly don’t view it as that; it’s just that there’s something about the dressage, being put through your paces, that makes you better.

Julia Ormond

British actress

For sure, you don’t believe the good stuff. I mean, the good stuff is just insane – wacky. If you don’t take it too much to heart, it does help when the negative stuff hits. And you know the negative stuff is coming. It’s got to! What comes up must come down.

Julia Ormond

British actress

At first I was a bit indignant about it, and then I realised, ‘No, that’s what people want, so that’s what is given.’ But it’s not in your control. It’s just what happens to you, and that’s what’s frightening.

Julia Ormond

British actress

It was a fantastic learning experience and OK, I got slammed because I wasn’t Audrey Hepburn but you could have predicted that, really, if you’d opened your eyes wide enough.

Julia Ormond

British actress