"I get to pretend I'm flying into space, and hang out with my friends. That's what I do for a living"
About this Quote
The subtext is gratitude without sentimentality. Ryan frames acting not as tortured self-expression but as structured play: a grown-up version of the childhood dream, now with union hours, marks to hit, and a camera two feet from your face. "Flying into space" nods to her Star Trek identity in a way that acknowledges the fandom and the cultural weight of sci-fi without getting precious about it. It's also a subtle reminder that the genre's biggest trick is emotional realism inside an openly fake world. You can admit it's pretend and still make people feel something real.
Then she pivots to the human core: "hang out with my friends". That demotes the glamour and elevates the workplace. It's a backstage truth disguised as a punchline: the set is less a spaceship than a social ecosystem, and longevity in TV often depends on chemistry as much as talent. The last beat, "That's what I do for a living", lands with comedic whiplash - a deadpan closing that highlights how bizarrely privileged and weird the profession is, while keeping the tone relatable. It's humility with teeth: an actress acknowledging the con, and reminding you why the con is worth buying.
Quote Details
| Topic | Work |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
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Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Ryan, Jeri. (2026, January 17). I get to pretend I'm flying into space, and hang out with my friends. That's what I do for a living. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-get-to-pretend-im-flying-into-space-and-hang-62387/
Chicago Style
Ryan, Jeri. "I get to pretend I'm flying into space, and hang out with my friends. That's what I do for a living." FixQuotes. January 17, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-get-to-pretend-im-flying-into-space-and-hang-62387/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"I get to pretend I'm flying into space, and hang out with my friends. That's what I do for a living." FixQuotes, 17 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-get-to-pretend-im-flying-into-space-and-hang-62387/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.




