"If you just want to be a star, go away"
About this Quote
Lewis has spent decades as the industrys reliable scene-stealer - the working actor whose name the culture might not always headline, but whose presence makes the whole thing hum. That history gives the quote its bite. Its not an inspirational poster about following your dreams; its a professional warning from someone who knows how easily the business turns ambition into entitlement. The subtext: wanting visibility is not the same as wanting the work, and confusing the two makes you a liability.
It also reads as a critique of an entertainment economy that trains people to chase the symbol rather than the skill. "Star" here is shorthand for an identity, a brand, a promise of being looked at. Lewis is defending a different religion: repetition, humility, collaboration, stamina. You dont become good by being seen; you become seen because youre good - and because you can survive the unglamorous middle where most careers actually live.
The quote works because it refuses to flatter. It tells the truth the industry sells around: the spotlight is not a personality trait, and the room doesnt owe you one.
Quote Details
| Topic | Savage |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Lewis, Jenifer. (2026, January 15). If you just want to be a star, go away. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/if-you-just-want-to-be-a-star-go-away-151318/
Chicago Style
Lewis, Jenifer. "If you just want to be a star, go away." FixQuotes. January 15, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/if-you-just-want-to-be-a-star-go-away-151318/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"If you just want to be a star, go away." FixQuotes, 15 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/if-you-just-want-to-be-a-star-go-away-151318/. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.





