"That is the thing I'm most grateful for in this industry to be able to spin in those different mediums, with television, film and the stage - at this stage of the game"
About this Quote
Gratitude is doing a lot of quiet work here: it frames career ambition as humility, and it turns a strategic résumé into something that sounds almost accidental, even blessed. Blair Underwood isn’t just saying he likes variety. He’s signaling survival and leverage in an industry that rewards typecasting until it doesn’t, then punishes you for having no second act.
“Spin” is the key verb. It’s physical, effortless, almost playful - the opposite of “hustle,” which is what cross-medium work usually requires. Underwood smooths the hard truth (constant reinvention) into a graceful motion, the kind of language a seasoned actor uses when he’s learned that desperation reads poorly. The phrase “different mediums” also doubles as a soft flex: television, film, and stage aren’t just formats; they’re separate status systems with different gatekeepers, pay scales, and prestige economies. Being able to move among them implies both range and access.
Then there’s the subtle self-positioning in “at this stage of the game.” It’s casual, but it marks time. Underwood is acknowledging longevity without making it a eulogy for youth. The subtext: I’m still in demand, and I’m choosing projects rather than chasing them. It’s also an actor’s insurance policy against the industry’s volatility - when one lane narrows (TV cycles, film casting trends), another can open (theater, limited series, prestige roles).
Contextually, it reads like a veteran reclaiming agency. Not every actor gets to expand their palette as they age; Underwood is naming that privilege while reminding you it was earned.
“Spin” is the key verb. It’s physical, effortless, almost playful - the opposite of “hustle,” which is what cross-medium work usually requires. Underwood smooths the hard truth (constant reinvention) into a graceful motion, the kind of language a seasoned actor uses when he’s learned that desperation reads poorly. The phrase “different mediums” also doubles as a soft flex: television, film, and stage aren’t just formats; they’re separate status systems with different gatekeepers, pay scales, and prestige economies. Being able to move among them implies both range and access.
Then there’s the subtle self-positioning in “at this stage of the game.” It’s casual, but it marks time. Underwood is acknowledging longevity without making it a eulogy for youth. The subtext: I’m still in demand, and I’m choosing projects rather than chasing them. It’s also an actor’s insurance policy against the industry’s volatility - when one lane narrows (TV cycles, film casting trends), another can open (theater, limited series, prestige roles).
Contextually, it reads like a veteran reclaiming agency. Not every actor gets to expand their palette as they age; Underwood is naming that privilege while reminding you it was earned.
Quote Details
| Topic | Career |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
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