"You see, I've never really studied acting"
About this Quote
In context, Ross arrives to acting as a cultural force first: a singer whose charisma had already been industrial-strength, tested under the bright, suspicious lights of fame. When a pop icon crosses into film, the skepticism is baked in. "Never really studied" acknowledges the gatekeeping language of legitimacy (training, method, conservatories) while quietly refusing to kneel to it. The subtext isn’t "I’m unprepared". It’s "I learned in public". Onstage is its own conservatory, one with higher stakes and fewer second takes.
There’s also a subtle reframe of what acting is. Formal study is one route; lived experience, performance instinct, and presence are another. Ross isn’t dismissing craft so much as suggesting that craft can come from survival inside the spotlight. The line functions as both confession and thesis: her authority comes from being Diana Ross, not from the institutions that typically certify talent.
Quote Details
| Topic | Movie |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite | Cite this Quote |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Ross, Diana. (2026, January 17). You see, I've never really studied acting. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/you-see-ive-never-really-studied-acting-41553/
Chicago Style
Ross, Diana. "You see, I've never really studied acting." FixQuotes. January 17, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/you-see-ive-never-really-studied-acting-41553/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"You see, I've never really studied acting." FixQuotes, 17 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/you-see-ive-never-really-studied-acting-41553/. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
