Cybill Shepherd Quotes

Powerful Cybill Shepherd for Daily Growth

About Cybill Shepherd

Cybill Shepherd, born on February 18, 1950, in Memphis, Tennessee, is an acclaimed American actress, model, and singer-songwriter, who has left an indelible mark on both the fashion and entertainment industries. Raised in a family of artists, she developed an early interest in acting, encouraged by her mother, Shirley, a painter, and her father, Lloyd Shepherd, a real estate broker. She made her breakthrough at the tender age of 19 when she graced the cover of 'Harper's Bazaar', leading to a successful modeling career in Paris and New York. However, it was her portrayal of Jacy Farrow in the 1971 film 'The Last Picture Show' that solidified her as an actress, earning her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. In 1982, Shepherd starred in the hit television series 'Moonlighting', for which she received three Golden Globe Awards and two Emmy nominations. The show's success catapulted her to global fame and established her as a leading lady in both film and television. She has since appeared in numerous films, including 'Ragtime', 'The Felinity', and 'Cybill', for which she received another Golden Globe for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy. In addition to her acting work, Shepherd is also a talented singer-songwriter, releasing the albums 'Cybill' in 1980 and 'The Night Beat' in 1982. Throughout her illustrious career, Cybill Shepherd has been a trailblazer, using her platform to advocate for gender equality, mental health awareness, and animal rights. Her unique blend of beauty, talent, and tenacity continues to captivate audiences worldwide.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I've never subscribed to the idea that you have to sacrifice yourself on the altar of your career."

Cybill Shepherd's quote emphasizes the importance of maintaining personal well-being while pursuing professional goals. It implies that individuals should not feel compelled to put their own needs, happiness, or relationships secondary to their careers. Instead, a balanced approach is advocated where one can prioritize both career aspirations and self-care without feeling guilty or overwhelmed. The quote suggests that a fulfilling life doesn't require self-sacrifice but rather a harmonious blend of personal and professional growth.


"When I was growing up, I had a very traditional father and he just thought acting was a frivolous waste of time."

The quote indicates that Cybill Shepherd's father held a traditional view of employment, viewing acting as a non-serious or unimportant pursuit. This perspective likely influenced her upbringing and may have added challenges to her career ambitions in the entertainment industry. However, despite his disapproval, she ultimately pursued her passion for acting, which led to her successful career in Hollywood.


"I don't want to live my life trying to prove something or be somebody I'm not."

This quote suggests a desire for authenticity, self-acceptance, and genuine personal growth over conforming to societal expectations or striving to meet the standards set by others. It expresses the importance of living life truthfully and honestly, rather than trying to fit into predefined roles or seeking validation from external sources. This mindset encourages individuality, self-awareness, and a focus on personal fulfillment, rather than attempting to prove oneself or conforming to false identities.


"Women have gotten so used to being the ones to make the compromises in their lives that they don't even think about it anymore."

Cybill Shepherd's quote underscores the societal expectation placed upon women, where they are conditioned to habitually prioritize others over themselves and make compromises in their personal lives. This long-standing norm has become so ingrained that many women don't even recognize or question this pattern anymore. The implication is a call for acknowledgment of the importance of self-care, setting boundaries, and pursuing individual desires without fear of judgment or reprisal.


"Being an actor is a very lonely job because you spend most of your life pretending to be other people and, as a result, you often become isolated from yourself."

This quote suggests that acting requires one to immerse themselves in various characters, which can lead to a disconnection from their own identity or true self. The constant assumption of different personas may isolate the actor from their authentic feelings and experiences, creating a sense of loneliness despite being surrounded by others on set.


When I'm saying hysteria, I'm referring to Freud, because all the women were coming to him with symptoms and seeking help, and he just called it hysteria.

- Cybill Shepherd

Him, Seeking, Symptoms, Hysteria

It's hard for women to talk about these things, and for the doctors to really talk about it too, and to even have the knowledge of what's going on. That's why I'm doing this and urging women to speak out and talk to their doctors frankly.

- Cybill Shepherd

Doing, Going, About, Urging

It's okay to talk about birth, okay - then menstruation. I first started my advocacy for women's health in the field of reproductive freedom, and the next stage would be bringing menopause out of the closet.

- Cybill Shepherd

Next, Okay, About, Advocacy

I was born and bred to be a great flirt.

- Cybill Shepherd

Born, I Was Born, Bred, Flirt

I did many interviews, and went out and talked to many people and went to rallies. It was the same thing with menopause. I traveled around the country on talk shows and talking to women about.

- Cybill Shepherd

Country, Same Thing, About, Traveled

You know, women have a history of just being - we've been told all our lives not to say - in the fifties you couldn't say birth or even be pregnant hardly on television - and then gradually things have changed.

- Cybill Shepherd

Been, Our, Our Lives, Hardly

With the birth of my first child and my involvement with my first husband, I basically stopped lying. I just didn't want to lie anymore, because it reduces the stature of the person you're lying to.

- Cybill Shepherd

Birth, Want, Stopped, Stature

I love to sing, and I warm up to Maria Callas.

- Cybill Shepherd

Love, Warm, I Love, Maria

No, I always hated modeling. I developed an early hatred of modeling just from having to do it; having won Miss Teenage Memphis, I had to model, and I hated it. It bored me.

- Cybill Shepherd

Modeling, Memphis, Always, Bored

They showed this one beautiful picture of me recently and they had all the things that I had done. I thought it was a great compliment for everybody to think I've had plastic surgery.

- Cybill Shepherd

Thought, Think, Everybody, Surgery

It may be that the race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong - but that is the way to bet.

- Cybill Shepherd

Battle, Always, Nor, Swift

I know you are going to be embarrassed. We're all embarrassed by it, but to hide the embarrassment... silence has never protected women or helped them. We need to talk about it more with our, you know - whoever - our friends, our family.

- Cybill Shepherd

Need, Embarrassed, Going, Embarrassment

Gore Vidal has been a friend of mine for years, and he's one of the greatest writers in American history.

- Cybill Shepherd

American, Been, Mine, American History

I had to lie so much about sex, first when I was 15, because I wasn't supposed to be having it. And then when I got older, I lied to everybody I was having sex with, so I could have sex with other people.

- Cybill Shepherd

Other, Everybody, Having, Lied

Well, I've been politically involved for a really long time. Growing up in the segregated South, it was a very painful experience for me to live through the open racism of the time.

- Cybill Shepherd

Through, Been, Very, Painful

My home is different from my mother's, because hers is filled with beautiful objects that I was always afraid of breaking. My home is the opposite. Bring on the kids, the dogs, the parties - there's nothing that's so important it can't be broken.

- Cybill Shepherd

Mother, Bring, Objects, Hers

I had the serendipity of modeling during a temporary interlude between Twiggy and Kate Moss, when it was actually okay for women to look as if we ate and enjoyed life.

- Cybill Shepherd

Modeling, Temporary, Okay, Ate

'Taxi Driver' was one of the happiest moments of my career.

- Cybill Shepherd

Moments, Career, Driver, Taxi

I think the measure of your success to a certain extent will be the amount of things written about you that aren't true.

- Cybill Shepherd

Think, Extent, Amount, Certain Extent

No man bosses me around, and no man ever will.

- Cybill Shepherd

Me, Will, Ever, Bosses

Some people say I'm attractive. I say I agree.

- Cybill Shepherd

Say, Some, Attractive, Agree

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