Diane Cilento Quotes

Powerful Diane Cilento for Daily Growth

About Diane Cilento

Diane Cilento (1931-2011), an Australian actress, writer, and director, was a versatile talent who left an indelible mark on the arts scene of her time. Born on February 5, 1931, in Sydney, Australia, she was the daughter of English parents, and her early years were spent in India where her father worked as a civil engineer. This multicultural upbringing influenced her perspective and worldview, later reflected in her works. Cilento returned to Australia in 1946, and her acting career took off when she was discovered by the legendary director J.C. Williamson. She quickly rose to fame on stage and screen, earning an Australian Film Institute (AFI) award for Best Actress in 1958 for her role in "The Sundowners." In 1962, Cilento moved to the United States, where she continued her acting career, starring alongside iconic actors such as Marlon Brando and Sean Connery. However, her most notable role was playing opposite her future husband, Sean Connery, in "Thunderball" (1965) and "You Only Live Twice" (1967). Beyond acting, Cilento was a prolific writer, publishing several books including "Invisible Man's Wife: A Life with Sean Connery" (1988), an account of her life with the James Bond star. She also wrote and directed the film adaptation of Thomas Keneally's novel, "Bring Larks and Heroes," for which she won an AFI award in 1970. Cilento passed away on October 9, 2011, leaving behind a rich legacy as a trailblazing actress, writer, and director who championed gender equality in the arts. Her work continues to inspire new generations of artists in Australia and beyond.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I believe that every woman has it in her power to create a life for herself and not just accept what comes along."

This quote by Diane Cilento emphasizes self-empowerment and personal agency, particularly for women. It suggests that each individual woman possesses the capacity to shape their own lives proactively, rather than passively accepting circumstances as they come. This perspective encourages personal growth, ambition, and resilience, implying a call to action for women to take control of their destiny and create fulfilling lives for themselves.


"The most important thing is to be true to yourself and if you cannot do that, you can be anything you want to be."

This quote emphasizes personal authenticity as a cornerstone for living a fulfilling life. The implication is that when one remains true to oneself – recognizing and honoring one's own values, beliefs, and emotions – they are better equipped to make meaningful choices and live with integrity. However, if one struggles to be true to themselves, the quote suggests that they can still lead any desired life (be anything they want to be), but without this authenticity, their success may lack depth or satisfaction.


"I think love is the only adventure worth taking."

Diane Cilento's quote suggests that love, rather than material or physical pursuits, is the most meaningful and rewarding experience one can embark upon in life. It posits that love is an adventure of emotional depth and connection, and it's this exploration and growth that makes it worthwhile. Love is not just a simple feeling, but a journey filled with passion, understanding, compromise, and learning. Overall, it underscores the idea that love offers profound personal fulfillment, making it the most valuable adventure in life.


"A woman should have a certain toughness, but not lose her sensitivity."

This quote by Diane Cilento emphasizes the importance of balancing strength with sensitivity in women. It suggests that while a woman should possess resilience, grit, and determination (toughness), she should also preserve her ability to feel deeply and empathize (sensitivity). The balance between these two qualities creates a well-rounded individual who can navigate life's challenges effectively while maintaining compassion and emotional depth.


"I am still growing, learning, trying to find myself and I believe that life is a journey, not a destination."

This quote underscores the ongoing nature of personal growth and self-discovery in life. Diane Cilento suggests that life should be seen as a journey rather than a fixed point or destination. The idea is to continuously learn, evolve, and understand oneself better. It encourages a mindset where we embrace the process of growing and finding ourselves instead of solely focusing on achieving an end goal. This perspective allows us to appreciate each step along the way, fostering resilience, adaptability, and personal fulfillment in our lives.


Both my parents were doctors, and my mother had her surgery in the house. There were six children.

- Diane Cilento

Six, Had, Both My Parents, Surgery

Very quickly, without really looking back or trying, I was just suddenly lifted into another sphere.

- Diane Cilento

Looking Back, Very, Quickly, Sphere

I sort of was good at writing essays. I was never very good at mathematics, and I was never very good at algebra. I loved science, but I wasn't sure of it.

- Diane Cilento

Mathematics, Sure, Very, Algebra

The best part of learning any profession, when you're really going through those huge stretching escalated times of learning and energy, is when you want to do it so much.

- Diane Cilento

Through, Going, Profession, Best Part

If you were in the film industry at that time, you were always picked up by directors who were much older. You were whisked about and shown things. I did work very hard though.

- Diane Cilento

Always, Very, Though, Film Industry

I got through my teen years by being a bit of a clown.

- Diane Cilento

Teen, Clown, Through, Teen Years

Once, the parental bed collapsed because all the children sat on it at once.

- Diane Cilento

Children, Bed, Once, Parental

My mother felt it was time that I had some parental control, so I went off to America and went to New York.

- Diane Cilento

New, Some, Felt, Parental

I learnt the theory of movement, which I still teach sometimes. I was very, very ambitious to learn a skill.

- Diane Cilento

Very, Still, Which, Learnt

I spoke French a bit, and I could speak a bit of this and that, and when you were taught those things by people who couldn't really do it, you can do some pretty wonderfully, imaginative horrific things to teachers.

- Diane Cilento

Some, Pretty, Spoke, French

If there was a distraction I'd get up and jump out the window. I was quite out of hand. In schools like that I don't think they expect that girls are going to behave in such an outrageous fashion.

- Diane Cilento

Think, Like, Going, Outrageous

I had a place in England and was commuting from England to Australia, which is pretty stupid, but after two years I sort of knew what I wanted to do, more or less.

- Diane Cilento

Stupid, England, Which, Commuting

I didn't know what to do with myself. I wasn't excited by the teaching of the school. If they'd been intent on really teaching you things, I would have been a little more attentive.

- Diane Cilento

Excited, More, Been, Intent

I was a hard worker, and I always knew my lines.

- Diane Cilento

Hard, Always, Knew, Lines

It was a very odd household, because the grandmothers were so different. Both of them had their own pianos. So it would be duelling pianos by grandmothers.

- Diane Cilento

Own, Very, Grandmothers, Odd

When I did Taming of the Shrew, I was very tired, and I decided to have a holiday and make a documentary.

- Diane Cilento

Tired, Very, Decided, Documentary

I never used to sleep much. I think we all go through a bit of a time like that where we rage about. If we don't, I don't think you've ever really lived.

- Diane Cilento

Think, Through, I Think, Rage

The most surprising thing for my mother and father was when I was actually earning more money than them by the time I was about 18. They thought I was going to be the ne'er do well, who they'd have to keep worrying about.

- Diane Cilento

Thought, Mother And Father, Surprising Thing

At boarding school you had to wear your name across your chest and your back, and obviously I had a pretty funny name. It wasn't Brown or Smith or Hughes.

- Diane Cilento

Pretty, Chest, Smith, Boarding

I was often very, incredibly naughty, and if I didn't come home at tea time I used to be sent to bed without any dinner. But people used to bring me things: I was better fed in bed.

- Diane Cilento

Bed, Very, Fed, Dinner

I had a quick ear and could pick up languages.

- Diane Cilento

Quick, Pick, Languages, Ear

Suddenly I had a contract and I was earning lots of money.

- Diane Cilento

Money, Contract, Lots, Suddenly

Blank House was exactly a nice empty sheet where nothing was accountable because you were so naughty that you were in Blank House.

- Diane Cilento

Nothing, Accountable, Blank, Sheet

You never came home for lunch: you just stayed doing, playing, having fun, surfing, running round.

- Diane Cilento

Lunch, Doing, Having, Round

My father said, If you want to do acting, you have to be successful, which is a silly thing to say.

- Diane Cilento

Father, Silly, Which, Silly Thing

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