Maura Tierney Quotes

Powerful Maura Tierney for Daily Growth

About Maura Tierney

Maura Tierney, born on March 3, 1965, in Boston, Massachusetts, is an accomplished American actress known for her gripping performances and versatile roles in television and film. Tierney's passion for acting was ignited at a young age. She graduated from Emerson College in Boston with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1987. Her professional acting career took off when she moved to New York City, where she made her Broadway debut in the play 'Foxfire' in 1987. Tierney's breakthrough role came in 1994 when she joined the cast of the NBC drama 'ER', portraying Abby Lockhart for six seasons. Her powerful and emotional performances earned her three Emmy Award nominations and cemented her status as a talented actress. In addition to her work on 'ER', Tierney has appeared in numerous critically acclaimed television shows, including 'NewsRadio', 'Rescue Me', 'The Affair', and the miniseries 'The Wizard of Lies'. Her film roles include parts in 'Primary Colors', 'Sleepers', 'Boys on the Side', and 'Wanderlust'. Tierney's life experiences, particularly her personal battles with health issues, have influenced her work. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 and underwent a double mastectomy. This experience led to her becoming an advocate for breast cancer awareness and early detection. Throughout her career, Maura Tierney has showcased her acting prowess in a variety of roles, earning respect from critics and audiences alike. Her talent, resilience, and dedication continue to make her one of the most admired actresses in Hollywood.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I've always said that acting is not a very secure profession, but it's all I ever wanted to do."

This quote by Maura Tierney highlights her personal commitment and passion for acting, acknowledging the inherent insecurity of the profession while asserting that she chose this path despite its instability because it is what she has always desired. It underscores the determination and resilience often required to pursue a career in the arts, where financial security may not be guaranteed but creative fulfillment can be found.


"When you're an actor, you can go places and meet people you would never otherwise have a chance to meet."

This quote highlights the unique opportunity that acting provides for individuals to access diverse experiences and encounters that might not be available through ordinary means. Actors, by portraying different roles and interacting with various people in their professional lives, are able to broaden their horizons and connect with a wide range of perspectives and communities. This can lead to personal growth and increased empathy, as well as the potential for meaningful relationships that might not have been possible otherwise.


"I'm still waiting for the big payoff, you know? When I get that call saying, 'Maura Tierney, we want you to be in our movie about this amazing historical figure.'"

Maura Tierney is expressing a longing for a significant role in film, particularly one that allows her to portray an influential historical figure. The quote suggests she is eagerly anticipating the opportunity to showcase her acting skills on a grand scale, possibly through a biographical or historical character study.


"Acting is like anything else: You have to work at it every day, and you have to love it."

This quote by Maura Tierney emphasizes the dedication and passion required for a successful acting career. Acting, like any other profession, demands continuous effort and practice. The daily work puts actors in constant development, honing their skills to deliver authentic and captivating performances. Furthermore, the love for acting is crucial as it fuels the drive to persist through challenges and rejections, ultimately making a meaningful impact on both the actor's personal growth and audience experiences.


"I've had a great career so far, but I still feel like I'm just getting started."

The quote suggests that despite achieving significant success in her career, Maura Tierney feels her journey is not yet complete. She views her current accomplishments as a foundation upon which she can build further, indicating a sense of continued growth and development in her professional life. It's an inspiring sentiment that underscores the idea that one should always strive for more, even after attaining notable achievements.


Rejection happens, and you have to have a thick skin about it, which is hard. You can't be overly sensitive about people not picking you.

- Maura Tierney

Skin, Thick Skin, Which, Overly

What I look for in theater, I really like new work, and I really like the concept of age not necessarily being a defining aspect of who you are or how you act.

- Maura Tierney

Work, New, Like, Defining

I've been doing dramas for a long time.

- Maura Tierney

Doing, Long Time, Been, Dramas

I tend to focus on what I'm doing at the moment, and that takes up the entire span of my focus.

- Maura Tierney

Focus, Doing, Tend, Span

I was a dance major at NYU, but it wasn't working out. I had friends in the drama department, so I switched.

- Maura Tierney

Friends, Had, NYU, Department

I sold muffler parts over the phone when I was a teenager.

- Maura Tierney

Phone, Over, Sold, Teenager

The charity that I work for is the Johnson Cancer Research Foundation at UCLA. I also do work with Stand Up To Cancer.

- Maura Tierney

Work, Charity, Stand Up, UCLA

I think infidelity is difficult, monogamy is difficult, and marriage is difficult.

- Maura Tierney

Marriage, Think, I Think, Monogamy

I'm sure my desire to perform came, in part, from being around politics as a kid. My dad had a big personality, and a lot of the people involved in Boston politics have big personalities, so there were all kinds of wacky people around.

- Maura Tierney

Politics, Boston, Big, Personalities

Being bald is no fun.

- Maura Tierney

Fun, Being, No Fun, Bald

I say I'm not a control freak and I don't like to be in charge. But on the other hand, I really don't like anyone telling me what to do. I have some authority issues.

- Maura Tierney

Some, Other, Telling, Control Freak

I always acted in high school. Actually, I started in preschool. I was in a play about Jesus. I went to a Catholic school and played an angel and recited some poem about Jesus. It felt so long to me at the time.

- Maura Tierney

Play, Some, About, Catholic

My dad was a theatrical guy. He wore a scuba suit one time because he said so-and-so was in the tank with the mayor. He didn't really care what people thought, so he was able to put himself out there. He didn't have a lot of shame, in a good way.

- Maura Tierney

Thought, Shame, Theatrical, One Time

I felt intimidated the entire time I was in school by my teachers and classmates. But I just knew acting was something I wanted to do.

- Maura Tierney

Knew, Felt, Entire, Classmates

I've been misquoted a lot, and there's this tendency for people to put on to you how they think you should be or what they think you should feel.

- Maura Tierney

Think, Been, Tendency, Misquoted

I just think there is a part of your brain that is supposed to be afraid of getting old, even if you're not really.

- Maura Tierney

Think, Old, Part, Getting Old

With acting, there's a certain amount of independence you have within the framework of the storytelling. When it's done well, it's a collaborative medium.

- Maura Tierney

Storytelling, Within, Amount, Medium

Unfortunately in life, justice is not always achieved.

- Maura Tierney

Justice, Always, Achieved, Unfortunately

I did a lot of sitcoms, and being funny isn't about being beautiful. Usually, beautiful people aren't the funny people.

- Maura Tierney

Being Funny, Funny People, Beautiful People

What appealed to me was that the focus of 'North Atlantic' was more about performance rather than emoting, because I was at a point in life where it was nice not to have to emote all over the place.

- Maura Tierney

More, Over, Rather, Appealed

Even in comedy, I'm always the straight guy, which is okay because that's a skill. But it would be nice to get out of that box.

- Maura Tierney

Always, Okay, Which, Skill

It's a life-changing thing to be in a position of needing help and being so lucky as to get it.

- Maura Tierney

Help, Lucky, Get, Needing

You can't just take care of everybody else all the time.

- Maura Tierney

Everybody, Take, Else, Everybody Else

I worry about everything, which is silly because there's very little you can control anyway.

- Maura Tierney

Worry, Very, Which, Anyway

Poaching is a very complicated, multi-layered problem.

- Maura Tierney

Problem, Very, Complicated

I was on network TV for about 15 years or so, which I loved.

- Maura Tierney

Loved, TV, Which, Network

After 'NewsRadio,' I did say to my agent, 'If I get another TV show, I'd want to do a drama.' Then I got offered the part on 'ER,' and I was on that show for eight years.

- Maura Tierney

TV, Agent, TV Show, Offered

I love Martin Amis.

- Maura Tierney

Love, I Love, Martin

Everyone in my family has seen me cry before.

- Maura Tierney

Me, Everyone, Before, Cry

I wish I had a little more joy of cooking - because mostly I have anxiety of cooking. I'm so proud when things come out well.

- Maura Tierney

Proud, I Wish, Mostly, Cooking

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