Sharon Gless Quotes

Powerful Sharon Gless for Daily Growth

About Sharon Gless

Sharon Gless, born on April 16, 1943, in Los Angeles, California, is an acclaimed American actress known for her captivating performances in both television and film. Raised by her mother after her parents' divorce, Gless developed a love for acting at a young age, performing in school plays and local productions. Her career took off in the 1970s when she joined the Actors Studio and began appearing in off-Broadway productions. The breakthrough role that catapulted her to fame was Detective Christine Cagney on the television series "Cagney & Lacey" (1982-1988), a groundbreaking show for its portrayal of strong female characters and its exploration of social issues. For her role, Gless won two Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards. Following the success of "Cagney & Lacey," Gless continued to impress audiences with roles in shows like "Queer as Folk" (2001-2005), where she played the mother of a gay character, and "Burn Notice" (2007-2013), where she portrayed Madeline Westen, the mother of a covert operations specialist. Throughout her career, Sharon Gless has been recognized for her powerful performances and commitment to bringing complex characters to life. Her work continues to inspire and challenge audiences, making her one of the most influential actresses in American television.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I don't want to be perfect, I just want to be me."

This quote reflects a desire for authenticity and self-acceptance rather than striving for perfection. It suggests that one aims to embrace their unique identity, personality, strengths, and flaws, rather than trying to conform to societal expectations or ideals of perfection. Essentially, the speaker values being true to themselves over attempting to fit into a mold created by others.

"You have to make a choice between truth and lies. Do not stand on the fence on this issue."

This quote emphasizes that one should unequivocally choose truth over deception, avoiding any ambiguity or neutrality in matters involving moral and ethical principles. It's a call to action, encouraging individuals to take a decisive stance against dishonesty and uphold integrity in their words and actions.

"We can't choose the hands we're dealt, but we can decide how we play the game."

This quote by Sharon Gless highlights the idea that while we may not have control over the circumstances or challenges life presents us (the "hands" we're dealt), we retain the power to determine our actions and responses in dealing with those situations (how we play the game). It underscores the importance of resilience, adaptability, and personal agency in shaping our experiences and outcomes.

"I don't need to change who I am to fit in with people who reject me for being myself."

Sharon Gless's quote highlights a crucial aspect of self-acceptance and personal integrity. It suggests that one should never feel compelled to alter their authentic self just to be accepted or validated by others who may not appreciate them as they are. Instead, it encourages individuals to remain true to themselves and value their unique identity, even when faced with rejection from those who fail to recognize its worth. Embracing this mindset empowers one to maintain a strong sense of self-worth, cultivate resilience, and forge connections with people who truly appreciate them for who they are.

"Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself." - Often misattributed to Sharon Gless, but it is not her quote. The actual author is George Bernard Shaw.

This quote emphasizes the idea that personal growth and identity are not predetermined or passively discovered, but actively created by our choices, experiences, and actions throughout life. It encourages individuals to take responsibility for shaping their own lives and identities instead of waiting for them to unfold naturally. Essentially, it suggests that we have the power to define ourselves rather than being defined by external factors or circumstances.

They say that Madison Avenue will only pay high dollars in advertising if they get the 18-35 age range.

- Sharon Gless

Will, Pay, Madison, Madison Avenue

The way they were writing Christine as this older woman who got married, which she shouldn't have. Obviously got divorced right away. Reached the glass ceiling in the police precinct. So there is a part of her that died because she knows she couldn't go any farther.

- Sharon Gless

Woman, Away, Farther, Ceiling

And they were writing scripts where Christine had hit the glass ceiling. And I always thought Christine would never hit the glass ceiling. I thought her dreams would take her. Maybe her dreams wouldn't take her where she wanted, but she still had her dreams.

- Sharon Gless

Glass, Always, Still, Ceiling

In fact I have nightmares about having children. I want to carry a baby and feel the life within me and in my dream, I do. But every time after it's born, there's this incredible fear, this pounding pulse of fear. It's a real bad nightmare.

- Sharon Gless

Fact, Bad, About, Pulse

Women and minorities have excelled beautifully in comedy, but very few women are the lead in a drama.

- Sharon Gless

Drama, Very, Excelled, Women Are

Yeah, even a black comedy. Where it's a little eerie. I'd love to do that. But there are about three really fabulous ones on the air now and I don't know if I can do any better than that. I'd like to sort of forge new ground.

- Sharon Gless

Love, About, Yeah, Eerie

Yeah, I've always been accused of having a sense of mischief and I'm very flattered that you say you can see it in the roles I play, because I think that's important, even if I do play intense characters, like especially Christine Cagney.

- Sharon Gless

Play, Been, Very, Christine

Well what do you do with a character like Christine Cagney and you tell her she can't have things?

- Sharon Gless

Character, She, Her, Christine

But it took me awhile to figure out Christine at this age, you know.

- Sharon Gless

Took, Figure, Awhile, Christine

But I've always believed that Christine Cagney shouldn't be played past a certain age.

- Sharon Gless

Past, Always, Certain Age, Christine

I've come to learn that there is a real difference between men and women. It's genetic.

- Sharon Gless

Men, Learn, Genetic, Real Difference

In my early days I was a contract player at Universal and I had a wonderful mentor named Monique James, who was head of talent there, and she used to drag me on sets to do parts.

- Sharon Gless

Mentor, Early Days, Named, Drag

The whole tone now of TV is under 35 and directed toward males.

- Sharon Gless

TV, Directed, Toward, Males

I'm not here to put down men, God love them and I'm married to one, but I do think they are more shallow.

- Sharon Gless

Love, Think, Here, Shallow

I think, on the whole, men are much more shallow than women.

- Sharon Gless

Think, More, I Think, Shallow

I think there are some people in life who are not marriage material and Chris is one of them.

- Sharon Gless

Think, Some, I Think, Chris

I think Shakespeare had a lot to contribute with his understanding of the human condition.

- Sharon Gless

Think, Human Condition, Lot, Shakespeare

There's no praise or acknowledgment paid to women who raise the babies.

- Sharon Gless

Paid, Raise, Babies, Acknowledgment

Network heads don't seemed to be turned off by the men who get older.

- Sharon Gless

Men, Turned, Seemed, Heads

But Angela had at least 30% more viewers on the same night at the same time. I mean, she wiped everybody out. But the sponsors don't care when she had the most people. They only care about if there was only a handful of young viewers on the other one.

- Sharon Gless

Other, Everybody, Wiped, Viewers

Something just happens when you read a part. You know, if you'd like to do it or if you don't believe it.

- Sharon Gless

Like, Part, Read, Happens

Studios were just run differently. There really was a head of a studio. There were people who loved their studios. Who worked for their studios and were loaned out to other people and everybody sort of got a piece. Well now there's a handful now.

- Sharon Gless

Other, Everybody, Studio, Handful

I kind of resent this attitude of men that we somehow must always look good.

- Sharon Gless

Men, Kind, Always, Resent

There are only about three really, really good sitcoms on the air.

- Sharon Gless

Only, Air, About, Sitcoms

You know what I would really like to do? I'd like to do a half hour drama with comedy in it.

- Sharon Gless

Drama, Half, Would, Hour

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