When you start off acting, it does seem very romantic, and the

The words of Sada Thompson—“When you start off acting, it does seem very romantic, and the make-believe part of it all seems very exciting. It's only later that you begin to realize how fascinating the work is—that it's a bottomless pit, and you never get to the end of it.”—carry the voice of one who has traveled from the surface of art into its unfathomable depths. In them, she names a truth that applies not only to acting, but to all great callings: that at first, they seem adorned with glamour and romance, but only with time does one perceive the endless depth, the inexhaustible mystery of the craft itself.

In the beginning, she says, acting is romantic. The stage glitters, the costumes shine, the thrill of make-believe captivates the heart. The novice actor is intoxicated by transformation—the ability to slip into another life, to enchant an audience, to bask in the applause of strangers. It is this initial glamour that draws many into the craft, just as young warriors may be drawn to battle by the glitter of armor, before they learn the true weight of war. But this romance, though real, is only the surface of a vast ocean.

Later, as Thompson reveals, the actor discovers something far greater: that acting is not merely performance, but a bottomless pit, a well with no end, an art that grows more profound the longer one practices it. Every character is a mystery to unfold, every gesture a study of humanity, every silence as meaningful as words. The actor begins to realize that the stage is a mirror of life itself—unfathomable, complex, inexhaustible. This is not the shallow thrill of make-believe, but the deep labor of truth-seeking, of bringing forth the soul of another being for others to witness.

History bears witness to this truth. Consider the life of Konstantin Stanislavski, the great Russian actor and teacher. As a young man, he was captivated by the glamour of theater, but soon became disillusioned with shallow performance. He then devoted his life to discovering the deeper truth of acting, birthing a system that would transform theater forever. His work revealed, as Thompson echoes, that acting is not about pretense, but about truth, not about display, but about the endless excavation of the human spirit. His pursuit of this depth was indeed a lifelong journey—never completed, never exhausted.

The meaning of Thompson’s words reaches beyond acting, into all great pursuits. Whether in art, science, philosophy, or love, the beginning is often drenched in romance, in the glitter of excitement. But as one persists, the romance gives way to reverence, to the recognition that the work is infinite, that mastery is never complete, that to devote oneself to a calling is to enter a path without end. And this is not despair—it is the very beauty of it. For if the well were shallow, we would soon tire. It is the endlessness of the pursuit that makes it worthy of a lifetime.

The lesson for us is clear: do not be deceived by the surface allure of any path, nor discouraged when the initial glamour fades. Instead, learn to love the depth. Recognize that the true glory of a craft is not in its appearance but in its inexhaustibility. To know that you will never reach the end is not a curse, but a blessing—for it means the journey will always remain alive, always capable of teaching, always capable of wonder.

Practically, this means approaching your work, your art, or your calling with humility. Do not imagine that a few victories make you a master. Instead, return again and again to the work with the eyes of a beginner, knowing there is always more to learn. Cherish the romance that first drew you, but root yourself in the endless fascination that will sustain you for a lifetime.

Thus, Sada Thompson’s words endure as wisdom: romance draws us in, but depth keeps us there. To begin is to be enchanted; to continue is to be transformed. And those who embrace the bottomless pit not with fear, but with devotion, will find that they are never empty-handed, but always filled with the living mystery of their art.