" In my first few years as an actor, I took one terrible TV job after another. But even as I laughed off my awful roles and made fun of myself to friends, my work made me cringe – I dreaded anyone’s seeing it. I was crushed that I wasn’t doing anything I was proud of. "
- Emily Mortimer

In her early days as an actor, Emily Mortimer recounts taking on numerous television roles that she found unappealing. Despite attempting to downplay these experiences by joking about them with friends, Mortimer felt deeply uncomfortable and embarrassed by her work, fearing the reaction of others who might see it.

This quote delves into the complex emotions many artists experience when they compromise their artistic integrity for financial or career stability reasons. Mortimer's frustration stems from a sense of professional identity crisis; while she humorously dismissed these roles, the internal conflict of creating something that did not align with her creative vision caused significant distress. It highlights the struggle between practical career decisions and maintaining personal pride in one’s work.

Emily Mortimer is an accomplished British actress known for both stage and screen performances. Born to a family deeply involved in the performing arts, she has built a reputation through roles in films such as "Hugo" and television series like "The Newsroom," demonstrating her commitment to challenging and meaningful projects.