Known for playing Phoebe Buffay in the popular television series "Friends," Lisa Kudrow is not only an actress but also a perceptive observer of the entertainment business. Her quotation highlights how erratic celebrity and professional success can be.

Kudrow's wisdom stems from years of negotiating Hollywood's highs and lows. In unpredictable ways, she has witnessed careers rise, fall, and occasionally rise again. This is similar to observing ocean waves, which crash one second, retreat the next, and then surge forward again.

She counsels actors not to allow their current position in the industry to consume their entire identity. An actor who identifies too strongly with their career may feel lost and aimless when things aren't going well, much like a surfer who may get swept up in the thrill of riding a large wave but may fall if they lose their balance when the wave subsides.

According to Kudrow, actors can keep a more positive perspective on life by keeping their identities apart from the highs and lows of celebrity. In this manner, they can continue to work and maintain their sense of self outside of their professional roles, even in hard times.