Someplace along the line the audience discovered you. In my case it was playing the Gipper.
Source: On his role as Notre Dame football hero George Gipp in the 1940 film Knute Rockne All American, NBC TV 24 Mar 86
-- Ronald Reagan, (Feb 6 1911-2004), US 40th president; He was an All American football player, movie star in Bedtime For Bonzo, President, 1981-89.