--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I love playing real characters... if…" description: "\"I love playing real characters... if they're not around anymore it's helpful because you won't get sued! But there's so much research involved and I lo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ec/andy-serkis-1548_character_i-love-playing-real-characters-if-they-r_3115152.jpg" --- # I love playing real characters... if they're not around… ![“I love playing real characters... if they're not around anymore it's helpful because you won't get sued! But there's so much research involved and I love that part of the process.” quote by Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ec/andy-serkis-1548_character_i-love-playing-real-characters-if-they-r_3115152.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ec/andy-serkis-1548_character_i-love-playing-real-characters-if-they-r_3115152.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ec/andy-serkis-1548_character_i-love-playing-real-characters-if-they-r_3115152.jpg) > “I love playing real characters... if they're not around anymore it's helpful because you won't get sued! But there's so much research involved and I love that part of the process.” [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Playing deceased characters avoids legal issues, but requires extensive research to portray them authentically. **In simple terms:** Using dead characters sidesteps lawsuits, demanding deep research. Key Takeaway Research thoroughly when portraying real people. Themes acting legal risk research Mood reflective cautious Type ethical practical When to use this quote - film production - historical biopics - documentary work Key Concepts ethics method acting Questions to Reflect On - When is it appropriate to depict someone posthumously? - How does research affect authenticity? A Different Perspective The approach may still raise moral questions about representation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Real character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-character/) [Research](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/research/) ## Related quotes > [I think the idea, first and foremost, is to understand that people may label these characters as villains, but at the end of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edi-gathegi/i-think-the-idea-first-and-foremost-is-to-understand-that-people-may/) [Edi Gathegi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edi-gathegi/) > [The only form of fiction in which real characters do not seem out of place is history. In novels they are detestable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-only-form-of-fiction-in-which-real-characters-do-not-seem-out-of/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [In my horror movies, I was always trying to deal with real characters and real character drama played by good actors... Laura Linney, Ethan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-derrickson/in-my-horror-movies-i-was-always-trying-to-deal-with-real-characters/) [Scott Derrickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-derrickson/) > [MASH offered real characters and everybody identified with them because they had such soul. The humor was intelligent and it always assumed that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-swit/mash-offered-real-characters-and-everybody-identified-with-them/) [Loretta Swit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-swit/) > [I wanted to create a game (EarthBound) with real characters; characters whom players would recognize in the people around them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shigesato-itoi/i-wanted-to-create-a-game-earthbound-with-real-characters-characters/) Shigesato Itoi > [We cannot judge either of the feelings or of the characters of men with perfect accuracy from their actions or their appearance in public;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-edgeworth/we-cannot-judge-either-of-the-feelings-or-of-the-characters-of-men/) [Maria Edgeworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-edgeworth/) > [TV is a safe place to develop real characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/tv-is-a-safe-place-to-develop-real-characters/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [When you're playing a real character, you want to honor that person and receive inspiration from that person. They need to anoint you in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-toussaint/when-you-re-playing-a-real-character-you-want-to-honor-that-person/) [Lorraine Toussaint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-toussaint/) > [Even though this is a crazy, fun horror movie, I'm playing it real. The character is real to me and everything that's going on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-elizabeth-winstead/even-though-this-is-a-crazy-fun-horror-movie-i-m-playing-it-real-the/) [Mary Elizabeth Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-elizabeth-winstead/) > [I enjoy playing real human beings after playing a lot of larger than life characters. I love playing true to life characters and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/i-enjoy-playing-real-human-beings-after-playing-a-lot-of-larger-than/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [The most real characters in a great play are those who are so meticulously drawn that the audience could predict how many pairs of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hassett/the-most-real-characters-in-a-great-play-are-those-who-are-so/) [Kevin Hassett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hassett/) > [I love playing intense characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barun-sobti/i-love-playing-intense-characters/) [Barun Sobti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barun-sobti/) > [Yes, I love playing cartoony characters. Been known for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-collins/yes-i-love-playing-cartoony-characters-been-known-for-that/) [Joan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-collins/) > [I love playing confused, broken characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-dobrev/i-love-playing-confused-broken-characters/) [Nina Dobrev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-dobrev/) > [M\*A\*S\*H offered real characters and everybody identified with them because they had such soul. The humor was intelligent and it always assumed that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-swit/m-a-s-h-offered-real-characters-and-everybody-identified-with-them/) [Loretta Swit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-swit/) ## More by Andy Serkis > [In a personal way, to do with family and the father-son relationship, in a kind of artistic way with regard to him being an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/in-a-personal-way-to-do-with-family-and-the-father-son-relationship/) [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) > [I think I have a lot of internal energy, which does need to come out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/i-think-i-have-a-lot-of-internal-energy-which-does-need-to-come-out/) [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) > [Hoodwink is a product of his environment. He grew up in Belfast, he was part of the UDA and he fought for what he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/hoodwink-is-a-product-of-his-environment-he-grew-up-in-belfast-he-was/) [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) > [Performance capture is a tool that young actors will need in the next 10, 20 years. It's on the increase, as you say. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/performance-capture-is-a-tool-that-young-actors-will-need-in-the-next/) [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) > [I think that Gollum is really the character who is a very human character, and he's very flawed, like most humans are, and has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/i-think-that-gollum-is-really-the-character-who-is-a-very-human/) [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) > [I'm quite contrary. If people agree on something, I tend to gravitate the other way by my nature. I don't like to be told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/i-m-quite-contrary-if-people-agree-on-something-i-tend-to-gravitate/) [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) > [I do love nature, but I don't suppose I'd spent more time in zoos as a child than anyone else!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/i-do-love-nature-but-i-don-t-suppose-i-d-spent-more-time-in-zoos-as-a/) [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) > [When you start to do research into gorillas or any kind of apes, if you're going to play them, that's one of the biggest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/when-you-start-to-do-research-into-gorillas-or-any-kind-of-apes-if/) [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) > [I remember once, I read in a horoscope, because I'm an Aries, I read this terrible thing, which really affected me, which said, "You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/i-remember-once-i-read-in-a-horoscope-because-i-m-an-aries-i-read/) [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) > [It's really up to the acting community to be willing to be educated about what performance capture is in order to fully appreciate it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/it-s-really-up-to-the-acting-community-to-be-willing-to-be-educated/) [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) > [I love acting and certainly won't give it up, but it's part of a bigger canvas for me now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/i-love-acting-and-certainly-won-t-give-it-up-but-it-s-part-of-a/) [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) > [Rather than something like King Kong where I really went after studying gorillas in the wild and captivity. I based Caesar \[ from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/rather-than-something-like-king-kong-where-i-really-went-after/) [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) > [On lower budget things you're still working collaboratively, but the investment and your level of creative importance is higher on something like this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/on-lower-budget-things-you-re-still-working-collaboratively-but-the/) [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) > [Gollum is entirely based on the notion of addiction. The way that the ring pervades him, makes him craving, lustful, depletes him physically, psychologically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/gollum-is-entirely-based-on-the-notion-of-addiction-the-way-that-the/) [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) > [I'm definitely moving more towards directing now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/i-m-definitely-moving-more-towards-directing-now/) [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) [Explore all 229 Andy Serkis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) David Hudgins > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I love playing real characters... if they're not around anymore it's helpful because you won't get sued! 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