--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And the most important thing - apart from…" description: "\"And the most important thing - apart from telling a good, believable story, and being a true character - is to be someone the audience will care about,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/anna-friel-16019_actor_and-the-most-important-thing-apart-from_2488911.jpg" --- # And the most important thing - apart from telling a good… ![“And the most important thing - apart from telling a good, believable story, and being a true character - is to be someone the audience will care about, even if you're playing a murderer or rapist.” quote by Anna Friel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/anna-friel-16019_actor_and-the-most-important-thing-apart-from_2488911.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/anna-friel-16019_actor_and-the-most-important-thing-apart-from_2488911.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/anna-friel-16019_actor_and-the-most-important-thing-apart-from_2488911.jpg) > “And the most important thing - apart from telling a good, believable story, and being a true character - is to be someone the audience will care about, even if you're playing a murderer or rapist.” [Anna Friel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-friel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Emphasizes that audiences must care about characters, even morally ambiguous ones, for a story to succeed. **In simple terms:** Audience empathy is crucial, regardless of character morality. Key Takeaway Craft relatable traits for any role. Themes storytelling character empathy morality audience engagement Mood thoughtful analytical Type creative instructional When to use this quote - writing workshops - actor training - script analysis - film criticism Key Concepts Narrative theory psychology of identification ethical ambiguity Questions to Reflect On - How to make a villain relatable? - When does empathy conflict with ethics? A Different Perspective Moral complexity can alienate some viewers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Audience Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience-care-944591/) [Believable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believable/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-audience-253740/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Murderer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murderer/) [Playing Murderer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-murderer-944590/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [True character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-character/) ## Related quotes > [Very few of us playing a murderer will actually have killed someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-wise/very-few-of-us-playing-a-murderer-will-actually-have-killed-someone/) [Greg Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-wise/) > [If I'm playing a murderer, I don't go out and start murdering people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-fassbender/if-i-m-playing-a-murderer-i-don-t-go-out-and-start-murdering-people/) [Michael Fassbender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-fassbender/) > [When you focus on delighting an audience you care about, you strip the masses of their power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth/when-you-focus-on-delighting-an-audience-you-care-about-you-strip-the/) [Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth/) > [In this age of smartphones, all one needs to do is make a good film. The audience will take care of the rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghava-lawrence/in-this-age-of-smartphones-all-one-needs-to-do-is-make-a-good-film/) [Raghava Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghava-lawrence/) > [Every good writer or filmmaker has something eating at them, right? That they can't quite get off their back . And so your job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/every-good-writer-or-filmmaker-has-something-eating-at-them-right/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [Acting is an amazing job. I'm very lucky to do it, and when you're working with terrific people, telling stories you care about, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-evans/acting-is-an-amazing-job-i-m-very-lucky-to-do-it-and-when-you-re/) [Shaun Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-evans/) > [Your job is to get your audience to care about your obsessions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-scorsese/your-job-is-to-get-your-audience-to-care-about-your-obsessions/) [Martin Scorsese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-scorsese/) > [The audience, that's who I care about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/the-audience-that-s-who-i-care-about/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [I think if you find that you're making a judgment on the character, than your audience will make a judgment on the character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-monaghan/i-think-if-you-find-that-you-re-making-a-judgment-on-the-character/) [Michelle Monaghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-monaghan/) > [Whether it's a very dramatic part or a comical role, I feel I need to create the same thing: a full-fledged, three-dimensional character that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-lloyd/whether-it-s-a-very-dramatic-part-or-a-comical-role-i-feel-i-need-to/) [Christopher Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-lloyd/) > [If you change a character too much, the audience falls out of love with the character, but characters need to evolve and grow over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-kinsey/if-you-change-a-character-too-much-the-audience-falls-out-of-love/) [Angela Kinsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-kinsey/) > [Any character can find an audience and work if you have passion for that character. You might have to just scrape off the dirt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-johns/any-character-can-find-an-audience-and-work-if-you-have-passion-for/) [Geoff Johns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-johns/) > [It's hard for actors to have to deal with the fact that they pour so much into their character, but the audience might have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romola-garai/it-s-hard-for-actors-to-have-to-deal-with-the-fact-that-they-pour-so/) [Romola Garai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romola-garai/) > [One of the things about crowd work that's so exciting is when you discover a character in the audience who's interesting or funny, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/one-of-the-things-about-crowd-work-that-s-so-exciting-is-when-you/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [I think if you're too embroiled in the need to relate too closely to the character, then you start to judge the character for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/i-think-if-you-re-too-embroiled-in-the-need-to-relate-too-closely-to/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) ## More by Anna Friel > [I want more children but for the next three years I want to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-friel/i-want-more-children-but-for-the-next-three-years-i-want-to-act/) [Anna Friel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-friel/) > [When I'm working, it's those actors (you know who you are) who sit around moaning that their trailer isn't big enough, or how bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-friel/when-i-m-working-it-s-those-actors-you-know-who-you-are-who-sit/) [Anna Friel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-friel/) > [Eating at home is important for us, because we eat out so much when we're away. When I'm at home I cook a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-friel/eating-at-home-is-important-for-us-because-we-eat-out-so-much-when-we/) [Anna Friel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-friel/) > [I was so completely anxious before I had a child, but now my biggest worry is something happening to her, so anything other than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-friel/i-was-so-completely-anxious-before-i-had-a-child-but-now-my-biggest/) [Anna Friel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-friel/) > [When you're given something new, it's always exciting 'cause you're the first one to do it. You're not having to live up to any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-friel/when-you-re-given-something-new-it-s-always-exciting-cause-you-re-the/) [Anna Friel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-friel/) > [I look at being an actress as being like a mummy: You're bandaged up and preserved as soon as you start making other people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-friel/i-look-at-being-an-actress-as-being-like-a-mummy-you-re-bandaged-up/) [Anna Friel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-friel/) > [You can see when an actor gets bored: Their eyes go dead. I promised myself I'd never let that happen. If it does, I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-friel/you-can-see-when-an-actor-gets-bored-their-eyes-go-dead-i-promised/) [Anna Friel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-friel/) > [I play a character every day of my life, and I don't want to play a character as myself. They can judge me as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-friel/i-play-a-character-every-day-of-my-life-and-i-don-t-want-to-play-a/) [Anna Friel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-friel/) > [Any scene that involves stripping off is hell. You just know it's going to take a day or more to get it right. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-friel/any-scene-that-involves-stripping-off-is-hell-you-just-know-it-s/) [Anna Friel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-friel/) > [I was just disciplined. I knew I had to get back into shape after six weeks for the film Goal II, but I cheated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-friel/i-was-just-disciplined-i-knew-i-had-to-get-back-into-shape-after-six/) [Anna Friel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-friel/) > [These women need to feel that we're all aware of what they may be going through, to give them the confidence to speak out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-friel/these-women-need-to-feel-that-we-re-all-aware-of-what-they-may-be/) [Anna Friel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-friel/) > [It's really important to draw the line on what we do as actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-friel/it-s-really-important-to-draw-the-line-on-what-we-do-as-actors/) [Anna Friel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-friel/) > [I've never been onstage in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-friel/i-ve-never-been-onstage-in-my-life/) [Anna Friel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-friel/) > [David is 13 years my senior and has much more experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-friel/david-is-13-years-my-senior-and-has-much-more-experience/) [Anna Friel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-friel/) > [We will spend more time in America, we're going to get a place in LA as hotels aren't great for the baby.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-friel/we-will-spend-more-time-in-america-we-re-going-to-get-a-place-in-la/) [Anna Friel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-friel/) [Explore all 41 Anna Friel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-friel/) ## More Actor quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [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/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [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/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "And the most important thing - apart from telling a good, believable story, and being a true character - is to be someone the audience will care about, even if you're playing a murderer or rapist.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anna Friel" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-friel/and-the-most-important-thing-apart-from-telling-a-good-believable/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-friel/and-the-most-important-thing-apart-from-telling-a-good-believable/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/anna-friel-16019_actor_and-the-most-important-thing-apart-from_2488911.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/anna-friel-16019_actor_and-the-most-important-thing-apart-from_2488911.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/anna-friel-16019_actor_and-the-most-important-thing-apart-from_2488911.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“And the most important thing - apart from telling a good, believable story, and being a true character - is…” — Anna Friel", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Anna Friel", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-friel/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "And the most important thing -...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-friel/and-the-most-important-thing-apart-from-telling-a-good-believable/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-friel/and-the-most-important-thing-apart-from-telling-a-good-believable/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```