--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's no question that you can explore…" description: "\"There's no question that you can explore aspects of yourself through roles that you play, and you get a chance to investigate yourself; that's healthy,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c68/annette-bening-3058_aspects_there-s-no-question-that-you-can-explore_3026835.jpg" --- # There's no question that you can explore aspects of… ![“There's no question that you can explore aspects of yourself through roles that you play, and you get a chance to investigate yourself; that's healthy, and it's therapeutic in a way. But if you're indulging yourself, exploration at the cost of the story or the project, that's not good.” quote by Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c68/annette-bening-3058_aspects_there-s-no-question-that-you-can-explore_3026835.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c68/annette-bening-3058_aspects_there-s-no-question-that-you-can-explore_3026835.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c68/annette-bening-3058_aspects_there-s-no-question-that-you-can-explore_3026835.jpg) > “There's no question that you can explore aspects of yourself through roles that you play, and you get a chance to investigate yourself; that's healthy, and it's therapeutic in a way. But if you're indulging yourself, exploration at the cost of the story or the project, that's not good.” [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Playing roles lets us explore identity, but over‑indulgence can harm the narrative or project. **In simple terms:** Acting reveals self, but must serve the story. Key Takeaway Balance self‑exploration with purpose. Themes creativity self‑analysis professionalism Mood introspective pragmatic Type artistic psychological When to use this quote - theatre rehearsals - film sets - personal therapy Key Concepts method acting psychology of role‑play Questions to Reflect On - When does exploration become selfish? - How to keep story primary? A Different Perspective May blur boundaries between art and ego. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aspects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aspects/) [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Cost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cost/) [Exploration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exploration/) [Explore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/explore/) [Get](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Healthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healthy/) [Indulging Exploration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indulging-exploration-4926378/) [Investigate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investigate/) [Investigate Healthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investigate-healthy-4926377/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Project](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/project/) [Question](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/question/) [Roles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roles/) [Roles Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roles-play/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) [Therapeutic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/therapeutic/) [Through](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/through/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) [Yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yourself/) ## Related quotes > [In film roles, I play a lot of heavies and a lot of bad guys, so I tend to be the jokester and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-gunton/in-film-roles-i-play-a-lot-of-heavies-and-a-lot-of-bad-guys-so-i-tend/) [Bob Gunton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-gunton/) > [We're not just somebody's girlfriend who smiles all the time and bakes cookies and always has lingerie ready and their hair done. That's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-zima/we-re-not-just-somebody-s-girlfriend-who-smiles-all-the-time-and/) [Madeline Zima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-zima/) > [Your life is like a play with several acts. Some of the characters who enter have short roles to play, others, much larger. Some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/your-life-is-like-a-play-with-several-acts-some-of-the-characters-who/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [I am happy with the roles I play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-kay-menon/i-am-happy-with-the-roles-i-play/) [Kay Kay Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-kay-menon/) > [It's good to be busy on a film set because there is a lot of sitting around, so if you've got two roles to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-lewis/it-s-good-to-be-busy-on-a-film-set-because-there-is-a-lot-of-sitting/) [Damian Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-lewis/) > [The U.K. and the U.S. are in different places. Don't get me wrong - I am there for the U.K. industry, and I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-henwick/the-u-k-and-the-u-s-are-in-different-places-don-t-get-me-wrong-i-am/) [Jessica Henwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-henwick/) > [I have food every day on the table, I have a family, friends, health - all the things without which it wouldn't matter how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-cruz/i-have-food-every-day-on-the-table-i-have-a-family-friends-health-all/) [Penelope Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-cruz/) > [Being an actress, I want to play people that are not like me or the characters I've previously played. It's easier to get roles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-barden/being-an-actress-i-want-to-play-people-that-are-not-like-me-or-the/) [Jessica Barden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-barden/) > [I'm often asked how I portray the roles I play so convincingly and express so much through my eyes. Quite frankly, I don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nithya-menen/i-m-often-asked-how-i-portray-the-roles-i-play-so-convincingly-and/) [Nithya Menen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nithya-menen/) > [In the second half of life, the questions become: 'Who, apart from the roles you play, are you? What does the soul ask of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hollis/in-the-second-half-of-life-the-questions-become-who-apart-from-the/) [James Hollis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hollis/) > [“What is the essence of yourself? Who are you when you think of yourself ? Are you all the roles that you play? Are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-schwartz/what-is-the-essence-of-yourself-who-are-you-when-you-think-of/) [Morris Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-schwartz/) > [The truth of the matter is roles like James Bond are the ones that I look up to as probably the best roles ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/the-truth-of-the-matter-is-roles-like-james-bond-are-the-ones-that-i/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [I just think of interesting roles to play. I guess that I have matured, I guess growing up and becoming a man, your taste…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hartnett/i-just-think-of-interesting-roles-to-play-i-guess-that-i-have-matured/) [Josh Hartnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hartnett/) > [I'm very much looking forward to my 30-40 years of acting, and, as I get older, I'm really looking forward to some of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corbin-bernsen/i-m-very-much-looking-forward-to-my-30-40-years-of-acting-and-as-i/) [Corbin Bernsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corbin-bernsen/) > [“Do not let the roles you play in life make you forget that you are human.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-t-bennett/do-not-let-the-roles-you-play-in-life-make-you-forget-that-you-are/) [Roy T. Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-t-bennett/) ## More by Annette Bening > [I never thought my private life would be newsworthy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/i-never-thought-my-private-life-would-be-newsworthy/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [I do have to take care of myself, not only because I'm in the movies, just for mental health reasons. I exercise for me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/i-do-have-to-take-care-of-myself-not-only-because-i-m-in-the-movies/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [We all get lost along the way, but hopefully we figure out some sort of path. It helps if you can imagine the process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/we-all-get-lost-along-the-way-but-hopefully-we-figure-out-some-sort/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [One of the things on a very practical level as an actor or actress is that when you do a play, you do the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/one-of-the-things-on-a-very-practical-level-as-an-actor-or-actress-is/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [We want to be seen for who we really are, and each person has his own complex story and reasons for doing what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/we-want-to-be-seen-for-who-we-really-are-and-each-person-has-his-own/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [I don't see myself as competing with other actresses. I mean, I went through a time when I was in New York, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/i-don-t-see-myself-as-competing-with-other-actresses-i-mean-i-went/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [I'm lucky: almost all my family has lived to be very old. I have one grandfather who lived to be 100.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/i-m-lucky-almost-all-my-family-has-lived-to-be-very-old-i-have-one/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [It's always tricky to watch yourself, always. When I first had to watch myself, it was really hard because I'd done quite a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/it-s-always-tricky-to-watch-yourself-always-when-i-first-had-to-watch/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [To me, I didn't think of acting as being a young thing only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/to-me-i-didn-t-think-of-acting-as-being-a-young-thing-only/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [I act, but I am a mother first and wife second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/i-act-but-i-am-a-mother-first-and-wife-second/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [Why I love acting is that it's totally subjective and I like that. I like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/why-i-love-acting-is-that-it-s-totally-subjective-and-i-like-that-i/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [Somebody said something really smart: It's like you end up being the defense attorney for your role. Your job is to defend their point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/somebody-said-something-really-smart-it-s-like-you-end-up-being-the/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [Anybody who has children and children who are well feels a sense of responsibility towards parents and kids and families that are struggling and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/anybody-who-has-children-and-children-who-are-well-feels-a-sense-of/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [I just want to be educated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/i-just-want-to-be-educated/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [I remember hearing someone say that good acting is more about taking off a mask than putting one on, and in movie acting, certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/i-remember-hearing-someone-say-that-good-acting-is-more-about-taking/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) [Explore all 141 Annette Bening quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) ## More Aspects quotes > [A monkey is unaware that atoms exist. Likewise, our brainpower may not stretch to the deepest aspects of reality. The bedrock nature of space…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/a-monkey-is-unaware-that-atoms-exist-likewise-our-brainpower-may-not/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) > [People say that globalisation has negative aspects, but I don't believe globalisation is bad. It's criticised from a western perspective, but if you put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tadashi-yanai/people-say-that-globalisation-has-negative-aspects-but-i-don-t/) [Tadashi Yanai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tadashi-yanai/) > [I like to take certain aspects of genre fiction and modify them in my own way. 'Your Republic Is Calling You' follows the form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-young-ha/i-like-to-take-certain-aspects-of-genre-fiction-and-modify-them-in-my/) [Kim Young-ha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-young-ha/) > [We may not like our times or many aspects of the time we live in but that is not the fault of art as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-elliott/we-may-not-like-our-times-or-many-aspects-of-the-time-we-live-in-but/) [David Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-elliott/) > [“Join up the different aspects of yourself – sort of like a team.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-hochberg/join-up-the-different-aspects-of-yourself-sort-of-like-a-team/) [Art Hochberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-hochberg/) > [What are the aspects of yourself that line up with the character? You magnify those, and the ones that don't match up you kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bridges/what-are-the-aspects-of-yourself-that-line-up-with-the-character-you/) [Jeff Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bridges/) > [“this has more aspects than a cat has hair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/this-has-more-aspects-than-a-cat-has-hair/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [I love acting, but don't necessarily enjoy other aspects of the business. For me, going to celebrity parties is like work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-parish/i-love-acting-but-don-t-necessarily-enjoy-other-aspects-of-the/) [Sarah Parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-parish/) > [There are a lot of similar aspects in all the religions. The question is which side of it you hold up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/there-are-a-lot-of-similar-aspects-in-all-the-religions-the-question/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [Throughout my career I have been an advocate for women, in all aspects of their lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/throughout-my-career-i-have-been-an-advocate-for-women-in-all-aspects/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Extreme weather threatens our energy and electric grid, federal buildings, transportation infrastructure, access to natural resources, public health, our relationships across the globe, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-cartwright/extreme-weather-threatens-our-energy-and-electric-grid-federal/) [Matt Cartwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-cartwright/) > [Anuj Bahari has always been a really good literary agent for me. What a good agent does is that he manages many of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amish-tripathi/anuj-bahari-has-always-been-a-really-good-literary-agent-for-me-what/) [Amish Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amish-tripathi/) > [I don't want to spoil the magic, but it's a very curious thing that honestly baffles me. It's the nearest we'll ever get to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-atkinson/i-don-t-want-to-spoil-the-magic-but-it-s-a-very-curious-thing-that/) [Kate Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-atkinson/) > [Frankly, we actresses are so much in a hurry. We feel we have very few years to shine in our career, so we neglect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/frankly-we-actresses-are-so-much-in-a-hurry-we-feel-we-have-very-few/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The reason I'm in San Diego is not because I want distance from South Africa but because I want proximity to the people I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/the-reason-i-m-in-san-diego-is-not-because-i-want-distance-from-south/) [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) [Browse all 251 Aspects quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aspects/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There's no question that you can explore aspects of yourself through roles that you play, and you get a chance to investigate yourself; that's healthy, and it's therapeutic in a way. 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