--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As an actor, when you encounter a…" description: "\"As an actor, when you encounter a psychopathic personality, you naturally want to make him 'bigger than life,' as the Americans say.\" — Antonio Banderas" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f15/antonio-banderas-4332_actors_as-an-actor-when-you-encounter-a-psychop_1097045.jpg" --- # As an actor, when you encounter a psychopathic… ![“As an actor, when you encounter a psychopathic personality, you naturally want to make him 'bigger than life,' as the Americans say.” quote by Antonio Banderas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f15/antonio-banderas-4332_actors_as-an-actor-when-you-encounter-a-psychop_1097045.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f15/antonio-banderas-4332_actors_as-an-actor-when-you-encounter-a-psychop_1097045.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f15/antonio-banderas-4332_actors_as-an-actor-when-you-encounter-a-psychop_1097045.jpg) > “As an actor, when you encounter a psychopathic personality, you naturally want to make him 'bigger than life,' as the Americans say.” [Antonio Banderas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-banderas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Actors may exaggerate dangerous characters to heighten drama, reflecting cultural storytelling norms. **In simple terms:** Actors often amplify villains for impact. Key Takeaway Balance authenticity with dramatic flair. Themes acting characterization drama Mood reflective critical Type analytical artistic When to use this quote - theatre rehearsals - film casting - character workshops Key Concepts psychology performance culture Questions to Reflect On - When does exaggeration enhance or hinder a story? - How do audiences interpret amplified villains? A Different Perspective Over‑emphasis can create caricatures, reducing nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Bigger than life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigger-than-life/) [Encounters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encounters/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Personality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personality/) ## Related quotes > [“These eight independent satellite states of the psychopathic personality--Machiavellian Egocentricity, Impulsive Nonconformity, Blame Externalization, Carefree Nonplanfulness, Fearlessness, Social Potency, Stress Immunity, and Coldheartedness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-dutton/these-eight-independent-satellite-states-of-the-psychopathic/) [Kevin Dutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-dutton/) > [The corporation, like the psychopathic personality it resembles, is programmed to exploit others for profit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-bakan/the-corporation-like-the-psychopathic-personality-it-resembles-is/) [Joel Bakan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-bakan/) > [There are certainly more people in the business world who would score high in the psychopathic dimension than in the general population. You'll find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hare/there-are-certainly-more-people-in-the-business-world-who-would-score/) [Robert D. Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hare/) > [I seek a diverse spectrum of roles. If I just was in a large-budget feature for a younger audience, then I want to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-monaghan/i-seek-a-diverse-spectrum-of-roles-if-i-just-was-in-a-large-budget/) [Cameron Monaghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-monaghan/) > [Accurate scholarship can unearth the whole offence from luther untill noe that has driven a culture mad. From what occured at linz what huge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/accurate-scholarship-can-unearth-the-whole-offence-from-luther-untill/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [Our president is a Christian? So was Adolf Hitler. What can be said to our young people, now that psychopathic personalities, which is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/our-president-is-a-christian-so-was-adolf-hitler-what-can-be-said-to/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [As a psychopathic creature, the corporation can neither recognize nor act upon moral reasons to refrain from harming others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-bakan/as-a-psychopathic-creature-the-corporation-can-neither-recognize-nor/) [Joel Bakan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-bakan/) > [“It's natural for a man to defend what's dear to him: his own life, his home, his family. But in order to make him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-brunner/it-s-natural-for-a-man-to-defend-what-s-dear-to-him-his-own-life-his/) [John Brunner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-brunner/) > [It was really sad Bobby Neuwirth's and my affair. The only true, passionate, and lasting love scene, and I practically ended up in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edie-sedgwick/it-was-really-sad-bobby-neuwirth-s-and-my-affair-the-only-true/) [Edie Sedgwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edie-sedgwick/) > [As far as the lack of hits goes, I think perhaps it's because I've played a lot of different roles and have not created…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bridges/as-far-as-the-lack-of-hits-goes-i-think-perhaps-it-s-because-i-ve/) [Jeff Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bridges/) > [Jews, I know you're God's chosen people and the rest of us are just 'whatever', but when Israel behaves like a violent, psychopathic bully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-brigstocke/jews-i-know-you-re-god-s-chosen-people-and-the-rest-of-us-are-just/) [Marcus Brigstocke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-brigstocke/) > [“The normalization of psychopathic traits in leadership positions speaks volumes about our societal values and the high price of unbridled ambition.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhysheq-shukla/the-normalization-of-psychopathic-traits-in-leadership-positions/) [Abhysheq Shukla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhysheq-shukla/) > [The corporate system is fully psychopathic, and any creative people who enter into business with any of these organizations come up against a lifetime…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-shields/the-corporate-system-is-fully-psychopathic-and-any-creative-people/) [Kevin Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-shields/) > [The main source of psychopathic diseases is the fundamental instinct of fear with its manifestations, the feeling of anxiety, anguish, and worry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-sidis/the-main-source-of-psychopathic-diseases-is-the-fundamental-instinct/) [Boris Sidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-sidis/) > [The woman who says, 'My kids are all speaking to one another and they love us' is a psychopathic liar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/the-woman-who-says-my-kids-are-all-speaking-to-one-another-and-they/) [Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/) ## More by Antonio Banderas > [Please, no, por favor, por favor, please no, I implore you. I was doing it for my family! My mother she's sick and my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-banderas/please-no-por-favor-por-favor-please-no-i-implore-you-i-was-doing-it/) [Antonio Banderas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-banderas/) > [Always when you go to a new country and they teach you bad words, you just say them without knowing the value and people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-banderas/always-when-you-go-to-a-new-country-and-they-teach-you-bad-words-you/) [Antonio Banderas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-banderas/) > [Everything changes as you get older - your mind, your body, the way you view the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-banderas/everything-changes-as-you-get-older-your-mind-your-body-the-way-you/) [Antonio Banderas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-banderas/) > [I remember in 'Law of Desire,' where I played a homosexual, that people were more upset that I kissed a man on the mouth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-banderas/i-remember-in-law-of-desire-where-i-played-a-homosexual-that-people/) [Antonio Banderas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-banderas/) > [I've never worried about what audiences would accept or had a game plan regarding the career. I never had an idea of how I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-banderas/i-ve-never-worried-about-what-audiences-would-accept-or-had-a-game/) [Antonio Banderas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-banderas/) > [I love my country. And I would have to renounce my Spanish citizenship to become a U.S. Citizen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-banderas/i-love-my-country-and-i-would-have-to-renounce-my-spanish-citizenship/) [Antonio Banderas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-banderas/) > [I think we are realising that governments can't govern us any more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-banderas/i-think-we-are-realising-that-governments-can-t-govern-us-any-more/) [Antonio Banderas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-banderas/) > [Listen, I think movies serve many different purposes, from those movies that are frivolous and just an entertainment, to movies that just go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-banderas/listen-i-think-movies-serve-many-different-purposes-from-those-movies/) [Antonio Banderas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-banderas/) > [There are some movies that I would like to forget, for the rest of my life. But even those movies teach me things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-banderas/there-are-some-movies-that-i-would-like-to-forget-for-the-rest-of-my/) [Antonio Banderas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-banderas/) > [No, obviously, the time goes by, the English gets better. Ever since I met Melanie, that was almost nine years ago now, you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-banderas/no-obviously-the-time-goes-by-the-english-gets-better-ever-since-i/) [Antonio Banderas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-banderas/) > [I've done many different movies in many different contexts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-banderas/i-ve-done-many-different-movies-in-many-different-contexts/) [Antonio Banderas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-banderas/) > [I wouldn't want my daughters to date a guy like me. I was dangerous around women in my twenties. I'm terrified that they might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-banderas/i-wouldn-t-want-my-daughters-to-date-a-guy-like-me-i-was-dangerous/) [Antonio Banderas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-banderas/) > [I think I am good in the department of body language and fighting, and stuff like that. It's just natural to me, maybe because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-banderas/i-think-i-am-good-in-the-department-of-body-language-and-fighting-and/) [Antonio Banderas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-banderas/) > [It is very difficult to follow your own method all the time because you may crash against some directors who want from you something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-banderas/it-is-very-difficult-to-follow-your-own-method-all-the-time-because/) [Antonio Banderas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-banderas/) > [Sometimes I am just playing the character. I will move out of the way of the microphone, and they will have to tell me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-banderas/sometimes-i-am-just-playing-the-character-i-will-move-out-of-the-way/) [Antonio Banderas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-banderas/) [Explore all 112 Antonio Banderas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-banderas/) ## 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. 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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! 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