--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The goal, when you're playing a character…" description: "\"The goal, when you're playing a character that's super beloved from a movie, is to honor what the actor before you has done and then really just expand..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b6/barrett-wilbert-weed-18814_character_the-goal-when-you-re-playing-a-character_483031.jpg" --- # The goal, when you're playing a character that's super… ![“The goal, when you're playing a character that's super beloved from a movie, is to honor what the actor before you has done and then really just expand, which is what you get to do in a musical because you have songs, choreography, and everything is happening in real time.” quote by Barrett Wilbert Weed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b6/barrett-wilbert-weed-18814_character_the-goal-when-you-re-playing-a-character_483031.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b6/barrett-wilbert-weed-18814_character_the-goal-when-you-re-playing-a-character_483031.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b6/barrett-wilbert-weed-18814_character_the-goal-when-you-re-playing-a-character_483031.jpg) > “The goal, when you're playing a character that's super beloved from a movie, is to honor what the actor before you has done and then really just expand, which is what you get to do in a musical because you have songs, choreography, and everything is happening in real time.” [Barrett Wilbert Weed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barrett-wilbert-weed/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When playing an iconic character, honor the original performance while expanding creatively through music and movement. **In simple terms:** Respect the original, then add your own flair. Key Takeaway Blend reverence with innovation. Themes theater creativity interpretation Mood inspirational analytical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - stage productions - auditions - workshops - rehearsals Key Concepts character study musical storytelling choreography Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance homage and originality? - What elements can you add without alienating fans? A Different Perspective Fans may resist changes to beloved characters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-really/) [Beloved Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beloved-movie-4150887/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Everything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everything/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Honor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor/) [Honor Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor-actor-4150886/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Musical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musical/) [Playing Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-character/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-time/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [To be a Dumont actor was considered to be a great honor for an actor, yet it also had its disadvantages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-askin/to-be-a-dumont-actor-was-considered-to-be-a-great-honor-for-an-actor/) [Leon Askin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-askin/) > [There's no greater honor, as an actor, to be a part of a project that changes lives, and awakens and enlightens and entertains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-pierce/there-s-no-greater-honor-as-an-actor-to-be-a-part-of-a-project-that/) [Wendell Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-pierce/) > [I have to say that as an actor, I really look for the role. I'm not really looking to see if it's for television…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-smart/i-have-to-say-that-as-an-actor-i-really-look-for-the-role-i-m-not/) [Amy Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-smart/) > [I think, before 'Watchmen,' I was the guy from 'Grey's Anatomy' who's a pretty good guy, a pretty charming sweet guy, and so as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dean-morgan/i-think-before-watchmen-i-was-the-guy-from-grey-s-anatomy-who-s-a/) [Jeffrey Dean Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dean-morgan/) > [To be a good actor you really have to want to act first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-edwards/to-be-a-good-actor-you-really-have-to-want-to-act-first/) [Anthony Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-edwards/) > [Maybe this is so pretentious, but 'West Side Story' was everything I had ever hoped to accomplish as an actor. It's really crazy, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/maybe-this-is-so-pretentious-but-west-side-story-was-everything-i-had/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) > [There's nothing better than an actor who is really, really hungry to show everything they've got.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-russell/there-s-nothing-better-than-an-actor-who-is-really-really-hungry-to/) [David O. Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-russell/) > [There is always one person on the set who has a lot of anxiety, an actor who is really intense and has to stay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bello/there-is-always-one-person-on-the-set-who-has-a-lot-of-anxiety-an/) [Maria Bello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bello/) > [Being an actor is really, really hard, no matter how you slice it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-peet/being-an-actor-is-really-really-hard-no-matter-how-you-slice-it/) [Amanda Peet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-peet/) > [For me, an actor is really, first and foremost, a person and an individual, more than they are an actor or a professional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-sachs/for-me-an-actor-is-really-first-and-foremost-a-person-and-an/) [Ira Sachs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-sachs/) > [One of the fun things as an actor is to really spread your wings as wide as possible and do a variety of roles.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michiel-huisman/one-of-the-fun-things-as-an-actor-is-to-really-spread-your-wings-as/) [Michiel Huisman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michiel-huisman/) > [Garry Shandling was an actor's actor. He really cares about the performance. It was really interesting to watch him talk about motives and motivation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-greenwood/garry-shandling-was-an-actor-s-actor-he-really-cares-about-the/) [Bruce Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-greenwood/) > [I turned down plenty of films which proved to be hugely successful. And, of course, I've also had plenty of experiences where everyone thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewen-bremner/i-turned-down-plenty-of-films-which-proved-to-be-hugely-successful/) [Ewen Bremner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewen-bremner/) > [It's thought of as an eccentric thing for an actor to really try to maintain quality control through the whole career. Most people think,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-reilly/it-s-thought-of-as-an-eccentric-thing-for-an-actor-to-really-try-to/) [John C. Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-reilly/) > [What actor do you really take seriously who becomes a singer? It's kind of ridiculous. I can't think of anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-dunst/what-actor-do-you-really-take-seriously-who-becomes-a-singer-it-s/) [Kirsten Dunst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-dunst/) ## More by Barrett Wilbert Weed > [A lot of the times, what girls go through when they're growing up gets minimized. 'Mean Girls' marked the first time I saw teenage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barrett-wilbert-weed/a-lot-of-the-times-what-girls-go-through-when-they-re-growing-up-gets/) [Barrett Wilbert Weed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barrett-wilbert-weed/) > [Whenever I'm teaching teenagers, I always try to treat them, like, a little bit more gently but the same that I treat adults.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barrett-wilbert-weed/whenever-i-m-teaching-teenagers-i-always-try-to-treat-them-like-a/) [Barrett Wilbert Weed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barrett-wilbert-weed/) > [You have to learn how to dress yourself and how to walk into a room and talk to people. Once you're in rehearsal, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barrett-wilbert-weed/you-have-to-learn-how-to-dress-yourself-and-how-to-walk-into-a-room/) [Barrett Wilbert Weed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barrett-wilbert-weed/) > [When I was in high school, I was so in love - as I should have been - with the performance aspect of theater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barrett-wilbert-weed/when-i-was-in-high-school-i-was-so-in-love-as-i-should-have-been-with/) [Barrett Wilbert Weed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barrett-wilbert-weed/) > [When I heard that they were making 'Mean Girls' into a musical, I immediately said, 'That's my part. I want to play Janis so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barrett-wilbert-weed/when-i-heard-that-they-were-making-mean-girls-into-a-musical-i/) [Barrett Wilbert Weed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barrett-wilbert-weed/) > [One of the things I love about stage makeup is I get to play up my eyes even more than usual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barrett-wilbert-weed/one-of-the-things-i-love-about-stage-makeup-is-i-get-to-play-up-my/) [Barrett Wilbert Weed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barrett-wilbert-weed/) > [My insane mascara layering is my private homage to Winona Ryder's amazing peepers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barrett-wilbert-weed/my-insane-mascara-layering-is-my-private-homage-to-winona-ryder-s/) [Barrett Wilbert Weed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barrett-wilbert-weed/) > [I got serious about performing, and I got serious about acting. It's very funny; singing has always been a very separate thing for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barrett-wilbert-weed/i-got-serious-about-performing-and-i-got-serious-about-acting-it-s/) [Barrett Wilbert Weed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barrett-wilbert-weed/) > [High school is something that we have to deal with. It's not a glorified fluffy, fun, prince-and-princess kind of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barrett-wilbert-weed/high-school-is-something-that-we-have-to-deal-with-it-s-not-a/) [Barrett Wilbert Weed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barrett-wilbert-weed/) > [My senior year, I got to play Maureen in 'Rent,' and I had more fun than I'd ever had in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barrett-wilbert-weed/my-senior-year-i-got-to-play-maureen-in-rent-and-i-had-more-fun-than/) [Barrett Wilbert Weed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barrett-wilbert-weed/) > [I'm not able to change the tools that I bring to the table. I've tried to fade into the background many times, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barrett-wilbert-weed/i-m-not-able-to-change-the-tools-that-i-bring-to-the-table-i-ve-tried/) [Barrett Wilbert Weed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barrett-wilbert-weed/) > [I think it's important to be friends with the person you have to kiss onstage in front of a hundred people. You might not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barrett-wilbert-weed/i-think-it-s-important-to-be-friends-with-the-person-you-have-to-kiss/) [Barrett Wilbert Weed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barrett-wilbert-weed/) > [There are good musicals that came from movies, like 'Shrek' and 'Legally Blonde!' But, um... they should never mess with 'The Hunger Games.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barrett-wilbert-weed/there-are-good-musicals-that-came-from-movies-like-shrek-and-legally/) [Barrett Wilbert Weed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barrett-wilbert-weed/) > [I remember, when I saw the movie of 'Cabaret,' I was amazed by Liza Minnelli: like, 'Wow, that kind of looks like someone I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barrett-wilbert-weed/i-remember-when-i-saw-the-movie-of-cabaret-i-was-amazed-by-liza/) [Barrett Wilbert Weed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barrett-wilbert-weed/) > [All you can really do is try to be a good person and try to make good decisions and try to survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barrett-wilbert-weed/all-you-can-really-do-is-try-to-be-a-good-person-and-try-to-make-good/) [Barrett Wilbert Weed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barrett-wilbert-weed/) [Explore all 34 Barrett Wilbert Weed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barrett-wilbert-weed/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "The goal, when you're playing a character that's super beloved from a movie, is to honor what the actor before you has done and then really just expand, which is what you get to do in a musical because you have songs, choreography, and everything is happening in real time.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Barrett Wilbert Weed" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barrett-wilbert-weed/the-goal-when-you-re-playing-a-character-that-s-super-beloved-from-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barrett-wilbert-weed/the-goal-when-you-re-playing-a-character-that-s-super-beloved-from-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b6/barrett-wilbert-weed-18814_character_the-goal-when-you-re-playing-a-character_483031.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b6/barrett-wilbert-weed-18814_character_the-goal-when-you-re-playing-a-character_483031.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b6/barrett-wilbert-weed-18814_character_the-goal-when-you-re-playing-a-character_483031.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The goal, when you're playing a character that's super beloved from a movie, is to honor what the actor…” — Barrett Wilbert Weed", "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": "Barrett Wilbert Weed", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barrett-wilbert-weed/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The goal, when you're playing a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barrett-wilbert-weed/the-goal-when-you-re-playing-a-character-that-s-super-beloved-from-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barrett-wilbert-weed/the-goal-when-you-re-playing-a-character-that-s-super-beloved-from-a/#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 } } ] } ```