--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I want to play characters that are…" description: "\"I want to play characters that are interesting to watch.\" — Ben Barnes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d5/ben-barnes-13642_character_i-want-to-play-characters-that-are-inter_1584052.png" --- # I want to play characters that are interesting to watch. ![“I want to play characters that are interesting to watch.” quote by Ben Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d5/ben-barnes-13642_character_i-want-to-play-characters-that-are-inter_1584052.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d5/ben-barnes-13642_character_i-want-to-play-characters-that-are-inter_1584052.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d5/ben-barnes-13642_character_i-want-to-play-characters-that-are-inter_1584052.png) > “I want to play characters that are interesting to watch.” [Ben Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-barnes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Desire to portray characters that captivate audiences with depth and nuance. **In simple terms:** Want to play captivating characters. Key Takeaway Seek roles with strong, layered personalities. Themes acting creativity audience engagement Mood enthusiastic curious Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - auditions - casting decisions - script analysis - workshop exercises Key Concepts character development performance art Questions to Reflect On - What makes a character interesting to you? - How do you balance audience appeal with authenticity? A Different Perspective May prioritize visibility over personal growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) ## Related quotes > [I try to write about real women, real people - in other words flawed characters. I find flawed characters much more interesting than perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/i-try-to-write-about-real-women-real-people-in-other-words-flawed-2/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [If you look at the rest of my stuff, I always play characters that kind of don't look like me, 'cause I love transforming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-rasuk/if-you-look-at-the-rest-of-my-stuff-i-always-play-characters-that/) [Victor Rasuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-rasuk/) > [I've been lucky to play characters that are really broad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-yelchin/i-ve-been-lucky-to-play-characters-that-are-really-broad/) [Anton Yelchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-yelchin/) > [I do tend to play characters that have a lot of costume and hair change. I sort of like the change of physicality thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katey-sagal/i-do-tend-to-play-characters-that-have-a-lot-of-costume-and-hair/) [Katey Sagal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katey-sagal/) > [I do not fault anyone else who makes choices to play characters that they wished they hadn't... Because at the end of the day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-dinklage/i-do-not-fault-anyone-else-who-makes-choices-to-play-characters-that/) [Peter Dinklage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-dinklage/) > [Even while I'm really interested in playing female characters that are varied and interesting and dynamic, I'm not of the mind that you always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-thompson/even-while-i-m-really-interested-in-playing-female-characters-that/) [Tessa Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-thompson/) > [If I wrote a play with four characters every single one of them would talk like me regardless of age or sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/if-i-wrote-a-play-with-four-characters-every-single-one-of-them-would/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) > [Every actor, I don't care what they say, their roles are a lot more interesting than we are, and at the end of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moon-bloodgood/every-actor-i-don-t-care-what-they-say-their-roles-are-a-lot-more/) [Moon Bloodgood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moon-bloodgood/) > [I normally play very serious characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylie-bunbury/i-normally-play-very-serious-characters/) [Kylie Bunbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kylie-bunbury/) > [You have to play your characters, not like them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/you-have-to-play-your-characters-not-like-them/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) > [I like developing characters who I find to have interesting psychology. Like politics and sex, but I'm really looking at bigger social problems that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mora-stephens/i-like-developing-characters-who-i-find-to-have-interesting/) Mora Stephens > [Put your characters where they are the most interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-d-macdonald/put-your-characters-where-they-are-the-most-interesting/) James D. Macdonald > [The characters I tend to play are a little more interesting than the standard heroes. Romantic leads can be a little more straightforward, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iwan-rheon/the-characters-i-tend-to-play-are-a-little-more-interesting-than-the/) [Iwan Rheon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iwan-rheon/) > [I've always been attracted to characters that were interesting to me, and different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milla-jovovich/i-ve-always-been-attracted-to-characters-that-were-interesting-to-me/) [Milla Jovovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milla-jovovich/) > [I find flawed characters much more interesting than perfect ones and enjoy the challenge of making readers root for them in spite of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/i-find-flawed-characters-much-more-interesting-than-perfect-ones-and/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) ## More by Ben Barnes > [I would like to work with whoever would like to have me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-barnes/i-would-like-to-work-with-whoever-would-like-to-have-me/) [Ben Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-barnes/) > [I don't really know who I am as an actor: the best thing would be to experiment with it for the next 30 years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-barnes/i-don-t-really-know-who-i-am-as-an-actor-the-best-thing-would-be-to/) [Ben Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-barnes/) > [I have done lots of music projects in my life and some of them I am more proud of than others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-barnes/i-have-done-lots-of-music-projects-in-my-life-and-some-of-them-i-am/) [Ben Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-barnes/) > [No one wants to be with a girl that your mother would pick for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-barnes/no-one-wants-to-be-with-a-girl-that-your-mother-would-pick-for-you/) [Ben Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-barnes/) > [I didn't have any pets growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-barnes/i-didn-t-have-any-pets-growing-up/) [Ben Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-barnes/) > [Maybe Oliver Stone doesn't lend himself well to remakes or sequels, because he does them so well the first time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-barnes/maybe-oliver-stone-doesn-t-lend-himself-well-to-remakes-or-sequels/) [Ben Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-barnes/) > [Jeff Bridges is one of my favorite actors in the history of ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-barnes/jeff-bridges-is-one-of-my-favorite-actors-in-the-history-of-ever/) [Ben Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-barnes/) > [I always looked really young for my age. And once I hit 23, 24 and 25, I was then allowed to play the cool 18-year-olds and stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-barnes/i-always-looked-really-young-for-my-age-and-once-i-hit-23-24-and-25-i/) [Ben Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-barnes/) > [I went to a very academically competitive high school. So I was always quite studious and quiet, just to keep up with the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-barnes/i-went-to-a-very-academically-competitive-high-school-so-i-was-always/) [Ben Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-barnes/) > [There are plenty of people in the world who have tried to be rock stars and have not gotten there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-barnes/there-are-plenty-of-people-in-the-world-who-have-tried-to-be-rock/) [Ben Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-barnes/) > [Almost every script that I've gotten has been for sort of the generic Hollywood type. I haven't chosen them. All the ones I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-barnes/almost-every-script-that-i-ve-gotten-has-been-for-sort-of-the-generic/) [Ben Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-barnes/) > [Never agree to say or do anything that isn't you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-barnes/never-agree-to-say-or-do-anything-that-isn-t-you/) [Ben Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-barnes/) > [I love music, and I love singing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-barnes/i-love-music-and-i-love-singing/) [Ben Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-barnes/) > [When I was at school, I was in choirs more than anything else, from a very young age, about 9 years old. And then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-barnes/when-i-was-at-school-i-was-in-choirs-more-than-anything-else-from-a/) [Ben Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-barnes/) > [I can't run. I start getting twinges. If I were filmed running, it would be awful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-barnes/i-can-t-run-i-start-getting-twinges-if-i-were-filmed-running-it-would/) [Ben Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-barnes/) [Explore all 49 Ben Barnes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-barnes/) ## 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 want to play characters that are interesting to watch.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ben Barnes" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-barnes/i-want-to-play-characters-that-are-interesting-to-watch/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-barnes/i-want-to-play-characters-that-are-interesting-to-watch/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d5/ben-barnes-13642_character_i-want-to-play-characters-that-are-inter_1584052.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d5/ben-barnes-13642_character_i-want-to-play-characters-that-are-inter_1584052.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d5/ben-barnes-13642_character_i-want-to-play-characters-that-are-inter_1584052.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I want to play characters that are interesting to watch.” — Ben Barnes", "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": "Ben Barnes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-barnes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I want to play characters that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-barnes/i-want-to-play-characters-that-are-interesting-to-watch/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-barnes/i-want-to-play-characters-that-are-interesting-to-watch/#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 } } ] } ```