--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had to kiss it [ playing Hamlet]…" description: "\"I had to kiss it [ playing Hamlet] goodbye because Marvel have to plot things for the next three, four years.\" — Benedict Cumberbatch" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99d/benedict-cumberbatch-1156_four_i-had-to-kiss-it-playing-hamlet-goodbye_905300.jpg" --- # I had to kiss it \[ playing Hamlet\] goodbye because Marvel… ![“I had to kiss it [ playing Hamlet] goodbye because Marvel have to plot things for the next three, four years.” quote by Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99d/benedict-cumberbatch-1156_four_i-had-to-kiss-it-playing-hamlet-goodbye_905300.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99d/benedict-cumberbatch-1156_four_i-had-to-kiss-it-playing-hamlet-goodbye_905300.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99d/benedict-cumberbatch-1156_four_i-had-to-kiss-it-playing-hamlet-goodbye_905300.jpg) > “I had to kiss it \[ playing Hamlet\] goodbye because Marvel have to plot things for the next three, four years.” [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He must abandon a role temporarily because future storylines require his character’s exit, highlighting the demands of long‑term planning. **In simple terms:** He says goodbye to a role because the plot needs him elsewhere. Key Takeaway Accept that some projects end for larger narratives. Themes career creative sacrifice storytelling Mood nostalgic pragmatic Type professional reflective When to use this quote - theatre - film - TV series - long‑term contracts Key Concepts media studies career management Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to you when a character is written out? - How do you cope with sudden career changes? A Different Perspective Leaving a role can feel abrupt and disappointing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Four](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/four/) [Four years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/four-years/) [Goodbye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goodbye/) [Goodbye Marvel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goodbye-marvel-1280183/) [Hamlet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hamlet/) [Hamlet Goodbye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hamlet-goodbye-1280184/) [Kissing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kissing/) [Marvel Plot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marvel-plot-1280185/) [Next](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next/) [Playing Hamlet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-hamlet-603125/) [Plot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plot/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [The essential is to excite the spectators. If that means playing Hamlet on a flying trapeze or in an aquarium, you do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/the-essential-is-to-excite-the-spectators-if-that-means-playing/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) > [I saw Ben Whishaw playing Hamlet at the Old Vic and straight away had a very strong sense that he might be the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-tykwer/i-saw-ben-whishaw-playing-hamlet-at-the-old-vic-and-straight-away-had/) [Tom Tykwer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-tykwer/) > [I am not one of those people who like to play. I don't. I'm neither coy, nor do I, in any way, want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-dobbs/i-am-not-one-of-those-people-who-like-to-play-i-don-t-i-m-neither-coy/) [Lou Dobbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-dobbs/) > [What actor doesn't want to walk around a set and be called 'Mr. President?' Playing POTUS is a kind of rite of passage among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-lurie/what-actor-doesn-t-want-to-walk-around-a-set-and-be-called-mr/) [Rod Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-lurie/) > [One of the first roles I had on stage was with a brilliant director in a brilliant play with a brilliant cast, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/one-of-the-first-roles-i-had-on-stage-was-with-a-brilliant-director/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [There are a thousand ways of playing a good classic. If it were effective, I would play Hamlet on a trapeze.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/there-are-a-thousand-ways-of-playing-a-good-classic-if-it-were/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) > [“Shakespeare’s Hamlet: “There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/shakespeare-s-hamlet-there-is-nothing-either-good-or-bad-but-thinking/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) > [Cannot you tell that? Every fool can tell that. It was the very day that young Hamlet was born, he that is mad and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/cannot-you-tell-that-every-fool-can-tell-that-it-was-the-very-day/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I think Hamlet, as much as he loves his privacy and is kind of an introvert, he's a very functional introvert. When he has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chukwudi-iwuji/i-think-hamlet-as-much-as-he-loves-his-privacy-and-is-kind-of-an/) [Chukwudi Iwuji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chukwudi-iwuji/) > [I never want to see 'Hamlet' ever again! Never ever!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-elliott/i-never-want-to-see-hamlet-ever-again-never-ever/) [Marianne Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-elliott/) > [“The theater, bringing impersonal masks to life, is only for those who are virile enough to create new life: either as a conflict of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-jarry/the-theater-bringing-impersonal-masks-to-life-is-only-for-those-who/) [Alfred Jarry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-jarry/) > [I was very moved to see that the name of the boat was Hamlet - an imaginary character becomes so important to people, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-auster/i-was-very-moved-to-see-that-the-name-of-the-boat-was-hamlet-an/) [Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-auster/) > [“In the gravedigger scene in act V, Hamlet looks upon an anonymous skull and jokes that even Alexander the Great decomposed into dust that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-vowell/in-the-gravedigger-scene-in-act-v-hamlet-looks-upon-an-anonymous/) [Sarah Vowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-vowell/) > [The two greatest plays ever written were Hamlet and Oedipus Rex, and they're both about father-son relationships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/the-two-greatest-plays-ever-written-were-hamlet-and-oedipus-rex-and/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [“The time is out of joint. O cursed spite,/That ever I was born to set it right!” Thus Hamlet. Yet he concludes: “Nay, come,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-snyder/the-time-is-out-of-joint-o-cursed-spite-that-ever-i-was-born-to-set/) [Timothy Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-snyder/) ## More by Benedict Cumberbatch > [We should have a conversation when we hang up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/we-should-have-a-conversation-when-we-hang-up/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [It's the same thing, I think, whether it's breathing or meditation or yoga. And running is a great way of doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/it-s-the-same-thing-i-think-whether-it-s-breathing-or-meditation-or/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [Being someone who is of our sensual reality, Stephen Strange has a lifestyle, he has a sexuality, he's materialistic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/being-someone-who-is-of-our-sensual-reality-stephen-strange-has-a/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [If you have an over-preoccupation with perception and trying to please people's expectations, then you can go mad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/if-you-have-an-over-preoccupation-with-perception-and-trying-to/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [Being on set is quite difficult, because it's so big and you've got to try and relax, which isn't easy when you know you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/being-on-set-is-quite-difficult-because-it-s-so-big-and-you-ve-got-to/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [I know that might sound perverse because I played Julian Assange but, honestly, I don't think it would be fair for me to judge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/i-know-that-might-sound-perverse-because-i-played-julian-assange-but/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [Maybe it's just getting older, but I don't want to miss things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/maybe-it-s-just-getting-older-but-i-don-t-want-to-miss-things/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [I think playing any iconic role when you're stepping into big shoes, into the shadow of people who have come before you and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/i-think-playing-any-iconic-role-when-you-re-stepping-into-big-shoes/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [ \[While voicing cartoons\] you have to lose your sanity and inhibitions and any kind of dignity and just throw yourself around a bit. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/while-voicing-cartoons-you-have-to-lose-your-sanity-and-inhibitions/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [I'm not very geeky. I'm quite homespun. I would say I'm more modern rustic than gadget-orientated. I like woollen things and log fires and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/i-m-not-very-geeky-i-m-quite-homespun-i-would-say-i-m-more-modern/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [This is an odd profession, and sometimes people get jealous, but I haven't really experienced any of that. Everyone's been really happy for me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/this-is-an-odd-profession-and-sometimes-people-get-jealous-but-i/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [I can feel infinitely alive curled up on the sofa reading a book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/i-can-feel-infinitely-alive-curled-up-on-the-sofa-reading-a-book/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [I think with any characterization there's a point where you empathize, no matter how much of a deviance his or her actions may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/i-think-with-any-characterization-there-s-a-point-where-you-empathize/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [When are you ever settled enough to have kids?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/when-are-you-ever-settled-enough-to-have-kids/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [You have to sometimes just run with the problem rather than trying to solve it with hi-tech wizardry and lots of planning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/you-have-to-sometimes-just-run-with-the-problem-rather-than-trying-to/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) [Explore all 281 Benedict Cumberbatch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) ## More Four quotes > [With young kids (I have four including the newborn) times passes weirdly for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-s-kemp/with-young-kids-i-have-four-including-the-newborn-times-passes/) [Paul S. 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