--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My first, big, silly role at school was…" description: "\"My first, big, silly role at school was as Arthur Crocker-Harris in Rattigan's 'The Browning Version,' where my job was to make school-masters' wives w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41c/benedict-cumberbatch-1156_arthur_my-first-big-silly-role-at-school-was-as_605787.jpg" --- # My first, big, silly role at school was as Arthur… ![“My first, big, silly role at school was as Arthur Crocker-Harris in Rattigan's 'The Browning Version,' where my job was to make school-masters' wives weep with recognition.” quote by Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41c/benedict-cumberbatch-1156_arthur_my-first-big-silly-role-at-school-was-as_605787.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41c/benedict-cumberbatch-1156_arthur_my-first-big-silly-role-at-school-was-as_605787.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41c/benedict-cumberbatch-1156_arthur_my-first-big-silly-role-at-school-was-as_605787.jpg) > “My first, big, silly role at school was as Arthur Crocker-Harris in Rattigan's 'The Browning Version,' where my job was to make school-masters' wives weep with recognition.” [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 humorously recalls an early school play where he aimed to evoke emotion from teachers' wives. **In simple terms:** He played a role to make people cry. Key Takeaway Embrace early creative risks. Themes humor performance growth memory Mood lighthearted nostalgic Type anecdotal entertaining When to use this quote - Drama class - public speaking workshops - career retrospectives Key Concepts Theatre acting personal development Questions to Reflect On - What role did early performances play in your career? - How does humor shape memory? A Different Perspective May exaggerate for comedic effect. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Recognition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recognition/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Silly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silly/) [Wife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wife/) [Wives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wives/) ## Related quotes > [“Browning: ‘Justinian’s Pandects only make precise / What simply sparkled in men’s eyes before’.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-oakeshott/browning-justinian-s-pandects-only-make-precise-what-simply-sparkled/) [Michael Oakeshott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-oakeshott/) > [The Browning love story? It is an ideal, all too rare, and yet I hardly think it strange. It would have been far stranger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-corelli/the-browning-love-story-it-is-an-ideal-all-too-rare-and-yet-i-hardly/) [Marie Corelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-corelli/) > [“Less is more. -Robert Browning”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-thomsen-brits/less-is-more-robert-browning/) [Louisa Thomsen Brits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-thomsen-brits/) > [Whenever I hear the word culture, I reach for my Browning!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-goering/whenever-i-hear-the-word-culture-i-reach-for-my-browning/) [Hermann Goering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-goering/) > [I hold with the old-fashioned criticism that Browning is not really a poet, that he has all the gifts but the one needful and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-manley-hopkins/i-hold-with-the-old-fashioned-criticism-that-browning-is-not-really-a/) [Gerard Manley Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-manley-hopkins/) > [We read Robert Browning's poetry. Here we needed no guidance from the professor: the poems themselves were enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sandburg/we-read-robert-browning-s-poetry-here-we-needed-no-guidance-from-the/) [Carl Sandburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sandburg/) > [Browning's tragedies are tragedies without villains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-dowden/browning-s-tragedies-are-tragedies-without-villains/) [Edward Dowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-dowden/) > [“Robert Browning's childhood was passed in an unusually serene and happy home. In Development he tells how, at five years of age, he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-browning/robert-browning-s-childhood-was-passed-in-an-unusually-serene-and/) [Robert Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-browning/) > [“Meredith is a prose Browning. So is Browning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/meredith-is-a-prose-browning-so-is-browning/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“the venerable 1911 design some operators felt had to have been revealed by the Almighty to John Browning. Nestled”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-cameron/the-venerable-1911-design-some-operators-felt-had-to-have-been/) [Marc Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-cameron/) > [ \[On Elizabeth Barrett Browning:\] Her sweetness of character is even beyond her genius. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-russell-mitford/on-elizabeth-barrett-browning-her-sweetness-of-character-is-even/) [Mary Russell Mitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-russell-mitford/) > [A guy called Arthur Brown... was a big influence of mine... and also Ian Anderson from Jethro Tull.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-dickinson/a-guy-called-arthur-brown-was-a-big-influence-of-mine-and-also-ian/) [Bruce Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-dickinson/) > [What a wonderfully exciting cough,' said the little man, quite startled by it, 'do you mind if I join you?' And with that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/what-a-wonderfully-exciting-cough-said-the-little-man-quite-startled/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [Merlin' was awesome, but the costumes would drive you insane. Every day, you'd get into chain mail and wear 30 pounds of that stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-macken/merlin-was-awesome-but-the-costumes-would-drive-you-insane-every-day/) [Eoin Macken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-macken/) > [... Arthur Gride, whose bleared eyes gloated only over the outward beauties, and were blind to the spirit which reigned within, evinced - a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/arthur-gride-whose-bleared-eyes-gloated-only-over-the-outward/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) ## 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 Actor quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. 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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. 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