--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think of myself as a character…" description: "\"I don't think of myself as a character actress - that's become a phrase which means you've had it.\" — Bette Davis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/208/bette-davis-2218_character_i-don-t-think-of-myself-as-a-character-a_1782400.jpg" --- # I don't think of myself as a character actress - that's… ![“I don't think of myself as a character actress - that's become a phrase which means you've had it.” quote by Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/208/bette-davis-2218_character_i-don-t-think-of-myself-as-a-character-a_1782400.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/208/bette-davis-2218_character_i-don-t-think-of-myself-as-a-character-a_1782400.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/208/bette-davis-2218_character_i-don-t-think-of-myself-as-a-character-a_1782400.jpg) > “I don't think of myself as a character actress - that's become a phrase which means you've had it.” [Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She rejects being labeled a "character actress," indicating it signals career stagnation. **In simple terms:** Avoid limiting labels that define you. Key Takeaway Define your own artistic identity. Themes career labeling self-definition Mood determined assertive Type professional motivational When to use this quote - acting auditions - career planning - personal branding Key Concepts typecasting industry perception Questions to Reflect On - How do you resist being pigeonholed? - What steps can you take to reshape your image? A Different Perspective Labels can be hard to shed once assigned. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actress/) [Actress Phrase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actress-phrase-1874039/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character Actress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-actress-314123/) [Phrase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phrase/) [Think Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-character/) ## Related quotes > [I'm a character actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-morrison/i-m-a-character-actress/) [Shelley Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-morrison/) > [I was always a character actress and never a sex symbol. Even when I was the leading lady, I was a character actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/i-was-always-a-character-actress-and-never-a-sex-symbol-even-when-i/) [Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/) > [I didn't decide to be a character actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-kane/i-didn-t-decide-to-be-a-character-actress/) [Carol Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-kane/) > [I guess I'm the perfect young lead actress. I'm not Chloe Sevigny - I'm not really a character actress. Some actors have "character" faces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/berenice-bejo/i-guess-i-m-the-perfect-young-lead-actress-i-m-not-chloe-sevigny-i-m/) [Berenice Bejo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/berenice-bejo/) > [I'm a character actress. It doesn't mean I can't do leading roles; I don't think of myself as a leading lady.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rena-sofer/i-m-a-character-actress-it-doesn-t-mean-i-can-t-do-leading-roles-i/) [Rena Sofer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rena-sofer/) > [In my heart of hearts, I'm a character actress, whereas other people play their one strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliette-lewis/in-my-heart-of-hearts-i-m-a-character-actress-whereas-other-people/) [Juliette Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliette-lewis/) > [I've always thought of myself as more of a character actress. I've tried to do different things, but I've always been under the radar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-byrne/i-ve-always-thought-of-myself-as-more-of-a-character-actress-i-ve/) [Rose Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-byrne/) > [I often feel like a character actress trapped inside the mean, aging Barbie's body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-gilpin/i-often-feel-like-a-character-actress-trapped-inside-the-mean-aging/) [Betty Gilpin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-gilpin/) > [I am a character actress. Well, let's say, I am a leading character actress who does interesting, odd parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-staunton/i-am-a-character-actress-well-let-s-say-i-am-a-leading-character/) [Imelda Staunton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-staunton/) > [I feel like a character actress - it's where I'm comfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-lynskey/i-feel-like-a-character-actress-it-s-where-i-m-comfortable/) [Melanie Lynskey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-lynskey/) > [I'd hate to lose the character actress part of me, because, by God, the parts are much more interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-okonedo/i-d-hate-to-lose-the-character-actress-part-of-me-because-by-god-the/) [Sophie Okonedo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-okonedo/) > [I had a very hard time accepting myself as a character actress, because I wanted to be glamorous and a leading lady like everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-grant/i-had-a-very-hard-time-accepting-myself-as-a-character-actress/) [Beth Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-grant/) > [You could say I'm a character actress. Or maybe a character actress who does peculiar, interesting lead roles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-staunton/you-could-say-i-m-a-character-actress-or-maybe-a-character-actress-2/) [Imelda Staunton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-staunton/) > [You could say I'm a character actress. Or maybe a character actress who does peculiar, interesting lead roles. Does that make sense?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-staunton/you-could-say-i-m-a-character-actress-or-maybe-a-character-actress/) [Imelda Staunton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-staunton/) > [I'm a character actress trapped in the body of a teenage boy. I'm never going to get the parts that Andrea Martin gets, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-escola/i-m-a-character-actress-trapped-in-the-body-of-a-teenage-boy-i-m/) [Cole Escola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-escola/) ## More by Bette Davis > [In this business, until you're known as a monster you're not a star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/in-this-business-until-you-re-known-as-a-monster-you-re-not-a-star/) [Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) > [You will never be happier than you expect. To change your happiness, change your expectation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/you-will-never-be-happier-than-you-expect-to-change-your-happiness/) [Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) > [The male ego with few exceptions is elephantine to start with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/the-male-ego-with-few-exceptions-is-elephantine-to-start-with/) [Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) > [“Oh Jerry, don't let's ask for the moon. We have the stars. - Now, Voyager”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/oh-jerry-don-t-let-s-ask-for-the-moon-we-have-the-stars-now-voyager/) [Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) > [Almost as many inhumanities are committed in the name of love as in the name of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/almost-as-many-inhumanities-are-committed-in-the-name-of-love-as-in/) [Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) > [I have eyes like a bullfrog, a neck like an ostrich and long, limp hair. You just have to be good to survive with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/i-have-eyes-like-a-bullfrog-a-neck-like-an-ostrich-and-long-limp-hair/) [Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) > [Dramatic art in her opinion is knowing how to fill a sweater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/dramatic-art-in-her-opinion-is-knowing-how-to-fill-a-sweater/) [Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) > [I do not regret one professional enemy I have made. Any actor who doesn't dare to make an enemy should get out of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/i-do-not-regret-one-professional-enemy-i-have-made-any-actor-who/) [Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) > [I never did pal around with actresses. Their talk usually bored me to tears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/i-never-did-pal-around-with-actresses-their-talk-usually-bored-me-to/) [Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) > [The secret of marriage is: separate bedrooms and separate bathrooms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/the-secret-of-marriage-is-separate-bedrooms-and-separate-bathrooms/) [Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) > [I was never very interested in boys - and there were plenty of them - vying with one another to see how many famous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/i-was-never-very-interested-in-boys-and-there-were-plenty-of-them/) [Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) > [The only way you can become a legend is in your coffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/the-only-way-you-can-become-a-legend-is-in-your-coffin/) [Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) > [If Hollywood didn't work out, I was prepared to be the best secretary in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/if-hollywood-didn-t-work-out-i-was-prepared-to-be-the-best-secretary/) [Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) > [Everybody has a heart. Except some people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/everybody-has-a-heart-except-some-people/) [Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) > [I've been lucky. I'll be lucky again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/i-ve-been-lucky-i-ll-be-lucky-again/) [Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) [Explore all 176 Bette Davis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) ## More Actress quotes > [Sigourney Weaver is a wonderful person. I was so lucky to have the opportunity to meet and work with such an amazing actress. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-henn/sigourney-weaver-is-a-wonderful-person-i-was-so-lucky-to-have-the/) [Carrie Henn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-henn/) > [People forget I'm an actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-heatherton/people-forget-i-m-an-actress/) [Joey Heatherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-heatherton/) > [I adore Kelly Bishop as a human being and as an actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-gunn/i-adore-kelly-bishop-as-a-human-being-and-as-an-actress/) [Sean Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-gunn/) > [I've been told before, and I tend to believe it, I'm not like most actresses out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moira-kelly/i-ve-been-told-before-and-i-tend-to-believe-it-i-m-not-like-most/) [Moira Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moira-kelly/) > [Marilyn was a great actress, not a dumb blond bombshell. She was very smart, very astute and a good businesswoman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-schiller/marilyn-was-a-great-actress-not-a-dumb-blond-bombshell-she-was-very/) [Lawrence Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-schiller/) > [I'm an actress, not a pin-up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-annis/i-m-an-actress-not-a-pin-up/) [Francesca Annis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-annis/) > [My father was a GP; my mother was a teacher and amateur actress. My father was a bit of a storyteller, but the acting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ciaran-hinds/my-father-was-a-gp-my-mother-was-a-teacher-and-amateur-actress-my/) [Ciaran Hinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ciaran-hinds/) > [I never wished that I was a superstar. Hell, I never even wished that I was an actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-lane/i-never-wished-that-i-was-a-superstar-hell-i-never-even-wished-that-i/) [Diane Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-lane/) > [Many of the heroines from outside Karnataka have worked in my films, but the attitude and adjusting nature of top South Indian actress Nayantara…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rockline-venkatesh/many-of-the-heroines-from-outside-karnataka-have-worked-in-my-films/) [Rockline Venkatesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rockline-venkatesh/) > [There are a lot of great actresses out there. You learn to appreciate each one for what they offer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-pratt/there-are-a-lot-of-great-actresses-out-there-you-learn-to-appreciate/) [Victoria Pratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-pratt/) > [There's certain things I try to avoid, as an actress, just to keep my world from being as narrow as it could be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/famke-janssen/there-s-certain-things-i-try-to-avoid-as-an-actress-just-to-keep-my/) [Famke Janssen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/famke-janssen/) > [I never wanted to be an opera singer. I wanted to be an actress, maybe a rock singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-opolais/i-never-wanted-to-be-an-opera-singer-i-wanted-to-be-an-actress-maybe/) [Kristine Opolais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-opolais/) > [When an actor charges high fees, nobody says anything. But when an actress does the same, it becomes news.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijayashanti/when-an-actor-charges-high-fees-nobody-says-anything-but-when-an/) [Vijayashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijayashanti/) > [I am going to be a great actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivien-leigh/i-am-going-to-be-a-great-actress/) [Vivien Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivien-leigh/) > [As a black actress you've got to work doubly hard. But it doesn't ever get me to the point where I give up on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naturi-naughton/as-a-black-actress-you-ve-got-to-work-doubly-hard-but-it-doesn-t-ever/) [Naturi Naughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naturi-naughton/) [Browse all 2,244 Actress quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actress/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't think of myself as a character actress - that's become a phrase which means you've had it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bette Davis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/i-don-t-think-of-myself-as-a-character-actress-that-s-become-a-phrase/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actress" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/i-don-t-think-of-myself-as-a-character-actress-that-s-become-a-phrase/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/208/bette-davis-2218_character_i-don-t-think-of-myself-as-a-character-a_1782400.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/208/bette-davis-2218_character_i-don-t-think-of-myself-as-a-character-a_1782400.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/208/bette-davis-2218_character_i-don-t-think-of-myself-as-a-character-a_1782400.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't think of myself as a character actress - that's become a phrase which means you've had it.” — Bette Davis", "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": "Bette Davis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't think of myself as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/i-don-t-think-of-myself-as-a-character-actress-that-s-become-a-phrase/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/i-don-t-think-of-myself-as-a-character-actress-that-s-become-a-phrase/#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 } } ] } ```