--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Once you click into a character, to a…" description: "\"Once you click into a character, to a certain degree, you can do a lot else. You can do other stuff, then come back and click right into the character...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c76/chiwetel-ejiofor-4438_character_once-you-click-into-a-character-to-a-cer_763854.jpg" --- # Once you click into a character, to a certain degree, you… ![“Once you click into a character, to a certain degree, you can do a lot else. You can do other stuff, then come back and click right into the character. It's sort of funny that way, the way the mind works. Once it's there, it's sort of there. For the stage, for example, all through the day, you're…” quote by Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c76/chiwetel-ejiofor-4438_character_once-you-click-into-a-character-to-a-cer_763854.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c76/chiwetel-ejiofor-4438_character_once-you-click-into-a-character-to-a-cer_763854.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c76/chiwetel-ejiofor-4438_character_once-you-click-into-a-character-to-a-cer_763854.jpg) > “Once you click into a character, to a certain degree, you can do a lot else. You can do other stuff, then come back and click right into the character. It's sort of funny that way, the way the mind works. Once it's there, it's sort of there. For the stage, for example, all through the day, you're not onstage. You're living your life, la-la-la, then the lights go down, then boom! All of a sudden, you're in this thing. There's a kind of reflex muscle trigger that happens, and all of a sudden you're back into the role. It's just getting there in the first place that's tricky.” [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Immersion in a role creates a mental shortcut that lets you switch between character and everyday life, but the initial transition is challenging. **In simple terms:** Deep focus lets you jump into character, but starting is hard. Key Takeaway Practice entry into role. Themes acting mindset performance Mood introspective focused Type reflective practical When to use this quote - rehearsals - live performances - daily life transitions Key Concepts Method acting psychology presence Questions to Reflect On - How do you separate self from role? - What techniques help smooth the transition? A Different Perspective The mental shift can blur personal boundaries, causing fatigue. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [First place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-place/) [Living your life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-your-life/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [I really prefer the actual experience of being onstage and living the character from beginning to end with the energy of the audience. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanaa-lathan/i-really-prefer-the-actual-experience-of-being-onstage-and-living-the/) [Sanaa Lathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanaa-lathan/) > [I do use my body a lot, to click into a character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-shannon/i-do-use-my-body-a-lot-to-click-into-a-character/) [Molly Shannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-shannon/) > [I feel déjà vu a lot. Someone said that means that you're living your life the right way because maybe you have foresight, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/january-jones/i-feel-d-j-vu-a-lot-someone-said-that-means-that-you-re-living-your/) [January Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/january-jones/) > [“You can’t live your life in fear of what tomorrow will bring. Shit happens in life, and you can’t stop the bad things by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-d-mccammon/you-can-t-live-your-life-in-fear-of-what-tomorrow-will-bring-shit/) [A.D. McCammon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-d-mccammon/) > [Words do cut, and they do hurt. It was one thing growing up where you were bullied, but you'd just come home. Now you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-civil/words-do-cut-and-they-do-hurt-it-was-one-thing-growing-up-where-you/) [Karen Civil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-civil/) > [Some people are talking about you just because their lives are too boring. Don't respond. Keep living your life, and keep smiling about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-people-are-talking-about-you-just-because-their-lives-are-too/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Depression is not dramatic, but it is total. It’s sneaky - you almost don’t notice it at first. Like a cat burglar, it comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-unger/depression-is-not-dramatic-but-it-is-total-it-s-sneaky-you-almost-don/) [Lisa Unger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-unger/) > [At the end of the day, whether or not those people are comfortable with how you're living your life doesn't matter. What matters is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-mcgraw/at-the-end-of-the-day-whether-or-not-those-people-are-comfortable/) [Phil McGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mcgraw/) > [“When you are content to simply be yourself, without comparing and competing to impress others, everyone worthwhile will respect you. And even more importantly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-angel-affect/when-you-are-content-to-simply-be-yourself-without-comparing-and/) The Angel Affect > [We do stupid things. We make mistakes. We learn from it. Just because you made a mistake, doesn't make you a failure. Keep living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-do-stupid-things-we-make-mistakes-we-learn-from-it-just-because/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Your position never gives you the right to command. It only imposes on you the duty of so living your life that others can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dag-hammarskj-ld/your-position-never-gives-you-the-right-to-command-it-only-imposes-on/) [Dag Hammarskjold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) > [When someone tells you, "You've changed," it might simply be because you've stopped living your life their way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spence/when-someone-tells-you-you-ve-changed-it-might-simply-be-because-you/) [John Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spence/) > [You can't go around being what everyone wants you to be, living your life through other people's rules, and expect to be happy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/you-can-t-go-around-being-what-everyone-wants-you-to-be-living-your/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Stop living your life trying to please everyone, please God and let the chips fall where they may!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/stop-living-your-life-trying-to-please-everyone-please-god-and-let/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you find your purpose in life, nurture it and make it grow so that when you look back you will not regret living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-m/when-you-find-your-purpose-in-life-nurture-it-and-make-it-grow-so/) Pamela M ## More by Chiwetel Ejiofor > [I've always been a believer in research. It's great to have an instinctual human reaction to a character, too, of course, but it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/i-ve-always-been-a-believer-in-research-it-s-great-to-have-an/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > [There are many different ways the public can respond to actors - they can see you on TV and feel they know you and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/there-are-many-different-ways-the-public-can-respond-to-actors-they/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > [I wouldnt be the same actor if I couldnt do theater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/i-wouldnt-be-the-same-actor-if-i-couldnt-do-theater/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > [It's a strange thing, but you get this click in your brain; the wonderful feeling that the entirety of a character is suddenly available…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/it-s-a-strange-thing-but-you-get-this-click-in-your-brain-the/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > [We always want to live in an environment where there's no artificial block to good work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/we-always-want-to-live-in-an-environment-where-there-s-no-artificial/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > [I do like sci-fi. When I was a kid, I was always sort of locked into sci-fi stories. So, sci-fi has always had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/i-do-like-sci-fi-when-i-was-a-kid-i-was-always-sort-of-locked-into/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > [Ive always liked the idea of being a father. And Ive always romanticised it, because I lost my father when I was young. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/ive-always-liked-the-idea-of-being-a-father-and-ive-always/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > [I've always liked the idea of being a father. And I've always romanticised it, because I lost my father when I was young. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/i-ve-always-liked-the-idea-of-being-a-father-and-i-ve-always/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > [My favorite thing to cook is anything that comes out okay. I'm very fond of certain pastas and sauces that I can just about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/my-favorite-thing-to-cook-is-anything-that-comes-out-okay-i-m-very/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > [It's hard to maintain a life when you do a play. You feel you have to pretend to go through a normal day, knowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/it-s-hard-to-maintain-a-life-when-you-do-a-play-you-feel-you-have-to/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > [Reporters tend to launch on what seems to be the clearest, most stark aspects of someone's life in terms of an interview.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/reporters-tend-to-launch-on-what-seems-to-be-the-clearest-most-stark/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > [Working in this industry, I do feel that science and creativity turned out to be a very useful combination for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/working-in-this-industry-i-do-feel-that-science-and-creativity-turned/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > [The history of slavery and the complication of slavery is that it is an international concept. It is something that affected people who were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/the-history-of-slavery-and-the-complication-of-slavery-is-that-it-is/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > [All roads lead home in the end. You've got to keep that in mind always - in your work and in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/all-roads-lead-home-in-the-end-you-ve-got-to-keep-that-in-mind-always/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > [That global poverty would end. That people would be able to eat. It's the worst shame in the world that people go hungry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/that-global-poverty-would-end-that-people-would-be-able-to-eat-it-s/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) [Explore all 111 Chiwetel Ejiofor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) ## 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": "Once you click into a character, to a certain degree, you can do a lot else. 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