--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the West audiences think I am a…" description: "\"In the West audiences think I am a stereotyped action star, or that I always play hitmen or killers. But in Hong Kong, I did a lot of comedy, many dram..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff9/chow-yun-fat-36038_action_in-the-west-audiences-think-i-am-a-stere_476502.jpg" --- # In the West audiences think I am a stereotyped action… ![“In the West audiences think I am a stereotyped action star, or that I always play hitmen or killers. But in Hong Kong, I did a lot of comedy, many dramatic films, and most of all, romantic roles, lots of love stories. I was like a romance novel hero” quote by Chow Yun-Fat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff9/chow-yun-fat-36038_action_in-the-west-audiences-think-i-am-a-stere_476502.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff9/chow-yun-fat-36038_action_in-the-west-audiences-think-i-am-a-stere_476502.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff9/chow-yun-fat-36038_action_in-the-west-audiences-think-i-am-a-stere_476502.jpg) > “In the West audiences think I am a stereotyped action star, or that I always play hitmen or killers. But in Hong Kong, I did a lot of comedy, many dramatic films, and most of all, romantic roles, lots of love stories. I was like a romance novel hero” [Chow Yun-Fat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chow-yun-fat/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He highlights the contrast between Western typecasting and his diverse roles in Hong Kong cinema, emphasizing his work in comedy, drama, and romance. **In simple terms:** Western audiences see him as an action star, but he has acted in many other genres. Key Takeaway Recognize and showcase the full range of your talents. Themes typecasting genre diversity career perception Mood reflective determined Type career motivational When to use this quote - Casting decisions - marketing strategies - audience expectations - film festivals - media interviews Key Concepts Film industry cultural perception actor identity Questions to Reflect On - How can actors break typecasting barriers? - What role does media play in shaping public perception? A Different Perspective Western audiences may still cling to stereotypes despite evidence of versatility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Dramatic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dramatic/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hero/) [Hitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hitman/) [Hong kong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hong-kong/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Killers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killers/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-story/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Roles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roles/) [Romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romance/) [Romance novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romance-novel/) [Romantic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romantic/) [Romantic Roles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romantic-roles-1448486/) [Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars/) [Stereotyped](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stereotyped/) [Stereotyped Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stereotyped-action-1997748/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Think Stereotyped](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-stereotyped-4106140/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/west/) [West Audiences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/west-audiences-4106139/) ## Related quotes > [I think I have been stereotyped as an action director in Hollywood, so all I got were the action scripts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-woo/i-think-i-have-been-stereotyped-as-an-action-director-in-hollywood-so/) [John Woo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-woo/) > [I think you're stereotyped after every film. Post 'Dev D,' I was only offered bold roles. Similarly, after 'Margarita With A Straw,' I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kalki-koechlin/i-think-you-re-stereotyped-after-every-film-post-dev-d-i-was-only/) [Kalki Koechlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kalki-koechlin/) > [Audiences like me in soft, romantic roles, and 'Premam' ticks all the boxes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naga-chaitanya/audiences-like-me-in-soft-romantic-roles-and-premam-ticks-all-the/) [Naga Chaitanya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naga-chaitanya/) > [Ideally, I'd like to keep a balance between action and romantic roles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-deol/ideally-i-d-like-to-keep-a-balance-between-action-and-romantic-roles/) [Bobby Deol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-deol/) > [I have played so many romantic roles that I don't know if I am really a romantic in real life. I get confused about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dhanush/i-have-played-so-many-romantic-roles-that-i-don-t-know-if-i-am-really/) [Dhanush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dhanush/) > [I may have played romantic roles, but each character has been different, with his own personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fawad-khan/i-may-have-played-romantic-roles-but-each-character-has-been/) [Fawad Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fawad-khan/) > [I don't want to do romantic roles where I have to lip sync to a song. A role that explores romance on a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irrfan-khan/i-don-t-want-to-do-romantic-roles-where-i-have-to-lip-sync-to-a-song/) [Irrfan Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irrfan-khan/) > [I never want to be told, "Hey, this is what you do best, and this is the only thing you're going to do." And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-wahlberg/i-never-want-to-be-told-hey-this-is-what-you-do-best-and-this-is-the/) [Mark Wahlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-wahlberg/) > [In recent times it just seems that women have been relegated to either romantic roles or fluff pieces. So the appeal, for me, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/in-recent-times-it-just-seems-that-women-have-been-relegated-to/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [People just assume that you are not going to act after marriage, will stop doing romantic roles, and that every guy will stop his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nazriya-nazim/people-just-assume-that-you-are-not-going-to-act-after-marriage-will/) [Nazriya Nazim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nazriya-nazim/) > [The most dangerous person is a mailman becoming a hitman, he knows where you live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-most-dangerous-person-is-a-mailman-becoming-a-hitman-he-knows/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you put a s infront of hitman, you have my exact thoughts on Bret Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stone-cold-steve-austin/if-you-put-a-s-infront-of-hitman-you-have-my-exact-thoughts-on-bret/) [Stone Cold Steve Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stone-cold-steve-austin/) > [“Look at me closely. Ask yourself: Do I look scared?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregg-hurwitz/look-at-me-closely-ask-yourself-do-i-look-scared/) [Gregg Hurwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregg-hurwitz/) > [Hitman does well and it certainly does well enough to survive, but at the same time I don't want to involve the character into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-ennis/hitman-does-well-and-it-certainly-does-well-enough-to-survive-but-at/) [Garth Ennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-ennis/) > [Next time gonna use a nom de plume. One jump ahead of the hitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aladdin/next-time-gonna-use-a-nom-de-plume-one-jump-ahead-of-the-hitman/) [Aladdin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aladdin/) ## More by Chow Yun-Fat > [I don't like muscles too much. Flexibility and a relaxed look are more important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chow-yun-fat/i-don-t-like-muscles-too-much-flexibility-and-a-relaxed-look-are-more/) [Chow Yun-Fat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chow-yun-fat/) > [An actor is only merchandise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chow-yun-fat/an-actor-is-only-merchandise/) [Chow Yun-Fat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chow-yun-fat/) > [Working in front of the camera keeps me alive. I couldn't care less about actors' trailers and food on sets and stuff like that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chow-yun-fat/working-in-front-of-the-camera-keeps-me-alive-i-couldn-t-care-less/) [Chow Yun-Fat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chow-yun-fat/) > [I couldn't care less about actors' trailers and food on sets and stuff like that - I just want to act](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chow-yun-fat/i-couldn-t-care-less-about-actors-trailers-and-food-on-sets-and-stuff/) [Chow Yun-Fat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chow-yun-fat/) > [Some of the substance of English words, I just don't understand at all because the culture's so strange to me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chow-yun-fat/some-of-the-substance-of-english-words-i-just-don-t-understand-at-all/) [Chow Yun-Fat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chow-yun-fat/) > [As an actor we're just like workers in a factory, we provide our services to directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chow-yun-fat/as-an-actor-we-re-just-like-workers-in-a-factory-we-provide-our/) [Chow Yun-Fat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chow-yun-fat/) > [Only by letting go can we truly possess what is real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chow-yun-fat/only-by-letting-go-can-we-truly-possess-what-is-real/) [Chow Yun-Fat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chow-yun-fat/) > [This is still a big barrier for me and it is for a lot of foreign actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chow-yun-fat/this-is-still-a-big-barrier-for-me-and-it-is-for-a-lot-of-foreign/) [Chow Yun-Fat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chow-yun-fat/) > [You must be one of the few people with a copy of that. I don't think they printed too many.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chow-yun-fat/you-must-be-one-of-the-few-people-with-a-copy-of-that-i-don-t-think/) [Chow Yun-Fat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chow-yun-fat/) > [That's so different in Hong Kong when I'm using my own mother language, I can treat the line in one thousand different ways, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chow-yun-fat/that-s-so-different-in-hong-kong-when-i-m-using-my-own-mother/) [Chow Yun-Fat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chow-yun-fat/) > [As an actor we're just like workers in a factory, we provide our services to directors. But I must do my job perfectly, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chow-yun-fat/as-an-actor-we-re-just-like-workers-in-a-factory-we-provide-our-2/) [Chow Yun-Fat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chow-yun-fat/) > [Working in front of the camera keeps me alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chow-yun-fat/working-in-front-of-the-camera-keeps-me-alive/) [Chow Yun-Fat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chow-yun-fat/) [Explore all 13 Chow Yun-Fat quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chow-yun-fat/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In the West audiences think I am a stereotyped action star, or that I always play hitmen or killers. 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