---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think most actors probably enjoy…"
description: "\"I think most actors probably enjoy playing the bad guy. I think it's the fact that most of the time, heroes aren't written with enough interesting qual..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75c/chris-demetral-36040_audience_i-think-most-actors-probably-enjoy-playi_2173327.jpg"
---

#  I think most actors probably enjoy playing the bad guy. I…

![“I think most actors probably enjoy playing the bad guy. I think it's the fact that most of the time, heroes aren't written with enough interesting qualities or flaws, and that leads to the bad guys being almost the runaway train, as far as being more interesting for the audience to watch.” quote by Chris Demetral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75c/chris-demetral-36040_audience_i-think-most-actors-probably-enjoy-playi_2173327.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75c/chris-demetral-36040_audience_i-think-most-actors-probably-enjoy-playi_2173327.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75c/chris-demetral-36040_audience_i-think-most-actors-probably-enjoy-playi_2173327.jpg)

> “I think most actors probably enjoy playing the bad guy. I think it's the fact that most of the time, heroes aren't written with enough interesting qualities or flaws, and that leads to the bad guys being almost the runaway train, as far as being more interesting for the audience to watch.”

[Chris Demetral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-demetral/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Actors often find villain roles more compelling because heroes lack depth, making antagonists the narrative focus for audiences.

**In simple terms:** Bad guys are more interesting when heroes are flat.

Key Takeaway

Seek complexity in any role.

Themes

character development storytelling audience engagement

Mood

analytical thoughtful

Type

critical insightful

When to use this quote

- writing workshops
- script analysis
- character auditions
- directorial discussions

Key Concepts

heroic archetype villain appeal dramatic tension

Questions to Reflect On

- How can writers deepen heroic characters?
- What makes a villain relatable?

A Different Perspective

Heroes can be made richer with nuanced flaws.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Actors Probably](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors-probably-307303/) [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Bad guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-guy/) [Bad guys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-guys/) [Enjoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoy/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Flaws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flaws/) [Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guy/) [Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hero/) [Heroes Aren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heroes-aren-700154/) [Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Runaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/runaway/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Train](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/train/)

## Related quotes

> [Nuclear apocalypse-who do you need? Actors are probably not top of the list. What can I do for you? I can pretend to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-bale/nuclear-apocalypse-who-do-you-need-actors-are-probably-not-top-of-the/)

[Christian Bale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-bale/)

> [If you ask any of the other actors, they'd probably say nice things because they're nice people, but I was always like, "Oh gosh,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-yeun/if-you-ask-any-of-the-other-actors-they-d-probably-say-nice-things/)

[Steven Yeun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-yeun/)

> [I feel like my early experiences of acting, and I think a lot of other actors' too, are probably at camp or school plays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mcgorry/i-feel-like-my-early-experiences-of-acting-and-i-think-a-lot-of-other/)

[Matt McGorry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mcgorry/)

> [I've dated some actors that you probably never want to go out with, but that's not because they're actors, but because we didn't connect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-love-hewitt/i-ve-dated-some-actors-that-you-probably-never-want-to-go-out-with/)

[Jennifer Love Hewitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-love-hewitt/)

> [There are a lot of actors - I'm probably one - who are most at home when they're on stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/there-are-a-lot-of-actors-i-m-probably-one-who-are-most-at-home-when/)

[Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/)

> [They say God looks after kids and idiots, and I think actors are probably a combination of the two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-glenn/they-say-god-looks-after-kids-and-idiots-and-i-think-actors-are/)

[Scott Glenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-glenn/)

> [I mean, Joel talks to the actors more than I do and I probably do production stuff a little more than he does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-coen/i-mean-joel-talks-to-the-actors-more-than-i-do-and-i-probably-do/)

[Ethan Coen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-coen/)

> [If you watch the show and the characters don't look at each other while they're talking, the actors probably aren't getting along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-pratt/if-you-watch-the-show-and-the-characters-don-t-look-at-each-other/)

[Victoria Pratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-pratt/)

> [I think most actors are probably very shy - if you're a good one. Putting yourself out there in that way is terrifying, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/i-think-most-actors-are-probably-very-shy-if-you-re-a-good-one/)

[Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/)

> [Heroes aren't born, they' re cornered. Oh, I was cornered. And I found out that I was no hero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-belushi/heroes-aren-t-born-they-re-cornered-oh-i-was-cornered-and-i-found-out/)

[James Belushi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-belushi/)

> [Heroes aren't athletes who set new sports records, or Hollywood actors who make 'daring' films or politicians who make bold promises. Heroes are people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/heroes-aren-t-athletes-who-set-new-sports-records-or-hollywood-actors/)

[Oliver North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-north/)

> [I've tended to avoid meeting my heroes. They aren't necessarily the nicest people anyway. The exception was George Harrison, one of the loveliest men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siobhan-fahey/i-ve-tended-to-avoid-meeting-my-heroes-they-aren-t-necessarily-the/)

[Siobhan Fahey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siobhan-fahey/)

> [Hollywood can't stand heroes who aren't sympathetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-jenkins/hollywood-can-t-stand-heroes-who-aren-t-sympathetic/)

[Patty Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-jenkins/)

> [Heroes aren't born, but they are created in times of strife and struggle. Everyone is capable of being a hero in their own way,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/heroes-aren-t-born-but-they-are-created-in-times-of-strife-and/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Perfect heroines, like perfect heroes, aren't relatable, and if you can't put yourself in the protagonist's shoes, not only will they not inspire you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/perfect-heroines-like-perfect-heroes-aren-t-relatable-and-if-you-can/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

## More by Chris Demetral

> [I think every actor tries to put a little bit of themselves into each character, and I think if you watch very closely, every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-demetral/i-think-every-actor-tries-to-put-a-little-bit-of-themselves-into-each/)

[Chris Demetral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-demetral/)

> [Acting is attached to almost everyone in Los Angeles. Everyone has stars in their eyes when they come out here. I have an expression...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-demetral/acting-is-attached-to-almost-everyone-in-los-angeles-everyone-has/)

[Chris Demetral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-demetral/)

> [I try not to plan more than 24 hours ahead at any given point. If I've learned anything, it's that you just can't plan.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-demetral/i-try-not-to-plan-more-than-24-hours-ahead-at-any-given-point-if-i-ve/)

[Chris Demetral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-demetral/)

> [One of the great things about the longer you do a character, the more the writers start to understand your kind of character ticks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-demetral/one-of-the-great-things-about-the-longer-you-do-a-character-the-more/)

[Chris Demetral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-demetral/)

> [I really do think you lose the audition on the first ten seconds. I think you walk in, the casting directors and the producers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-demetral/i-really-do-think-you-lose-the-audition-on-the-first-ten-seconds-i/)

[Chris Demetral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-demetral/)

> [I don't even know if acting's something I want to do the rest of my life. There's a lot of other things I'm interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-demetral/i-don-t-even-know-if-acting-s-something-i-want-to-do-the-rest-of-my/)

[Chris Demetral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-demetral/)

> [I base my happiness on the relationships in my life. I would rather have the absolute worst acting career or, I don't know, whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-demetral/i-base-my-happiness-on-the-relationships-in-my-life-i-would-rather/)

[Chris Demetral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-demetral/)

> [I always feel that it's weird that anyone else is watching one of my shows on any other TV than my own. It just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-demetral/i-always-feel-that-it-s-weird-that-anyone-else-is-watching-one-of-my/)

[Chris Demetral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-demetral/)

> [I've always said and I'd be one of the first people to admit; I think there are literally thousands of actors out there more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-demetral/i-ve-always-said-and-i-d-be-one-of-the-first-people-to-admit-i-think/)

[Chris Demetral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-demetral/)

> [Montreal's a unique city, very fascinating stories of architecture and history, and it's this sort of bizarre mixture of Europe and North America. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-demetral/montreal-s-a-unique-city-very-fascinating-stories-of-architecture-and/)

[Chris Demetral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-demetral/)

> [I've always wanted to entertain people, or make them smile, or tell a joke that would make them laugh. I don't think there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-demetral/i-ve-always-wanted-to-entertain-people-or-make-them-smile-or-tell-a/)

[Chris Demetral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-demetral/)

> [I always remind myself that whenever I see a good review or hear a good opinion of a role that I've done that it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-demetral/i-always-remind-myself-that-whenever-i-see-a-good-review-or-hear-a/)

[Chris Demetral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-demetral/)

[Explore all 13 Chris Demetral quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-demetral/)

## More Actors quotes

> [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/)

[Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/)

> [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/)

[Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/)

> [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/)

[Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/)

> [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/)

[Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/)

> [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/)

[Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/)

> [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/)

[Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/)

> [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/)

> [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/)

[Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/)

> [When we watch a film as actors, you have to understand that we always see much more than what's on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/when-we-watch-a-film-as-actors-you-have-to-understand-that-we-always/)

[Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/)

> [As actors, you become an expert at starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-actors-you-become-an-expert-at-starting-over/)

[Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/)

> [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/)

[Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/)

> [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/)

[Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/)

> [A rapper is about being completely true to yourself. Being an actor is about changing who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/a-rapper-is-about-being-completely-true-to-yourself-being-an-actor-is/)

[Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/)

> [I've been a professional actor for almost 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-been-a-professional-actor-for-almost-40-years/)

[Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/)

> [American actors are coy. We all have pricks and cunts, or are you different from the rest of us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/american-actors-are-coy-we-all-have-pricks-and-cunts-or-are-you/)

[Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/)

[Browse all 11,394 Actors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I think most actors probably enjoy playing the bad guy. I think it's the fact that most of the time, heroes aren't written with enough interesting qualities or flaws, and that leads to the bad guys being almost the runaway train, as far as being more interesting for the audience to watch.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Chris Demetral"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-demetral/i-think-most-actors-probably-enjoy-playing-the-bad-guy-i-think-it-s/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Actors"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-demetral/i-think-most-actors-probably-enjoy-playing-the-bad-guy-i-think-it-s/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75c/chris-demetral-36040_audience_i-think-most-actors-probably-enjoy-playi_2173327.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75c/chris-demetral-36040_audience_i-think-most-actors-probably-enjoy-playi_2173327.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75c/chris-demetral-36040_audience_i-think-most-actors-probably-enjoy-playi_2173327.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I think most actors probably enjoy playing the bad guy. I think it's the fact that most of the time, heroes…” — Chris Demetral",
                "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": "Chris Demetral",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-demetral/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I think most actors probably enjoy...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-demetral/i-think-most-actors-probably-enjoy-playing-the-bad-guy-i-think-it-s/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-demetral/i-think-most-actors-probably-enjoy-playing-the-bad-guy-i-think-it-s/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
