--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [My work is] maybe about me maybe not…" description: "\"[My work is] maybe about me maybe not wanting to be me and wanting to be all these other characters. Or at least try them on.\" — Cindy Sherman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76c/cindy-sherman-11074_character_my-work-is-maybe-about-me-maybe-not-want_2455905.jpg" --- # \[My work is\] maybe about me maybe not wanting to be me and… ![“[My work is] maybe about me maybe not wanting to be me and wanting to be all these other characters. Or at least try them on.” quote by Cindy Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76c/cindy-sherman-11074_character_my-work-is-maybe-about-me-maybe-not-want_2455905.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76c/cindy-sherman-11074_character_my-work-is-maybe-about-me-maybe-not-want_2455905.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76c/cindy-sherman-11074_character_my-work-is-maybe-about-me-maybe-not-want_2455905.jpg) > “\[My work is\] maybe about me maybe not wanting to be me and wanting to be all these other characters. Or at least try them on.” [Cindy Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sherman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker reflects on identity fluidity, exploring self through adopting various personas and questioning authenticity. **In simple terms:** Exploring self by trying different roles. Key Takeaway Embrace role‑playing to discover true self. Themes identity self‑exploration art performance psychology Mood introspective conflicted Type reflective artistic When to use this quote - acting workshops - creative writing - therapy sessions - personal branding - social media experiments Key Concepts persona theory self‑concept role‑play Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate between performed and authentic self? - What risks arise from constant role‑changing? A Different Perspective May obscure genuine self, leading to confusion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [Maybe wanting to retire is my ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-blethyn/maybe-wanting-to-retire-is-my-ambition/) [Brenda Blethyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-blethyn/) > [“I want what I want! And I want to find what I want in the exact place, at exact time that I want it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/i-want-what-i-want-and-i-want-to-find-what-i-want-in-the-exact-place/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [If I knew what the picture was going to be like I wouldn’t make it. It was almost like it was made already.. the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sherman/if-i-knew-what-the-picture-was-going-to-be-like-i-wouldn-t-make-it-it/) [Cindy Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sherman/) > [I didn't think of what I was doing as political. To me it was a way to make the best out of what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sherman/i-didn-t-think-of-what-i-was-doing-as-political-to-me-it-was-a-way-to/) [Cindy Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sherman/) > [I didn't want to make 'high' art, I had no interest in using paint, I wanted to find something that anyone could relate to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sherman/i-didn-t-want-to-make-high-art-i-had-no-interest-in-using-paint-i/) [Cindy Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sherman/) > [I am always surprised at all the things people read into my photos, but it also amuse me. That may be because I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sherman/i-am-always-surprised-at-all-the-things-people-read-into-my-photos/) [Cindy Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sherman/) > [The work is what it is and hopefully it's seen as feminist work, or feminist-advised work, but I'm not going to go around espousing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sherman/the-work-is-what-it-is-and-hopefully-it-s-seen-as-feminist-work-or/) [Cindy Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sherman/) > [The way I see it, as soon as I make a piece I’ve lost control of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sherman/the-way-i-see-it-as-soon-as-i-make-a-piece-i-ve-lost-control-of-it/) [Cindy Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sherman/) > [One reason I was interested in photography was to get away from the preciousness of the art object.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sherman/one-reason-i-was-interested-in-photography-was-to-get-away-from-the/) [Cindy Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sherman/) > [When I read a script, I try not to judge the characters. I try to have an open mind and really see what it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-cruz/when-i-read-a-script-i-try-not-to-judge-the-characters-i-try-to-have/) [Penelope Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-cruz/) > [I do not imitate characters, I try to find their soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-grover/i-do-not-imitate-characters-i-try-to-find-their-soul/) [Sunil Grover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-grover/) > [That's what attracts me to the kind of characters I try and write - that they're not cut and dried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taika-waititi/that-s-what-attracts-me-to-the-kind-of-characters-i-try-and-write/) [Taika Waititi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taika-waititi/) > [I gravitate towards sort of broken characters who try to be better people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-perry/i-gravitate-towards-sort-of-broken-characters-who-try-to-be-better/) [Matthew Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-perry/) > [With comedy, don't try to be funny. That's really helped me. Just say the lines as you would say them, interact with other characters,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-winter/with-comedy-don-t-try-to-be-funny-that-s-really-helped-me-just-say/) [Ariel Winter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-winter/) > [I become my characters, and then try to allow events in the story to take their own course. I try not to play God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-morpurgo/i-become-my-characters-and-then-try-to-allow-events-in-the-story-to/) [Michael Morpurgo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-morpurgo/) ## More by Cindy Sherman > [I don't analyze what I'm doing. I've read convincing interpretations of my work, and sometimes I've noticed something that I wasn't aware of, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sherman/i-don-t-analyze-what-i-m-doing-i-ve-read-convincing-interpretations/) [Cindy Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sherman/) > [I don't think I can see the world through other people's eyes, but I can capture an attitude or a look that makes others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sherman/i-don-t-think-i-can-see-the-world-through-other-people-s-eyes-but-i/) [Cindy Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sherman/) > [I’m really just using the mirror to summon something I don't even know until I see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sherman/i-m-really-just-using-the-mirror-to-summon-something-i-don-t-even/) [Cindy Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sherman/) > [Quite often, I will do something and think, 'Oh, no, she looks a little too much like me.' I have tried to learn not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sherman/quite-often-i-will-do-something-and-think-oh-no-she-looks-a-little/) [Cindy Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sherman/) > [The way I see it, as soon as I make a piece I’ve lost control of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sherman/the-way-i-see-it-as-soon-as-i-make-a-piece-i-ve-lost-control-of-it/) [Cindy Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sherman/) > [When I do work, I get so much done in such a concentrated time that once I’m through a series, I’m so drained I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sherman/when-i-do-work-i-get-so-much-done-in-such-a-concentrated-time-that/) [Cindy Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sherman/) > [I didn't have any interest in traditional art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sherman/i-didn-t-have-any-interest-in-traditional-art/) [Cindy Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sherman/) > [I always need to get away from whatever it is I've just finished, to feel a distance from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sherman/i-always-need-to-get-away-from-whatever-it-is-i-ve-just-finished-to/) [Cindy Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sherman/) > [My dad was such a bigot. He was a horrible, self-centred person. He was really racist and he'd talk about the Jews and blacks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sherman/my-dad-was-such-a-bigot-he-was-a-horrible-self-centred-person-he-was/) [Cindy Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sherman/) > [Some people have told me they remember the film that one of my images is derived from, but in fact I had no film…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sherman/some-people-have-told-me-they-remember-the-film-that-one-of-my-images/) [Cindy Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sherman/) > [ I want\[ed\] to make a show of really big pictures, because you see male artists doing it all the time. It just seemed like… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sherman/i-want-ed-to-make-a-show-of-really-big-pictures-because-you-see-male/) [Cindy Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sherman/) > [I wonder how it is that I’m fooling so many people, I’m doing one of the most stupid things in the world…and people seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sherman/i-wonder-how-it-is-that-i-m-fooling-so-many-people-i-m-doing-one-of/) [Cindy Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sherman/) > [I have had a lifelong fascination with horror movies, scary movies, how they work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sherman/i-have-had-a-lifelong-fascination-with-horror-movies-scary-movies-how/) [Cindy Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sherman/) > [Dreamers are those who have achieved in love and life, because it is a dream that got them there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sherman/dreamers-are-those-who-have-achieved-in-love-and-life-because-it-is-a/) [Cindy Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sherman/) > [I wanted pretty pictures of older women - women who are trying too hard but succeeding - pulling off an extreme look. What I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sherman/i-wanted-pretty-pictures-of-older-women-women-who-are-trying-too-hard/) [Cindy Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sherman/) [Explore all 62 Cindy Sherman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sherman/) ## 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": "[My work is] maybe about me maybe not wanting to be me and wanting to be all these other characters. 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