---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What's really fun as the villain is…"
description: "\"What's really fun as the villain is working to get the audience to hate you.\" — Corey Stoll"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b52/corey-stoll-14800_audience_what-s-really-fun-as-the-villain-is-work_1209019.jpg"
---

#  What's really fun as the villain is working to get the…

![“What's really fun as the villain is working to get the audience to hate you.” quote by Corey Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b52/corey-stoll-14800_audience_what-s-really-fun-as-the-villain-is-work_1209019.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b52/corey-stoll-14800_audience_what-s-really-fun-as-the-villain-is-work_1209019.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b52/corey-stoll-14800_audience_what-s-really-fun-as-the-villain-is-work_1209019.jpg)

> “What's really fun as the villain is working to get the audience to hate you.”

[Corey Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stoll/)

## About This Quote

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

Playing a villain is enjoyable because it lets the audience direct negative emotions toward you, creating a dynamic performance.

**In simple terms:** Villain work is fun.

Key Takeaway

Leverage audience reaction for impact.

Themes

theatre psychology performance

Mood

playful insightful

Type

advice creative

When to use this quote

- stage productions
- film roles
- improv comedy

Key Concepts

character archetype audience dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

- How does audience hatred shape a villain?
- When does it become counterproductive?

A Different Perspective

Overplaying can alienate viewers.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Villain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/villain/)

## Related quotes

> [I do think I have more fun being a villain, definitely. It's just more fun to be a villain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lana/i-do-think-i-have-more-fun-being-a-villain-definitely-it-s-just-more/)

[Lana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lana/)

> [I learned how to let other performers have their moment. A lot of people can't do that. They just chew the scenery and steamroll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendi-mclendon-covey/i-learned-how-to-let-other-performers-have-their-moment-a-lot-of/)

[Wendi McLendon-Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendi-mclendon-covey/)

> [We wanted to offer something new to our audience. I hate it when bands stop taking chances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-hammett/we-wanted-to-offer-something-new-to-our-audience-i-hate-it-when-bands/)

[Kirk Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-hammett/)

> [If it is something that I want to do, then I don't think the audience will hate it. Unless I turn into a megalomaniac…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-khan/if-it-is-something-that-i-want-to-do-then-i-don-t-think-the-audience/)

[Salman Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-khan/)

> [A patriotic song is an emotion and you must not embarrass an audience with it, or they will hate your guts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-berlin/a-patriotic-song-is-an-emotion-and-you-must-not-embarrass-an-audience/)

[Irving Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-berlin/)

> [As long as I have the talent and there's a demand for the old Chinese man - whether he's a philosopher, or a master,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hong/as-long-as-i-have-the-talent-and-there-s-a-demand-for-the-old-chinese/)

[James Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hong/)

> [I won't deny it, but working on 'The Villain' has been quite a challenge, as Prem is not easy to please.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-janya/i-won-t-deny-it-but-working-on-the-villain-has-been-quite-a-challenge/)

[Arjun Janya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-janya/)

> [The 'Manipulator' record was really fun to do. It was far less heavy and draining, in an emotional way. It was just like making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ty-segall/the-manipulator-record-was-really-fun-to-do-it-was-far-less-heavy-and/)

[Ty Segall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ty-segall/)

> [I'm in this wave with Maddie &amp; Tae and RaeLynn and Mickey Guyton and Cam. We're all kind of finding our niches and becoming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsea-ballerini/i-m-in-this-wave-with-maddie-tae-and-raelynn-and-mickey-guyton-and/)

[Kelsea Ballerini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsea-ballerini/)

> [Being Captain No-Fun really is no fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-crownover/being-captain-no-fun-really-is-no-fun/)

[Jay Crownover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-crownover/)

> [It's really fun doing scenes with people when there's no written dialogue because you're really listening to each other, you're playing off each other,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-silva/it-s-really-fun-doing-scenes-with-people-when-there-s-no-written/)

Sebastian Silva

> [Honestly, it's really fun to be yourself. It's really fun to be me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-rippon/honestly-it-s-really-fun-to-be-yourself-it-s-really-fun-to-be-me/)

[Adam Rippon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-rippon/)

> [I never tire of the heroes that I knew growing up. The fun is not that much different from doing a television show: You're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/i-never-tire-of-the-heroes-that-i-knew-growing-up-the-fun-is-not-that/)

[Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/)

> [I love creating new things. It's kind of my job, it's what I do, and I really have fun with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/i-love-creating-new-things-it-s-kind-of-my-job-it-s-what-i-do-and-i/)

[David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/)

> [I kind of pride myself on coming onto things that are well-oiled machines and finding a way to bring what I bring and fit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/i-kind-of-pride-myself-on-coming-onto-things-that-are-well-oiled/)

[Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/)

## More by Corey Stoll

> [Yes, Im a New Yorker, born and bred. While Im not quite the L.A. snob that Woody Allen is, I do find myself happier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stoll/yes-im-a-new-yorker-born-and-bred-while-im-not-quite-the-l-a-snob/)

[Corey Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stoll/)

> [Certain media attracts more pulpy or low-brow things, especially when they're young. Finding the best story, in any particular medium, is going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stoll/certain-media-attracts-more-pulpy-or-low-brow-things-especially-when/)

[Corey Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stoll/)

> [I believe that love that is true and real creates a respite from death. All cowardice comes from not loving, or not loving well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stoll/i-believe-that-love-that-is-true-and-real-creates-a-respite-from/)

[Corey Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stoll/)

> [I think we all understand disappointing yourself. Especially in the acting profession, which is probably similar to a political career, even the most stable,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stoll/i-think-we-all-understand-disappointing-yourself-especially-in-the/)

[Corey Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stoll/)

> [My parents met when they were 16 and bonded over the antiwar movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stoll/my-parents-met-when-they-were-16-and-bonded-over-the-antiwar-movement/)

[Corey Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stoll/)

> [My wife was pregnant while we were promoting 'Ant-Man,' and that was very exciting, to see, like, action figures of myself, as we're getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stoll/my-wife-was-pregnant-while-we-were-promoting-ant-man-and-that-was/)

[Corey Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stoll/)

> [I don't know how to play myself. I'm not interested enough in myself. That's just not how I was educated. That's not how I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stoll/i-don-t-know-how-to-play-myself-i-m-not-interested-enough-in-myself/)

[Corey Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stoll/)

> [A play is not a tweet. It can't be compressed and embedded, and it definitely can't be delivered apologetically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stoll/a-play-is-not-a-tweet-it-can-t-be-compressed-and-embedded-and-it/)

[Corey Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stoll/)

> [It's funny I'm in some ways hopelessly masculine, but I don't fish, I don't hunt, I'm not that into sports. I can't fix a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stoll/it-s-funny-i-m-in-some-ways-hopelessly-masculine-but-i-don-t-fish-i/)

[Corey Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stoll/)

> [When you're in a theater, it's about reaching the back rows. When you have a camera in your face, it's just about knowing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stoll/when-you-re-in-a-theater-it-s-about-reaching-the-back-rows-when-you/)

[Corey Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stoll/)

> [Having an opportunity to play different characters, and work in different mediums, that's what's fun. The worst question you could be asked is, "What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stoll/having-an-opportunity-to-play-different-characters-and-work-in/)

[Corey Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stoll/)

> [I was not into B-movies. A lot of it is sloppy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stoll/i-was-not-into-b-movies-a-lot-of-it-is-sloppy/)

[Corey Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stoll/)

> [I started with superhero stuff - 'X-Men' and 'Spider-Man' and 'Batman' and 'Hellboy' - but I wasn't familiar with 'The Strain' until I started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stoll/i-started-with-superhero-stuff-x-men-and-spider-man-and-batman-and/)

[Corey Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stoll/)

> [I made a choice in my career to not get hair plugs and not hide the fact that I was balding, and I've managed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stoll/i-made-a-choice-in-my-career-to-not-get-hair-plugs-and-not-hide-the/)

[Corey Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stoll/)

> [Growing up, I used to babysit, but, thinking back on what I was like at 15, this was probably a terrible idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stoll/growing-up-i-used-to-babysit-but-thinking-back-on-what-i-was-like-at/)

[Corey Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stoll/)

[Explore all 45 Corey Stoll quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stoll/)

## More Audience quotes

> [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/)

[Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/)

> [It's those moments, those odd moments that you look for and sometimes by creating this kind of loose atmosphere you find those little moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-levinson/it-s-those-moments-those-odd-moments-that-you-look-for-and-sometimes/)

[Barry Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-levinson/)

> [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/)

[Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/)

> [One of the best moments of any Liars show is hearing the crowd squawk 'We're doomed! We're doomed!' on cue during 'We Fenced Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/one-of-the-best-moments-of-any-liars-show-is-hearing-the-crowd-squawk/)

[Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/)

> [It's the adrenaline rush you only get from being in front of an audience. It's addictive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-saadiq/it-s-the-adrenaline-rush-you-only-get-from-being-in-front-of-an/)

[Raphael Saadiq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-saadiq/)

> [If I had to speak in front of a Korean audience, I would be hard pressed to sound other than a little girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/an-na/if-i-had-to-speak-in-front-of-a-korean-audience-i-would-be-hard/)

[An Na](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/an-na/)

> [The liveness of theater, and the excitement of experiencing it alongside an audience, is something you can't get at home. That makes the theater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-blaemire/the-liveness-of-theater-and-the-excitement-of-experiencing-it/)

[Nick Blaemire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-blaemire/)

> [One of the things that touches me most when I play for an audience is that although we may be unable to communicate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hough/one-of-the-things-that-touches-me-most-when-i-play-for-an-audience-is/)

[Stephen Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hough/)

> [I have to feel the audience. I enjoy that feeling of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gahan/i-have-to-feel-the-audience-i-enjoy-that-feeling-of-community/)

[Dave Gahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gahan/)

> [When you lived it for years and years and years and seen different characters just get pummeled and squashed because 'I said so,' it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arn-anderson/when-you-lived-it-for-years-and-years-and-years-and-seen-different/)

[Arn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arn-anderson/)

> [“During the first few minutes of your presentation, your job is to assure the audience members that you are not going to waste their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/during-the-first-few-minutes-of-your-presentation-your-job-is-to/)

[Dale Ludwig and Greg Owen-Boger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/)

> [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/)

[Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/)

> [I don't think about who the audience is for my books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-don-t-think-about-who-the-audience-is-for-my-books/)

[J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/)

> [I feel I have been playing all primary characters. And if your character forms a connect with the audience, it doesn't matter if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angad-bedi/i-feel-i-have-been-playing-all-primary-characters-and-if-your/)

[Angad Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angad-bedi/)

> [When I was playing piano, it was like, 'I'm going to write a song using all the white keys.' My music director, who knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tesh/when-i-was-playing-piano-it-was-like-i-m-going-to-write-a-song-using/)

[John Tesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tesh/)

[Browse all 9,118 Audience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "What's really fun as the villain is working to get the audience to hate you.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Corey Stoll"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stoll/what-s-really-fun-as-the-villain-is-working-to-get-the-audience-to/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Audience"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stoll/what-s-really-fun-as-the-villain-is-working-to-get-the-audience-to/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b52/corey-stoll-14800_audience_what-s-really-fun-as-the-villain-is-work_1209019.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b52/corey-stoll-14800_audience_what-s-really-fun-as-the-villain-is-work_1209019.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b52/corey-stoll-14800_audience_what-s-really-fun-as-the-villain-is-work_1209019.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“What's really fun as the villain is working to get the audience to hate you.” — Corey Stoll",
                "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": "Corey Stoll",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stoll/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "What's really fun as the villain...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stoll/what-s-really-fun-as-the-villain-is-working-to-get-the-audience-to/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stoll/what-s-really-fun-as-the-villain-is-working-to-get-the-audience-to/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
