--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you're the guy inside of a character…" description: "\"When you're the guy inside of a character and you've lived with it for almost two years, you're always a bit defensive about the character, and you wan..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/720/dan-amboyer-16948_always_when-you-re-the-guy-inside-of-a-characte_346893.jpg" --- # When you're the guy inside of a character and you've lived… ![“When you're the guy inside of a character and you've lived with it for almost two years, you're always a bit defensive about the character, and you want to root for the character you're playing.” quote by Dan Amboyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/720/dan-amboyer-16948_always_when-you-re-the-guy-inside-of-a-characte_346893.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/720/dan-amboyer-16948_always_when-you-re-the-guy-inside-of-a-characte_346893.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/720/dan-amboyer-16948_always_when-you-re-the-guy-inside-of-a-characte_346893.jpg) > “When you're the guy inside of a character and you've lived with it for almost two years, you're always a bit defensive about the character, and you want to root for the character you're playing.” [Dan Amboyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-amboyer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An actor becomes emotionally attached to a role after long immersion, leading to defensiveness and a desire to support that character. **In simple terms:** Long‑term role immersion creates protective feelings toward the character. Key Takeaway Acknowledge attachment but stay objective. Themes acting empathy identity defensiveness Mood reflective introspective Type advice professional development When to use this quote - theatre productions - film series - long‑term TV roles - character development workshops Key Concepts method acting character identification psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does attachment affect your portrayal? - Can you separate self from character? A Different Perspective Attachment may cloud critical performance choices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ## Related quotes > [I feel defensive about my character because I really love Andrea, and we share the same heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-holden/i-feel-defensive-about-my-character-because-i-really-love-andrea-and/) [Laurie Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-holden/) > [I stay true, because whatever the project is, I'm still looking for inside of that character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/i-stay-true-because-whatever-the-project-is-i-m-still-looking-for/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [I have an affinity for writing in the first person. I love the intimacy of being dropped inside the character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/i-have-an-affinity-for-writing-in-the-first-person-i-love-the/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [Getting inside your character's head and letting the reader see the world through not just their eyes but their sensibility creates an intimacy that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-o-nan/getting-inside-your-character-s-head-and-letting-the-reader-see-the/) [Stewart O'Nan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-o-nan/) > [It's important that your inside character is bigger than your outside persona. A sports car with a lawnmower engine won't work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-important-that-your-inside-character-is-bigger-than-your-outside/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I love factoids. It's hard for me to keep those out. It just takes realizing that it's stopping the character. Part of it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-braver/i-love-factoids-it-s-hard-for-me-to-keep-those-out-it-just-takes/) [Adam Braver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-braver/) > [That's, to me, the ultimate goal - to disappear inside another character and bring them so fully to life that I've convinced other human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-beatriz/that-s-to-me-the-ultimate-goal-to-disappear-inside-another-character/) [Stephanie Beatriz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-beatriz/) > [Improv is such a huge part of my background, and a huge part of character discovery is really being inside the character and trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-rothwell/improv-is-such-a-huge-part-of-my-background-and-a-huge-part-of/) [Natasha Rothwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-rothwell/) > [By the end, you should be inside your character, actually operating from within somebody else, and knowing him pretty well, as that person knows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-trevor/by-the-end-you-should-be-inside-your-character-actually-operating/) [William Trevor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-trevor/) > [As a reader, you’re often inside one or more character heads, so you know what they’re feeling, even if they can’t exactly say it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-schwalbe/as-a-reader-you-re-often-inside-one-or-more-character-heads-so-you/) [Will Schwalbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-schwalbe/) > [A character does seem to have a life of its own, but I have what I'd describe as a very fluid relationship with them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-gloeckner/a-character-does-seem-to-have-a-life-of-its-own-but-i-have-what-i-d/) [Phoebe Gloeckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-gloeckner/) > [I was always amazed the way people would come in looking one way and transform completely to the point where I couldn't recognize their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-keys/i-was-always-amazed-the-way-people-would-come-in-looking-one-way-and/) [Alicia Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-keys/) > [Journalism can go right up to the door of the room in which the decisions are made. A novel can go inside the room…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-frum/journalism-can-go-right-up-to-the-door-of-the-room-in-which-the/) [David Frum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-frum/) > [It's fashionable for modern actors to talk about getting 'inside' a character. But you can't get to the inside without getting the outside right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlton-heston/it-s-fashionable-for-modern-actors-to-talk-about-getting-inside-a/) [Charlton Heston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlton-heston/) > [The ability to get inside your character's head in a graphic novel is really fun and useful because one, you can really define the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kripke/the-ability-to-get-inside-your-character-s-head-in-a-graphic-novel-is/) [Eric Kripke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kripke/) ## More by Dan Amboyer > [I love interacting the fans and try to answer questions that people have. And I love when people are excited about projects, so. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-amboyer/i-love-interacting-the-fans-and-try-to-answer-questions-that-people/) [Dan Amboyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-amboyer/) > [I strive to destroy fear and judgment that once stifled me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-amboyer/i-strive-to-destroy-fear-and-judgment-that-once-stifled-me/) [Dan Amboyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-amboyer/) > [It's even hard for me to even watch myself, but that's the case with most actors. It's weird if an actor is like, 'I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-amboyer/it-s-even-hard-for-me-to-even-watch-myself-but-that-s-the-case-with/) [Dan Amboyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-amboyer/) > [I came out to my family when I was 13. I was a very young kid, a vulnerable kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-amboyer/i-came-out-to-my-family-when-i-was-13-i-was-a-very-young-kid-a/) [Dan Amboyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-amboyer/) > [I was a chubby kid, an outsider, and then all of a sudden I shot up to 6 foot 2, and people started calling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-amboyer/i-was-a-chubby-kid-an-outsider-and-then-all-of-a-sudden-i-shot-up-to/) [Dan Amboyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-amboyer/) > [I've been painting since I was a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-amboyer/i-ve-been-painting-since-i-was-a-kid/) [Dan Amboyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-amboyer/) > [Middle school left some scars, as I'm sure it did for many of us. 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I had a few close friends, but I was the first one to be bullied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-amboyer/growing-up-i-was-the-awkward-chubby-kid-i-had-a-few-close-friends-but/) [Dan Amboyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-amboyer/) > [I put it forth as a challenge to the industry to continue thinking of actors, regardless of sexuality, with open eyes and open hearts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-amboyer/i-put-it-forth-as-a-challenge-to-the-industry-to-continue-thinking-of/) [Dan Amboyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-amboyer/) > [I've learned that no matter what shape you get your body into, if you don't get your head right, you're not going to feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-amboyer/i-ve-learned-that-no-matter-what-shape-you-get-your-body-into-if-you/) [Dan Amboyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-amboyer/) > [I'm from the Detroit area, just north of Detroit. But then I went to boarding school in northern Michigan, so a little bit colder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-amboyer/i-m-from-the-detroit-area-just-north-of-detroit-but-then-i-went-to/) [Dan Amboyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-amboyer/) > [I did 'Christmas Carol' off and on through my teenage years, so I always had that dialect and that sound in my ear, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-amboyer/i-did-christmas-carol-off-and-on-through-my-teenage-years-so-i-always/) [Dan Amboyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-amboyer/) [Explore all 38 Dan Amboyer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-amboyer/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [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/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. 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