--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When it's a minor or supporting role, you…" description: "\"When it's a minor or supporting role, you learn to make the most of what you're given. I can make two lines seem like Hamlet.\" — Denholm Elliott" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/289/denholm-elliott-42802_given_when-it-s-a-minor-or-supporting-role-you_709079.jpg" --- # When it's a minor or supporting role, you learn to make… ![“When it's a minor or supporting role, you learn to make the most of what you're given. I can make two lines seem like Hamlet.” quote by Denholm Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/289/denholm-elliott-42802_given_when-it-s-a-minor-or-supporting-role-you_709079.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/289/denholm-elliott-42802_given_when-it-s-a-minor-or-supporting-role-you_709079.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/289/denholm-elliott-42802_given_when-it-s-a-minor-or-supporting-role-you_709079.jpg) > “When it's a minor or supporting role, you learn to make the most of what you're given. I can make two lines seem like Hamlet.” [Denholm Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denholm-elliott/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even small parts can be powerful if you fully commit and use your resources creatively. **In simple terms:** Make the most of any role you get. Key Takeaway Own your part, however minor. Themes creativity resourcefulness performance Mood thoughtful encouraging Type practical motivational When to use this quote - theatre - film set - team projects - public speaking Key Concepts acting self‑expression improvisation Questions to Reflect On - How can a minor role support a larger vision? - When does focusing on details hinder progress? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on small roles may distract from larger goals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Like Hamlet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-hamlet-1127232/) [Lines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lines/) [Make Lines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-lines-1480945/) [Minor Supporting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minor-supporting-2432348/) [Minors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minors/) [Role Learn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/role-learn-2357011/) [Roles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roles/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Supporting Role](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supporting-role-404592/) [Supporting roles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supporting-roles/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) ## Related quotes > [I'm often given parts that aren't as big as they are colorful, but people remember them. When it's a minor or supporting role, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denholm-elliott/i-m-often-given-parts-that-aren-t-as-big-as-they-are-colorful-but/) [Denholm Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denholm-elliott/) > [We can't do both. If you want us to lead, don't criticize us. And if you want us to play a supporting role, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adel-al-jubeir/we-can-t-do-both-if-you-want-us-to-lead-don-t-criticize-us-and-if-you/) [Adel al-Jubeir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adel-al-jubeir/) > [It's rather rare when you play an older character in a movie in a supporting role to even get an arc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigourney-weaver/it-s-rather-rare-when-you-play-an-older-character-in-a-movie-in-a/) [Sigourney Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigourney-weaver/) > [Give role players love. Praise can be most valuable when it’s merited by someone whose supporting role is often overlooked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-parcells/give-role-players-love-praise-can-be-most-valuable-when-it-s-merited/) [Bill Parcells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-parcells/) > [It's actually easier to play a leading role than it is to play a supporting role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carey-mulligan/it-s-actually-easier-to-play-a-leading-role-than-it-is-to-play-a/) [Carey Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carey-mulligan/) > [It's a supporting role, and I relish the opportunity to take those relationships I've developed, the experiences I've developed, to carry the president's agenda…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/it-s-a-supporting-role-and-i-relish-the-opportunity-to-take-those/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [I realized that many men are happy to play a supporting role to another man, but they are much less happy to play a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosamund-pike/i-realized-that-many-men-are-happy-to-play-a-supporting-role-to/) [Rosamund Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosamund-pike/) > [It's good to be in a role when you can learn something new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mullenweg/it-s-good-to-be-in-a-role-when-you-can-learn-something-new/) [Matt Mullenweg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mullenweg/) > [I like to make up my own lines and dress myself and act like myself and no other characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-harrison/i-like-to-make-up-my-own-lines-and-dress-myself-and-act-like-myself/) [Patti Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-harrison/) > [That's what I tell my friends that complain about having three lines in a TV show or movie: Make those three lines pop. Make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-buteau/that-s-what-i-tell-my-friends-that-complain-about-having-three-lines/) [Michelle Buteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-buteau/) > [I encouraged the cast to make up their own lines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lars-von-trier/i-encouraged-the-cast-to-make-up-their-own-lines/) [Lars von Trier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lars-von-trier/) > [When I think of all the Hamlets I've seen, there's been a load of different styles, some marvellous. You like the Hamlet you saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-atkins/when-i-think-of-all-the-hamlets-i-ve-seen-there-s-been-a-load-of/) [Eileen Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-atkins/) > [I learned a lot about Ottoman court, and it was very Shakespearian in essence. Stories like the one in 'Hamlet' did happen several times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haris-pasovic/i-learned-a-lot-about-ottoman-court-and-it-was-very-shakespearian-in/) [Haris Pasovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haris-pasovic/) > [Most actors are either a shower of bloody scruffs or think they should dress like Hamlet off stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/most-actors-are-either-a-shower-of-bloody-scruffs-or-think-they/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [“As a reviewer once told me, the story of Alexander’s tomb without a body is like Hamlet without the Prince…. The rest is silence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-chugg/as-a-reviewer-once-told-me-the-story-of-alexander-s-tomb-without-a/) [Andrew Chugg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-chugg/) ## More by Denholm Elliott > [Surprise yourself every day with your own courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denholm-elliott/surprise-yourself-every-day-with-your-own-courage/) [Denholm Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denholm-elliott/) > [I like actors - such as Margaret Rutherford and Peter Lorre - who aren't afraid to over-act like real people. When I take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denholm-elliott/i-like-actors-such-as-margaret-rutherford-and-peter-lorre-who-aren-t/) [Denholm Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denholm-elliott/) > [I always think instinct is more interesting than anything you can think up. I mistrust and am rather bored with actors who are of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denholm-elliott/i-always-think-instinct-is-more-interesting-than-anything-you-can/) [Denholm Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denholm-elliott/) > ['Trading Places' did more for my career than anything I'd ever done. It was a zonking great hit, and it was also just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denholm-elliott/trading-places-did-more-for-my-career-than-anything-i-d-ever-done-it/) [Denholm Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denholm-elliott/) > [The English may love gardening and fishing, but they have never struck me as being close to nature. Their way of expression is 'the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denholm-elliott/the-english-may-love-gardening-and-fishing-but-they-have-never-struck/) [Denholm Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denholm-elliott/) > [I'm often given parts that aren't as big as they are colorful, but people remember them. 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I've been always very careful in my career to do theatre; it takes you out of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denholm-elliott/i-think-you-can-be-terribly-overexposed-i-ve-been-always-very-careful/) [Denholm Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denholm-elliott/) [Explore all 10 Denholm Elliott quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denholm-elliott/) ## More Given quotes > [I could not limit my values and pursuits to what makes others comfortable. Being possessed by a promise I live without options. I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/i-could-not-limit-my-values-and-pursuits-to-what-makes-others/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [A low-minded person should not be given good advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/a-low-minded-person-should-not-be-given-good-advice/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [The old charters of Massachusetts, Virginia, and the Carolinas had given title to strips of territory extending from the Atlantic westward to the Pacific.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bushnell-hart/the-old-charters-of-massachusetts-virginia-and-the-carolinas-had/) [Albert Bushnell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bushnell-hart/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [Susan B. Anthony must be turning in her grave if she knew that millions of women who have the right to vote are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-m-kunin/susan-b-anthony-must-be-turning-in-her-grave-if-she-knew-that/) [Madeleine M. Kunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-m-kunin/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [If life were like a competitive race, some people would be given a flying start and others would line up with weights tied to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-grothe/if-life-were-like-a-competitive-race-some-people-would-be-given-a/) [Mardy Grothe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardy-grothe/) > [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Music is one of the ways by which you can know everything which is going on in the world. You can feel... through music...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-simone/music-is-one-of-the-ways-by-which-you-can-know-everything-which-is/) [Nina Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-simone/) > [Today, at Harvard, any student with the currently fashionable color of skin is given rights denied to students of the currently unfashionable color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-capp/today-at-harvard-any-student-with-the-currently-fashionable-color-of/) [Al Capp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-capp/) > [Much like teaching art to young art students age 10 to 15 or so on, you have to break it down into bite-sized pieces,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/much-like-teaching-art-to-young-art-students-age-10-to-15-or-so-on/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [It was given out that the animals there practised cannibalism, tortured one another with red-hot horseshoes, and had their females in common. 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