--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm an actor; I want to play roles, not a…" description: "\"I'm an actor; I want to play roles, not a role.\" — Ed Westwick" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5aa/ed-westwick-15737_actor_i-m-an-actor-i-want-to-play-roles-not-a_3092731.jpg" --- # I'm an actor; I want to play roles, not a role. ![“I'm an actor; I want to play roles, not a role.” quote by Ed Westwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5aa/ed-westwick-15737_actor_i-m-an-actor-i-want-to-play-roles-not-a_3092731.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5aa/ed-westwick-15737_actor_i-m-an-actor-i-want-to-play-roles-not-a_3092731.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5aa/ed-westwick-15737_actor_i-m-an-actor-i-want-to-play-roles-not-a_3092731.jpg) > “I'm an actor; I want to play roles, not a role.” [Ed Westwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-westwick/) ## 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 wants to explore diverse characters rather than being confined to a single identity. **In simple terms:** He seeks variety in acting, not a single role. Key Takeaway Pursue varied experiences. Themes creativity identity artistic freedom Mood thoughtful inspirational Type artistic career When to use this quote - theatre - film - personal branding Key Concepts typecasting role diversity Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance variety with depth? - What roles challenge you most? A Different Perspective It may ignore the value of mastering a signature role. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actor Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-want/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play Roles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-roles/) [Role](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/role/) [Roles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roles/) [Roles Role](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roles-role-566461/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [Though sometimes you hit, sometimes you don't get the kind of roles you should get, but sometimes you get the role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rishi-kapoor/though-sometimes-you-hit-sometimes-you-don-t-get-the-kind-of-roles/) [Rishi Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rishi-kapoor/) > [As an actor, you always want to find a piece of who you are in every role you take on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larenz-tate/as-an-actor-you-always-want-to-find-a-piece-of-who-you-are-in-every/) [Larenz Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larenz-tate/) > [I don't put the pressure on myself to be a very successful movie star. I want to enjoy being an actor and I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thandie-newton/i-don-t-put-the-pressure-on-myself-to-be-a-very-successful-movie-star/) [Thandie Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thandie-newton/) > [I definitely play roles that are close to my persona. I was dying to be an actor, my whole life. I just always wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drea-de-matteo/i-definitely-play-roles-that-are-close-to-my-persona-i-was-dying-to/) [Drea de Matteo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drea-de-matteo/) > [In the Indian film industry, especially those of us who are in mainstream cinema, we invariably play a typical hero's role. More often than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-bachchan/in-the-indian-film-industry-especially-those-of-us-who-are-in/) [Abhishek Bachchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-bachchan/) > [In acting, you are fulfilled if you give justice to your role... if you are able to do a credible performance and touch the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-hutton/in-acting-you-are-fulfilled-if-you-give-justice-to-your-role-if-you/) [Timothy Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-hutton/) > [I always tell Asian actors, especially Filipinos wanting to break into Hollywood, to study, study and study and show their best. I haven't stopped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-lee/i-always-tell-asian-actors-especially-filipinos-wanting-to-break-into/) [Reggie Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-lee/) > [As an actor, you always want to keep it different, change it up, and, you know, just to keep yourself inspired and work with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-reilly/as-an-actor-you-always-want-to-keep-it-different-change-it-up-and-you/) [Kelly Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-reilly/) > [The one piece of advice I would give to any actor is, if you want to go out on the street without being recognised,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/the-one-piece-of-advice-i-would-give-to-any-actor-is-if-you-want-to/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > [I think that's just a natural instinct as an actor is that you want to just keep exploring humanity and finding different facets of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erika-christensen/i-think-that-s-just-a-natural-instinct-as-an-actor-is-that-you-want/) [Erika Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erika-christensen/) > [I would have liked Sir Laurence Olivier to ask me to go to the Old Vic and let me play all the roles Judi…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-reid/i-would-have-liked-sir-laurence-olivier-to-ask-me-to-go-to-the-old/) [Anne Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-reid/) > [I was always asked to play roles where I was the contrasting or multicultural character. Sometimes that worked for me - often it didn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-jurado/i-was-always-asked-to-play-roles-where-i-was-the-contrasting-or/) [Katy Jurado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-jurado/) > [I play roles now that suit my age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sridevi/i-play-roles-now-that-suit-my-age/) [Sridevi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sridevi/) > [“What is the essence of yourself? Who are you when you think of yourself ? Are you all the roles that you play? Are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-schwartz/what-is-the-essence-of-yourself-who-are-you-when-you-think-of/) [Morris Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-schwartz/) > [I have wanted to act since I was three and that is what I hunger for. I want to play roles that are as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natascha-mcelhone/i-have-wanted-to-act-since-i-was-three-and-that-is-what-i-hunger-for/) [Natascha Mcelhone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natascha-mcelhone/) ## More by Ed Westwick > [Today there are paparazzi out, I'm doing a day of press, I'm in a hotel, I've just been on Radio 1. But when I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-westwick/today-there-are-paparazzi-out-i-m-doing-a-day-of-press-i-m-in-a-hotel/) [Ed Westwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-westwick/) > [I've always connected with music. Life's not always what you see; it's what going on in your head. Music is what comes out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-westwick/i-ve-always-connected-with-music-life-s-not-always-what-you-see-it-s/) [Ed Westwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-westwick/) > ['Villain' is such a harsh word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-westwick/villain-is-such-a-harsh-word/) [Ed Westwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-westwick/) > [I'm a big fan of Elvis, man. I got 'Heartbreak Hotel' tattooed on my chest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-westwick/i-m-a-big-fan-of-elvis-man-i-got-heartbreak-hotel-tattooed-on-my-chest/) [Ed Westwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-westwick/) > [It's very difficult to juggle two careers, unless you're going to have someone put it all together for you. Because you're on TV, somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-westwick/it-s-very-difficult-to-juggle-two-careers-unless-you-re-going-to-have/) [Ed Westwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-westwick/) > [I love working in America, I love being part of the industry out here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-westwick/i-love-working-in-america-i-love-being-part-of-the-industry-out-here/) [Ed Westwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-westwick/) > [I don't want to do something where I play a kid in a school. And I don't understand these spoof movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-westwick/i-don-t-want-to-do-something-where-i-play-a-kid-in-a-school-and-i-don/) [Ed Westwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-westwick/) > [I can pretty much live without fast food. I haven't eaten McDonald's in so long, but it's okay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-westwick/i-can-pretty-much-live-without-fast-food-i-haven-t-eaten-mcdonald-s/) [Ed Westwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-westwick/) > [You have to do things that excite you; you have to have a passion for your work. Otherwise you're just a face on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-westwick/you-have-to-do-things-that-excite-you-you-have-to-have-a-passion-for/) [Ed Westwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-westwick/) > [I think gardens are fantastic, and I'd love to draw and design and stuff like that. I love just planting flowers during the summer.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-westwick/i-think-gardens-are-fantastic-and-i-d-love-to-draw-and-design-and/) [Ed Westwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-westwick/) > [I'm a rock 'n' roll guy, really. I'm a big fan of Elvis. I got "Heartbreak Hotel" tattooed on my chest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-westwick/i-m-a-rock-n-roll-guy-really-i-m-a-big-fan-of-elvis-i-got-heartbreak/) [Ed Westwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-westwick/) > [I'm all for being in love and whenever I like someone, I end up pretty much completely smitten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-westwick/i-m-all-for-being-in-love-and-whenever-i-like-someone-i-end-up-pretty/) [Ed Westwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-westwick/) > [I've been writing a lot of poetry recently. It helps me think and work things out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-westwick/i-ve-been-writing-a-lot-of-poetry-recently-it-helps-me-think-and-work/) [Ed Westwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-westwick/) > [I have two older brothers. I am the baby. We're all very, very close. We're great communicators, so we get along really well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-westwick/i-have-two-older-brothers-i-am-the-baby-we-re-all-very-very-close-we/) [Ed Westwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-westwick/) > [When I find someone who is worth it, I'll be nice and respect that person and put some time in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-westwick/when-i-find-someone-who-is-worth-it-i-ll-be-nice-and-respect-that/) [Ed Westwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-westwick/) [Explore all 42 Ed Westwick quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-westwick/) ## More Actor quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [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 once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [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/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [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/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm an actor; I want to play roles, not a role.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ed Westwick" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-westwick/i-m-an-actor-i-want-to-play-roles-not-a-role/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-westwick/i-m-an-actor-i-want-to-play-roles-not-a-role/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5aa/ed-westwick-15737_actor_i-m-an-actor-i-want-to-play-roles-not-a_3092731.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5aa/ed-westwick-15737_actor_i-m-an-actor-i-want-to-play-roles-not-a_3092731.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5aa/ed-westwick-15737_actor_i-m-an-actor-i-want-to-play-roles-not-a_3092731.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm an actor; I want to play roles, not a role.” — Ed Westwick", "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": "Ed Westwick", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-westwick/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'm an actor; I want to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-westwick/i-m-an-actor-i-want-to-play-roles-not-a-role/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-westwick/i-m-an-actor-i-want-to-play-roles-not-a-role/#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 } } ] } ```