--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whether it's a blessing or a curse, I…" description: "\"Whether it's a blessing or a curse, I have always played someone like 10 years younger. When I was 23 or 24, I was playing 15 opposite Evan Rachel Wood..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e0/elisabeth-harnois-62379_always_whether-it-s-a-blessing-or-a-curse-i-hav_50465.jpg" --- # Whether it's a blessing or a curse, I have always played… ![“Whether it's a blessing or a curse, I have always played someone like 10 years younger. When I was 23 or 24, I was playing 15 opposite Evan Rachel Wood in a movie called 'Pretty Persuasion.' She was 16 and nobody in a million years would have thought I was that much older than her.” quote by Elisabeth Harnois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e0/elisabeth-harnois-62379_always_whether-it-s-a-blessing-or-a-curse-i-hav_50465.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e0/elisabeth-harnois-62379_always_whether-it-s-a-blessing-or-a-curse-i-hav_50465.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e0/elisabeth-harnois-62379_always_whether-it-s-a-blessing-or-a-curse-i-hav_50465.jpg) > “Whether it's a blessing or a curse, I have always played someone like 10 years younger. When I was 23 or 24, I was playing 15 opposite Evan Rachel Wood in a movie called 'Pretty Persuasion.' She was 16 and nobody in a million years would have thought I was that much older than her.” [Elisabeth Harnois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-harnois/) ## 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 consistently portraying characters significantly younger than themselves, highlighting the dissonance between age and on-screen role. **In simple terms:** Age disparity in acting Key Takeaway Actors often play younger roles Themes identity performance age perception career dynamics Mood reflective nostalgic Type personal anecdote industry observation When to use this quote - auditions for teen roles - casting decisions - career retrospectives Key Concepts typecasting self-perception Practical Applications - casting directors assessing age flexibility - actors choosing roles for growth Questions to Reflect On - How does age affect casting choices? - What are the personal impacts of playing younger characters? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessing/) [Curse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curse/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Persuasion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persuasion/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) ## Related quotes > [ I loved Thirteen and I loved Pretty Persuasion, and was always just so blown away by her \[Rachel Evan Wood\]. It was nice, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-page/i-loved-thirteen-and-i-loved-pretty-persuasion-and-was-always-just-so/) [Ellen Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-page/) > [My best score ever is 103, but I've only been playing 15 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-karras/my-best-score-ever-is-103-but-i-ve-only-been-playing-15-years/) [Alex Karras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-karras/) > [“Perhaps there are events and things that work as a doorway into a mythical world, the world of first people, all the way back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-hogan/perhaps-there-are-events-and-things-that-work-as-a-doorway-into-a/) [Linda Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-hogan/) > [The older I get, the younger I feel. Growing up, I was always the kid, but I spoke like an adult and was in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-shields/the-older-i-get-the-younger-i-feel-growing-up-i-was-always-the-kid/) [Brooke Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-shields/) > [I grew up playing about 15 instruments and the way that I was able to accomplish that was by cutting my classes, hanging out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flavor-flav/i-grew-up-playing-about-15-instruments-and-the-way-that-i-was-able-to/) [Flavor Flav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flavor-flav/) > [We'll go out and we'll be playing in front of 15,000 people and say, 'Hey, we're going to do three new songs from something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-miller/we-ll-go-out-and-we-ll-be-playing-in-front-of-15-000-people-and-say/) [Steve Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-miller/) > [My best score ever was 103, but I've only been playing 15 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-karras/my-best-score-ever-was-103-but-i-ve-only-been-playing-15-years/) [Alex Karras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-karras/) > [“To flatter a young man, tell him that you thought that he was older than he is. To flatter an old woman, tell her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/to-flatter-a-young-man-tell-him-that-you-thought-that-he-was-older/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [I thought that the older I got, that partying would change - and it has - in the way that now I know how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendon-urie/i-thought-that-the-older-i-got-that-partying-would-change-and-it-has/) [Brendon Urie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendon-urie/) > [My brother Martin is two years younger than me. There has never been any competition between us - clearly he was the good-looking one;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/my-brother-martin-is-two-years-younger-than-me-there-has-never-been/) [Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) > [For me, personally, there is one really interesting thing. You're all a bit too young for that, but when you get to a certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christoph-waltz/for-me-personally-there-is-one-really-interesting-thing-you-re-all-a/) [Christoph Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christoph-waltz/) > [“Oliver: But there's the catch: you're still twenty years younger than those gathered around you, which is why I can be twenty-four in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-aciman/oliver-but-there-s-the-catch-you-re-still-twenty-years-younger-than/) [André Aciman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-aciman/) > [“She was fifteen years younger than Paul, a point his other retired cop friends kidded him about mercilessly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-james/she-was-fifteen-years-younger-than-paul-a-point-his-other-retired-cop/) [Russell James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-james/) > [I sometimes wish I was 10 years younger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ainsley-harriott/i-sometimes-wish-i-was-10-years-younger/) [Ainsley Harriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ainsley-harriott/) > [Wrestling introduced me to the idea that my body has a purpose besides trying to look five years younger for the first time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-gilpin/wrestling-introduced-me-to-the-idea-that-my-body-has-a-purpose/) [Betty Gilpin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-gilpin/) ## More by Elisabeth Harnois > [Working out makes me feel good. When I don't work out for a few days, I start feeling grumpy. When I'm at the gym,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-harnois/working-out-makes-me-feel-good-when-i-don-t-work-out-for-a-few-days-i/) [Elisabeth Harnois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-harnois/) > [I run a lot. I love running. I try to run at least half an hour a day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-harnois/i-run-a-lot-i-love-running-i-try-to-run-at-least-half-an-hour-a-day/) [Elisabeth Harnois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-harnois/) > [That's an amazing gift as an actor - to be able to say I have an audience in so many countries in the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-harnois/that-s-an-amazing-gift-as-an-actor-to-be-able-to-say-i-have-an/) [Elisabeth Harnois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-harnois/) > [The more you work out, the more you get the energy to do it. And the more you get motivated to do it, especially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-harnois/the-more-you-work-out-the-more-you-get-the-energy-to-do-it-and-the/) [Elisabeth Harnois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-harnois/) [Explore all 5 Elisabeth Harnois quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-harnois/) ## 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. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Whether it's a blessing or a curse, I have always played someone like 10 years younger. When I was 23 or 24, I was playing 15 opposite Evan Rachel Wood in a movie called 'Pretty Persuasion.' She was 16 and nobody in a million years would have thought I was that much older than her.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Elisabeth Harnois" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-harnois/whether-it-s-a-blessing-or-a-curse-i-have-always-played-someone-like/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Always" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-harnois/whether-it-s-a-blessing-or-a-curse-i-have-always-played-someone-like/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e0/elisabeth-harnois-62379_always_whether-it-s-a-blessing-or-a-curse-i-hav_50465.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e0/elisabeth-harnois-62379_always_whether-it-s-a-blessing-or-a-curse-i-hav_50465.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e0/elisabeth-harnois-62379_always_whether-it-s-a-blessing-or-a-curse-i-hav_50465.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Whether it's a blessing or a curse, I have always played someone like 10 years younger. When I was 23 or 24…” — Elisabeth Harnois", "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": "Elisabeth Harnois", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-harnois/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Whether it's a blessing or a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-harnois/whether-it-s-a-blessing-or-a-curse-i-have-always-played-someone-like/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-harnois/whether-it-s-a-blessing-or-a-curse-i-have-always-played-someone-like/#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 } } ] } ```