--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As an artist, it's a great opportunity to…" description: "\"As an artist, it's a great opportunity to play a character like this [Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland]. And then, as a person, I..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c9/forest-whitaker-3022_african_as-an-artist-it-s-a-great-opportunity-to_73161.jpg" --- # As an artist, it's a great opportunity to play a character… ![“As an artist, it's a great opportunity to play a character like this [Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland]. And then, as a person, I had never been to the African continent. So, I knew, personally, it would reshape me.” quote by Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c9/forest-whitaker-3022_african_as-an-artist-it-s-a-great-opportunity-to_73161.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c9/forest-whitaker-3022_african_as-an-artist-it-s-a-great-opportunity-to_73161.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c9/forest-whitaker-3022_african_as-an-artist-it-s-a-great-opportunity-to_73161.jpg) > “As an artist, it's a great opportunity to play a character like this \[Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland\]. And then, as a person, I had never been to the African continent. So, I knew, personally, it would reshape me.” [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) ## 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 real-life dictator forced the actor to confront cultural and moral complexities, altering his worldview despite never having visited Africa. **In simple terms:** Immersive role reshapes personal perspective. Key Takeaway Acting can be a catalyst for self‑reflection. Themes identity cultural immersion ethical responsibility personal growth artistic challenge Mood introspective curious respectful Type personal anecdote professional insight When to use this quote - preparing for a biopic - exploring a foreign culture - confronting moral ambiguity Key Concepts empathy historical context self‑awareness Practical Applications - enhancing performance authenticity - broadening cultural understanding Questions to Reflect On - How does embodying another's life affect one's values? - What responsibilities do actors have when portraying real figures? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [African continent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-continent/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Dictator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictator/) [Kings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kings/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Scotland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scotland/) ## Related quotes > [I'm really excited that people are receiving my performance like this. It makes me feel good, because I've been working really hard. And this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/i-m-really-excited-that-people-are-receiving-my-performance-like-this/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [ There are people \[in Uganda\] who hate Idi Amin, a small amount. And then there are the people who really admire him, like a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/there-are-people-in-uganda-who-hate-idi-amin-a-small-amount-and-then/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [ I was trying to capture this man's \[Idi Amin\] energy, and I did a lot of research in studying him. I tried to capture… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/i-was-trying-to-capture-this-man-s-idi-amin-energy-and-i-did-a-lot-of/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [Since Idi Amin was from the Sudanese section in the north of Uganda, he was darker skinned. He had more of a blue undertone.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/since-idi-amin-was-from-the-sudanese-section-in-the-north-of-uganda/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [Because I was playing Idi Amin, who dealt with the colonisation issue, I became aware of this internalised conflict of what it means to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/because-i-was-playing-idi-amin-who-dealt-with-the-colonisation-issue/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [I started by studying Kiswahili to learn the dialect. Then, I studied tapes, documentaries, footage, and audio cassettes of Idi Amin's speeches. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/i-started-by-studying-kiswahili-to-learn-the-dialect-then-i-studied/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [ I certainly don' think I could've played the character \[Idi Amin\] the same way without being in Uganda. I loved working in Uganda. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/i-certainly-don-think-i-could-ve-played-the-character-idi-amin-the/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [ On the very last day of shooting \[of The Last King of Scotlang\], I remember wanting to get the \[Idi Amin\] character out of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/on-the-very-last-day-of-shooting-of-the-last-king-of-scotlang-i/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [I think the place fed me completely. Not only was I in Uganda, but I was around many people who had a personal relationship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/i-think-the-place-fed-me-completely-not-only-was-i-in-uganda-but-i/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [I submerged myself in all the information that I could find about Idi Amin. I mean, before I left Los Angeles, I was studying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/i-submerged-myself-in-all-the-information-that-i-could-find-about-idi/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [“All cultures seem to find a slightly alien local population to carry the Hermes projection. For the Vietnamese it is the Chinese, and for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hyde/all-cultures-seem-to-find-a-slightly-alien-local-population-to-carry/) [Lewis Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hyde/) > [I am drawn to characters so full of internal contradictions. Idi Amin was one. I loved writing him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/i-am-drawn-to-characters-so-full-of-internal-contradictions-idi-amin/) [Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/) > [If religion is a reaction of man, and nothing more, it seems to me that it represents a human desire for wrongdoers to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-gilligan/if-religion-is-a-reaction-of-man-and-nothing-more-it-seems-to-me-that/) [Vince Gilligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-gilligan/) > [America has had to deal with eccentric dictators in the past: Idi Amin, Muammar Qaddafi, Ming the Merciless... but now the security of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/america-has-had-to-deal-with-eccentric-dictators-in-the-past-idi-amin/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [It's the camel's nose in the tent. Look at Stalin, Mussolini, Hitler, Mao Zedong, Pol Pot, Idi Amin--every one of these monsters, on seizing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlton-heston/it-s-the-camel-s-nose-in-the-tent-look-at-stalin-mussolini-hitler-mao/) [Charlton Heston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlton-heston/) ## More by Forest Whitaker > [To try and act like we haven't had great progress is not true. Obama didn't fail - he changed the psyche of the nation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/to-try-and-act-like-we-haven-t-had-great-progress-is-not-true-obama/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [In high school, I did some musicals, but I never took acting until college. I was studying opera, classical voice, and a speech teacher…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/in-high-school-i-did-some-musicals-but-i-never-took-acting-until/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [I'm really excited that people are receiving my performance like this. It makes me feel good, because I've been working really hard. And this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/i-m-really-excited-that-people-are-receiving-my-performance-like-this/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [If I go to a reunion in east Texas, my mother's side or my father's, one out of ten is a preacher or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/if-i-go-to-a-reunion-in-east-texas-my-mother-s-side-or-my-father-s/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [I can play a man who's despicable. But I'll still look inside him to find a point of connection. If I can find that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/i-can-play-a-man-who-s-despicable-but-i-ll-still-look-inside-him-to/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [It's all about destiny. That's why people look at the zodiac or the I Ching - because there's a certain order to life, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/it-s-all-about-destiny-that-s-why-people-look-at-the-zodiac-or-the-i/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [My wife is completely different from me: she's good with everyone, whereas I'm good at directed conversation when I have a purpose for it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/my-wife-is-completely-different-from-me-she-s-good-with-everyone/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [I was a curious child. I'd debate with anyone who came to the door - people from the Islamic community... Jehovah's Witnesses... anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/i-was-a-curious-child-i-d-debate-with-anyone-who-came-to-the-door/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [There was a time in my acting career, where I was trying to figure out if acting was the thing to do. You know?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/there-was-a-time-in-my-acting-career-where-i-was-trying-to-figure-out/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [The first time I ever went out of the country, it was to London. I was with the choir from my college, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/the-first-time-i-ever-went-out-of-the-country-it-was-to-london-i-was/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [If I were to mark three, I'd mark Bird, because I grew immensely as an artist, I learned a lot, and also, I think,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/if-i-were-to-mark-three-i-d-mark-bird-because-i-grew-immensely-as-an/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [I try to be like a forest: revitalizing and constantly growing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/i-try-to-be-like-a-forest-revitalizing-and-constantly-growing/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [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/) > [It's a contract of connection to be in the same space and watch and listen to stories and be caught in them. When you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/it-s-a-contract-of-connection-to-be-in-the-same-space-and-watch-and/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [I try to be like a forest, revitalizing and constantly growing... Kids would tease me, calling me 'Little Bush.' But... I thought being called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/i-try-to-be-like-a-forest-revitalizing-and-constantly-growing-kids/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) [Explore all 142 Forest Whitaker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) ## More African quotes > [We examine and highlight the history of the African descendants in America, and know that each and every one of us has come this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvette-clarke/we-examine-and-highlight-the-history-of-the-african-descendants-in/) [Yvette Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvette-clarke/) > [I'm just trying to touch the world and touch the people and just get good material. And show them that we can get it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-hardrict/i-m-just-trying-to-touch-the-world-and-touch-the-people-and-just-get/) [Cory Hardrict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-hardrict/) > [For people of color - especially African Americans - the idea that racist cops might frame members of their community is no abstract notion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/for-people-of-color-especially-african-americans-the-idea-that-racist/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [“For their never-ending endeavours to obtain or retain wealth, countries desperately need companies, because they—unlike most human beings—have the means of production, and human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/for-their-never-ending-endeavours-to-obtain-or-retain-wealth/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Virtually all of Darfur's six million residents are Muslim, and, because of decades of intermarriage, almost everyone has dark skin and African features.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/virtually-all-of-darfur-s-six-million-residents-are-muslim-and/) [Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/) > [I loved Ghana Must Go by Taiye Selasi. Its about a first-generation African family living in America that has to return home to Nigeria…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uzo-aduba/i-loved-ghana-must-go-by-taiye-selasi-its-about-a-first-generation/) [Uzo Aduba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uzo-aduba/) > [I was adopted my black Americans, I feel that I'm a 'Hybrid'. When I'm around Africans'I suddenly feel very black American. And when I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kola-boof/i-was-adopted-my-black-americans-i-feel-that-i-m-a-hybrid-when-i-m/) [Kola Boof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kola-boof/) > [I concentrate on the southern African subcontinent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-dennis/i-concentrate-on-the-southern-african-subcontinent/) [Nigel Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-dennis/) > ['Yo I'm from Africa' Boy you're just a faker. Name one city: 'Uhh, Jamaica!' Wrong! And I think that's a shame, An African look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-sun/yo-i-m-from-africa-boy-you-re-just-a-faker-name-one-city-uhh-jamaica/) King Sun > [I am of an African-Jamaican descent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-mitchell/i-am-of-an-african-jamaican-descent/) [Liz Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-mitchell/) > [When I was very little, I was into Michael Jackson. At six or seven, it was Madonna, but she's not what she used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lykke-li/when-i-was-very-little-i-was-into-michael-jackson-at-six-or-seven-it/) [Lykke Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lykke-li/) > [Football is a personal interest which has been turned into a philanthropic initiative directed at encouraging social cohesion during the difficult process of African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-hussein-al-amoudi/football-is-a-personal-interest-which-has-been-turned-into-a/) Mohammed Hussein Al Amoudi > [But we've all ended up giving body and soul to Africa, one way or another. Even Adah, who's becoming an expert in tropical epidemiology…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/but-we-ve-all-ended-up-giving-body-and-soul-to-africa-one-way-or/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [African Queen' is pretty darn great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-eggers/african-queen-is-pretty-darn-great/) [Robert Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-eggers/) > [Most Americans know nothing about the African forest, and it seems to them a very scary, spooky dangerous place. I've spent a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-quammen/most-americans-know-nothing-about-the-african-forest-and-it-seems-to/) [David Quammen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-quammen/) Browse all 576 African quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As an artist, it's a great opportunity to play a character like this [Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland]. And then, as a person, I had never been to the African continent. 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