--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think you can ever completely…" description: "\"I don't think you can ever completely transform yourself on film, but if you do your job well, you can make people believe that you're the character yo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ea/frances-mcdormand-3814_believe_i-don-t-think-you-can-ever-completely-tr_3231888.jpg" --- # I don't think you can ever completely transform yourself… ![“I don't think you can ever completely transform yourself on film, but if you do your job well, you can make people believe that you're the character you're trying to be.” quote by Frances McDormand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ea/frances-mcdormand-3814_believe_i-don-t-think-you-can-ever-completely-tr_3231888.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ea/frances-mcdormand-3814_believe_i-don-t-think-you-can-ever-completely-tr_3231888.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ea/frances-mcdormand-3814_believe_i-don-t-think-you-can-ever-completely-tr_3231888.jpg) > “I don't think you can ever completely transform yourself on film, but if you do your job well, you can make people believe that you're the character you're trying to be.” [Frances McDormand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-mcdormand/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting can convincingly portray a character, even if the actor’s true self differs. **In simple terms:** Acting can make you seem like the role you play. Key Takeaway Master the craft to embody roles. Themes performance identity craft Mood inspirational analytical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - theater - film set - audition - role preparation Key Concepts method acting character immersion Questions to Reflect On - How do you separate self from role? - What techniques help embody a character? A Different Perspective Audience may conflate actor with character, affecting perception. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believe Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-character-610853/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-trying-839963/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Film Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film-job-758006/) [Make People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-people/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Transform Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transform-film-6117938/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) ## Related quotes > [I don't consider myself a teacher of moral and political positions. I don't want to be that. I can't help but have a point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/i-don-t-consider-myself-a-teacher-of-moral-and-political-positions-i/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [I think maybe because I do other things and they mean as much to me as movie acting, it takes the onus off me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/i-think-maybe-because-i-do-other-things-and-they-mean-as-much-to-me/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [TV's job is to make you lean in, and a film's job is to make you lean back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-berlanti/tv-s-job-is-to-make-you-lean-in-and-a-film-s-job-is-to-make-you-lean/) [Greg Berlanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-berlanti/) > [I don't say that I have a job. I have a gig, or a piece, or a film, or a show, but it's never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shea-whigham/i-don-t-say-that-i-have-a-job-i-have-a-gig-or-a-piece-or-a-film-or-a/) [Shea Whigham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shea-whigham/) > [The basic idea of making this film was that even if one person is touched by the thought in the film, then my job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karan-wahi/the-basic-idea-of-making-this-film-was-that-even-if-one-person-is/) [Karan Wahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karan-wahi/) > [Directing a film is a job? That's insane. I'm addicted now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-victor/directing-a-film-is-a-job-that-s-insane-i-m-addicted-now/) [Eva Victor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-victor/) > [In the end of the day, you are human. Film is a job which is not an individual job; you have tons and tons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preity-zinta/in-the-end-of-the-day-you-are-human-film-is-a-job-which-is-not-an/) [Preity Zinta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preity-zinta/) > [I have seen this whole process of films releasing, becoming hits or flops, for too long now to expect things to do well. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pooja-bhatt/i-have-seen-this-whole-process-of-films-releasing-becoming-hits-or/) [Pooja Bhatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pooja-bhatt/) > [Before that film, I was nobody. Each job I got, I was so excited. Each paycheck I got, I thought, 'Wow, I'm getting paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-anne-moss/before-that-film-i-was-nobody-each-job-i-got-i-was-so-excited-each/) [Carrie-Anne Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-anne-moss/) > [It's not the end of the world if I can't get a film job, or if a movie doesn't turn out well - even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/it-s-not-the-end-of-the-world-if-i-can-t-get-a-film-job-or-if-a-movie/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [I absolutely made the decision that that cannot be the reason why I'm doing a film or a job. For me, it's always about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-chastain/i-absolutely-made-the-decision-that-that-cannot-be-the-reason-why-i-m/) [Jessica Chastain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-chastain/) > [The director is the only person on the set who has seen the film. Your job as a director is to show up every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/the-director-is-the-only-person-on-the-set-who-has-seen-the-film-your/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I used to write bits and pieces of comedy material for various comics that were at the Windmill... as well as my film job,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/i-used-to-write-bits-and-pieces-of-comedy-material-for-various-comics/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [For me, after emotionally intense roles, I'd need to take a step back because then there's the promoting of the film which is another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gugu-mbatha-raw/for-me-after-emotionally-intense-roles-i-d-need-to-take-a-step-back/) [Gugu Mbatha-Raw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gugu-mbatha-raw/) > [My so-called 'reservations' and personal comfort zones can't define my work. That's not being professional. I feel that even if an actor is cast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shahid-kapoor/my-so-called-reservations-and-personal-comfort-zones-can-t-define-my/) [Shahid Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shahid-kapoor/) ## More by Frances McDormand > [There's only two givens with choosing acting as a profession: one is you will always be unemployed, always, and it doesn't matter how much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-mcdormand/there-s-only-two-givens-with-choosing-acting-as-a-profession-one-is/) [Frances McDormand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-mcdormand/) > [I don't think of myself as a movie star and I can pretty easily convince other people that I'm not a movie star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-mcdormand/i-don-t-think-of-myself-as-a-movie-star-and-i-can-pretty-easily/) [Frances McDormand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-mcdormand/) > [Guess what? I am an ordinary person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-mcdormand/guess-what-i-am-an-ordinary-person/) [Frances McDormand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-mcdormand/) > [There is simply too much of my life that is involved in my work that I couldn't replicate in any other way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-mcdormand/there-is-simply-too-much-of-my-life-that-is-involved-in-my-work-that/) [Frances McDormand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-mcdormand/) > [I think that cosmetic enhancements in my profession are just an occupational hazard. But I think, more culturally, I'm interested in starting the conversation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-mcdormand/i-think-that-cosmetic-enhancements-in-my-profession-are-just-an/) [Frances McDormand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-mcdormand/) > [I was completely naive about the business of being an actor. My family didn't go to the theater or to the movies. We watched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-mcdormand/i-was-completely-naive-about-the-business-of-being-an-actor-my-family/) [Frances McDormand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-mcdormand/) > [If, when I leave this earth, I'm remembered for 'Fargo,' so be it. But I think old Marge Gunderson is gonna get a run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-mcdormand/if-when-i-leave-this-earth-i-m-remembered-for-fargo-so-be-it-but-i/) [Frances McDormand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-mcdormand/) > [I never read books - and still don't read books - to develop them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-mcdormand/i-never-read-books-and-still-don-t-read-books-to-develop-them/) [Frances McDormand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-mcdormand/) > [I'm not really that interested in going back to playing small supporting roles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-mcdormand/i-m-not-really-that-interested-in-going-back-to-playing-small/) [Frances McDormand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-mcdormand/) > [I'm trained in the theater, and acting, for me, is about the imaginative life I create for myself, not about basing it on something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-mcdormand/i-m-trained-in-the-theater-and-acting-for-me-is-about-the-imaginative/) [Frances McDormand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-mcdormand/) > [No actor has complete freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-mcdormand/no-actor-has-complete-freedom/) [Frances McDormand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-mcdormand/) > [Long-format television is a better way to tell a female story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-mcdormand/long-format-television-is-a-better-way-to-tell-a-female-story/) [Frances McDormand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-mcdormand/) > [Female characters in literature are full. They're messy: they've got runny noses and burp and belch. Unfortunately, in film, female characters don't often have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-mcdormand/female-characters-in-literature-are-full-they-re-messy-they-ve-got/) [Frances McDormand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-mcdormand/) > [At least three times a week, I'm approached by someone who says something about 'Fargo.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-mcdormand/at-least-three-times-a-week-i-m-approached-by-someone-who-says/) [Frances McDormand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-mcdormand/) > [I would disagree that America is any more racist or ridiculous than anywhere else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-mcdormand/i-would-disagree-that-america-is-any-more-racist-or-ridiculous-than/) [Frances McDormand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-mcdormand/) [Explore all 121 Frances McDormand quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-mcdormand/) ## More Believe 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/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't think you can ever completely transform yourself on film, but if you do your job well, you can make people believe that you're the character you're trying to be.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Frances McDormand" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-mcdormand/i-don-t-think-you-can-ever-completely-transform-yourself-on-film-but/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-mcdormand/i-don-t-think-you-can-ever-completely-transform-yourself-on-film-but/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ea/frances-mcdormand-3814_believe_i-don-t-think-you-can-ever-completely-tr_3231888.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ea/frances-mcdormand-3814_believe_i-don-t-think-you-can-ever-completely-tr_3231888.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ea/frances-mcdormand-3814_believe_i-don-t-think-you-can-ever-completely-tr_3231888.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't think you can ever completely transform yourself on film, but if you do your job well, you can make…” — Frances McDormand", "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": "Frances McDormand", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-mcdormand/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't think you can ever...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-mcdormand/i-don-t-think-you-can-ever-completely-transform-yourself-on-film-but/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-mcdormand/i-don-t-think-you-can-ever-completely-transform-yourself-on-film-but/#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 } } ] } ```