--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Brian is an archetypal character, a bit…" description: "\"Brian is an archetypal character, a bit like Don Juan, which is how I play him. He's a blast to play. He believes unapologetically in his freedom. He h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b5/gale-harold-25377_believe_brian-is-an-archetypal-character-a-bit-l_2553638.png" --- # Brian is an archetypal character, a bit like Don Juan… ![“Brian is an archetypal character, a bit like Don Juan, which is how I play him. He's a blast to play. He believes unapologetically in his freedom. He holds nothing back. Something I'm learning is, you can't hate the character you play. If I think my character is an asshole, that's all that will…” quote by Gale Harold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b5/gale-harold-25377_believe_brian-is-an-archetypal-character-a-bit-l_2553638.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b5/gale-harold-25377_believe_brian-is-an-archetypal-character-a-bit-l_2553638.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b5/gale-harold-25377_believe_brian-is-an-archetypal-character-a-bit-l_2553638.png) > “Brian is an archetypal character, a bit like Don Juan, which is how I play him. He's a blast to play. He believes unapologetically in his freedom. He holds nothing back. Something I'm learning is, you can't hate the character you play. If I think my character is an asshole, that's all that will come across. He is drawn in an extreme way, but that doesn't mean he's not a person.” [Gale Harold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gale-harold/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote reflects on embodying a complex, morally ambiguous character without letting personal judgment color the performance. **In simple terms:** Play characters fully, regardless of personal feelings. Key Takeaway Separate actor from role. Themes acting character study ethical nuance Mood introspective professional reflective Type advice process philosophical When to use this quote - theatre rehearsals - film auditions - character workshops - role preparation Key Concepts method acting character immersion moral ambiguity Questions to Reflect On - How do you keep personal values separate from a character's actions? - What techniques help you stay objective? A Different Perspective The actor may struggle to maintain personal boundaries and avoid internalizing negative traits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Bits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bits/) [Blast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blast/) [Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brian/) [Brian Archetypal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brian-archetypal-1543932/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character Asshole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-asshole-1543933/) [Character Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-play/) [Don juan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-juan/) [Extremes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extremes/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Juan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/juan/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Think Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-character/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [Do you know at this very moment you are surrounded by eternity? And do you know that you can use that eternity if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/do-you-know-at-this-very-moment-you-are-surrounded-by-eternity-and-do/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [I am already given to the power that rules my fate. And I cling to nothing, so I will have nothing to defend. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/i-am-already-given-to-the-power-that-rules-my-fate-and-i-cling-to/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [There's no way to put a limit on what one may accomplish individually if the intent is an impeccable intent. Don Juan's teachings are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/there-s-no-way-to-put-a-limit-on-what-one-may-accomplish-individually/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [A warrior is a hunter. He calculates everything. That's control. Once his calculations are over, he acts. He lets go. That's abandon. A warrior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/a-warrior-is-a-hunter-he-calculates-everything-that-s-control-once/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [We are all incarnate Buddhas. We just have not realized it deeply. We have not moved the mind - what our friend Don Juan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/we-are-all-incarnate-buddhas-we-just-have-not-realized-it-deeply-we/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Self-importance requires spending most of one's life offended by something or someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/self-importance-requires-spending-most-of-one-s-life-offended-by/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [Don Juan speaks of the island of the tonal as something that's in the middle of the ocean ... the nagual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/don-juan-speaks-of-the-island-of-the-tonal-as-something-that-s-in-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Feeling important makes one heavy, clumsy and vain. To be a warrior one needs to be light and fluid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/feeling-important-makes-one-heavy-clumsy-and-vain-to-be-a-warrior-one/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [The hardest thing in the world is to assume the mood of a warrior. It is of no use to be sad and complain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/the-hardest-thing-in-the-world-is-to-assume-the-mood-of-a-warrior-it/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [As long as a man feels that he is the most important thing in the world he cannot really appreciate the world around him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/as-long-as-a-man-feels-that-he-is-the-most-important-thing-in-the/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [Only if one loves this earth with unbending passion can one relieve one's sadness," don Juan said. "Warriors are always joyful because their love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/only-if-one-loves-this-earth-with-unbending-passion-can-one-relieve/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [A person who is insane has no sense of their place; they've lost that ability, which our friend don Juan describes as the tonal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-person-who-is-insane-has-no-sense-of-their-place-they-ve-lost-that/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Seek and see all the marvels around you. You will get tired of looking at yourself alone, and that fatigue will make you deaf…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/seek-and-see-all-the-marvels-around-you-you-will-get-tired-of-looking/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [Being popular is the most important thing in the world!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/being-popular-is-the-most-important-thing-in-the-world/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [ But I had not quite fixed whether to make him \[Don Juan\] end in Hell-or in an unhappy marriage,-not knowing which would be the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/but-i-had-not-quite-fixed-whether-to-make-him-don-juan-end-in-hell-or/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) ## More by Gale Harold > [I'm straight, but the character was too important to me to muddle his world with my private life. As a nobody, I got away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gale-harold/i-m-straight-but-the-character-was-too-important-to-me-to-muddle-his/) [Gale Harold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gale-harold/) > [Some say that Jesus is the rock, or the anchor. I say that your friends and family are your anchor. And you can really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gale-harold/some-say-that-jesus-is-the-rock-or-the-anchor-i-say-that-your-friends/) [Gale Harold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gale-harold/) > [You have to like your character, because if you don't, no one else will either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gale-harold/you-have-to-like-your-character-because-if-you-don-t-no-one-else-will/) [Gale Harold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gale-harold/) > [I’ve learned the most from Randy Harrison. Because of his fantastic imaginary world filled with bizarre friends. He is constantly giving us good advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gale-harold/i-ve-learned-the-most-from-randy-harrison-because-of-his-fantastic/) [Gale Harold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gale-harold/) > [You are preparing yourself for a scene, and the most important thing is to remain emotionally available and remain in the moment with your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gale-harold/you-are-preparing-yourself-for-a-scene-and-the-most-important-thing/) [Gale Harold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gale-harold/) > [After I began to explore what an actor actually is, I studied for three years before I had the guts to go on an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gale-harold/after-i-began-to-explore-what-an-actor-actually-is-i-studied-for/) [Gale Harold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gale-harold/) > [Don't forget who your heroes are, what they mean to you, and why they mean that to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gale-harold/don-t-forget-who-your-heroes-are-what-they-mean-to-you-and-why-they/) [Gale Harold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gale-harold/) > [Revealing yourself, physically or emotionally, to cast and crew is frequently uncomfortable. But it is essential if you want to to tell the truth.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gale-harold/revealing-yourself-physically-or-emotionally-to-cast-and-crew-is/) [Gale Harold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gale-harold/) > [If someone doesn't want to work with me because I'm playing a gay character, I don't want to work with them. They can fck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gale-harold/if-someone-doesn-t-want-to-work-with-me-because-i-m-playing-a-gay/) [Gale Harold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gale-harold/) > [I'm grateful for all the attention because it validates I'm doing something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gale-harold/i-m-grateful-for-all-the-attention-because-it-validates-i-m-doing/) [Gale Harold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gale-harold/) > [For a while, the gay thing seemed like such a big deal. But now, I don't think it is. It's just a comedy-drama about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gale-harold/for-a-while-the-gay-thing-seemed-like-such-a-big-deal-but-now-i-don-t/) [Gale Harold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gale-harold/) > [One cannot deny that if a person has the energy to get you interested and excited, then that is half the battle won, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gale-harold/one-cannot-deny-that-if-a-person-has-the-energy-to-get-you-interested/) [Gale Harold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gale-harold/) > [My first manager, Suzanne DeWalt, saw a play I was in. She was invited by the director Joan Scheckel, who was my first real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gale-harold/my-first-manager-suzanne-dewalt-saw-a-play-i-was-in-she-was-invited/) [Gale Harold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gale-harold/) > [I'm a bad interview because I want to always feel like I'm being totally honest, but at the same time, I'm absolutely paranoid. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gale-harold/i-m-a-bad-interview-because-i-want-to-always-feel-like-i-m-being/) [Gale Harold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gale-harold/) > [I started studying at 26. Before that, I never thought of acting as something that I would ever try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gale-harold/i-started-studying-at-26-before-that-i-never-thought-of-acting-as/) [Gale Harold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gale-harold/) [Explore all 23 Gale Harold quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gale-harold/) ## 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": "Brian is an archetypal character, a bit like Don Juan, which is how I play him. He's a blast to play. He believes unapologetically in his freedom. He holds nothing back. Something I'm learning is, you can't hate the character you play. If I think my character is an asshole, that's all that will come across. 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