--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I do play all the characters, when I…" description: "\"I do play all the characters, when I write them, one after another. If they actually had to film me, the only one I could play would be Samwell Tarly o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/909/george-r-r-martin-2-926_character_i-do-play-all-the-characters-when-i-writ_3087952.jpg" --- # I do play all the characters, when I write them, one after… ![“I do play all the characters, when I write them, one after another. If they actually had to film me, the only one I could play would be Samwell Tarly or Hot Pie.” quote by George R. R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/909/george-r-r-martin-2-926_character_i-do-play-all-the-characters-when-i-writ_3087952.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/909/george-r-r-martin-2-926_character_i-do-play-all-the-characters-when-i-writ_3087952.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/909/george-r-r-martin-2-926_character_i-do-play-all-the-characters-when-i-writ_3087952.jpg) > “I do play all the characters, when I write them, one after another. If they actually had to film me, the only one I could play would be Samwell Tarly or Hot Pie.” [George R. R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author writes characters sequentially, but feels only certain roles could be portrayed by himself, limiting his own acting range. **In simple terms:** He writes many characters but can only act as a few. Key Takeaway Focus on strengths, accept limits. Themes writing self-awareness acting Mood introspective practical Type literary creative When to use this quote - novel writing - screenwriting - casting - performance art Key Concepts character archetypes creative limits Questions to Reflect On - Which characters best fit your own voice? - How do you choose roles to play? A Different Perspective Self-imposed casting may restrict storytelling. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters/) [Characters Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters-write-415902/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Film Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film-play-973496/) [Hot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hot/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Pie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pie/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-characters/) [Play Samwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-samwell-5296392/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Hip-hop, which is my generation's blues, is important to the characters that I write about. They use hip-hop to understand the world through language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/hip-hop-which-is-my-generation-s-blues-is-important-to-the-characters/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [If I wrote a play with four characters every single one of them would talk like me regardless of age or sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/if-i-wrote-a-play-with-four-characters-every-single-one-of-them-would/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) > [If you look at the rest of my stuff, I always play characters that kind of don't look like me, 'cause I love transforming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-rasuk/if-you-look-at-the-rest-of-my-stuff-i-always-play-characters-that/) [Victor Rasuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-rasuk/) > [Even while I'm really interested in playing female characters that are varied and interesting and dynamic, I'm not of the mind that you always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-thompson/even-while-i-m-really-interested-in-playing-female-characters-that/) [Tessa Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-thompson/) > [I do tend to play characters that have a lot of costume and hair change. I sort of like the change of physicality thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katey-sagal/i-do-tend-to-play-characters-that-have-a-lot-of-costume-and-hair/) [Katey Sagal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katey-sagal/) > [I've been lucky to play characters that are really broad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-yelchin/i-ve-been-lucky-to-play-characters-that-are-really-broad/) [Anton Yelchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-yelchin/) > [Every actor, I don't care what they say, their roles are a lot more interesting than we are, and at the end of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moon-bloodgood/every-actor-i-don-t-care-what-they-say-their-roles-are-a-lot-more/) [Moon Bloodgood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moon-bloodgood/) > [I normally play very serious characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylie-bunbury/i-normally-play-very-serious-characters/) [Kylie Bunbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kylie-bunbury/) > [You have to play your characters, not like them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/you-have-to-play-your-characters-not-like-them/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) > [I do not fault anyone else who makes choices to play characters that they wished they hadn't... Because at the end of the day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-dinklage/i-do-not-fault-anyone-else-who-makes-choices-to-play-characters-that/) [Peter Dinklage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-dinklage/) > [For me, when working on a film or play or television show, everything for me starts with the screenplay and I am devoted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-spader/for-me-when-working-on-a-film-or-play-or-television-show-everything/) [James Spader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-spader/) > [The thing about acting is even if you get technically more skilled at what you do, every time you begin a film or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-weisz/the-thing-about-acting-is-even-if-you-get-technically-more-skilled-at/) [Rachel Weisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-weisz/) > [I did a film when I was about 30; it's a coming of age story called 'Gas Food Lodging,' and I'm so proud of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-knepper/i-did-a-film-when-i-was-about-30-it-s-a-coming-of-age-story-called/) [Robert Knepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-knepper/) > [I did 'Doubt' as a film, a play and an opera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/i-did-doubt-as-a-film-a-play-and-an-opera/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [I needed to create some dramatic tension to sustain the interest of the audience. For instance, the boy in the film is not in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-falardeau/i-needed-to-create-some-dramatic-tension-to-sustain-the-interest-of/) [Philippe Falardeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-falardeau/) ## More by George R. R. Martin > [Tolkien can say that Aragorn became king and reigned for a hundred years, and he was wise and good. But Tolkien doesn’t ask the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin-2/tolkien-can-say-that-aragorn-became-king-and-reigned-for-a-hundred/) [George R. R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin-2/) > [ The best writing advice I had was \[in\] ‘Heinlein’s Rules for Writers’ by (American science fiction author) Robert A. Heinlein. His first rule is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin-2/the-best-writing-advice-i-had-was-in-heinlein-s-rules-for-writers-by/) [George R. R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin-2/) > [In this world, only winter is certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin-2/in-this-world-only-winter-is-certain/) [George R. R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin-2/) > [“A man who sees nothing has no use for his eyes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin-2/a-man-who-sees-nothing-has-no-use-for-his-eyes/) [George R. R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin-2/) > [The true horrors of human history derive not from orcs and Dark Lords, but from ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin-2/the-true-horrors-of-human-history-derive-not-from-orcs-and-dark-lords/) [George R. R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin-2/) > [That little touch is not in the books, but I wish it had been in the books because it was a great addition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin-2/that-little-touch-is-not-in-the-books-but-i-wish-it-had-been-in-the/) [George R. R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin-2/) > [I always felt like Gandalf should have stayed dead. That was such an incredible sequence in Fellowship of the Ring when he faces the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin-2/i-always-felt-like-gandalf-should-have-stayed-dead-that-was-such-an/) [George R. R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin-2/) > [“The title was but a courtesy due him as a council member; Varys was lord of nothing but the spiderweb, the master of none…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin-2/the-title-was-but-a-courtesy-due-him-as-a-council-member-varys-was/) [George R. R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin-2/) > [The girl had hoped for fog, but the gods ignored her prayers as gods so often did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin-2/the-girl-had-hoped-for-fog-but-the-gods-ignored-her-prayers-as-gods/) [George R. R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin-2/) > [Over the years, more than one reviewer has described my fantasy series, 'A Song of Ice and Fire', as historical fiction about history that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin-2/over-the-years-more-than-one-reviewer-has-described-my-fantasy-series/) [George R. R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin-2/) > [“Jaime had decided that he would return Sansa, and the younger girl as well if she could be found. It was not like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin-2/jaime-had-decided-that-he-would-return-sansa-and-the-younger-girl-as/) [George R. R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin-2/) > [If the day comes when you would find me again, give that coin to any man from Braavos, and say these words to him--valar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin-2/if-the-day-comes-when-you-would-find-me-again-give-that-coin-to-any/) [George R. R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin-2/) > [Believe it or not, I worked four summers in college as a sports writer covering baseball for a parks and rec department in Bayonne,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin-2/believe-it-or-not-i-worked-four-summers-in-college-as-a-sports-writer/) [George R. R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin-2/) > [I believe that women are many different types of people. There are brave women, there are cowardly women, there are altruistic women, there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin-2/i-believe-that-women-are-many-different-types-of-people-there-are/) [George R. R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin-2/) > [I know nothing and perhaps I never will,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin-2/i-know-nothing-and-perhaps-i-never-will/) [George R. R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin-2/) [Explore all 322 George R. R. Martin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin-2/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [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/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) [David Hudgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hudgins/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [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/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [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/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I do play all the characters, when I write them, one after another. If they actually had to film me, the only one I could play would be Samwell Tarly or Hot Pie.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George R. R. Martin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin-2/i-do-play-all-the-characters-when-i-write-them-one-after-another-if/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin-2/i-do-play-all-the-characters-when-i-write-them-one-after-another-if/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/909/george-r-r-martin-2-926_character_i-do-play-all-the-characters-when-i-writ_3087952.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/909/george-r-r-martin-2-926_character_i-do-play-all-the-characters-when-i-writ_3087952.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/909/george-r-r-martin-2-926_character_i-do-play-all-the-characters-when-i-writ_3087952.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I do play all the characters, when I write them, one after another. If they actually had to film me, the…” — George R. R. Martin", "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": "George R. R. Martin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin-2/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I do play all the characters,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin-2/i-do-play-all-the-characters-when-i-write-them-one-after-another-if/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin-2/i-do-play-all-the-characters-when-i-write-them-one-after-another-if/#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 } } ] } ```