--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only time I ever met a character that…" description: "\"The only time I ever met a character that I wrote was when I met Ian McKellan, when he was playing Magneto in the 'X-Men' movies.\" — Grant Morrison" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17b/grant-morrison-2360_character_the-only-time-i-ever-met-a-character-tha_1747920.jpg" --- # The only time I ever met a character that I wrote was when… ![“The only time I ever met a character that I wrote was when I met Ian McKellan, when he was playing Magneto in the 'X-Men' movies.” quote by Grant Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17b/grant-morrison-2360_character_the-only-time-i-ever-met-a-character-tha_1747920.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17b/grant-morrison-2360_character_the-only-time-i-ever-met-a-character-tha_1747920.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17b/grant-morrison-2360_character_the-only-time-i-ever-met-a-character-tha_1747920.jpg) > “The only time I ever met a character that I wrote was when I met Ian McKellan, when he was playing Magneto in the 'X-Men' movies.” [Grant Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-morrison/) ## 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 only truly meets a character when an actor embodies them on screen, blurring fiction and reality. **In simple terms:** Meeting a character feels real when portrayed by an actor. Key Takeaway Value performances that bring characters to life. Themes creativity identity media fiction Mood enthusiastic analytical Type media literary When to use this quote - film festivals - fan conventions - writing workshops - casting decisions Key Concepts performance theory character embodiment actor‑author dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How does an actor’s portrayal change your view of a character? - Do adaptations enrich or constrain the original story? A Different Perspective Performance may limit personal interpretation of characters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character Wrote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-wrote-1578020/) [Magneto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magneto/) [Magneto Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magneto-men-1578022/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Met Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/met-character-1578023/) [Mets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mets/) [Only time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only-time/) [Playing Magneto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-magneto-1578021/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [X men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/x-men/) ## Related quotes > [I'm an actor, I created the character myself originally. I do tell the fans I appreciate that they think he's real. It all finally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/creed-bratton/i-m-an-actor-i-created-the-character-myself-originally-i-do-tell-the/) [Creed Bratton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/creed-bratton/) > [On the day after 9/11, I walking through the smoke and the smells of New York. There were knots of policemen everywhere. As I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/on-the-day-after-9-11-i-walking-through-the-smoke-and-the-smells-of/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [I had never come across the 'X-Men' comics till I was asked to play Magneto, so I just jumped into that job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/i-had-never-come-across-the-x-men-comics-till-i-was-asked-to-play/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [The 'medium' is unaware of its attractiveness, that's all. Everyone loves comics. I've proven this to my own satisfaction by handing them out to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-morrison/the-medium-is-unaware-of-its-attractiveness-that-s-all-everyone-loves/) [Grant Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-morrison/) > [X-Men is not a story about superheroes, but a story about the ongoing revolutionary struggle between good/new and bad/old. The X-Men are every rebel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-morrison/x-men-is-not-a-story-about-superheroes-but-a-story-about-the-ongoing/) [Grant Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-morrison/) > [Magneto wants to cope with the difficulties thrust upon him by society and by his own nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/magneto-wants-to-cope-with-the-difficulties-thrust-upon-him-by/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [That's why when major badasses greet each other in movies, they don't say anything, they just nod. The nod means, 'I' am a badass,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/that-s-why-when-major-badasses-greet-each-other-in-movies-they-don-t/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Your humans slaughter each other because of the color of your skin, or your faith or your plitics -- or for no reason at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/your-humans-slaughter-each-other-because-of-the-color-of-your-skin-or/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) > [Magneto is classically known for being, like, a caricature of a supervillain who gives a lot of speeches, likes to fly up, teach people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-dumont/magneto-is-classically-known-for-being-like-a-caricature-of-a/) [Emma Dumont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-dumont/) > [Magneto has a whole lot of complexity to him. Emotionally, he's coming from a very damaged place. I like the ambivalence of it. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-fassbender/magneto-has-a-whole-lot-of-complexity-to-him-emotionally-he-s-coming/) [Michael Fassbender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-fassbender/) > [“Hawkeye: ...Remember when Magneto brain-zapped the X-Men into fightin' us? There's mind control goin' on here. That or Cyclops is- Hank: I appreciate your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christos-n-gage/hawkeye-remember-when-magneto-brain-zapped-the-x-men-into-fightin-us/) [Christos N. Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christos-n-gage/) > [My little cousin tells me I look like Magneto so I guess that's who I should probably play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pattinson/my-little-cousin-tells-me-i-look-like-magneto-so-i-guess-that-s-who-i/) [Robert Pattinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pattinson/) > [My resonance to Magneto and Xavier was borne more out of the Holocaust. It was coming face to face with evil, and how do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-claremont/my-resonance-to-magneto-and-xavier-was-borne-more-out-of-the/) [Chris Claremont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-claremont/) > [“The kid curled his fingers inward, like he was motioning them to come play with him, and in a total Magneto way, the guns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/the-kid-curled-his-fingers-inward-like-he-was-motioning-them-to-come/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [The most fascinating powers don't mean a thing if the guy's poorly motivated or dull, and the most generic powers won't hurt a well-motivated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-busiek/the-most-fascinating-powers-don-t-mean-a-thing-if-the-guy-s-poorly/) [Kurt Busiek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-busiek/) ## More by Grant Morrison > [Your head's like mine, like all our heads; big enough to contain every god and devil there ever was. Big enough to hold the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-morrison/your-head-s-like-mine-like-all-our-heads-big-enough-to-contain-every/) [Grant Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-morrison/) > [“Look at it, Dane. Look at the city and the world in its proud array, like a cask of jewels laid open for you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-morrison/look-at-it-dane-look-at-the-city-and-the-world-in-its-proud-array/) [Grant Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-morrison/) > [Sometimes I pretend not to look at my own characters, because that's like different people getting off with your girlfriend or something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-morrison/sometimes-i-pretend-not-to-look-at-my-own-characters-because-that-s/) [Grant Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-morrison/) > [Why am I in Hell? It hurts. It hurts all the time. Why am I in Hell? I just want to go home and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-morrison/why-am-i-in-hell-it-hurts-it-hurts-all-the-time-why-am-i-in-hell-i/) [Grant Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-morrison/) > [The more I think about it, the more I realize that schools are just factories for turning out robots, that's all. They get you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-morrison/the-more-i-think-about-it-the-more-i-realize-that-schools-are-just/) [Grant Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-morrison/) > [I plan years in advance, but I like to leave enough space in the narrative scheme to change things, because I always get my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-morrison/i-plan-years-in-advance-but-i-like-to-leave-enough-space-in-the/) [Grant Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-morrison/) > [Talking to oneself, I have often thought, is the best way to be sure of intelligent and witty conversation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-morrison/talking-to-oneself-i-have-often-thought-is-the-best-way-to-be-sure-of/) [Grant Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-morrison/) > [I'm a fan myself, so I try to write the kind of comics I want to read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-morrison/i-m-a-fan-myself-so-i-try-to-write-the-kind-of-comics-i-want-to-read/) [Grant Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-morrison/) > [Everyone does magic all the time in different ways. "Life" plus "significance" = magic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-morrison/everyone-does-magic-all-the-time-in-different-ways-life-plus/) [Grant Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-morrison/) > [“If our shallow, self-critical culture sometimes seems to lack a sense of the numinous or spiritual it’s only in the same way a fish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-morrison/if-our-shallow-self-critical-culture-sometimes-seems-to-lack-a-sense/) [Grant Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-morrison/) > [Only nothing is impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-morrison/only-nothing-is-impossible/) [Grant Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-morrison/) > [Remember it's all just a mirror we made to see ourselves in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-morrison/remember-it-s-all-just-a-mirror-we-made-to-see-ourselves-in/) [Grant Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-morrison/) > [“Hell is only the Cringe Eternal and the Place of our Self's Undoing. When Nietzsche proclaimed "God is Dead!" he forgot to add that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-morrison/hell-is-only-the-cringe-eternal-and-the-place-of-our-self-s-undoing/) [Grant Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-morrison/) > [“Idealists and reformers all become executioners in their turn. The road to utopia ends with the steps of the scaffold, the endless moment of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-morrison/idealists-and-reformers-all-become-executioners-in-their-turn-the/) [Grant Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-morrison/) > [I think that superhero comics in particular are really useful for talking about big emotions and feelings, and personifying and concretizing symbols.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-morrison/i-think-that-superhero-comics-in-particular-are-really-useful-for/) [Grant Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-morrison/) [Explore all 169 Grant Morrison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-morrison/) ## 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. 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