--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You know, I always got offered other…" description: "\"You know, I always got offered other stuff. Not the romantic leads, obviously. But very often it's a role that's underwritten, where the character has ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62d/harvey-fierstein-7875_actors_you-know-i-always-got-offered-other-stuf_1014434.jpg" --- # You know, I always got offered other stuff. Not the… ![“You know, I always got offered other stuff. Not the romantic leads, obviously. But very often it's a role that's underwritten, where the character has no personality at all. And they need a character actor who can fill it in.” quote by Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62d/harvey-fierstein-7875_actors_you-know-i-always-got-offered-other-stuf_1014434.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62d/harvey-fierstein-7875_actors_you-know-i-always-got-offered-other-stuf_1014434.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62d/harvey-fierstein-7875_actors_you-know-i-always-got-offered-other-stuf_1014434.jpg) > “You know, I always got offered other stuff. Not the romantic leads, obviously. But very often it's a role that's underwritten, where the character has no personality at all. And they need a character actor who can fill it in.” [Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Actors often receive roles lacking depth, requiring them to create personality where none is written. **In simple terms:** Roles can be blank, actors must add life. Key Takeaway Embrace and to showcase talent. Themes acting creativity character development Mood reflective determined Type professional inspirational When to use this quote - auditions - indie films - theatre productions - TV guest spots - commercials Key Concepts method acting improvisation characterization Questions to Reflect On - How do you approach a role with no backstory? - What techniques help you build a character from scratch? A Different Perspective Limited script material can hinder storytelling if not skillfully filled. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-actor/) [Need Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-character-412185/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Personality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personality/) [Role Underwritten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/role-underwritten-2223532/) [Roles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roles/) [Romantic Leads](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romantic-leads-1059176/) [Stuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stuff/) ## Related quotes > [I'm sick of playing romantic leads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corbett/i-m-sick-of-playing-romantic-leads/) [John Corbett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corbett/) > [The big stars I felt a kinship with were never the romantic leads. It wasn't Steve McQueen or Robert Redford - it was people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-molina/the-big-stars-i-felt-a-kinship-with-were-never-the-romantic-leads-it/) [Alfred Molina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-molina/) > [As an actor I've played a lot of gloomy, romantic leads and even though I might not want to recognize it, I actually really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-garrel/as-an-actor-i-ve-played-a-lot-of-gloomy-romantic-leads-and-even/) [Louis Garrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-garrel/) > [I've been lucky enough to have a lot of romantic leads in movies and indies, and you do form a different kind of connection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-johnson/i-ve-been-lucky-enough-to-have-a-lot-of-romantic-leads-in-movies-and/) [Jake Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-johnson/) > [The characters I tend to play are a little more interesting than the standard heroes. Romantic leads can be a little more straightforward, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iwan-rheon/the-characters-i-tend-to-play-are-a-little-more-interesting-than-the/) [Iwan Rheon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iwan-rheon/) > [I'm not running about playing romantic leads. I don't know if that's a good or a bad thing, but it's the way it's sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lowden/i-m-not-running-about-playing-romantic-leads-i-don-t-know-if-that-s-a/) [Jack Lowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lowden/) > [I am the actor that I am. I do what I do. I've been a 'leading man' playing romantic leads for a long time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brosnan/i-am-the-actor-that-i-am-i-do-what-i-do-i-ve-been-a-leading-man/) [Pierce Brosnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brosnan/) > [I'm all for whatever it takes to get wherever you need to get with a character, as long as you don't wipe it on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/i-m-all-for-whatever-it-takes-to-get-wherever-you-need-to-get-with-a/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [I'm a rational person, and I'm not a method actor. You don't need to call me by my character's name while I'm not shooting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zana-marjanovic/i-m-a-rational-person-and-i-m-not-a-method-actor-you-don-t-need-to/) [Zana Marjanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zana-marjanovic/) > [We do not need more knowledge, we need more character!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/we-do-not-need-more-knowledge-we-need-more-character/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [I used to need the character but as I've gotten older I need it less and less - I prefer to play some version…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ian-black/i-used-to-need-the-character-but-as-i-ve-gotten-older-i-need-it-less/) [Michael Ian Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ian-black/) > [I do whatever I need to do to get into character. Sometimes it's being incredibly quiet, and sometimes it's being loose and goofy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-sexton-iii/i-do-whatever-i-need-to-do-to-get-into-character-sometimes-it-s-being/) [Brendan Sexton III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-sexton-iii/) > [I mean, I do whatever I need to do to get into character. Sometimes it's being incredibly quiet, and sometimes it's being loose and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-sexton-iii/i-mean-i-do-whatever-i-need-to-do-to-get-into-character-sometimes-it/) [Brendan Sexton III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-sexton-iii/) > [A rich man has no need of character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yiddish-proverb/a-rich-man-has-no-need-of-character/) [Yiddish Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yiddish-proverb/) > [When I read, I don't need a character to look like me, act like me, or think like me. I don't need to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-albertalli/when-i-read-i-don-t-need-a-character-to-look-like-me-act-like-me-or/) [Becky Albertalli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-albertalli/) ## More by Harvey Fierstein > [I am thrilled - I can't stress that enough - thrilled when I see kids getting active.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/i-am-thrilled-i-can-t-stress-that-enough-thrilled-when-i-see-kids/) [Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/) > [I often say that if you want to really want to understand the contract of marriage, just ask anyone who has been divorced. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/i-often-say-that-if-you-want-to-really-want-to-understand-the/) [Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/) > [Always admit when you're wrong. You'll save thousands in therapy... and a few friendships too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/always-admit-when-you-re-wrong-you-ll-save-thousands-in-therapy-and-a/) [Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/) > [So, did I work with Warhol? I worked with him less on that play then I did on other things. He actually did a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/so-did-i-work-with-warhol-i-worked-with-him-less-on-that-play-then-i/) [Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/) > [I got the regular call, that they were doing a Broadway musical of Hairspray, and would I come and audition. I was familiar with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/i-got-the-regular-call-that-they-were-doing-a-broadway-musical-of/) [Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/) > [Is a gay play a play that has sex with other plays?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/is-a-gay-play-a-play-that-has-sex-with-other-plays/) [Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/) > [There are easier things in life than being a drag queen. But I ain't got no choice. Try as I may, I just can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/there-are-easier-things-in-life-than-being-a-drag-queen-but-i-ain-t/) [Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/) > [A thing of beauty is a joy till sunrise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-till-sunrise/) [Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/) > [You may feel powerless as a child, but the world will one day be yours. And you're responsible for it. So, seize the day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/you-may-feel-powerless-as-a-child-but-the-world-will-one-day-be-yours/) [Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/) > [The world is full of more interesting things than my voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/the-world-is-full-of-more-interesting-things-than-my-voice/) [Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/) > [I really am a theater person. That means you put something out there, and you let it go. Tomorrow night is a new performance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/i-really-am-a-theater-person-that-means-you-put-something-out-there/) [Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/) > [Actually, I think the average voice is like 70 percent tone and 30 percent noise. My voice is 95 percent noise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/actually-i-think-the-average-voice-is-like-70-percent-tone-and-30/) [Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/) > [While we dance in the streets and pat ourselves on the back for being a nation great enough to reach beyond racial divides to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/while-we-dance-in-the-streets-and-pat-ourselves-on-the-back-for-being/) [Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/) > [My father was brought up in an orphanage in the Catskills. He was a factory worker. And because his family wasn't there for him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/my-father-was-brought-up-in-an-orphanage-in-the-catskills-he-was-a/) [Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/) > [How time flies when you're doin all the talking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-fierstein/how-time-flies-when-you-re-doin-all-the-talking/) [Harvey Fierstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/) [Explore all 86 Harvey Fierstein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-fierstein/) ## More Actor 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/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [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/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [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/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You know, I always got offered other stuff. Not the romantic leads, obviously. But very often it's a role that's underwritten, where the character has no personality at all. 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