--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't like the word 'strong,' because a…" description: "\"I don't like the word 'strong,' because a strong character is never an interesting character. A character is made interesting by their vulnerabilities ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a3/helen-mirren-1937_character_i-don-t-like-the-word-strong-because-a-s_1803625.png" --- # I don't like the word 'strong,' because a strong character… ![“I don't like the word 'strong,' because a strong character is never an interesting character. A character is made interesting by their vulnerabilities and their weaknesses.” quote by Helen Mirren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a3/helen-mirren-1937_character_i-don-t-like-the-word-strong-because-a-s_1803625.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a3/helen-mirren-1937_character_i-don-t-like-the-word-strong-because-a-s_1803625.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a3/helen-mirren-1937_character_i-don-t-like-the-word-strong-because-a-s_1803625.png) > “I don't like the word 'strong,' because a strong character is never an interesting character. A character is made interesting by their vulnerabilities and their weaknesses.” [Helen Mirren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mirren/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character's depth comes from flaws, not just power; vulnerability makes stories compelling. **In simple terms:** Weaknesses create interesting characters. Key Takeaway Embrace flaws to deepen characters. Themes character development vulnerability storytelling Mood reflective thoughtful Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - novel writing - screenwriting - acting - character analysis Key Concepts psychology human complexity Questions to Reflect On - How can you reveal a character's hidden weaknesses? - What role do flaws play in audience empathy? A Different Perspective Strong traits alone can feel flat without nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Vulnerability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vulnerability/) [Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness/) [Weaknesses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weaknesses/) ## Related quotes > [There are a lot of people who say, 'Yeah yeah, I'm a feminist,' and they're not, actually. I wouldn't want to throw that word…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saoirse-ronan/there-are-a-lot-of-people-who-say-yeah-yeah-i-m-a-feminist-and-they/) [Saoirse Ronan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saoirse-ronan/) > [Home is a name, a word, it is a strong one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/home-is-a-name-a-word-it-is-a-strong-one/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Someone ask me how can I define the word STRONG. It's simple, and I said I CAN SAY THAT A PERSON IS STRONG WHEN…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/no-voice/someone-ask-me-how-can-i-define-the-word-strong-it-s-simple-and-i/) NO VOICE > [Home is a name, a word, it is a strong one; stronger than magician ever spoke, or spirit ever answered to, in the strongest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/home-is-a-name-a-word-it-is-a-strong-one-stronger-than-magician-ever/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [A person that goes through a horrible, heartbreaking experience and still finds a reason to smile is the true definition of the word STRONG.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/a-person-that-goes-through-a-horrible-heartbreaking-experience-and/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [My word will never be as strong as God's word. All I am is just a vessel, doing His work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendrick-lamar/my-word-will-never-be-as-strong-as-god-s-word-all-i-am-is-just-a/) [Kendrick Lamar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendrick-lamar/) > [Well, what is a relationship? It's about two people having tremendous weaknesses and vulnerabilities, like we all do, and one person being able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/well-what-is-a-relationship-it-s-about-two-people-having-tremendous/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [It's really interesting that whenever you do something that is so out of character, like having an emotional outburst, that you don't get in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-henley/it-s-really-interesting-that-whenever-you-do-something-that-is-so-out/) [Beth Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-henley/) > [Michael, from 'Six Dance Lessons...' He was somebody who had a lot of self-loathing; being a gay man who lost his family and felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheyenne-jackson/michael-from-six-dance-lessons-he-was-somebody-who-had-a-lot-of-self/) [Cheyenne Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheyenne-jackson/) > [The script is really always the main attraction, and then there's whether there is an interesting character and great people around you. Those are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-grint/the-script-is-really-always-the-main-attraction-and-then-there-s/) [Rupert Grint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-grint/) > [ The two things that I thought were really interesting about this character \[Bow\] for me were that she actually loved her husband, and he… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/the-two-things-that-i-thought-were-really-interesting-about-this/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) > [I think in English history a very interesting character is John Lilburne. Very interesting character because of the way he managed to develop the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-corbyn/i-think-in-english-history-a-very-interesting-character-is-john/) [Jeremy Corbyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-corbyn/) > [I'm always looking for a low-budget script with an interesting character to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-koenig/i-m-always-looking-for-a-low-budget-script-with-an-interesting/) Walter Koenig > [Shamshera' is a dream project and I feel blessed to have an opportunity to be a part of it and portray such a different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaani-kapoor/shamshera-is-a-dream-project-and-i-feel-blessed-to-have-an/) [Vaani Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaani-kapoor/) > [The most interesting character to me is someone who is stuck in the no man's land between Belief and Unbelief, Faith and Faithlessness. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dooling/the-most-interesting-character-to-me-is-someone-who-is-stuck-in-the/) [Richard Dooling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dooling/) ## More by Helen Mirren > [When you do a voice in an animated film, you don't see the finished product at all. You're not animating. You're not doing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mirren/when-you-do-a-voice-in-an-animated-film-you-don-t-see-the-finished/) [Helen Mirren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mirren/) > [I'm not strong-willed, actually. I'm a complete pushover. I love to be told what to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mirren/i-m-not-strong-willed-actually-i-m-a-complete-pushover-i-love-to-be/) [Helen Mirren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mirren/) > [I think of myself as being a bit of a wimp deep down - a bourgeois wimp - and I'm fighting that. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mirren/i-think-of-myself-as-being-a-bit-of-a-wimp-deep-down-a-bourgeois-wimp/) [Helen Mirren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mirren/) > [It's never been confirmed that Elizabeth I was a virgin. It's like the Virgin Mary - it's about branding, a logo. To use a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mirren/it-s-never-been-confirmed-that-elizabeth-i-was-a-virgin-it-s-like-the/) [Helen Mirren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mirren/) > [When I was doing Shakespeare and I had spent a lot of time and effort in trying to become a great Shakespearean actress. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mirren/when-i-was-doing-shakespeare-and-i-had-spent-a-lot-of-time-and-effort/) [Helen Mirren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mirren/) > [I always tell my husband, That's it, I quit, I've done all I wanted, and he's just like, Yeah, yeah. Sure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mirren/i-always-tell-my-husband-that-s-it-i-quit-i-ve-done-all-i-wanted-and/) [Helen Mirren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mirren/) > [Patience can be a good thing - but not necessarily. Sometimes it's not so bad to be impatient. I'm a little bit too polite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mirren/patience-can-be-a-good-thing-but-not-necessarily-sometimes-it-s-not/) [Helen Mirren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mirren/) > [A war film can be propaganda and they're very valuable as propaganda, as we realized in Britain in the Second World War. Film as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mirren/a-war-film-can-be-propaganda-and-they-re-very-valuable-as-propaganda/) [Helen Mirren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mirren/) > [It was never my intention to marry anybody. Economics are basically the only reason to get married, but I'm very glad I did it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mirren/it-was-never-my-intention-to-marry-anybody-economics-are-basically/) [Helen Mirren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mirren/) > [You can't control how other people see you or think of you. But you have to be comfortable with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mirren/you-can-t-control-how-other-people-see-you-or-think-of-you-but-you/) [Helen Mirren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mirren/) > [When you're young, you wonder what all these old people are droning on about, trying to impart their wisdom. It's not relevant to you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mirren/when-you-re-young-you-wonder-what-all-these-old-people-are-droning-on/) [Helen Mirren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mirren/) > [The role of women has always been undervalued in the spy world, always undermined in terms of recognition. Unfairly so. It's a world that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mirren/the-role-of-women-has-always-been-undervalued-in-the-spy-world-always/) [Helen Mirren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mirren/) > [I always love working with young actors, because there's always something to learn. It's always exciting to see the next generation and how they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mirren/i-always-love-working-with-young-actors-because-there-s-always/) [Helen Mirren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mirren/) > [People with Parkinson's are not some weird people on the edge of human experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mirren/people-with-parkinson-s-are-not-some-weird-people-on-the-edge-of/) [Helen Mirren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mirren/) > [My fear of drama school is that the natural extraordinary but eccentric talent sometimes can't find its place in a drama school. And often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mirren/my-fear-of-drama-school-is-that-the-natural-extraordinary-but/) [Helen Mirren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mirren/) [Explore all 197 Helen Mirren quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mirren/) ## 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 > [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 don't like the word 'strong,' because a strong character is never an interesting character. A character is made interesting by their vulnerabilities and their weaknesses.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Helen Mirren" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mirren/i-don-t-like-the-word-strong-because-a-strong-character-is-never-an/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mirren/i-don-t-like-the-word-strong-because-a-strong-character-is-never-an/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a3/helen-mirren-1937_character_i-don-t-like-the-word-strong-because-a-s_1803625.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a3/helen-mirren-1937_character_i-don-t-like-the-word-strong-because-a-s_1803625.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a3/helen-mirren-1937_character_i-don-t-like-the-word-strong-because-a-s_1803625.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't like the word 'strong,' because a strong character is never an interesting character. A character is…” — Helen Mirren", "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": "Helen Mirren", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mirren/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't like the word 'strong,'...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mirren/i-don-t-like-the-word-strong-because-a-strong-character-is-never-an/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mirren/i-don-t-like-the-word-strong-because-a-strong-character-is-never-an/#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 } } ] } ```