--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I weren’t getting paid or didn’t have…" description: "\"If I weren’t getting paid or didn’t have a character like Wolverine to maintain, I would just be a tall, lean, fit guy.\" — Hugh Jackman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a79/hugh-jackman-1847_character_if-i-weren-t-getting-paid-or-didn-t-have_1836337.jpg" --- # If I weren’t getting paid or didn’t have a character like… ![“If I weren’t getting paid or didn’t have a character like Wolverine to maintain, I would just be a tall, lean, fit guy.” quote by Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a79/hugh-jackman-1847_character_if-i-weren-t-getting-paid-or-didn-t-have_1836337.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a79/hugh-jackman-1847_character_if-i-weren-t-getting-paid-or-didn-t-have_1836337.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a79/hugh-jackman-1847_character_if-i-weren-t-getting-paid-or-didn-t-have_1836337.jpg) > “If I weren’t getting paid or didn’t have a character like Wolverine to maintain, I would just be a tall, lean, fit guy.” [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He jokes that without his acting role, his physique would be his main identity, underscoring the link between character and self‑image. **In simple terms:** Without a role, his body defines him. Key Takeaway Recognize how roles shape self‑perception. Themes identity self‑image celebrity Mood reflective wry Type personal philosophical When to use this quote - acting - fitness - public appearances - personal branding Key Concepts character embodiment body image career identity Questions to Reflect On - What defines you beyond your profession? - How does a role influence personal identity? A Different Perspective The comment may downplay the value of personal achievements beyond physical appearance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ## Related quotes > [When you're playing an icon like Wolverine, it's sometimes better to be someone that nobody knows because they don't know what to expect. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/when-you-re-playing-an-icon-like-wolverine-it-s-sometimes-better-to/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [My father-in-law has ear hair like a wolverine. It fans out from the auricles, wafting from the ridge lines like cilia, like gray feathered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosecrans-baldwin/my-father-in-law-has-ear-hair-like-a-wolverine-it-fans-out-from-the/) [Rosecrans Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosecrans-baldwin/) > [The mutants I like - Wolverine. The action heroes I like, they have weapons; they are more visceral. So I filled the comic with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-liefeld/the-mutants-i-like-wolverine-the-action-heroes-i-like-they-have/) [Rob Liefeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-liefeld/) > [You’re attacking that one like a wolverine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/you-re-attacking-that-one-like-a-wolverine/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“It was a bitch living with your old English teacher, especially when your old English teacher wasn’t old at all, and he had exactly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/it-was-a-bitch-living-with-your-old-english-teacher-especially-when/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [“Typically, I like my women tall, lean, blonde, and a little on the "easy" side. Who doesn't really? I sound like an ass, don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelisa-stone/typically-i-like-my-women-tall-lean-blonde-and-a-little-on-the-easy/) Angelisa Stone > [“Tall, lean, he was far more muscular than he appeared— and stronger”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanya-anne-crosby/tall-lean-he-was-far-more-muscular-than-he-appeared-and-stronger/) [Tanya Anne Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanya-anne-crosby/) > [I'm lucky to have very good genes. My mother was so tiny she was almost bird-like, and my father was tall and lean. Both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherie-lunghi/i-m-lucky-to-have-very-good-genes-my-mother-was-so-tiny-she-was/) [Cherie Lunghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cherie-lunghi/) > [If I am anorexic, Id be in the hospital! I am tall. I am 5 foot 9 inches, 175 cms tall. I am lean,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anushka-sharma/if-i-am-anorexic-id-be-in-the-hospital-i-am-tall-i-am-5-foot-9-inches/) [Anushka Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anushka-sharma/) > [It's absolutely physically demanding to play the role of Wolverine. There's a lot of action, and I try to do as much of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/it-s-absolutely-physically-demanding-to-play-the-role-of-wolverine/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [It's fair to say that, by 'X-Men 3,' Wolverine had gone a little soft, and I agree with them there. What fans love about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/it-s-fair-to-say-that-by-x-men-3-wolverine-had-gone-a-little-soft-and/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [Comic book fans have loved Wolverine, and all the 'X-Men' characters, for more than the action. I think that's what set it apart from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/comic-book-fans-have-loved-wolverine-and-all-the-x-men-characters-for/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [There was a whole display set up of all the X-Men paraphernalia. My wife couldn't resist telling this 5-year-old boy that I was Wolverine.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/there-was-a-whole-display-set-up-of-all-the-x-men-paraphernalia-my/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [Wolverine was created in the '60s, but he feels like a '70s character in every way. More Dirty Harry, more politically incorrect, the hair,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/wolverine-was-created-in-the-60s-but-he-feels-like-a-70s-character-in/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [I'm like a chromosome I always ex 'em, like wolverine steps in attackin a deadly weapon, I'm openin a church to sell coke and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-the-creator/i-m-like-a-chromosome-i-always-ex-em-like-wolverine-steps-in-attackin/) [Tyler The Creator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-the-creator/) ## More by Hugh Jackman > [Coming to terms with our true natures and who we really are has always been a fascination to humans. I know it fascinates me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/coming-to-terms-with-our-true-natures-and-who-we-really-are-has/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [Meditation has changed my life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/meditation-has-changed-my-life/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [If you never fall in love with your character, you'll never be able to do that character justice. No matter who it is, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/if-you-never-fall-in-love-with-your-character-you-ll-never-be-able-to/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [One of the Canadian customs guards got suspicious and said 'Haven't you been coming and going across the border a lot lately?' I finally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/one-of-the-canadian-customs-guards-got-suspicious-and-said-haven-t/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [I'm lucky to have worked in theater all over the world, but there's something magical about Broadway. The audiences are smart, they're educated. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/i-m-lucky-to-have-worked-in-theater-all-over-the-world-but-there-s/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [There is anxiety, but it comes after you've finished filming because it's out of your hands; people are editing it, they're cutting it, marketing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/there-is-anxiety-but-it-comes-after-you-ve-finished-filming-because/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [I have done many movies that people hadn't seen. 'The Fountain,' I spent a year on that. 'The Prestige' with Chris Nolan, and 'Australia.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/i-have-done-many-movies-that-people-hadn-t-seen-the-fountain-i-spent/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [When you dance, your body just wants to find its natural weight. I'm naturally a lot more Tommy Tune than I am Wolverine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/when-you-dance-your-body-just-wants-to-find-its-natural-weight-i-m/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [If I meet someone at a bus stop, I want to really meet that person. I don't want to be 'Hugh Jackman, the famous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/if-i-meet-someone-at-a-bus-stop-i-want-to-really-meet-that-person-i/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [I'm an actor. Never trust an actor, whatever their energy is. I suppose you guys see that side of me, but I'm sure there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/i-m-an-actor-never-trust-an-actor-whatever-their-energy-is-i-suppose/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [What I respect as far as in myself and in others is the spirit of just doing it. For better or worse, it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/what-i-respect-as-far-as-in-myself-and-in-others-is-the-spirit-of/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [Write down five things you love to do. Next, write down five things that you're really good at. Then just try to match them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/write-down-five-things-you-love-to-do-next-write-down-five-things/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [I just love making a fool out of myself. I made my living as a clown at kids' parties for about three years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/i-just-love-making-a-fool-out-of-myself-i-made-my-living-as-a-clown/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [Now I meditate twice a day for half an hour. In meditation, I can let go of everything. I'm not Hugh Jackman. I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/now-i-meditate-twice-a-day-for-half-an-hour-in-meditation-i-can-let/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [The word philosophy sounds high-minded, but it simply means the love of wisdom. If you love something, you don't just read about it; you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/the-word-philosophy-sounds-high-minded-but-it-simply-means-the-love/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) [Explore all 204 Hugh Jackman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) ## 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. 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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. 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