--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have never wanted to be typecast, one…" description: "\"I have never wanted to be typecast, one of those actors who plays a variation on a one-note theme. So just as I enjoy playing a wide variety of charact..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/ian-mckellen-1396_acting_i-have-never-wanted-to-be-typecast-one-o_1798139.jpg" --- # I have never wanted to be typecast, one of those actors… ![“I have never wanted to be typecast, one of those actors who plays a variation on a one-note theme. So just as I enjoy playing a wide variety of characters, from good to bad to ugly to cute - so I have enjoyed of late working in film and television, as well as in theatres of various sizes and shapes.” quote by Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/ian-mckellen-1396_acting_i-have-never-wanted-to-be-typecast-one-o_1798139.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/ian-mckellen-1396_acting_i-have-never-wanted-to-be-typecast-one-o_1798139.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/ian-mckellen-1396_acting_i-have-never-wanted-to-be-typecast-one-o_1798139.jpg) > “I have never wanted to be typecast, one of those actors who plays a variation on a one-note theme. So just as I enjoy playing a wide variety of characters, from good to bad to ugly to cute - so I have enjoyed of late working in film and television, as well as in theatres of various sizes and shapes.” [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He values versatility, refusing to be limited to a single type of role, and enjoys diverse characters across media. **In simple terms:** He likes playing many different characters. Key Takeaway Seek varied experiences. Themes versatility creativity career Mood enthusiastic reflective Type inspirational professional When to use this quote - stage - film - television - theatre - career development Key Concepts acting typecasting artistic growth Questions to Reflect On - How does variety enrich your craft? - What risks come with constant change? A Different Perspective May limit audience expectations of consistency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Film and television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film-and-television/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Shapes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shapes/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Variety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/variety/) ## Related quotes > [There was a time when the industry would typecast actors. It still continues to an extent on the celluloid but with the digital medium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amrita-rao/there-was-a-time-when-the-industry-would-typecast-actors-it-still/) [Amrita Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amrita-rao/) > [I've never been one of those actors who plays chess with his career and goes, 'I'm going to wait now and see what project…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-strong/i-ve-never-been-one-of-those-actors-who-plays-chess-with-his-career/) [Mark Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-strong/) > [Actors between plays are like ghosts looking for bodies to inhabit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-godwin/actors-between-plays-are-like-ghosts-looking-for-bodies-to-inhabit/) [Gail Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-godwin/) > [I'm unable to do the thing that Broadway actors do in plays, sometimes for years. The same exact blocking, the same exact lines. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/i-m-unable-to-do-the-thing-that-broadway-actors-do-in-plays-sometimes/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) > [I don't think I've ever written anything even remotely naturalistic. The closest probably would be seen as 'Frankie and Johnny,' and that's only 'cause…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-mcnally/i-don-t-think-i-ve-ever-written-anything-even-remotely-naturalistic/) [Terrence McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-mcnally/) > [God knows I've had productions where there were actors in my plays who were making more money per week than I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-kushner/god-knows-i-ve-had-productions-where-there-were-actors-in-my-plays/) [Tony Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-kushner/) > [I have tried to maintain the variety in the characters I choose to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neha-sharma/i-have-tried-to-maintain-the-variety-in-the-characters-i-choose-to/) [Neha Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neha-sharma/) > [I like the variety of characters that you can play in films, rather than playing the same role for 10 years as you might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-collins/i-like-the-variety-of-characters-that-you-can-play-in-films-rather/) [Mo Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-collins/) > [The less someone knows about me, the better, because my intention is to play a variety of characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/the-less-someone-knows-about-me-the-better-because-my-intention-is-to/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [I think I've proven with my career that I can play a wide variety of characters. Yet, I still get typecast as the crazy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judah-friedlander/i-think-i-ve-proven-with-my-career-that-i-can-play-a-wide-variety-of/) [Judah Friedlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judah-friedlander/) > [I love Octavia Spencer. I love what she has to say as a human, and I love her career and the variety of characters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-macdonald/i-love-octavia-spencer-i-love-what-she-has-to-say-as-a-human-and-i/) [Danielle Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-macdonald/) > [You know what I like? I like classic stuff. I like 'The Andy Griffith Show' - the variety of characters was so amazing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-smoove/you-know-what-i-like-i-like-classic-stuff-i-like-the-andy-griffith/) [J. B. Smoove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-smoove/) > [I am a variety machine; I look for variety in my characters, and an extra edge in the characterisation helps in bringing out a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allu-arjun/i-am-a-variety-machine-i-look-for-variety-in-my-characters-and-an/) [Allu Arjun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allu-arjun/) > [I like playing a variety of characters. I feel like I've been able to play different kinds of characters - I've done a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcavoy/i-like-playing-a-variety-of-characters-i-feel-like-i-ve-been-able-to/) [James McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcavoy/) > [I don't want to adhere to any particular image. I have tried to bring in variety to my characters. But then, only a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nivin-pauly/i-don-t-want-to-adhere-to-any-particular-image-i-have-tried-to-bring/) [Nivin Pauly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nivin-pauly/) ## More by Ian Mckellen > [I've always longed for the theatre and acting to be popular. No actor wants to play to an empty house. We only do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/i-ve-always-longed-for-the-theatre-and-acting-to-be-popular-no-actor/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [It's my impression that I've done every job that I've been asked to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/it-s-my-impression-that-i-ve-done-every-job-that-i-ve-been-asked-to-do/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [I'm fortunate to be famous for two rather imposing characters like Magneto and Gandalf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/i-m-fortunate-to-be-famous-for-two-rather-imposing-characters-like/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [Tolkien is as good as Dickens at sketching a scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/tolkien-is-as-good-as-dickens-at-sketching-a-scene/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [If you are playing King Lear you are the centre of attention anyway. You don't need to draw attention to yourself. It's all laid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/if-you-are-playing-king-lear-you-are-the-centre-of-attention-anyway/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [Godot is whatever it is in life that you are waiting for: 'I'm waiting to win the lottery. I'm waiting to fall in love'.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/godot-is-whatever-it-is-in-life-that-you-are-waiting-for-i-m-waiting/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [I'm only an actor. I'm not a writer. I'm not going to leave any legacy. All I've ever done is learn the lines and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/i-m-only-an-actor-i-m-not-a-writer-i-m-not-going-to-leave-any-legacy/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [I'd never read 'Lord of the Rings' until I was asked to play Gandalf, so I didn't really know it was a frightfully famous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/i-d-never-read-lord-of-the-rings-until-i-was-asked-to-play-gandalf-so/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [You might be surprised by how interested young people are in older people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/you-might-be-surprised-by-how-interested-young-people-are-in-older/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [The strength of British theatre should be that these actors in their middle years know what they're doing and are good at it. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/the-strength-of-british-theatre-should-be-that-these-actors-in-their/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [Until I came out, my acting was all about disguise, and thereafter it became about telling the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/until-i-came-out-my-acting-was-all-about-disguise-and-thereafter-it/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [Elijah looks angelic but his beauty of spirit is what makes his Frodo leap out of the screen. Unalloyed goodness is one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/elijah-looks-angelic-but-his-beauty-of-spirit-is-what-makes-his-frodo/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > ['The Lego Movie?' I've never heard of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/the-lego-movie-i-ve-never-heard-of-it/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [When I appeared in 'Coronation Street,' I lived in Manchester and enjoyed it very much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/when-i-appeared-in-coronation-street-i-lived-in-manchester-and/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [Before acting, I wanted to become a journalist. I also toyed with the idea of being a chef - but that's only when people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/before-acting-i-wanted-to-become-a-journalist-i-also-toyed-with-the/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) [Explore all 247 Ian Mckellen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) ## More Acting 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/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [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/) > [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/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) Ryan Newman > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have never wanted to be typecast, one of those actors who plays a variation on a one-note theme. 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