--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I do a character, I try to base it…" description: "\"When I do a character, I try to base it on someone I have met or an experience I've had.\" — Illeana Douglas" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd2/illeana-douglas-22112_character_when-i-do-a-character-i-try-to-base-it-o_778524.jpg" --- # When I do a character, I try to base it on someone I have… ![“When I do a character, I try to base it on someone I have met or an experience I've had.” quote by Illeana Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd2/illeana-douglas-22112_character_when-i-do-a-character-i-try-to-base-it-o_778524.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd2/illeana-douglas-22112_character_when-i-do-a-character-i-try-to-base-it-o_778524.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd2/illeana-douglas-22112_character_when-i-do-a-character-i-try-to-base-it-o_778524.jpg) > “When I do a character, I try to base it on someone I have met or an experience I've had.” [Illeana Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/illeana-douglas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Actors should ground fictional characters in real people or personal experiences to create authentic, relatable performances. **In simple terms:** Use real life as a foundation for fictional roles. Key Takeaway Draw from real encounters when creating characters. Themes acting authenticity experience character development Mood introspective practical Type craft inspirational When to use this quote - theatre - film - television - improvisation Key Concepts method acting empathy storytelling Questions to Reflect On - What real experiences can deepen a character? - When does personal bias hinder performance? A Different Perspective May limit imaginative freedom or lead to typecasting. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) ## Related quotes > [I wasn't part of the BeyHive before I met her, but after my experience working with her, meeting her, I'm a die-hard fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winnie-harlow/i-wasn-t-part-of-the-beyhive-before-i-met-her-but-after-my-experience/) [Winnie Harlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winnie-harlow/) > [I am a part of all that I have met. Yet, experience is an arch wherethro gleams that untravl'd world whose margin fades forever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-a-part-of-all-that-i-have-met-yet-experience-is-an-arch/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Metropolitan Opera, of course, is the gold standard in opera. The Met experience includes the huge stage, the vast audience, the elaborate sets.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-decrow/the-metropolitan-opera-of-course-is-the-gold-standard-in-opera-the/) [Karen DeCrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-decrow/) > [My experience at DePauw was about as beneficial as any experience I've had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-stevens/my-experience-at-depauw-was-about-as-beneficial-as-any-experience-i/) [Brad Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-stevens/) > [The experience you’ve had may be unwanted, may amount to nothing but damage and waste, but experience has substance, is factual, authoritative, lives on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-a-harrison/the-experience-you-ve-had-may-be-unwanted-may-amount-to-nothing-but/) [A.S.A. Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-a-harrison/) > [Experience is what you have after you've forgotten her name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-berle/experience-is-what-you-have-after-you-ve-forgotten-her-name/) [Milton Berle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-berle/) > [Every experience I've had in my life is a resource in my body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/every-experience-i-ve-had-in-my-life-is-a-resource-in-my-body/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) > [Look Upon Every Experience You've Ever Had ... as Having Been Sent to You for Your Benefit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/look-upon-every-experience-you-ve-ever-had-as-having-been-sent-to-you/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [“all of us are damaged in our own ways. It's just that most people call it 'experience'. And you've had a lot of experience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-shepard/all-of-us-are-damaged-in-our-own-ways-it-s-just-that-most-people-call/) [Sara Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-shepard/) > [You cannot experience yourself as what you are until you've encountered what you are not](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/you-cannot-experience-yourself-as-what-you-are-until-you-ve/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [As a writer, every time I create a character, I try to go for something to captivate the audience in some way. It's also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dini/as-a-writer-every-time-i-create-a-character-i-try-to-go-for-something/) [Paul Dini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dini/) > [For each character, I try to understand what is driving them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dee-rees/for-each-character-i-try-to-understand-what-is-driving-them/) [Dee Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dee-rees/) > [I'm trying to look into each character and try to realize her as someone who is also me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillipa-soo/i-m-trying-to-look-into-each-character-and-try-to-realize-her-as/) [Phillipa Soo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillipa-soo/) > [Everyone is complicated one way or another. But it's interesting to dig into a complicated character, to try to find that within yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-olin/everyone-is-complicated-one-way-or-another-but-it-s-interesting-to/) [Lena Olin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-olin/) > [I love those preliminary conversations about who a character is. You try on wigs, shoes, and clothes. It's preferable when it's not about looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-mcadams/i-love-those-preliminary-conversations-about-who-a-character-is-you/) [Rachel McAdams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-mcadams/) ## More by Illeana Douglas > [I loved the idea of the Nerd as Hero, which Ghost World also had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/illeana-douglas/i-loved-the-idea-of-the-nerd-as-hero-which-ghost-world-also-had/) [Illeana Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/illeana-douglas/) > [God only knows what else is on the web about me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/illeana-douglas/god-only-knows-what-else-is-on-the-web-about-me/) [Illeana Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/illeana-douglas/) > [I know as I'm taking my dying breath, the ambulance guy will ask me why they cancelled Action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/illeana-douglas/i-know-as-i-m-taking-my-dying-breath-the-ambulance-guy-will-ask-me/) [Illeana Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/illeana-douglas/) > [I know in this day and age, when you meet men, they often want to be boys. They dress like boys. And it's very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/illeana-douglas/i-know-in-this-day-and-age-when-you-meet-men-they-often-want-to-be/) [Illeana Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/illeana-douglas/) > [It's nice to see a movie where people are actually succeeding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/illeana-douglas/it-s-nice-to-see-a-movie-where-people-are-actually-succeeding/) [Illeana Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/illeana-douglas/) > [I've done a few studio films in the last few years where I feel like I've done good work, and then I only end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/illeana-douglas/i-ve-done-a-few-studio-films-in-the-last-few-years-where-i-feel-like/) [Illeana Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/illeana-douglas/) > [I enjoy doing independent films more, only because there's more freedom. There's not as many cooks tampering with what you are trying to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/illeana-douglas/i-enjoy-doing-independent-films-more-only-because-there-s-more/) [Illeana Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/illeana-douglas/) > [It was an interesting way to come across in my first big role. To work with Robert DeNiro was very exciting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/illeana-douglas/it-was-an-interesting-way-to-come-across-in-my-first-big-role-to-work/) [Illeana Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/illeana-douglas/) > [I love sketch comedy. My real goal is to do something with Albert Brooks. That would be my fantasy. I stay up night and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/illeana-douglas/i-love-sketch-comedy-my-real-goal-is-to-do-something-with-albert/) [Illeana Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/illeana-douglas/) > [I like the idea of capturing people who aren't there to save the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/illeana-douglas/i-like-the-idea-of-capturing-people-who-aren-t-there-to-save-the-world/) [Illeana Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/illeana-douglas/) > [We were big Saturday Night Live and Eddie Murphy fans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/illeana-douglas/we-were-big-saturday-night-live-and-eddie-murphy-fans/) [Illeana Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/illeana-douglas/) > [I'm a big fan of Albert Brooks, Nichols and May. I'd like to follow in their footsteps and do comedy films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/illeana-douglas/i-m-a-big-fan-of-albert-brooks-nichols-and-may-i-d-like-to-follow-in/) [Illeana Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/illeana-douglas/) > [I always wanted to get into the horror genre. I like scary movies. I want to go to the fan shows and sign posters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/illeana-douglas/i-always-wanted-to-get-into-the-horror-genre-i-like-scary-movies-i/) [Illeana Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/illeana-douglas/) > [The best situation is where they cast you and then they trust you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/illeana-douglas/the-best-situation-is-where-they-cast-you-and-then-they-trust-you/) [Illeana Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/illeana-douglas/) > [I like doing movies that relate to people's experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/illeana-douglas/i-like-doing-movies-that-relate-to-people-s-experience/) [Illeana Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/illeana-douglas/) [Explore all 28 Illeana Douglas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/illeana-douglas/) ## 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": "When I do a character, I try to base it on someone I have met or an experience I've had.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Illeana Douglas" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/illeana-douglas/when-i-do-a-character-i-try-to-base-it-on-someone-i-have-met-or-an/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/illeana-douglas/when-i-do-a-character-i-try-to-base-it-on-someone-i-have-met-or-an/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd2/illeana-douglas-22112_character_when-i-do-a-character-i-try-to-base-it-o_778524.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd2/illeana-douglas-22112_character_when-i-do-a-character-i-try-to-base-it-o_778524.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd2/illeana-douglas-22112_character_when-i-do-a-character-i-try-to-base-it-o_778524.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I do a character, I try to base it on someone I have met or an experience I've had.” — Illeana Douglas", "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": "Illeana Douglas", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/illeana-douglas/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I do a character, I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/illeana-douglas/when-i-do-a-character-i-try-to-base-it-on-someone-i-have-met-or-an/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/illeana-douglas/when-i-do-a-character-i-try-to-base-it-on-someone-i-have-met-or-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 } } ] } ```