--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In every character you play, as much as…" description: "\"In every character you play, as much as you hate to admit it as an actor, but there's an element of you that you bring to it. Either the character help..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d3/janet-montgomery-30425_actor_in-every-character-you-play-as-much-as-y_1844136.jpg" --- # In every character you play, as much as you hate to admit… ![“In every character you play, as much as you hate to admit it as an actor, but there's an element of you that you bring to it. Either the character helps you discover that element of you or the other way around, where that element of you helps you discover the character.” quote by Janet Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d3/janet-montgomery-30425_actor_in-every-character-you-play-as-much-as-y_1844136.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d3/janet-montgomery-30425_actor_in-every-character-you-play-as-much-as-y_1844136.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d3/janet-montgomery-30425_actor_in-every-character-you-play-as-much-as-y_1844136.jpg) > “In every character you play, as much as you hate to admit it as an actor, but there's an element of you that you bring to it. Either the character helps you discover that element of you or the other way around, where that element of you helps you discover the character.” [Janet Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-montgomery/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting reveals and shapes personal identity; the role and actor influence each other. **In simple terms:** Acting and self‑discovery are linked. Key Takeaway Use roles to explore yourself. Themes identity creativity self‑exploration Mood introspective creative Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - theatre auditions - method acting - personal growth workshops Key Concepts psychology performance art Questions to Reflect On - What part of yourself emerges in a role? - How does a role change your self‑view? A Different Perspective Risk of conflating character traits with personal traits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [In every character you play, as much as you hate to admit it as an actor, but there's an element of you that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-montgomery/in-every-character-you-play-as-much-as-you-hate-to-admit-it-as-an/) [Janet Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-montgomery/) > [I'll never admit that I'm an actor, because the next horrible follow-up question is always, "Oh, what have I seen you in?"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ian-black/i-ll-never-admit-that-i-m-an-actor-because-the-next-horrible-follow/) [Michael Ian Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ian-black/) > [Acting is different from mental gymnastics. You try to discover as much about the character as you can, but a large area is mysterious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faye-dunaway/acting-is-different-from-mental-gymnastics-you-try-to-discover-as/) [Faye Dunaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faye-dunaway/) > [Seeing a new face every couple of weeks is unsettling if you're trying to discover a character and actualize it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kari-skogland/seeing-a-new-face-every-couple-of-weeks-is-unsettling-if-you-re/) [Kari Skogland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kari-skogland/) > [In order to discover the character of people we have only to observe what they love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-order-to-discover-the-character-of-people-we-have-only-to-observe/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We discover our character through decisions under pressure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/we-discover-our-character-through-decisions-under-pressure/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [Trifles discover a character, more than actions of importance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shenstone/trifles-discover-a-character-more-than-actions-of-importance/) [William Shenstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shenstone/) > [I try to discover the character's primary motivation. In a screenplay, you can make up a hundred different variables of a character. Is he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-yaeger/i-try-to-discover-the-character-s-primary-motivation-in-a-screenplay/) Kurt Yaeger > [The right costume determines the character, helps the actor feel who he is, and serves the story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-atwood/the-right-costume-determines-the-character-helps-the-actor-feel-who/) [Colleen Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-atwood/) > [If landscape is a character for me, then it helps if I'm familiar with it and I already have a take on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nic-pizzolatto/if-landscape-is-a-character-for-me-then-it-helps-if-i-m-familiar-with/) [Nic Pizzolatto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nic-pizzolatto/) > [“Always I find when I begin to write there is one character who obstinately will not come alive...He never does the unexpected thing, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/always-i-find-when-i-begin-to-write-there-is-one-character-who/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) > [The same strength of character which helps a man resist love, helps to make it more violent and lasting too. People of unsettled minds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-same-strength-of-character-which-helps-a-man-resist-love-helps-to/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [“Children whose character was praised subsequently became more generous than those whose behavior was praised. Praising character helps children internalize values as part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edify-me/children-whose-character-was-praised-subsequently-became-more/) Edify.me > [I got good at trying to throw a voice on a character from the very beginning as opposed to like reading it and sitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenan-thompson/i-got-good-at-trying-to-throw-a-voice-on-a-character-from-the-very/) [Kenan Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenan-thompson/) > [Rappers and MCs have always had an alias. Building your character, it helps you to get things out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dizzee-rascal/rappers-and-mcs-have-always-had-an-alias-building-your-character-it/) [Dizzee Rascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzee-rascal/) ## More by Janet Montgomery > [You have to be completely in the character, and that's so hard to do. That's why, when they call, 'Cut!,' you often feel yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-montgomery/you-have-to-be-completely-in-the-character-and-that-s-so-hard-to-do/) [Janet Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-montgomery/) > [In every character you play, as much as you hate to admit it as an actor, but there's an element of you that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-montgomery/in-every-character-you-play-as-much-as-you-hate-to-admit-it-as-an/) [Janet Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-montgomery/) > [I actually always try to not do a general American accent. I always try to give a region.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-montgomery/i-actually-always-try-to-not-do-a-general-american-accent-i-always/) [Janet Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-montgomery/) > [When you first start, you just want to get a job. It goes from that to really deciding what kind of work you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-montgomery/when-you-first-start-you-just-want-to-get-a-job-it-goes-from-that-to/) [Janet Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-montgomery/) > [I'm not a reality TV star. I pride myself on witnessing, watching people, studying people, and being able to recreate that and create a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-montgomery/i-m-not-a-reality-tv-star-i-pride-myself-on-witnessing-watching/) [Janet Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-montgomery/) > [Honestly, because of the way women were treated, I wouldn't want to go back to Puritan times. I'm far too outspoken to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-montgomery/honestly-because-of-the-way-women-were-treated-i-wouldn-t-want-to-go/) [Janet Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-montgomery/) > [I just want that sensation you have in dreams when you fly to be real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-montgomery/i-just-want-that-sensation-you-have-in-dreams-when-you-fly-to-be-real/) [Janet Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-montgomery/) > [If you're an English actor, and you're asked to do an episode - especially the Christmas episode - of 'Downton Abbey,' you can't turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-montgomery/if-you-re-an-english-actor-and-you-re-asked-to-do-an-episode/) [Janet Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-montgomery/) > [Honestly, because of the way women were treated, I wouldn't want to go back to Puritan times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-montgomery/honestly-because-of-the-way-women-were-treated-i-wouldn-t-want-to-go-2/) [Janet Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-montgomery/) > [I'd love to do like a modern day 'Shining' and play the Jack Nicholson role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-montgomery/i-d-love-to-do-like-a-modern-day-shining-and-play-the-jack-nicholson/) [Janet Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-montgomery/) > [My background is more horror or thriller, and you can't get better than horror fans, as far as I'm concerned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-montgomery/my-background-is-more-horror-or-thriller-and-you-can-t-get-better/) [Janet Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-montgomery/) > [I've never done a period piece. That's something I'd be really interested in doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-montgomery/i-ve-never-done-a-period-piece-that-s-something-i-d-be-really/) [Janet Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-montgomery/) > [I'm far too outspoken to be a woman in Puritan times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-montgomery/i-m-far-too-outspoken-to-be-a-woman-in-puritan-times/) [Janet Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-montgomery/) > [New Jersey is very big. There are different areas of New Jersey. There is North New Jersey. There is like the center. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-montgomery/new-jersey-is-very-big-there-are-different-areas-of-new-jersey-there/) [Janet Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-montgomery/) > [I went to Florida when I was 15. That was my first time in America, so you learn about how different the regions are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-montgomery/i-went-to-florida-when-i-was-15-that-was-my-first-time-in-america-so/) [Janet Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-montgomery/) [Explore all 17 Janet Montgomery quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-montgomery/) ## 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": "In every character you play, as much as you hate to admit it as an actor, but there's an element of you that you bring to it. 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