---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I remember when I got my Equity card…"
description: "\"I remember when I got my Equity card doing the Scottish play at the Public Theater with Angela Bassett and Alec Baldwin. Alec thought I should just be ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c09/jason-butler-harner-31510_equity_i-remember-when-i-got-my-equity-card-doi_2158092.jpg"
---

#  I remember when I got my Equity card doing the Scottish…

![“I remember when I got my Equity card doing the Scottish play at the Public Theater with Angela Bassett and Alec Baldwin. Alec thought I should just be Butler Harner, but I thought it would make people laugh if they had to call me Butler.” quote by Jason Butler Harner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c09/jason-butler-harner-31510_equity_i-remember-when-i-got-my-equity-card-doi_2158092.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c09/jason-butler-harner-31510_equity_i-remember-when-i-got-my-equity-card-doi_2158092.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c09/jason-butler-harner-31510_equity_i-remember-when-i-got-my-equity-card-doi_2158092.jpg)

> “I remember when I got my Equity card doing the Scottish play at the Public Theater with Angela Bassett and Alec Baldwin. Alec thought I should just be Butler Harner, but I thought it would make people laugh if they had to call me Butler.”

[Jason Butler Harner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-butler-harner/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

An actor’s personal branding can be humorously shaped by embracing a nickname, even if it defies casting expectations.

**In simple terms:** Using a funny name can change how others perceive you.

Key Takeaway

Leverage humor to reshape professional identity.

Themes

identity humor branding acting self‑presentation

Mood

lighthearted strategic reflective

Type

anecdotal inspirational practical

When to use this quote

- audition tactics
- stage name choices
- networking
- typecasting
- public image

Key Concepts

personal branding stereotype subversion career strategy

Questions to Reflect On

- What risks do you take when redefining your professional image?
- How can humor be balanced with credibility?

A Different Perspective

Humor may undermine seriousness in certain roles.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Equity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equity/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laugh/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/)

## Related quotes

> [I am much closer to the Butler side of the family, which is on mother's side, from where I get my middle name. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-butler-harner/i-am-much-closer-to-the-butler-side-of-the-family-which-is-on-mother/)

[Jason Butler Harner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-butler-harner/)

> [I am the greatest Angela Bassett fan. She is such a fine human being and so steady.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-de-passe/i-am-the-greatest-angela-bassett-fan-she-is-such-a-fine-human-being/)

[Suzanne de Passe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-de-passe/)

> [I don't just want to be a cute girl in a comedy or the actress who just does the same thing over and over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naturi-naughton/i-don-t-just-want-to-be-a-cute-girl-in-a-comedy-or-the-actress-who/)

[Naturi Naughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naturi-naughton/)

> [The actor that taught me the most was Bernie Mac. I did my first big budget studio film with he and Angela Bassett, 'Mr.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-j-white/the-actor-that-taught-me-the-most-was-bernie-mac-i-did-my-first-big/)

[Brian J. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-j-white/)

> [There wouldn't be a Halle Berry or an Angela Bassett or a Cicely Tyson if there hadn't been a Lena Horne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dee-dee-bridgewater/there-wouldn-t-be-a-halle-berry-or-an-angela-bassett-or-a-cicely/)

Dee Dee Bridgewater

> [For me, I have this tough exterior and these Angela Bassett arms, and people think, 'Oh, my God, Rutina's tough.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutina-wesley/for-me-i-have-this-tough-exterior-and-these-angela-bassett-arms-and/)

[Rutina Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutina-wesley/)

> [Working with Angela Bassett is by far the best. I've watched and admired her for years. I'm very intrigued by her work. She's so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-gross/working-with-angela-bassett-is-by-far-the-best-i-ve-watched-and/)

[Lance Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-gross/)

> [I think our first scene was us arguing, and nobody wants to argue with Angela Bassett, but the thing about it was that all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stark/i-think-our-first-scene-was-us-arguing-and-nobody-wants-to-argue-with/)

[Oliver Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stark/)

> [I'm a working actor, and I'm really appreciative to be a working actor, but it's another level when you're a working actor with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adina-porter/i-m-a-working-actor-and-i-m-really-appreciative-to-be-a-working-actor/)

[Adina Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adina-porter/)

> [I'm an absolute fan of Angela Bassett. I think she's a great, great actress. In the biopics, she is so moving. She's very rare.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnaud-desplechin/i-m-an-absolute-fan-of-angela-bassett-i-think-she-s-a-great-great/)

[Arnaud Desplechin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnaud-desplechin/)

> [My parents are my role models. I also love Halle Berry, Robert DeNiro, Eddie Murphy, Angela Bassett, Tom Cruise and Jennifer Lopez. When I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raven-symone/my-parents-are-my-role-models-i-also-love-halle-berry-robert-deniro/)

[Raven-Symone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raven-symone/)

> [Viola Davis should be a household name. So should Angela Bassett.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutina-wesley/viola-davis-should-be-a-household-name-so-should-angela-bassett/)

[Rutina Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutina-wesley/)

> [I met Angela Bassett during the awards circuit. I was actually surprised at how moved I was to meet her in person. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-gabriel/i-met-angela-bassett-during-the-awards-circuit-i-was-actually/)

[Betty Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-gabriel/)

> [When I was a kid, people people would always say, 'Oh you look like Chilli from TLC.' It wasn't until I did 'Akeelah and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keke-palmer/when-i-was-a-kid-people-people-would-always-say-oh-you-look-like/)

[Keke Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keke-palmer/)

> [The person that inspired me throughout most of my childhood was Angela Bassett.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teyonah-parris/the-person-that-inspired-me-throughout-most-of-my-childhood-was/)

[Teyonah Parris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teyonah-parris/)

## More by Jason Butler Harner

> [I am much closer to the Butler side of the family, which is on mother's side, from where I get my middle name. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-butler-harner/i-am-much-closer-to-the-butler-side-of-the-family-which-is-on-mother/)

[Jason Butler Harner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-butler-harner/)

> [I'm a constant waffler. I've said to anyone I've ever dated, 'Asking me to choose a restaurant is going to be a conversation that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-butler-harner/i-m-a-constant-waffler-i-ve-said-to-anyone-i-ve-ever-dated-asking-me/)

[Jason Butler Harner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-butler-harner/)

> [I'm not a person who romanticizes what being an actor should be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-butler-harner/i-m-not-a-person-who-romanticizes-what-being-an-actor-should-be/)

[Jason Butler Harner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-butler-harner/)

> [I'm the kind of actor who truly believes that every play is a company play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-butler-harner/i-m-the-kind-of-actor-who-truly-believes-that-every-play-is-a-company/)

[Jason Butler Harner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-butler-harner/)

> [I sometimes wish I had a good 'one syllable, one syllable' name, like Brad Pitt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-butler-harner/i-sometimes-wish-i-had-a-good-one-syllable-one-syllable-name-like/)

[Jason Butler Harner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-butler-harner/)

> [In theater acting, you leave that night and what it was is what it was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-butler-harner/in-theater-acting-you-leave-that-night-and-what-it-was-is-what-it-was/)

[Jason Butler Harner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-butler-harner/)

> [Now that I'm 40, I knew I wasn't going to pass for 25.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-butler-harner/now-that-i-m-40-i-knew-i-wasn-t-going-to-pass-for-25/)

[Jason Butler Harner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-butler-harner/)

> [The fact is as you get older you can't just change things or be quite as laissez-faire; you're conscious of the effort and time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-butler-harner/the-fact-is-as-you-get-older-you-can-t-just-change-things-or-be-quite/)

[Jason Butler Harner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-butler-harner/)

> [You see these juicy roles, and 9 times out of 10, they'll go to a much more established actor. It's the nature of the business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-butler-harner/you-see-these-juicy-roles-and-9-times-out-of-10-they-ll-go-to-a-much/)

[Jason Butler Harner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-butler-harner/)

> [When I did 'The Green' with Cheyenne Jackson, I was the lead of a film for the first time. That was really fun; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-butler-harner/when-i-did-the-green-with-cheyenne-jackson-i-was-the-lead-of-a-film/)

[Jason Butler Harner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-butler-harner/)

> [Well, I won't say I'm cynical. I'd say I'm pragmatic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-butler-harner/well-i-won-t-say-i-m-cynical-i-d-say-i-m-pragmatic/)

[Jason Butler Harner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-butler-harner/)

> [I have to have sound in my ears for 10 minutes prior. I come to the theater early, two hours, just to calm down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-butler-harner/i-have-to-have-sound-in-my-ears-for-10-minutes-prior-i-come-to-the/)

[Jason Butler Harner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-butler-harner/)

> [I am blessed to have made my career as an actor for a decade now and I'm grateful for that. It could arguably have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-butler-harner/i-am-blessed-to-have-made-my-career-as-an-actor-for-a-decade-now-and/)

[Jason Butler Harner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-butler-harner/)

> [I have three lines in 'The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3' about having to go to the bathroom, and it's the most money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-butler-harner/i-have-three-lines-in-the-taking-of-pelham-1-2-3-about-having-to-go/)

[Jason Butler Harner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-butler-harner/)

> [But I was a sensitive kid. A funny kid, and a perceptive one. There was a lot of time spent alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-butler-harner/but-i-was-a-sensitive-kid-a-funny-kid-and-a-perceptive-one-there-was/)

[Jason Butler Harner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-butler-harner/)

[Explore all 16 Jason Butler Harner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-butler-harner/)

## More Butler quotes

> [“No one had ever left me so simultaneously relaxed and knotted up all at once (except maybe Rhett Butler, which doesn't count since he's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecily-white/no-one-had-ever-left-me-so-simultaneously-relaxed-and-knotted-up-all/)

[Cecily White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecily-white/)

> [If I could be anyone, I'd choose the lead singer of Arcade Fire, Win Butler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-kardashian/if-i-could-be-anyone-i-d-choose-the-lead-singer-of-arcade-fire-win/)

[Rob Kardashian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-kardashian/)

> [Why does Samuel Butler say, 'Wise men never say what they think of women'? Wise men never say anything else apparently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/why-does-samuel-butler-say-wise-men-never-say-what-they-think-of/)

[Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/)

> [I am much closer to the Butler side of the family, which is on mother's side, from where I get my middle name. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-butler-harner/i-am-much-closer-to-the-butler-side-of-the-family-which-is-on-mother/)

[Jason Butler Harner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-butler-harner/)

> [“There were only two men on the planet better educated in the various martial arts than Butler, and he was related to one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/there-were-only-two-men-on-the-planet-better-educated-in-the-various/)

[Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/)

> [I used to do impersonations: Harry Butler in the wild, or I'd do Gough Whitlam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wenham/i-used-to-do-impersonations-harry-butler-in-the-wild-or-i-d-do-gough/)

[David Wenham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wenham/)

> [“Is this the part where you tell me he’ll come around?” “Hell, no.” At least Phil Butler was an honest man. Five”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-jakes/is-this-the-part-where-you-tell-me-he-ll-come-around-hell-no-at-least/)

[S.E. Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-jakes/)

> [“What it means to be a ‘better person’, then, must be concrete and practical — that is to say, concerned with people’s political situations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/what-it-means-to-be-a-better-person-then-must-be-concrete-and/)

[Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/)

> [What makes Butler truly unique is the people that we have been so blessed to work with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-stevens/what-makes-butler-truly-unique-is-the-people-that-we-have-been-so/)

[Brad Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-stevens/)

> [“There is no life without the conditions of life that variably sustain life, and those conditions are pervasively social, establishing not the discrete ontology…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-butler/there-is-no-life-without-the-conditions-of-life-that-variably-sustain/)

[Judith Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-butler/)

> [As far as I'm concerned, 'whom' is a word that was invented to make everyone sound like a butler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-trillin/as-far-as-i-m-concerned-whom-is-a-word-that-was-invented-to-make/)

[Calvin Trillin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-trillin/)

> [Scarlett O'Hara is going to be a thankless and difficult role. The part I'd like to play is Rhett Butler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norma-shearer/scarlett-o-hara-is-going-to-be-a-thankless-and-difficult-role-the/)

[Norma Shearer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norma-shearer/)

> [“He stood out like Gerard Butler in a gay bar, or any bar for that matter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-r-ragan/he-stood-out-like-gerard-butler-in-a-gay-bar-or-any-bar-for-that/)

[T.R. Ragan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-r-ragan/)

> [Butler was seeing the world as it was, complete with L.E.P retrival team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/butler-was-seeing-the-world-as-it-was-complete-with-l-e-p-retrival/)

[Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/)

> [I wouldn't want to be reincarnated as a butler. I couldn't for the life of me do the job in real life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-carter/i-wouldn-t-want-to-be-reincarnated-as-a-butler-i-couldn-t-for-the/)

[Jim Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-carter/)

Browse all 112 Butler quotes

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