--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I knew that I wanted to primarily play…" description: "\"I knew that I wanted to primarily play queer characters.\" — Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9f/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman-17345_characters_i-knew-that-i-wanted-to-primarily-play-q_2139322.jpg" --- # I knew that I wanted to primarily play queer characters. ![“I knew that I wanted to primarily play queer characters.” quote by Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9f/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman-17345_characters_i-knew-that-i-wanted-to-primarily-play-q_2139322.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9f/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman-17345_characters_i-knew-that-i-wanted-to-primarily-play-q_2139322.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9f/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman-17345_characters_i-knew-that-i-wanted-to-primarily-play-q_2139322.jpg) > “I knew that I wanted to primarily play queer characters.” [Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He seeks roles that reflect queer experiences to increase representation and authenticity in media. **In simple terms:** Wants to play queer characters for representation. Key Takeaway Choose scripts that highlight diverse identities. Themes representation identity media diversity Mood hopeful determined Type career advocacy When to use this quote - casting decisions - film festivals - community theater Key Concepts acting LGBTQ+ advocacy career choices Questions to Reflect On - What impact does queer representation have on audiences? - How can actors influence casting diversity? A Different Perspective Industry may typecast or limit opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters/) [Knew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knew/) [Knew Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knew-wanted/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play Queer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-queer-3406421/) [Primarily Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/primarily-play-4447478/) [Queer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/queer/) [Queer Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/queer-characters-698754/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) ## Related quotes > [People often ask me why I choose to primarily play queer characters, and my answer is that as a queer man, I choose to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/people-often-ask-me-why-i-choose-to-primarily-play-queer-characters/) [Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/) > [I personally always have a hard time relating to queer characters in media because I didn't really see myself in them. They were kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noelle-stevenson/i-personally-always-have-a-hard-time-relating-to-queer-characters-in/) [Noelle Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noelle-stevenson/) > [What I would love is for a normalization of queer characters on TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-beatriz/what-i-would-love-is-for-a-normalization-of-queer-characters-on-tv/) [Stephanie Beatriz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-beatriz/) > [“One of the problems in mainstreaming queer characters is that people think in order to get a character accepted, they have to be totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-problems-in-mainstreaming-queer-characters-is-that-people/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A lot of queer characters get painted with either a caricature brush, or they're used to teach, in a way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-levy/a-lot-of-queer-characters-get-painted-with-either-a-caricature-brush/) [Dan Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-levy/) > [The more queer characters I play over my years of working as an actor, and the more I see other young artists stepping up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/the-more-queer-characters-i-play-over-my-years-of-working-as-an-actor/) [Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/) > [I think, in general, straight actors should be able to play queer roles just as much as queer actors should be able to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keiynan-lonsdale/i-think-in-general-straight-actors-should-be-able-to-play-queer-roles/) [Keiynan Lonsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keiynan-lonsdale/) > [I hope that I do make music that can speak to anyone. I don't just want to play for a queer crowd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-shears/i-hope-that-i-do-make-music-that-can-speak-to-anyone-i-don-t-just/) [Jake Shears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-shears/) > [I am an 'other.' As a queer, biracial man who occupies and embodies many different intersections of 'otherness,' I've spent my entire life seeking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/i-am-an-other-as-a-queer-biracial-man-who-occupies-and-embodies-many/) [Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/) > [Each time I turn on my own television screen and see reflections of myself in other courageous young LGBTQ-identifying actors and artists, I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/each-time-i-turn-on-my-own-television-screen-and-see-reflections-of/) [Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/) > [Coming of age as a young queer man of color, it was a rarity to see any reflections of myself portrayed in mainstream media.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/coming-of-age-as-a-young-queer-man-of-color-it-was-a-rarity-to-see/) [Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/) > [Ever since grammar school, I knew I wanted to be famous - I always wanted to be a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-hudson/ever-since-grammar-school-i-knew-i-wanted-to-be-famous-i-always/) [Jennifer Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-hudson/) > [I always knew I wanted to make my own way; I never wanted to be dependent on my father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-mellon/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-make-my-own-way-i-never-wanted-to-be/) [Tamara Mellon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-mellon/) > [I always knew I wanted to have a good career, so I made it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-have-a-good-career-so-i-made-it-happen/) [Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/) > [“How was she supposed to bear the prospect of never seeing him again? Never seeing his face light up simply because she had walked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jojo-moyes/how-was-she-supposed-to-bear-the-prospect-of-never-seeing-him-again/) [Jojo Moyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jojo-moyes/) ## More by Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman > [At 21 years old, I found myself in Vancouver, and that's where I got the part for my first movie. I was sitting in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/at-21-years-old-i-found-myself-in-vancouver-and-that-s-where-i-got/) [Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/) > [I watched some shows like 'The Simple Life' and 'The Anna Nicole Smith Show,' but I hadn't really watched 'The Bachelor' until I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/i-watched-some-shows-like-the-simple-life-and-the-anna-nicole-smith/) [Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/) > [The more queer characters I play over my years of working as an actor, and the more I see other young artists stepping up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/the-more-queer-characters-i-play-over-my-years-of-working-as-an-actor/) [Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/) > [I had examples from a very young age of gay actors or personalities coming out in late '90s and early 2000s who faced a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/i-had-examples-from-a-very-young-age-of-gay-actors-or-personalities/) [Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/) > [Every fan interaction I have when someone tells me they can look to their television screens and see themselves reflected in me is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/every-fan-interaction-i-have-when-someone-tells-me-they-can-look-to/) [Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/) > [From the most remote of villages to the largest metropolitan cities, we, as a species, have the same internal need to be seen, heard,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/from-the-most-remote-of-villages-to-the-largest-metropolitan-cities/) [Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/) > [Coming of age as a young queer man of color, it was a rarity to see any reflections of myself portrayed in mainstream media.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/coming-of-age-as-a-young-queer-man-of-color-it-was-a-rarity-to-see/) [Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/) > [I think that Linda Perry is such a beautiful example of strong female representation in the industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/i-think-that-linda-perry-is-such-a-beautiful-example-of-strong-female/) [Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/) > [As an actor, it was important to me to play gay characters because, growing up, it was something I never really saw done on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/as-an-actor-it-was-important-to-me-to-play-gay-characters-because/) [Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/) > [I never really felt like I quite fit in. Other boys were playing sports and into hunting and stereotypically masculine activities. I was always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/i-never-really-felt-like-i-quite-fit-in-other-boys-were-playing/) [Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/) > [I feel like people are so eager and willing to accept the concept of females being bisexual and having it be a very natural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/i-feel-like-people-are-so-eager-and-willing-to-accept-the-concept-of/) [Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/) > [I love my blackness... I love my queerness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/i-love-my-blackness-i-love-my-queerness/) [Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/) > [At 16 years old, I was signed to my very first modeling agency. That was my first real introduction to the entertainment industry. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/at-16-years-old-i-was-signed-to-my-very-first-modeling-agency-that/) [Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/) > [Sometimes in order for change to be made in a positive fashion, we must force ourselves to look unblinkingly at painful realities and reevaluate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/sometimes-in-order-for-change-to-be-made-in-a-positive-fashion-we/) [Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/) > [Each time I turn on my own television screen and see reflections of myself in other courageous young LGBTQ-identifying actors and artists, I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/each-time-i-turn-on-my-own-television-screen-and-see-reflections-of/) [Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/) [Explore all 37 Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/) ## More Characters 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'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/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. 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If one of the characters suddenly decided to do something very different, I'd just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-foster/i-m-truly-100-guided-by-the-characters-and-my-muse-if-one-of-the/) [Lori Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-foster/) > [I have played several characters that are crabby and cranky. I don't know if I'm just not a very well-developed human being or if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-greer/i-have-played-several-characters-that-are-crabby-and-cranky-i-don-t/) [Judy Greer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-greer/) > [You do get fond of your characters. Handing them on is like giving a child to a nanny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-fellowes/you-do-get-fond-of-your-characters-handing-them-on-is-like-giving-a/) [Julian Fellowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-fellowes/) > [Your job as a writer is to find storylines, narrative structures, and characters to show the things that you believe rather than saying them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philipp-meyer/your-job-as-a-writer-is-to-find-storylines-narrative-structures-and/) [Philipp Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philipp-meyer/) > [Being of Indian heritage is a challenge - and it's a blessing as well sometimes - because being good isn't good enough. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sacha-dhawan/being-of-indian-heritage-is-a-challenge-and-it-s-a-blessing-as-well/) [Sacha Dhawan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sacha-dhawan/) > [On the stage, the characters express themselves more through words than images. So the arguments of the characters and the tension between characters -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-alda/on-the-stage-the-characters-express-themselves-more-through-words/) [Alan Alda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-alda/) > [I really like all of the characters in 'The Secret History' by Donna Tartt, especially Camilla, the one girl. I find her fascinating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-murray/i-really-like-all-of-the-characters-in-the-secret-history-by-donna/) [Hannah Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-murray/) > [I've just always loved really good projects. 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I always wanted to be all these things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-freeman/i-always-wanted-to-be-a-fireman-a-cop-an-indian-chief-a-doctor-a/) [Morgan Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-freeman/) [Browse all 3,066 Characters quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I knew that I wanted to primarily play queer characters.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/i-knew-that-i-wanted-to-primarily-play-queer-characters/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Characters" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/i-knew-that-i-wanted-to-primarily-play-queer-characters/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9f/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman-17345_characters_i-knew-that-i-wanted-to-primarily-play-q_2139322.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9f/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman-17345_characters_i-knew-that-i-wanted-to-primarily-play-q_2139322.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9f/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman-17345_characters_i-knew-that-i-wanted-to-primarily-play-q_2139322.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I knew that I wanted to primarily play queer characters.” — Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman", "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": "Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I knew that I wanted to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/i-knew-that-i-wanted-to-primarily-play-queer-characters/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-bowyer-chapman/i-knew-that-i-wanted-to-primarily-play-queer-characters/#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 } } ] } ```