--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's easier to play aggression and…" description: "\"It's easier to play aggression and malevolence onscreen, often, than to hit softer notes.\" — Joel Edgerton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d88/joel-edgerton-2300_aggression_it-s-easier-to-play-aggression-and-malev_2631324.jpg" --- # It's easier to play aggression and malevolence onscreen… ![“It's easier to play aggression and malevolence onscreen, often, than to hit softer notes.” quote by Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d88/joel-edgerton-2300_aggression_it-s-easier-to-play-aggression-and-malev_2631324.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d88/joel-edgerton-2300_aggression_it-s-easier-to-play-aggression-and-malev_2631324.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d88/joel-edgerton-2300_aggression_it-s-easier-to-play-aggression-and-malev_2631324.jpg) > “It's easier to play aggression and malevolence onscreen, often, than to hit softer notes.” [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Playing hostile characters is often easier than expressing vulnerability on screen, revealing a bias toward aggression in performance. **In simple terms:** Aggression is easier to portray than softness. Key Takeaway Embrace softer roles to broaden emotional range. Themes acting emotional expression vulnerability Mood reflective challenging Type artistic professional When to use this quote - theatre auditions - film casting - acting workshops - personal growth Key Concepts typecasting performance bias Questions to Reflect On - How can actors train to convey softness convincingly? - What risks arise when avoiding vulnerable roles? A Different Perspective Audiences may still prefer dramatic aggression over subtlety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aggression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aggression/) [Easier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easier/) [Easier Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easier-play-344667/) [Hit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hit/) [Hit Softer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hit-softer-2191473/) [Notes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notes/) [Often](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/often/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play Aggression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-aggression-2191474/) [Softer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/softer/) [Softer Notes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/softer-notes-2191472/) [Than](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/than/) ## Related quotes > [I play with aggression, a physical mentality, but if I'm not in the right position, it's never going to show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minkah-fitzpatrick/i-play-with-aggression-a-physical-mentality-but-if-i-m-not-in-the/) [Minkah Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minkah-fitzpatrick/) > [When people are really great at what they do there is no aggression because they are comfortable in their own skin. They know themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/when-people-are-really-great-at-what-they-do-there-is-no-aggression/) [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) > [When we are organised on the pitch, it is easier to play in defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-bonucci/when-we-are-organised-on-the-pitch-it-is-easier-to-play-in-defense/) [Leonardo Bonucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-bonucci/) > [Everybody always talks about the pressure of playing at Wimbledon, how tough it is, but the people watching make it so much easier to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/everybody-always-talks-about-the-pressure-of-playing-at-wimbledon-how/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [I play some places where the people are right at my feet, and you can see their expressions. It's kind of more like playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-b-schmit/i-play-some-places-where-the-people-are-right-at-my-feet-and-you-can/) [Timothy B. Schmit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-b-schmit/) > [I would be easier for you to play hard to get rid of but donot tell you details The same day I met your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/i-would-be-easier-for-you-to-play-hard-to-get-rid-of-but-donot-tell/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [If I get stronger it's going to be easier for me to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-jokic/if-i-get-stronger-it-s-going-to-be-easier-for-me-to-play/) [Nikola Jokic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-jokic/) > [It's easier to play defense when you can be a bit more physical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-poole/it-s-easier-to-play-defense-when-you-can-be-a-bit-more-physical/) [Jordan Poole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-poole/) > [I think it's easier to play in a playoff race. This is exciting. It's a lot easier to come to the park with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zimmerman/i-think-it-s-easier-to-play-in-a-playoff-race-this-is-exciting-it-s-a/) [Ryan Zimmerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zimmerman/) > [It makes it easier for you to play more often and it makes it easier for the manager if he has players who can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georginio-wijnaldum/it-makes-it-easier-for-you-to-play-more-often-and-it-makes-it-easier/) [Georginio Wijnaldum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georginio-wijnaldum/) > [It is easier to play around with a man's wife than with his cliches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/it-is-easier-to-play-around-with-a-man-s-wife-than-with-his-cliches/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [I think it's easier to play when you do have a balanced home. I think if I did have alcoholism in my personal life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/i-think-it-s-easier-to-play-when-you-do-have-a-balanced-home-i-think/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [I think it's always easier to play parts that you have something concrete that you can relate to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hayley-atwell/i-think-it-s-always-easier-to-play-parts-that-you-have-something/) [Hayley Atwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hayley-atwell/) > [I wish I could speak Spanish, because it would be a lot easier to play more interesting roles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-alba/i-wish-i-could-speak-spanish-because-it-would-be-a-lot-easier-to-play/) [Jessica Alba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-alba/) > [If you can speak and understand music it's a lot easier to play along with people. You can show them parts and learn new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/all-american-rejects/if-you-can-speak-and-understand-music-it-s-a-lot-easier-to-play-along/) [All American Rejects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/all-american-rejects/) ## More by Joel Edgerton > [At some point, you have to disconnect, if the obsession with playing a real person gets in the way of the movie at large.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/at-some-point-you-have-to-disconnect-if-the-obsession-with-playing-a/) [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) > [I'm the great-great-grandson of a sheep stealer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/i-m-the-great-great-grandson-of-a-sheep-stealer/) [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) > [I don't have any kids of my own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/i-don-t-have-any-kids-of-my-own/) [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) > [I'm single, footloose and fancy free, I have no responsibilities, no anchors. Work, friendship and self-improvement, that's me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/i-m-single-footloose-and-fancy-free-i-have-no-responsibilities-no/) [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) > [If I knew my schedule a month ahead, I'd be so bored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/if-i-knew-my-schedule-a-month-ahead-i-d-be-so-bored/) [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) > [Unfortunately, the Egyptians weren't the greatest artists in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/unfortunately-the-egyptians-weren-t-the-greatest-artists-in-the-world/) [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) > [Even to this day, when I think about the fact that I'm in this 'Star Wars' world, that I'm a half-brother to Darth Vader…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/even-to-this-day-when-i-think-about-the-fact-that-i-m-in-this-star/) [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) > [I think the great thing about characters is the ways that they can be surprising. I mean, sometimes you think you've got a lock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/i-think-the-great-thing-about-characters-is-the-ways-that-they-can-be/) [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) > [All I can say is working with Ridley Scott is a dream come true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/all-i-can-say-is-working-with-ridley-scott-is-a-dream-come-true/) [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) > [Actors are excused from a lot of things, and we get away with a lot... I find it equally interesting and exciting as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/actors-are-excused-from-a-lot-of-things-and-we-get-away-with-a-lot-i/) [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) > [Sometimes I think being an actor is like being a dog for a director; it's like they throw a stick, and you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/sometimes-i-think-being-an-actor-is-like-being-a-dog-for-a-director/) [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) > [I always wonder why people cast me in anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/i-always-wonder-why-people-cast-me-in-anything/) [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) > [One of the things I've always enjoyed is moving around and staying fit. Physicality is such a big part of being an actor, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/one-of-the-things-i-ve-always-enjoyed-is-moving-around-and-staying/) [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) > [I grew up being taught, 'Do unto others as they would do unto you.' I would get scolded for not being polite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/i-grew-up-being-taught-do-unto-others-as-they-would-do-unto-you-i/) [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) > [There's the pressure of being a No. 1 on the call sheet, being a lead actor. There's almost this feeling like being captain of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/there-s-the-pressure-of-being-a-no-1-on-the-call-sheet-being-a-lead/) [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) [Explore all 173 Joel Edgerton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) ## More Aggression quotes > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I used to fight with hate. There's been a lot of aggression in my past growing up and stuff. That's because I was hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-namajunas/i-used-to-fight-with-hate-there-s-been-a-lot-of-aggression-in-my-past/) [Rose Namajunas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-namajunas/) > [We have nothing in our history or position to invite aggression; we have everything to beckon us to the cultivation of relations of peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-have-nothing-in-our-history-or-position-to-invite-aggression-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I take up the standpoint that the tendency to aggression is an innate, independent, instinctual disposition in man, and I come back now to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/i-take-up-the-standpoint-that-the-tendency-to-aggression-is-an-innate/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [Boxing can be so important to young people, it keeps you off the street and you can channel your energy and aggression in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-benn/boxing-can-be-so-important-to-young-people-it-keeps-you-off-the/) [Nigel Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-benn/) > [“That which is of great value cannot be attained through aggression. You will be able to find the mystery of life only if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/that-which-is-of-great-value-cannot-be-attained-through-aggression/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [A society that presumes a norm of violence and celebrates aggression, whether in the subway, on the football field, or in the conduct of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-h-lapham/a-society-that-presumes-a-norm-of-violence-and-celebrates-aggression/) [Lewis H. Lapham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-h-lapham/) > [I can remember watching MTV Cribs - these amazing houses - and looking around my house where there was no carpet on the floors.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bugzy-malone/i-can-remember-watching-mtv-cribs-these-amazing-houses-and-looking/) [Bugzy Malone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bugzy-malone/) > [Nationalism, on my opinion, is nothing more than an idealistic rationalization for militarism and aggression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/nationalism-on-my-opinion-is-nothing-more-than-an-idealistic/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I really like battle ropes. They're so versatile; you can get a terrific workout doing a ton of different exercises with them. My clients…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunnar-peterson/i-really-like-battle-ropes-they-re-so-versatile-you-can-get-a/) [Gunnar Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunnar-peterson/) > [ Now they \[the Powers\] have started the aggression, and the extinction of our nation is imminent. If we just fold our arms and yield… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/empress-dowager-cixi/now-they-the-powers-have-started-the-aggression-and-the-extinction-of/) [Empress Dowager Cixi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/empress-dowager-cixi/) > [I'm not going to appeal to violence or aggression - of course not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-navalny/i-m-not-going-to-appeal-to-violence-or-aggression-of-course-not/) [Alexei Navalny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-navalny/) > [This is passive-aggression in action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/this-is-passive-aggression-in-action/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [When a child hits a child, we call it aggression. When a child hits an adult, we call it hostility. When an adult hits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-a-child-hits-a-child-we-call-it-aggression-when-a-child-hits-an/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Major international interventions are doomed unless the US is directly or indirectly involved. But if American politicians, officials and servicemen are to be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/major-international-interventions-are-doomed-unless-the-us-is/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) [Browse all 860 Aggression quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aggression/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's easier to play aggression and malevolence onscreen, often, than to hit softer notes.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joel Edgerton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/it-s-easier-to-play-aggression-and-malevolence-onscreen-often-than-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aggression" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/it-s-easier-to-play-aggression-and-malevolence-onscreen-often-than-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d88/joel-edgerton-2300_aggression_it-s-easier-to-play-aggression-and-malev_2631324.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d88/joel-edgerton-2300_aggression_it-s-easier-to-play-aggression-and-malev_2631324.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d88/joel-edgerton-2300_aggression_it-s-easier-to-play-aggression-and-malev_2631324.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's easier to play aggression and malevolence onscreen, often, than to hit softer notes.” — Joel Edgerton", "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": "Joel Edgerton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's easier to play aggression and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/it-s-easier-to-play-aggression-and-malevolence-onscreen-often-than-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/it-s-easier-to-play-aggression-and-malevolence-onscreen-often-than-to/#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 } } ] } ```