--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I try to take roles that don't fall…" description: "\"I try to take roles that don't fall within the parameters of any Asian stereotype.\" — John Cho" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/726/john-cho-3086_asian_i-try-to-take-roles-that-don-t-fall-with_1118999.jpg" --- # I try to take roles that don't fall within the parameters… ![“I try to take roles that don't fall within the parameters of any Asian stereotype.” quote by John Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/726/john-cho-3086_asian_i-try-to-take-roles-that-don-t-fall-with_1118999.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/726/john-cho-3086_asian_i-try-to-take-roles-that-don-t-fall-with_1118999.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/726/john-cho-3086_asian_i-try-to-take-roles-that-don-t-fall-with_1118999.jpg) > “I try to take roles that don't fall within the parameters of any Asian stereotype.” [John Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cho/) ## 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 defy stereotypical expectations of Asian characters. **In simple terms:** Avoid Asian stereotypes in acting. Key Takeaway Choose diverse, non‑stereotypical roles. Themes representation identity diversity Mood thoughtful determined Type inspirational critical When to use this quote - casting decisions - scriptwriting - career planning - media criticism Key Concepts stereotype resistance role selection Questions to Reflect On - How can actors influence casting bias? - What stories challenge stereotypes? A Different Perspective Stereotypes persist in industry, limiting opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asian/) [Stereotype](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stereotype/) ## Related quotes > [I don't know what the future holds. I just try to do roles that I haven't done before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-facinelli/i-don-t-know-what-the-future-holds-i-just-try-to-do-roles-that-i/) [Peter Facinelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-facinelli/) > [I'm not always angry. In fact, I think I usually go out of my way to try to find roles that don't seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/i-m-not-always-angry-in-fact-i-think-i-usually-go-out-of-my-way-to/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) > [I try to get roles that challenge me in what I can do and who I think I can portray. For me, it's about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatiana-maslany/i-try-to-get-roles-that-challenge-me-in-what-i-can-do-and-who-i-think/) [Tatiana Maslany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatiana-maslany/) > [I'm always looking for a chance to do something different. I don't necessarily want to repeat myself, at any time, and I don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-hanks/i-m-always-looking-for-a-chance-to-do-something-different-i-don-t/) [Colin Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-hanks/) > [Once you play something, then you get 20 more of those. So I've tried to avoid getting stuck. I try to take roles that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-kinney/once-you-play-something-then-you-get-20-more-of-those-so-i-ve-tried/) Terry Kinney > [I want to break that typical Asian female stereotype. There's this standard where they're all calm. I want to break that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cl/i-want-to-break-that-typical-asian-female-stereotype-there-s-this/) CL > [Yeah, I'm sure there are stereotypes of Asian people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-iha/yeah-i-m-sure-there-are-stereotypes-of-asian-people/) [James Iha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-iha/) > [First, you have stereotypes, and that will be the black drug dealer, the east Asian kung fu master, the Middle Eastern terrorist in 'True…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riz-ahmed/first-you-have-stereotypes-and-that-will-be-the-black-drug-dealer-the/) [Riz Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riz-ahmed/) > [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. Generally, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-i-am-against-stereotype-generally-asian-guys-are-more-quiet/) [Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/) > [One stereotype I get a lot as an Asian actress is that you're playing the model minority - that Asians are the best, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-henwick/one-stereotype-i-get-a-lot-as-an-asian-actress-is-that-you-re-playing/) [Jessica Henwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-henwick/) > [I had a stereotype in my mind of what a 'Star Trek' fans is, but I couldn't have been more wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cho/i-had-a-stereotype-in-my-mind-of-what-a-star-trek-fans-is-but-i/) [John Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cho/) > [For a while, I was feeling like I was always playing characters that weren't specifically Korean or specifically Asian, even - that they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cho/for-a-while-i-was-feeling-like-i-was-always-playing-characters-that/) [John Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cho/) > [Asian American men, Asian men have been basically eunuchs in American cinema and television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cho/asian-american-men-asian-men-have-been-basically-eunuchs-in-american/) [John Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cho/) > [I feel like there's this need that the Asian-American community has to feel like people. It's something that Asians in Asia do not understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cho/i-feel-like-there-s-this-need-that-the-asian-american-community-has/) [John Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cho/) > [Whenever I meet a Korean, I ask about their immigration history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cho/whenever-i-meet-a-korean-i-ask-about-their-immigration-history/) [John Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cho/) ## More by John Cho > [What was exciting to me in talking to Kogonada was I was just very convinced that he was a very real and pure artist.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cho/what-was-exciting-to-me-in-talking-to-kogonada-was-i-was-just-very/) [John Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cho/) > [I didn't think it was possible for Asians to be actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cho/i-didn-t-think-it-was-possible-for-asians-to-be-actors/) [John Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cho/) > [There was a while where every role I was getting offered was extremely noble - like the judge or the kindly nurse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cho/there-was-a-while-where-every-role-i-was-getting-offered-was/) [John Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cho/) > [I don't know if I trust entertainment to teach anyone anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cho/i-don-t-know-if-i-trust-entertainment-to-teach-anyone-anything/) [John Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cho/) > [With music I get to feel real ownership with what I do. I write it, I perform it and even if it is crap,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cho/with-music-i-get-to-feel-real-ownership-with-what-i-do-i-write-it-i/) [John Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cho/) > [I've found that one's language abilities, especially for Korean kids like me, get frozen at the age you immigrated. So I've always associated Korea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cho/i-ve-found-that-one-s-language-abilities-especially-for-korean-kids/) [John Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cho/) > [It's really weird to be in more than one franchise because an actor's life is so nomadic, and so it's a real privilege to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cho/it-s-really-weird-to-be-in-more-than-one-franchise-because-an-actor-s/) [John Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cho/) > [I feel like there's this need that the Asian-American community has to feel like people. It's something that Asians in Asia do not understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cho/i-feel-like-there-s-this-need-that-the-asian-american-community-has/) [John Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cho/) > [Not sleeping, listening to Paul Auster on Fresh Air. His function, tonight and ever, has been to remind me that I will die. Thanks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cho/not-sleeping-listening-to-paul-auster-on-fresh-air-his-function/) [John Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cho/) > [Conversely, the most powerful thing an actor can say is "no." If something is presented and it's a stereotypical role or something, you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cho/conversely-the-most-powerful-thing-an-actor-can-say-is-no-if/) [John Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cho/) > [For a while, I was feeling like I was always playing characters that weren't specifically Korean or specifically Asian, even - that they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cho/for-a-while-i-was-feeling-like-i-was-always-playing-characters-that/) [John Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cho/) > [I hereby call for the execution of the person who designed the layout of rite aid stores.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cho/i-hereby-call-for-the-execution-of-the-person-who-designed-the-layout/) [John Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cho/) > [Typically, actors overplay jargon or toss it away in an extravagant display of casualness. Real people hit the important parts hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cho/typically-actors-overplay-jargon-or-toss-it-away-in-an-extravagant/) [John Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cho/) > [I grew up speaking Korean, but my dad spoke English very well. I learned a lot of how to speak English by watching television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cho/i-grew-up-speaking-korean-but-my-dad-spoke-english-very-well-i/) [John Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cho/) > [Sometimes I feel indie directors are in the game so they can make a film to get hired to do a big film -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cho/sometimes-i-feel-indie-directors-are-in-the-game-so-they-can-make-a/) [John Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cho/) [Explore all 140 John Cho quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cho/) ## More Asian quotes > [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. Generally, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-i-am-against-stereotype-generally-asian-guys-are-more-quiet/) [Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/) > [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/) > [If you do a black character or a female character or an Asian character, then they aren't just that character. They represent that race…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-mcduffie/if-you-do-a-black-character-or-a-female-character-or-an-asian/) [Dwayne McDuffie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-mcduffie/) > [When I made it, I still didn't wave the flag and say, Yeah go Asian people. I do want people to know that about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-hugo/when-i-made-it-i-still-didn-t-wave-the-flag-and-say-yeah-go-asian/) [Chad Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-hugo/) > [I felt pretty good growing up. I didnt feel a lot of prejudice or racism. But I do remember, if there was going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-henry-hwang/i-felt-pretty-good-growing-up-i-didnt-feel-a-lot-of-prejudice-or/) [David Henry Hwang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-henry-hwang/) > [When you are in America, at least for me, as an immigrant, I try to be as Americanized as I could. I just want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-o-yang/when-you-are-in-america-at-least-for-me-as-an-immigrant-i-try-to-be/) [Jimmy O. Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-o-yang/) > [I always tell Asian actors, especially Filipinos wanting to break into Hollywood, to study, study and study and show their best. I haven't stopped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-lee/i-always-tell-asian-actors-especially-filipinos-wanting-to-break-into/) [Reggie Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-lee/) > [The narrative needs to change. Asian-American actresses don't want to be the damsels in distress anymore. We don't want to be saved, especially by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-chung/the-narrative-needs-to-change-asian-american-actresses-don-t-want-to/) [Jamie Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-chung/) > [It's always fun to see faces that are either familiar or resemble yours. I was fascinated by movies like 'Big Trouble in Little China'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ng-chin-han/it-s-always-fun-to-see-faces-that-are-either-familiar-or-resemble/) [Ng Chin Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ng-chin-han/) > [In view of China's growing military strength and intentions, the best way to safeguard Asia's permanent peace and prosperity is to have all Asian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-costa/in-view-of-china-s-growing-military-strength-and-intentions-the-best/) [Jim Costa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-costa/) > [I think Li Na and some other Chinese ladies have done so many amazing things for Asian tennis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kei-nishikori/i-think-li-na-and-some-other-chinese-ladies-have-done-so-many-amazing/) [Kei Nishikori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kei-nishikori/) > [I don't want to have people brought in simply because they are black or Asian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-phillips/i-don-t-want-to-have-people-brought-in-simply-because-they-are-black/) [Trevor Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-phillips/) > [We grew up in rural Arkansas without any Koreans close by, and when I go to Korea feel out of place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-isaac-chung/we-grew-up-in-rural-arkansas-without-any-koreans-close-by-and-when-i/) [Lee Isaac Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-isaac-chung/) > [I've been lucky to come up when there's such a huge explosion of women, and especially Asian women, in music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-zauner/i-ve-been-lucky-to-come-up-when-there-s-such-a-huge-explosion-of/) [Michelle Zauner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-zauner/) > [I knew I was half Chinese, but Iceland is so homogenous that I wasn't able to identify with the Asian part of myself. Even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laufey/i-knew-i-was-half-chinese-but-iceland-is-so-homogenous-that-i-wasn-t/) [Laufey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laufey/) [Browse all 1,157 Asian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asian/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I try to take roles that don't fall within the parameters of any Asian stereotype.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Cho" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cho/i-try-to-take-roles-that-don-t-fall-within-the-parameters-of-any/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Asian" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cho/i-try-to-take-roles-that-don-t-fall-within-the-parameters-of-any/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/726/john-cho-3086_asian_i-try-to-take-roles-that-don-t-fall-with_1118999.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/726/john-cho-3086_asian_i-try-to-take-roles-that-don-t-fall-with_1118999.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/726/john-cho-3086_asian_i-try-to-take-roles-that-don-t-fall-with_1118999.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I try to take roles that don't fall within the parameters of any Asian stereotype.” — John Cho", "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": "John Cho", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cho/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I try to take roles that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cho/i-try-to-take-roles-that-don-t-fall-within-the-parameters-of-any/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cho/i-try-to-take-roles-that-don-t-fall-within-the-parameters-of-any/#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 } } ] } ```