--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I realized I never played a character…" description: "\"I realized I never played a character that was skilled at anything, or skilled at anything that I couldn't become skilled at.\" — Jonah Hill" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c33/jonah-hill-3023_character_i-realized-i-never-played-a-character-th_1942118.png" --- # I realized I never played a character that was skilled at… ![“I realized I never played a character that was skilled at anything, or skilled at anything that I couldn't become skilled at.” quote by Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c33/jonah-hill-3023_character_i-realized-i-never-played-a-character-th_1942118.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c33/jonah-hill-3023_character_i-realized-i-never-played-a-character-th_1942118.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c33/jonah-hill-3023_character_i-realized-i-never-played-a-character-th_1942118.png) > “I realized I never played a character that was skilled at anything, or skilled at anything that I couldn't become skilled at.” [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The actor acknowledges a pattern of playing unskilled characters, suggesting a typecast or lack of depth in roles. **In simple terms:** He often plays characters without clear talents. Key Takeaway Seek roles that showcase real skill. Themes typecasting career selfawareness growth talent Mood determined hopeful Type career personal development When to use this quote - audition preparation - career coaching - personal development - script analysis Key Concepts performance theory career development selfreflection Questions to Reflect On - How can one break out of typecasting? - What steps can develop a more skilled persona? A Different Perspective Focusing on weaknesses may limit confidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character Skilled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-skilled-3102369/) [Couldn Skilled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couldn-skilled-3102370/) [I realized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-realized/) [Played Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/played-character/) [Skilled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skilled/) [Skilled Couldn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skilled-couldn-3102371/) ## Related quotes > [I can understand in some sense, having played the character, how unimaginably frustrating it is for people to tell you that you can't love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piper-perabo/i-can-understand-in-some-sense-having-played-the-character-how/) [Piper Perabo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piper-perabo/) > [As a matter of fact, that was a bit of a problem for me at the beginning of my career - the problem of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-ford/as-a-matter-of-fact-that-was-a-bit-of-a-problem-for-me-at-the/) [Harrison Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-ford/) > [I don't know if I've ever played a character who's close to me. There have been some elements of myself in different roles. Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-allen/i-don-t-know-if-i-ve-ever-played-a-character-who-s-close-to-me-there/) [Karen Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-allen/) > [It's good to play something that's black and white, and a guy that sees right and wrong. I've never played a character like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lyons/it-s-good-to-play-something-that-s-black-and-white-and-a-guy-that/) [David Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lyons/) > [Just because I've played this character doesn't mean I have any understanding of what Diana was like, at all. Although I'd want to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-corrin/just-because-i-ve-played-this-character-doesn-t-mean-i-have-any/) [Emma Corrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-corrin/) > [Joan of Arc is my namesake. I played her character while still in my teens, at a music festival held at the University of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-van-ark/joan-of-arc-is-my-namesake-i-played-her-character-while-still-in-my/) [Joan Van Ark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-van-ark/) > [I played this character twice in live action, and now I've become an animated character. It was actually fun to see myself drawn -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/i-played-this-character-twice-in-live-action-and-now-i-ve-become-an/) [Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/) > [I've never done coke or anything, and I've never played a character who has, so I don't know whether I would actually try coke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carey-mulligan/i-ve-never-done-coke-or-anything-and-i-ve-never-played-a-character/) [Carey Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carey-mulligan/) > [I would rather have played a character like Opie than Little Ricky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-thibodeaux/i-would-rather-have-played-a-character-like-opie-than-little-ricky/) [Keith Thibodeaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-thibodeaux/) > [I played the character knowing that she was knocked down, 100 percent, dead-in-front-of-a-bus in love with her boss. Every scene, I did not care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janel-moloney/i-played-the-character-knowing-that-she-was-knocked-down-100-percent/) [Janel Moloney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janel-moloney/) > [In 'SOTY2,' I played a character which was my age, a lot like how I am as a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ananya-panday/in-soty2-i-played-a-character-which-was-my-age-a-lot-like-how-i-am-as/) [Ananya Panday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ananya-panday/) > [A baby is such a blank slate, like training the understudy for a role you're planning to leave. You truly hope your replacement will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/a-baby-is-such-a-blank-slate-like-training-the-understudy-for-a-role/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [I've never played a character where I've had so much fun on the physical end. I don't want to say I like it too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-ross/i-ve-never-played-a-character-where-i-ve-had-so-much-fun-on-the/) [Charlotte Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-ross/) > [Doing something like 'Damages,' I played a character with post-traumatic stress. I was playing with sleep deprivation. I was not sleeping; I stayed up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-messina/doing-something-like-damages-i-played-a-character-with-post-traumatic/) [Chris Messina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-messina/) > [I played a character in 'Ransom' who was as evil as they come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-played-a-character-in-ransom-who-was-as-evil-as-they-come/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) ## More by Jonah Hill > [It wasn't like, 'I'ma lose weight and start doing dramas.' I wanted to be healthier, and that was the impetus for wanting to lose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/it-wasn-t-like-i-ma-lose-weight-and-start-doing-dramas-i-wanted-to-be/) [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) > [Is it weird that I think of myself as a 'Gary Oldman in True Romance' type?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/is-it-weird-that-i-think-of-myself-as-a-gary-oldman-in-true-romance/) [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) > [It's always better to shock people and change people's expectations than to give them exactly what they think you can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/it-s-always-better-to-shock-people-and-change-people-s-expectations/) [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) > [I mostly like documentaries, so I always think things that happened in real life are so astounding that why would you make a movie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/i-mostly-like-documentaries-so-i-always-think-things-that-happened-in/) [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) > [You guys called the cops to get your frisbee out of the pond? Is this really a police matter?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/you-guys-called-the-cops-to-get-your-frisbee-out-of-the-pond-is-this/) [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) > [It's almost like, when someone plays poker for the first time, they might be a professional poker player out of ignorance, just accidentally winning.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/it-s-almost-like-when-someone-plays-poker-for-the-first-time-they/) [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) > [I think what he means is that he will punch you so many times around the genital region that your dick will fall off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/i-think-what-he-means-is-that-he-will-punch-you-so-many-times-around-2/) [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) > [Every time you're directing a movie you're kind of building a temporary business. You're hiring all these heads of departments, and it definitely feels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/every-time-you-re-directing-a-movie-you-re-kind-of-building-a/) [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) > [I always wanted to be a film-maker when I was younger, not an actor. I was an eight-year-old who dreamed of being a writer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/i-always-wanted-to-be-a-film-maker-when-i-was-younger-not-an-actor-i/) [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) > [I want to meet the man who saw a turtle and said, "People will LOVE the ninja version of that."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/i-want-to-meet-the-man-who-saw-a-turtle-and-said-people-will-love-the/) [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) > [It's harder to be funny if you're handsome than if you're very normal-looking. It's just more relatable. You're the underdog. I mean it's funny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/it-s-harder-to-be-funny-if-you-re-handsome-than-if-you-re-very-normal/) [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) > [You DO have the right to be an attorney, if you want to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/you-do-have-the-right-to-be-an-attorney-if-you-want-to/) [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) > [I think a lot of actors, sometimes what happens I think is that actors finish a movie and they go, 'Oh my god, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/i-think-a-lot-of-actors-sometimes-what-happens-i-think-is-that-actors/) [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) > [I mean, being shot in slow motion doing cocaine by Martin Scorsese is, like, maybe every actor's dream. Nothing will compare to it. Except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/i-mean-being-shot-in-slow-motion-doing-cocaine-by-martin-scorsese-is/) [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) > ['Funny People' is my favorite performance of myself to date. Even though it's a comedy and there are serious moments, I really felt like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/funny-people-is-my-favorite-performance-of-myself-to-date-even-though/) [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) [Explore all 142 Jonah Hill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) ## More Character 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 always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) [David Hudgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hudgins/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [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/) > [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/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [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/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I realized I never played a character that was skilled at anything, or skilled at anything that I couldn't become skilled at.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jonah Hill" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/i-realized-i-never-played-a-character-that-was-skilled-at-anything-or/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/i-realized-i-never-played-a-character-that-was-skilled-at-anything-or/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c33/jonah-hill-3023_character_i-realized-i-never-played-a-character-th_1942118.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c33/jonah-hill-3023_character_i-realized-i-never-played-a-character-th_1942118.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c33/jonah-hill-3023_character_i-realized-i-never-played-a-character-th_1942118.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I realized I never played a character that was skilled at anything, or skilled at anything that I couldn't…” — Jonah Hill", "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": "Jonah Hill", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I realized I never played a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/i-realized-i-never-played-a-character-that-was-skilled-at-anything-or/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/i-realized-i-never-played-a-character-that-was-skilled-at-anything-or/#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 } } ] } ```