--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is more meat and mileage in complex…" description: "\"There is more meat and mileage in complex characters, like 'Running with Scissors.'\" — Joseph Fiennes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/987/joseph-fiennes-10541_complex-characters_there-is-more-meat-and-mileage-in-comple_1751303.png" --- # There is more meat and mileage in complex characters, like… ![“There is more meat and mileage in complex characters, like 'Running with Scissors.'” quote by Joseph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/987/joseph-fiennes-10541_complex-characters_there-is-more-meat-and-mileage-in-comple_1751303.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/987/joseph-fiennes-10541_complex-characters_there-is-more-meat-and-mileage-in-comple_1751303.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/987/joseph-fiennes-10541_complex-characters_there-is-more-meat-and-mileage-in-comple_1751303.png) > “There is more meat and mileage in complex characters, like 'Running with Scissors.'” [Joseph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-fiennes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Complex characters offer richer depth and narrative mileage than simpler ones. **In simple terms:** Depth adds value to storytelling. Key Takeaway Embrace complexity in characters. Themes character development depth narrative richness Mood analytical thoughtful Type literary cinematic When to use this quote - script selection - character study - writing workshops - film criticism Key Concepts literary analysis acting technique Questions to Reflect On - How does complexity affect audience engagement? - When is simplicity more effective? A Different Perspective Complexity can alienate audiences seeking simplicity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Characters Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters-like/) [Complex characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complex-characters/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Like Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-running/) [Meat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meat/) [Mileage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mileage/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Running Scissors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running-scissors-1607467/) [Scissors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scissors/) ## Related quotes > [I want to be doing smart, fun, complex characters like most actors want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-d-agosto/i-want-to-be-doing-smart-fun-complex-characters-like-most-actors-want/) [Nicholas D'Agosto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-d-agosto/) > [My passion lies in amazing, complex characters and really well-written stuff - not to say I wouldn't want to do a comedy if the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/my-passion-lies-in-amazing-complex-characters-and-really-well-written/) [Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) > [From a purely craft standpoint, a simple character has a single motivation, while complex characters have two or three or more motivations, at least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-petrie/from-a-purely-craft-standpoint-a-simple-character-has-a-single/) [Nick Petrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-petrie/) > [The degree of talent, the size of the gift, is immaterial. All artists must listen, but not all hear great symphonies, see wide canvasses,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/the-degree-of-talent-the-size-of-the-gift-is-immaterial-all-artists/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [ We're interested in complex characters and he's a complex character, \[J. Edgar\] Hoover. I like these types of dramas. I've made a few of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-grazer/we-re-interested-in-complex-characters-and-he-s-a-complex-character-j/) [Brian Grazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-grazer/) > [After the complex characters in 'Mayaanadhi' and 'Varathan,' my characters in 'Vijay Superum Pournamiyum' and 'Argentina Fans Kaattoorkkadavu' were bubbly ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aishwarya-lekshmi/after-the-complex-characters-in-mayaanadhi-and-varathan-my-characters/) [Aishwarya Lekshmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aishwarya-lekshmi/) > [I totally respond to complex characters, and I'm not interested in anything too simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-fischler/i-totally-respond-to-complex-characters-and-i-m-not-interested-in/) [Patrick Fischler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-fischler/) > [My Family and Other Saints echoes Gerald Durrell's classic memoir, My Family and Other Animals, not only in its title, but in its wonderful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-barrington/my-family-and-other-saints-echoes-gerald-durrell-s-classic-memoir-my/) [Judith Barrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-barrington/) > [I always look for interesting, complex characters. You know, interesting, well-written material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-underwood/i-always-look-for-interesting-complex-characters-you-know-interesting/) [Sam Underwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-underwood/) > [That is something that's been a cornerstone for me for forever. I want to play multilayered, complex characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/da-vine-joy-randolph/that-is-something-that-s-been-a-cornerstone-for-me-for-forever-i-want/) [Da'Vine Joy Randolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/da-vine-joy-randolph/) > [As for dream roles, they usually just speak to you. I just crave complex characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-prout/as-for-dream-roles-they-usually-just-speak-to-you-i-just-crave/) [Kirsten Prout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-prout/) > [I was a little hippie on a world backpacking adventure, and suddenly I became a vampire princess. I still find it hard to believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-fry/i-was-a-little-hippie-on-a-world-backpacking-adventure-and-suddenly-i/) [Lucy Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-fry/) > [ I know I'm not normal in this, but \[ Severus \] Snape is absolutely my favorite character in the Harry Potter books. He is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-chance/i-know-i-m-not-normal-in-this-but-severus-snape-is-absolutely-my/) [Megan Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-chance/) > [“For the vision of a novelist is both complex and specialised; complex, because behind his characters and apart from them must stand something stable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/for-the-vision-of-a-novelist-is-both-complex-and-specialised-complex/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [I am interested in complex characters who are difficult and have numerous sides. But I would love to do a comedy role - something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-simon/i-am-interested-in-complex-characters-who-are-difficult-and-have/) [Eugene Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-simon/) ## More by Joseph Fiennes > [What I love about my work is that I'm forced to look through my character's eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-fiennes/what-i-love-about-my-work-is-that-i-m-forced-to-look-through-my/) [Joseph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-fiennes/) > [Pretty much all films I've seen that depict the life of Christ end with the Crucifixion, almost like the filmmakers don't know what to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-fiennes/pretty-much-all-films-i-ve-seen-that-depict-the-life-of-christ-end/) [Joseph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-fiennes/) > [I guess there's nothing I don't like about Merlin, in this presentation. I love everything, even the things I find despicable and abhorrent in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-fiennes/i-guess-there-s-nothing-i-don-t-like-about-merlin-in-this/) [Joseph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-fiennes/) > [People call my family a dynasty, but I'm not sure what a dynasty actually is. And I don't feel part of one. It belies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-fiennes/people-call-my-family-a-dynasty-but-i-m-not-sure-what-a-dynasty/) [Joseph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-fiennes/) > [When you wake up, and you see that America has pulled out of the climate deal in Paris, that sends huge messages about putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-fiennes/when-you-wake-up-and-you-see-that-america-has-pulled-out-of-the/) [Joseph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-fiennes/) > [I want my daughters to live in a world where there is equality and parity of pay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-fiennes/i-want-my-daughters-to-live-in-a-world-where-there-is-equality-and/) [Joseph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-fiennes/) > [What I don't find compelling is doing classical plays that everyone already knows - and people are following with the text in their hand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-fiennes/what-i-don-t-find-compelling-is-doing-classical-plays-that-everyone/) [Joseph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-fiennes/) > [I was baptised a Catholic and, although I'm not a churchgoer now, I do have a strong sense of the integrity of doing what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-fiennes/i-was-baptised-a-catholic-and-although-i-m-not-a-churchgoer-now-i-do/) [Joseph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-fiennes/) > [Doubt is crucial, I think, in every character I have ever played.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-fiennes/doubt-is-crucial-i-think-in-every-character-i-have-ever-played/) [Joseph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-fiennes/) > [I love life. I'm fascinated by human behavior because that feeds back into my work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-fiennes/i-love-life-i-m-fascinated-by-human-behavior-because-that-feeds-back/) [Joseph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-fiennes/) > [Youth is a predominant factor. We are seeing a young King Arthur, and thereby a young-ish - as I'm into my 40s - Merlin.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-fiennes/youth-is-a-predominant-factor-we-are-seeing-a-young-king-arthur-and/) [Joseph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-fiennes/) > [I was thrust, excitingly, via 'Elizabeth' and 'Shakespeare in Love,' into a position one can only dream of, but it was startling, too. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-fiennes/i-was-thrust-excitingly-via-elizabeth-and-shakespeare-in-love-into-a/) [Joseph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-fiennes/) > [It takes years to establish yourself, and then you have one big film and everyone calls you an overnight success. You think, 'Christ, I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-fiennes/it-takes-years-to-establish-yourself-and-then-you-have-one-big-film/) [Joseph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-fiennes/) > [At home, our parents never compared us. I mean, there were seven of us kids. Obviously, I always looked up to my brother and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-fiennes/at-home-our-parents-never-compared-us-i-mean-there-were-seven-of-us/) [Joseph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-fiennes/) > [I like language, and in film, language is diluted by the visuals and the music. Theatre is what I was trained for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-fiennes/i-like-language-and-in-film-language-is-diluted-by-the-visuals-and/) [Joseph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-fiennes/) [Explore all 65 Joseph Fiennes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-fiennes/) ## More Complex characters quotes > [I am interested in complex characters who are difficult and have numerous sides. But I would love to do a comedy role - something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-simon/i-am-interested-in-complex-characters-who-are-difficult-and-have/) [Eugene Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-simon/) > [“For the vision of a novelist is both complex and specialised; complex, because behind his characters and apart from them must stand something stable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/for-the-vision-of-a-novelist-is-both-complex-and-specialised-complex/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [ I know I'm not normal in this, but \[ Severus \] Snape is absolutely my favorite character in the Harry Potter books. He is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-chance/i-know-i-m-not-normal-in-this-but-severus-snape-is-absolutely-my/) [Megan Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-chance/) > [I was a little hippie on a world backpacking adventure, and suddenly I became a vampire princess. I still find it hard to believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-fry/i-was-a-little-hippie-on-a-world-backpacking-adventure-and-suddenly-i/) [Lucy Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-fry/) > [As for dream roles, they usually just speak to you. I just crave complex characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-prout/as-for-dream-roles-they-usually-just-speak-to-you-i-just-crave/) [Kirsten Prout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-prout/) > [That is something that's been a cornerstone for me for forever. I want to play multilayered, complex characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/da-vine-joy-randolph/that-is-something-that-s-been-a-cornerstone-for-me-for-forever-i-want/) [Da'Vine Joy Randolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/da-vine-joy-randolph/) > [I always look for interesting, complex characters. You know, interesting, well-written material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-underwood/i-always-look-for-interesting-complex-characters-you-know-interesting/) [Sam Underwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-underwood/) > [My Family and Other Saints echoes Gerald Durrell's classic memoir, My Family and Other Animals, not only in its title, but in its wonderful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-barrington/my-family-and-other-saints-echoes-gerald-durrell-s-classic-memoir-my/) [Judith Barrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-barrington/) > [I totally respond to complex characters, and I'm not interested in anything too simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-fischler/i-totally-respond-to-complex-characters-and-i-m-not-interested-in/) [Patrick Fischler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-fischler/) > [After the complex characters in 'Mayaanadhi' and 'Varathan,' my characters in 'Vijay Superum Pournamiyum' and 'Argentina Fans Kaattoorkkadavu' were bubbly ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aishwarya-lekshmi/after-the-complex-characters-in-mayaanadhi-and-varathan-my-characters/) [Aishwarya Lekshmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aishwarya-lekshmi/) > [ We're interested in complex characters and he's a complex character, \[J. Edgar\] Hoover. I like these types of dramas. I've made a few of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-grazer/we-re-interested-in-complex-characters-and-he-s-a-complex-character-j/) [Brian Grazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-grazer/) > [The degree of talent, the size of the gift, is immaterial. All artists must listen, but not all hear great symphonies, see wide canvasses,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/the-degree-of-talent-the-size-of-the-gift-is-immaterial-all-artists/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [From a purely craft standpoint, a simple character has a single motivation, while complex characters have two or three or more motivations, at least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-petrie/from-a-purely-craft-standpoint-a-simple-character-has-a-single/) [Nick Petrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-petrie/) > [My passion lies in amazing, complex characters and really well-written stuff - not to say I wouldn't want to do a comedy if the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/my-passion-lies-in-amazing-complex-characters-and-really-well-written/) [Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) > [There's something extremely rewarding about following characters that you like and knowing that there's as many hours of viewing as you have the appetite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-bamber/there-s-something-extremely-rewarding-about-following-characters-that/) [Jamie Bamber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-bamber/) [Browse all 37 Complex characters quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complex-characters/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is more meat and mileage in complex characters, like 'Running with Scissors.'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joseph Fiennes" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-fiennes/there-is-more-meat-and-mileage-in-complex-characters-like-running/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Complex characters" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-fiennes/there-is-more-meat-and-mileage-in-complex-characters-like-running/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/987/joseph-fiennes-10541_complex-characters_there-is-more-meat-and-mileage-in-comple_1751303.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/987/joseph-fiennes-10541_complex-characters_there-is-more-meat-and-mileage-in-comple_1751303.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/987/joseph-fiennes-10541_complex-characters_there-is-more-meat-and-mileage-in-comple_1751303.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There is more meat and mileage in complex characters, like 'Running with Scissors.'” — Joseph Fiennes", "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": "Joseph Fiennes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-fiennes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There is more meat and mileage...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-fiennes/there-is-more-meat-and-mileage-in-complex-characters-like-running/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-fiennes/there-is-more-meat-and-mileage-in-complex-characters-like-running/#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 } } ] } ```