--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have a little bit of experience going…" description: "\"I have a little bit of experience going in and playing a character - I played a character on 'Smallville' that had been established for decades and dec..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef4/justin-hartley-5125_character_i-have-a-little-bit-of-experience-going_2437553.jpg" --- # I have a little bit of experience going in and playing a… ![“I have a little bit of experience going in and playing a character - I played a character on 'Smallville' that had been established for decades and decades before I took it.” quote by Justin Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef4/justin-hartley-5125_character_i-have-a-little-bit-of-experience-going_2437553.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef4/justin-hartley-5125_character_i-have-a-little-bit-of-experience-going_2437553.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef4/justin-hartley-5125_character_i-have-a-little-bit-of-experience-going_2437553.jpg) > “I have a little bit of experience going in and playing a character - I played a character on 'Smallville' that had been established for decades and decades before I took it.” [Justin Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-hartley/) ## 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 reflects on stepping into a long‑established character, emphasizing continuity and respect for legacy. **In simple terms:** Joining an existing role requires honoring its history. Key Takeaway Respect the character’s past while adding personal nuance. Themes acting legacy continuity character development Mood thoughtful reflective Type acting career When to use this quote - casting decisions - character arcs - fan expectations Key Concepts role inheritance creative adaptation Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance originality with tradition? - What responsibilities come with inheriting a beloved role? A Different Perspective Balancing personal interpretation with audience expectations can be challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character Played](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-played-360321/) [Character Smallville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-smallville-360319/) [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going/) [Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little/) [Played Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/played-character/) [Playing Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-character/) [Smallville Established](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smallville-established-360320/) ## Related quotes > [There is a shortage of hard R. It was the story and the character. He's never played a character like this and so that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-farmer/there-is-a-shortage-of-hard-r-it-was-the-story-and-the-character-he-s/) [Todd Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-farmer/) > [I've noticed though that people will always assume you are the character you last played. I guess it's a compliment to playing your character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-haydon/i-ve-noticed-though-that-people-will-always-assume-you-are-the/) [Lisa Haydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-haydon/) > [Certainly my time on 'Revenge' was great; it was a different character I'd never played before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-hartley/certainly-my-time-on-revenge-was-great-it-was-a-different-character-i/) [Justin Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-hartley/) > [I don't have any single character that is my favorite because I would like to be known for the sum total of my work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pankaj-kapur/i-don-t-have-any-single-character-that-is-my-favorite-because-i-would/) [Pankaj Kapur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pankaj-kapur/) > [I've said this before: myself and Tommy Shelby, he's the most unlike-me character I have ever played.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cillian-murphy/i-ve-said-this-before-myself-and-tommy-shelby-he-s-the-most-unlike-me/) [Cillian Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cillian-murphy/) > [Sometimes it's fun to be the guy who doesn't know that he's bad, like the character I played in 'True Blood'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frain/sometimes-it-s-fun-to-be-the-guy-who-doesn-t-know-that-he-s-bad-like/) [James Frain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frain/) > [There's a character I played in 'Love in a Cold Climate' - very like my mother. I asked if I could wear a man's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celia-imrie/there-s-a-character-i-played-in-love-in-a-cold-climate-very-like-my/) [Celia Imrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celia-imrie/) > [There is a general notion that playing a bubbly girl is undemanding and less challenging. But that's not the case. You need oodles of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genelia-d-souza/there-is-a-general-notion-that-playing-a-bubbly-girl-is-undemanding/) [Genelia D'Souza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genelia-d-souza/) > [At the end of the day I can't change myself. It's only different characters that I play. And in those it should not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atul-kulkarni/at-the-end-of-the-day-i-can-t-change-myself-it-s-only-different/) [Atul Kulkarni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atul-kulkarni/) > [I don't think a character that you played for even eight years ever leaves you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-cameron-bure/i-don-t-think-a-character-that-you-played-for-even-eight-years-ever/) [Candace Cameron Bure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-cameron-bure/) > [Funnily enough, I did a play called 'Jumpy' on the West End before I did 'Divergent,' and there was an essence of that character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lloyd-hughes/funnily-enough-i-did-a-play-called-jumpy-on-the-west-end-before-i-did/) [Ben Lloyd-Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lloyd-hughes/) > [I have always felt responsible for every character I played, devoting myself to learning everything about the craft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rubina-dilaik/i-have-always-felt-responsible-for-every-character-i-played-devoting/) [Rubina Dilaik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rubina-dilaik/) > [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 don't think a lot of actors talk about it, but there's usually a process where you essentially purge yourself of the character that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vin-diesel/i-don-t-think-a-lot-of-actors-talk-about-it-but-there-s-usually-a/) [Vin Diesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vin-diesel/) > [In 'Waiting for Guffman,' the character I played, the Corky character, he's very serious about what he does, and it's not meant to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-guest/in-waiting-for-guffman-the-character-i-played-the-corky-character-he/) [Christopher Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-guest/) ## More by Justin Hartley > [Everybody has an inside scoop, so just be a nice guy. Be a nice person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-hartley/everybody-has-an-inside-scoop-so-just-be-a-nice-guy-be-a-nice-person/) [Justin Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-hartley/) > [I haven't ever had so many women come up to me and tell me that I made them cry. And they're smiling about it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-hartley/i-haven-t-ever-had-so-many-women-come-up-to-me-and-tell-me-that-i/) [Justin Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-hartley/) > [I think whenever any kind of hardship or tragedy comes along, it usually pulls a family closer together or, at least, hopefully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-hartley/i-think-whenever-any-kind-of-hardship-or-tragedy-comes-along-it/) [Justin Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-hartley/) > [I love theater, I would love to do a play, but it's hard to beat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-hartley/i-love-theater-i-would-love-to-do-a-play-but-it-s-hard-to-beat/) [Justin Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-hartley/) > [Every time you turn on the TV, you see some kind of heartbreaking story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-hartley/every-time-you-turn-on-the-tv-you-see-some-kind-of-heartbreaking-story/) [Justin Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-hartley/) > [People that are interested in me, I like to be interested in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-hartley/people-that-are-interested-in-me-i-like-to-be-interested-in-them/) [Justin Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-hartley/) > [I wish I had been more self-aware earlier, but I think that just comes with age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-hartley/i-wish-i-had-been-more-self-aware-earlier-but-i-think-that-just-comes/) [Justin Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-hartley/) > [Just because it reads well doesn't mean it's always going to look good on screen. Then, a network or studio has to pick up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-hartley/just-because-it-reads-well-doesn-t-mean-it-s-always-going-to-look/) [Justin Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-hartley/) > [I try to look clean, but I like a balance between put-together and comfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-hartley/i-try-to-look-clean-but-i-like-a-balance-between-put-together-and/) [Justin Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-hartley/) > [You mess up as a dad, and you have your worst moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-hartley/you-mess-up-as-a-dad-and-you-have-your-worst-moments/) [Justin Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-hartley/) > [It's aggravating to me when you meet people that are just... you know, there's a difference between wanting to be an actor or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-hartley/it-s-aggravating-to-me-when-you-meet-people-that-are-just-you-know/) [Justin Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-hartley/) > [There's death and there's loss, but there's also celebrations, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-hartley/there-s-death-and-there-s-loss-but-there-s-also-celebrations-right/) [Justin Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-hartley/) > [I'm a dog lover. With the holidays, everything gets a little bit hectic. There's a lot on your mind, and maybe you forget that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-hartley/i-m-a-dog-lover-with-the-holidays-everything-gets-a-little-bit-hectic/) [Justin Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-hartley/) > [I have a pretty close family and there are certain similarities - maybe a lot of families have this - where geographically, we're separated,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-hartley/i-have-a-pretty-close-family-and-there-are-certain-similarities-maybe/) [Justin Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-hartley/) > [I think any time you have a show that, after you watch it, it sort of sits with you for a while, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-hartley/i-think-any-time-you-have-a-show-that-after-you-watch-it-it-sort-of/) [Justin Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-hartley/) [Explore all 103 Justin Hartley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-hartley/) ## 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 have a little bit of experience going in and playing a character - I played a character on 'Smallville' that had been established for decades and decades before I took it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Justin Hartley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-hartley/i-have-a-little-bit-of-experience-going-in-and-playing-a-character-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-hartley/i-have-a-little-bit-of-experience-going-in-and-playing-a-character-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef4/justin-hartley-5125_character_i-have-a-little-bit-of-experience-going_2437553.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef4/justin-hartley-5125_character_i-have-a-little-bit-of-experience-going_2437553.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef4/justin-hartley-5125_character_i-have-a-little-bit-of-experience-going_2437553.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have a little bit of experience going in and playing a character - I played a character on 'Smallville'…” — Justin Hartley", "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": "Justin Hartley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-hartley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I have a little bit of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-hartley/i-have-a-little-bit-of-experience-going-in-and-playing-a-character-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-hartley/i-have-a-little-bit-of-experience-going-in-and-playing-a-character-i/#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 } } ] } ```