--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most important thing in playing any…" description: "\"The most important thing in playing any character is not judging.\" — Keira Knightley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/059/keira-knightley-3384_character_the-most-important-thing-in-playing-any_395605.jpg" --- # The most important thing in playing any character is not… ![“The most important thing in playing any character is not judging.” quote by Keira Knightley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/059/keira-knightley-3384_character_the-most-important-thing-in-playing-any_395605.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/059/keira-knightley-3384_character_the-most-important-thing-in-playing-any_395605.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/059/keira-knightley-3384_character_the-most-important-thing-in-playing-any_395605.jpg) > “The most important thing in playing any character is not judging.” [Keira Knightley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keira-knightley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Playing a role requires withholding judgment to fully embody the character. **In simple terms:** Act without judging the character. Key Takeaway Approach roles with open mind. Themes acting empathy non‑judgment Mood thoughtful inspired Type professional reflective When to use this quote - theatre - film - role preparation Key Concepts character immersion psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does judgment affect performance? - Can you separate actor from character? A Different Perspective Judgment can limit performance depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Important things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-things/) [Not judging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/not-judging/) ## Related quotes > [“You better be a better judge of character than the character judging you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cinder-rella/you-better-be-a-better-judge-of-character-than-the-character-judging/) [Cinder Rella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cinder-rella/) > [I can't play a character that I am judging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachelle-lefevre/i-can-t-play-a-character-that-i-am-judging/) [Rachelle Lefevre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachelle-lefevre/) > [If you're constantly stepping outside of the character and judging them, you'll never really be able to fully engage because you'll always be slightly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-norton/if-you-re-constantly-stepping-outside-of-the-character-and-judging/) [James Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-norton/) > [Gluttony should be destroyed by self-control; unchastity by desire for God and longing for the blessings held in store; avarice by compassion for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-damascus/gluttony-should-be-destroyed-by-self-control-unchastity-by-desire-for/) [John of Damascus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-damascus/) > [Not judging people is the fastest way to peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-jackson/not-judging-people-is-the-fastest-way-to-peace/) [Jonathan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-jackson/) > [I'm talking as a professional impresario. I'm not judging anybody at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-granz/i-m-talking-as-a-professional-impresario-i-m-not-judging-anybody-at/) [Norman Granz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-granz/) > [Enlightenment happens only in that moment when there is no complaint in you,when you are not going anywhere, not desiring, not condemning, not judging.You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/enlightenment-happens-only-in-that-moment-when-there-is-no-complaint/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I try not to live my life worrying about what others think. A core spiritual quality is nonjudgment, which is not just about not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/i-try-not-to-live-my-life-worrying-about-what-others-think-a-core/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [If you're not judging what happens, then you're trusting what others are doing, what you're playing, and trusting what you're playing.And it can lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/if-you-re-not-judging-what-happens-then-you-re-trusting-what-others/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-the-apostle/he-that-is-without-sin-among-you-let-him-first-cast-a-stone-at-her/) [John the Apostle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-the-apostle/) > [Do not judge, and you will never be mistaken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/do-not-judge-and-you-will-never-be-mistaken/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [I think closing-off is the most detrimental thing we can do as people. Also, the idea of not judging oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-think-closing-off-is-the-most-detrimental-thing-we-can-do-as-people/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) > [Before we snap to judge someone who's done a horrible crime, is it possible that all of us in the worst possible circumstances could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-black/before-we-snap-to-judge-someone-who-s-done-a-horrible-crime-is-it/) [Jack Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-black/) > [I try to get my subconscious to puke out as much stuff as I can because I'm really not judging myself while making music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arca/i-try-to-get-my-subconscious-to-puke-out-as-much-stuff-as-i-can/) [Arca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arca/) > [Honor your parents by not judging them. Give them the benefit of doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/honor-your-parents-by-not-judging-them-give-them-the-benefit-of-doubt/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) ## More by Keira Knightley > [I find it difficult to see the romance in digital.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keira-knightley/i-find-it-difficult-to-see-the-romance-in-digital/) [Keira Knightley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keira-knightley/) > [In L.A., I'm twice the size - height and everything else - of most of the other actresses who are going for an audition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keira-knightley/in-l-a-i-m-twice-the-size-height-and-everything-else-of-most-of-the/) [Keira Knightley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keira-knightley/) > [I do think that acting is such an unpredictable job, and you're away a lot. If you're dating somebody outside the industry, it can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keira-knightley/i-do-think-that-acting-is-such-an-unpredictable-job-and-you-re-away-a/) [Keira Knightley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keira-knightley/) > [I've had my body manipulated so many different times for so many different reasons, whether it's paparazzi photographers or for film posters. \[The topless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keira-knightley/i-ve-had-my-body-manipulated-so-many-different-times-for-so-many/) [Keira Knightley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keira-knightley/) > [It's obvious to say you can't please everybody and there are always going to be people who are going to say, I just don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keira-knightley/it-s-obvious-to-say-you-can-t-please-everybody-and-there-are-always/) [Keira Knightley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keira-knightley/) > [I don't want to deny my femininity. But would I want to be a stay-at-home mother? No. On the other hand, you should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keira-knightley/i-don-t-want-to-deny-my-femininity-but-would-i-want-to-be-a-stay-at/) [Keira Knightley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keira-knightley/) > [We had an audition. I was in an office and women came in and started stripping. They had fantastic bums and it's at that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keira-knightley/we-had-an-audition-i-was-in-an-office-and-women-came-in-and-started/) [Keira Knightley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keira-knightley/) > [Nice is the worst word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keira-knightley/nice-is-the-worst-word/) [Keira Knightley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keira-knightley/) > [The celebrity thing's completely crazy. I think I just have to move away or give it up altogether. I couldn't have kids in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keira-knightley/the-celebrity-thing-s-completely-crazy-i-think-i-just-have-to-move/) [Keira Knightley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keira-knightley/) > [If only I wasn't an atheist, I could get away with anything. You'd just ask for forgiveness and then you'd be forgiven. It sounds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keira-knightley/if-only-i-wasn-t-an-atheist-i-could-get-away-with-anything-you-d-just/) [Keira Knightley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keira-knightley/) > [You bring yourself to every role, it doesn't matter who it is, it doesn't matter if it's a mass murderer, you can bring something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keira-knightley/you-bring-yourself-to-every-role-it-doesn-t-matter-who-it-is-it-doesn/) [Keira Knightley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keira-knightley/) > [I went from everyone saying, "She-can't-act-she-can't-act-she-can't-act," to an Oscar nomination. So there was something quite sublime about that!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keira-knightley/i-went-from-everyone-saying-she-can-t-act-she-can-t-act-she-can-t-act/) [Keira Knightley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keira-knightley/) > [ You live with a writer \[a mother\], and you grow up with their words, their kind of fantasies, and I'd pretty much seen every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keira-knightley/you-live-with-a-writer-a-mother-and-you-grow-up-with-their-words/) [Keira Knightley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keira-knightley/) > [I went to voice coaching. I thought my legs were going to buckle and on the first couple of takes I sounded like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keira-knightley/i-went-to-voice-coaching-i-thought-my-legs-were-going-to-buckle-and/) [Keira Knightley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keira-knightley/) > [Because it does feel important to say it really doesn't matter what shape you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keira-knightley/because-it-does-feel-important-to-say-it-really-doesn-t-matter-what/) [Keira Knightley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keira-knightley/) [Explore all 132 Keira Knightley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keira-knightley/) ## 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 > [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": "The most important thing in playing any character is not judging.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Keira Knightley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keira-knightley/the-most-important-thing-in-playing-any-character-is-not-judging/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keira-knightley/the-most-important-thing-in-playing-any-character-is-not-judging/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/059/keira-knightley-3384_character_the-most-important-thing-in-playing-any_395605.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/059/keira-knightley-3384_character_the-most-important-thing-in-playing-any_395605.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/059/keira-knightley-3384_character_the-most-important-thing-in-playing-any_395605.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The most important thing in playing any character is not judging.” — Keira Knightley", "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": "Keira Knightley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keira-knightley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The most important thing in playing...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keira-knightley/the-most-important-thing-in-playing-any-character-is-not-judging/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keira-knightley/the-most-important-thing-in-playing-any-character-is-not-judging/#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 } } ] } ```