--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I just thought that Adrienne [Shelly]…" description: "\"I just thought that Adrienne [Shelly] wrote a great character [for Waitress]. It really was all on the page.\" — Keri Russell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b93/keri-russell-8795_character_i-just-thought-that-adrienne-shelly-wrot_120250.jpg" --- # I just thought that Adrienne \[Shelly\] wrote a great… ![“I just thought that Adrienne [Shelly] wrote a great character [for Waitress]. It really was all on the page.” quote by Keri Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b93/keri-russell-8795_character_i-just-thought-that-adrienne-shelly-wrot_120250.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b93/keri-russell-8795_character_i-just-thought-that-adrienne-shelly-wrot_120250.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b93/keri-russell-8795_character_i-just-thought-that-adrienne-shelly-wrot_120250.jpg) > “I just thought that Adrienne \[Shelly\] wrote a great character \[for Waitress\]. It really was all on the page.” [Keri Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-russell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker praises the writing of a character in a film, emphasizing that the quality was evident on the page before production. **In simple terms:** Great character writing shines on paper. Key Takeaway Strong scriptwork drives performance. Themes screenwriting character development film production actress appreciation Mood appreciative thoughtful Type praise observation When to use this quote - script reading groups - actor auditions - film studies classes Key Concepts narrative craft visual storytelling Practical Applications - focus on character arcs early - use script notes to guide performance Questions to Reflect On - How does script quality affect an actor's interpretation? - What makes a character compelling on page? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character Waitress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-waitress-1405091/) [Great character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-character/) [Pages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pages/) [Shelly Wrote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shelly-wrote-1405092/) [Thought Adrienne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-adrienne-1405093/) [Waitress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waitress/) [Waitress Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waitress-really-1405090/) ## Related quotes > [I was a waitress at a really rundown Italian restaurant in Dublin, for about a week, at 16. I thought it was going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dervla-kirwan/i-was-a-waitress-at-a-really-rundown-italian-restaurant-in-dublin-for/) [Dervla Kirwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dervla-kirwan/) > [ I do think it \[the Waitress\] speaks in a positive way for women and it was surprising for me to see it for the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-russell/i-do-think-it-the-waitress-speaks-in-a-positive-way-for-women-and-it/) [Keri Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-russell/) > [ \[Adrienne Shelly\] explain exactly what she was looking for. This was her movie \[Waitress\].She also wrote the songs that I sing in it. She… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-russell/adrienne-shelly-explain-exactly-what-she-was-looking-for-this-was-her/) [Keri Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-russell/) > [ That's interesting to hear you say that because watching it \[the Waitress\] for the first time at Sundance was fascinating - it was so… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-russell/that-s-interesting-to-hear-you-say-that-because-watching-it-the/) [Keri Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-russell/) > [It's definitely a unique situation that we're in. And, yeah, it is difficult not having our ringleader here with us to talk about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-russell/it-s-definitely-a-unique-situation-that-we-re-in-and-yeah-it-is/) [Keri Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-russell/) > [Dear Baby, I hope someday somebody wants to hold you for 20 minutes straight and that's all they do. They don't pull away. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-russell/dear-baby-i-hope-someday-somebody-wants-to-hold-you-for-20-minutes/) [Keri Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-russell/) > [ I wouldn't say that my experience making it \[the Waitress\] was necessarily uplifting, but watching it with an audience, I was surprised at how… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-russell/i-wouldn-t-say-that-my-experience-making-it-the-waitress-was/) [Keri Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-russell/) > [ I think it's quite common and realistic. There are many stories like this \[in Waitress\]. \[Jenna, my character\] marriage looks really horrible up on… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-russell/i-think-it-s-quite-common-and-realistic-there-are-many-stories-like/) [Keri Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-russell/) > [ Adrienne \[ Shelly\] had 100 per cent control over this movie \[ Waitress\] as a director. She didn't just write it, direct it and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-russell/adrienne-shelly-had-100-per-cent-control-over-this-movie-waitress-as/) [Keri Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-russell/) > [ Really, it \[the Waitress\] was a story about believing in yourself ultimately, and caring enough about yourself to change your life. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-russell/really-it-the-waitress-was-a-story-about-believing-in-yourself/) [Keri Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-russell/) > [ We shot the movie \[Waitress\] in 20 days so there wasn't a lot of time to learn. There wasn't a lot of pie baking… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-russell/we-shot-the-movie-waitress-in-20-days-so-there-wasn-t-a-lot-of-time/) [Keri Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-russell/) > [ The thing I loved about this movie \[Waitress\] when I read the script was that it was exactly the kind of film that I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-russell/the-thing-i-loved-about-this-movie-waitress-when-i-read-the-script/) [Keri Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-russell/) > [With a pie, the crust is a real delicacy. It's very hard to get it just right because it's got to be cold and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-russell/with-a-pie-the-crust-is-a-real-delicacy-it-s-very-hard-to-get-it-just/) [Keri Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-russell/) > [ Cheryl \[Hines\] and I sat through two screenings at the Sundance Film Festival and during the second one, we said to each other: "You… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-russell/cheryl-hines-and-i-sat-through-two-screenings-at-the-sundance-film/) [Keri Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-russell/) > [ I've always been a fan of \[Mary Elizabeth Winstead's\]. She gets to do some fun action-y stuff she brings this gritty swashbuckle to. I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-trachtenberg/i-ve-always-been-a-fan-of-mary-elizabeth-winstead-s-she-gets-to-do/) [Dan Trachtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-trachtenberg/) ## More by Keri Russell > [You're not insulting my character. Being a woman, especially in this business, it's so thrilling to get to do that. It's so rare, especially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-russell/you-re-not-insulting-my-character-being-a-woman-especially-in-this/) [Keri Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-russell/) > [It's sad when girls think they don't have anything going on except being pretty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-russell/it-s-sad-when-girls-think-they-don-t-have-anything-going-on-except/) [Keri Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-russell/) > [I stayed really physical during my pregnancy. I stuck to my normal pre-pregnancy workout, minus the stomach exercises and twisting. I really felt it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-russell/i-stayed-really-physical-during-my-pregnancy-i-stuck-to-my-normal-pre/) [Keri Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-russell/) > [ Cheryl \[Hines\] and I sat through two screenings at the Sundance Film Festival and during the second one, we said to each other: "You… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-russell/cheryl-hines-and-i-sat-through-two-screenings-at-the-sundance-film/) [Keri Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-russell/) > [I wish I had an invisible plane to take me home to Brooklyn, and I wouldn't have to ride the subway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-russell/i-wish-i-had-an-invisible-plane-to-take-me-home-to-brooklyn-and-i/) [Keri Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-russell/) > [I was a huge fan of 'Arrested Development,' and there's just something it tickles in me and it's bright and it's hilarious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-russell/i-was-a-huge-fan-of-arrested-development-and-there-s-just-something/) [Keri Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-russell/) > [With a pie, the crust is a real delicacy. It's very hard to get it just right because it's got to be cold and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-russell/with-a-pie-the-crust-is-a-real-delicacy-it-s-very-hard-to-get-it-just/) [Keri Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-russell/) > [Maybe I’m old, but to me, ‘going out’ means going out to dinner. It’s about the conversation: someone recognizing your intellect, the charm of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-russell/maybe-i-m-old-but-to-me-going-out-means-going-out-to-dinner-it-s/) [Keri Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-russell/) > [Sometimes you don't want the truth. Sometimes you're like, "Oh just tell me the good answer. I don't want the truth."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-russell/sometimes-you-don-t-want-the-truth-sometimes-you-re-like-oh-just-tell/) [Keri Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-russell/) > [ The thing I loved about this movie \[Waitress\] when I read the script was that it was exactly the kind of film that I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-russell/the-thing-i-loved-about-this-movie-waitress-when-i-read-the-script/) [Keri Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-russell/) > [I feel better in my mind when I work out. It makes everything better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-russell/i-feel-better-in-my-mind-when-i-work-out-it-makes-everything-better/) [Keri Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-russell/) > [ We shot the movie \[Waitress\] in 20 days so there wasn't a lot of time to learn. There wasn't a lot of pie baking… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-russell/we-shot-the-movie-waitress-in-20-days-so-there-wasn-t-a-lot-of-time/) [Keri Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-russell/) > [I'm kind of a scaredy cat - I don't watch a ton of them. I mean, I started reaching this script at night and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-russell/i-m-kind-of-a-scaredy-cat-i-don-t-watch-a-ton-of-them-i-mean-i/) [Keri Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-russell/) > [You don't get to be the bad mom and still succeed at your job and be tough. It's such a good job because it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-russell/you-don-t-get-to-be-the-bad-mom-and-still-succeed-at-your-job-and-be/) [Keri Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-russell/) > [I think the good stories are those where the character decides to break away and do something different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-russell/i-think-the-good-stories-are-those-where-the-character-decides-to/) [Keri Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-russell/) [Explore all 77 Keri Russell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-russell/) ## 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. 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