---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I remember when I took the role on E.R…"
description: "\"I remember when I took the role on E.R., I thought, 'I haven't really been able to play a working class woman. I've played girls, I've played funny, bu..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/750/linda-cardellini-11124_able_i-remember-when-i-took-the-role-on-e-r-i_328321.jpg"
---

#  I remember when I took the role on E.R., I thought, 'I…

![“I remember when I took the role on E.R., I thought, 'I haven't really been able to play a working class woman. I've played girls, I've played funny, but I haven't played a working class woman. That sounds like something I'd like to do.” quote by Linda Cardellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/750/linda-cardellini-11124_able_i-remember-when-i-took-the-role-on-e-r-i_328321.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/750/linda-cardellini-11124_able_i-remember-when-i-took-the-role-on-e-r-i_328321.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/750/linda-cardellini-11124_able_i-remember-when-i-took-the-role-on-e-r-i_328321.jpg)

> “I remember when I took the role on E.R., I thought, 'I haven't really been able to play a working class woman. I've played girls, I've played funny, but I haven't played a working class woman. That sounds like something I'd like to do.”

[Linda Cardellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-cardellini/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Cardellini sought to broaden her range by portraying a working‑class woman, highlighting her desire for diverse, challenging roles.

**In simple terms:** She wanted to play a new, realistic character.

Key Takeaway

Pursue roles that stretch your abilities.

Themes

career growth diversity character depth acting challenges

Mood

motivational reflective

Type

inspirational analytical

When to use this quote

- auditions
- career planning
- character workshops

Key Concepts

typecasting role selection social representation

Questions to Reflect On

- What role would you like to explore next?
- How do you choose characters that challenge you?

A Different Perspective

Risk of being typecast despite varied roles.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girl/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Remember when](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember-when/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Working class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-class/)

## Related quotes

> [When you're a part of any protected class, whether it is being a woman, a person of color, a part of the LGBTQ community,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yara-shahidi/when-you-re-a-part-of-any-protected-class-whether-it-is-being-a-woman/)

[Yara Shahidi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yara-shahidi/)

> [Money is like a fine high-class woman, you don't treat it bad. It'll escape from you. It'll run from you if you're not nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rev-run/money-is-like-a-fine-high-class-woman-you-don-t-treat-it-bad-it-ll/)

[Rev. Run](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rev-run/)

> [When I was 6 years old, I played on a coed indoor team. We were called the Cosmos. And then, after that, when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-krieger/when-i-was-6-years-old-i-played-on-a-coed-indoor-team-we-were-called/)

[Ali Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-krieger/)

> [My whole career I played these girls sort of 18 to 23.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-fleming/my-whole-career-i-played-these-girls-sort-of-18-to-23/)

[Renee Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-fleming/)

> [I know how the game is played, and I'm always working on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-bosh/i-know-how-the-game-is-played-and-i-m-always-working-on-it/)

[Chris Bosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-bosh/)

> [I learnt that if we won, it didn't matter that I hadn't played. I had to keep working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-torres/i-learnt-that-if-we-won-it-didn-t-matter-that-i-hadn-t-played-i-had/)

[Fernando Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-torres/)

> [That's the first band I ever played in that was working and I was getting paid for it. I was 12. The other guys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-gatton/that-s-the-first-band-i-ever-played-in-that-was-working-and-i-was/)

Danny Gatton

> [I took the role because it's rare to read a script that makes me laugh and cry, and it spoke to my own religious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-collins/i-took-the-role-because-it-s-rare-to-read-a-script-that-makes-me/)

[Stephen Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-collins/)

> [I took on the role of CEO, which involves directing the Management Team and overall day-to-day operations of 500.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-tsai/i-took-on-the-role-of-ceo-which-involves-directing-the-management/)

[Christine Tsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-tsai/)

> [I took that role for myself to be a source of positivity so that others know that at least there is someone out there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/koffee/i-took-that-role-for-myself-to-be-a-source-of-positivity-so-that/)

[Koffee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koffee/)

> [I don't want anyone to think I took this role in 'Downsizing' because it was the only role available to me. I'm not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hong-chau/i-don-t-want-anyone-to-think-i-took-this-role-in-downsizing-because/)

[Hong Chau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hong-chau/)

> [I remember when President Bush, George W. Bush, came into office, he focused on No Child Left Behind, and with - and before very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-alexander/i-remember-when-president-bush-george-w-bush-came-into-office-he/)

[Lamar Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-alexander/)

> [I remember when I first won the Academy Award and how much I loved it. I just wish there was an award around that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-woodward/i-remember-when-i-first-won-the-academy-award-and-how-much-i-loved-it/)

[Joanne Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-woodward/)

> [I remember when first, Stripes, and then Animal House came out - which I was really proud of, even though it was kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-reitman/i-remember-when-first-stripes-and-then-animal-house-came-out-which-i/)

[Ivan Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-reitman/)

> [We have to build our own power. We have to win every single political office we can, where we have a majority of black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-lou-hamer/we-have-to-build-our-own-power-we-have-to-win-every-single-political/)

[Fannie Lou Hamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-lou-hamer/)

## More by Linda Cardellini

> [Regardless of how you feel about war and peace those serving military are doing a duty for the rest of us and they're protecting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-cardellini/regardless-of-how-you-feel-about-war-and-peace-those-serving-military/)

[Linda Cardellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-cardellini/)

> [I'm so grateful that the Internet and the DVD came along because, otherwise, something like 'Freaks And Geeks' would have been dead. At the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-cardellini/i-m-so-grateful-that-the-internet-and-the-dvd-came-along-because/)

[Linda Cardellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-cardellini/)

> [One thing I like about trying to write is that I can possibly write myself a role. Otherwise, you're at the mercy of whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-cardellini/one-thing-i-like-about-trying-to-write-is-that-i-can-possibly-write/)

[Linda Cardellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-cardellini/)

> [It's fun, with 'Bloodline,' because people who come up and recognize me for that really want to know what's happening. The people who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-cardellini/it-s-fun-with-bloodline-because-people-who-come-up-and-recognize-me/)

[Linda Cardellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-cardellini/)

> [I think, you know, actors rely on each other all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-cardellini/i-think-you-know-actors-rely-on-each-other-all-the-time/)

[Linda Cardellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-cardellini/)

> [The one thing about being on 'ER' that has changed is that I'm more easily recognizable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-cardellini/the-one-thing-about-being-on-er-that-has-changed-is-that-i-m-more/)

[Linda Cardellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-cardellini/)

> [Michael Keaton is amazing. He's one of my favorite actors. To get to work with him was a privilege and really was a wonderful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-cardellini/michael-keaton-is-amazing-he-s-one-of-my-favorite-actors-to-get-to/)

[Linda Cardellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-cardellini/)

> [After I finished 'E.R.', I wanted to concentrate on re-examining what kind of actress I am and taking time for real-life things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-cardellini/after-i-finished-e-r-i-wanted-to-concentrate-on-re-examining-what/)

[Linda Cardellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-cardellini/)

> [I love to work on a set whether it's mostly men or mostly women, but there's something about being in a community of women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-cardellini/i-love-to-work-on-a-set-whether-it-s-mostly-men-or-mostly-women-but/)

[Linda Cardellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-cardellini/)

> [My first-ever celebrity crush was Val Kilmer from 'Top Secret!' Not his biggest film, but I remember loving him in that movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-cardellini/my-first-ever-celebrity-crush-was-val-kilmer-from-top-secret-not-his/)

[Linda Cardellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-cardellini/)

> [You know, the hard thing about audiences not liking what a character does is that they sometimes take it out on the actor personally.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-cardellini/you-know-the-hard-thing-about-audiences-not-liking-what-a-character/)

[Linda Cardellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-cardellini/)

> [I've been very lucky to have been chosen for and to have chosen roles that are good. Some are better than others and some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-cardellini/i-ve-been-very-lucky-to-have-been-chosen-for-and-to-have-chosen-roles/)

[Linda Cardellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-cardellini/)

> [I think the hardest thing about the part is the responsibility that you feel playing something that is so real and resonant in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-cardellini/i-think-the-hardest-thing-about-the-part-is-the-responsibility-that/)

[Linda Cardellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-cardellini/)

> [There are not that many jobs as an actor where you don't get to know what your character will be doing from episode to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-cardellini/there-are-not-that-many-jobs-as-an-actor-where-you-don-t-get-to-know/)

[Linda Cardellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-cardellini/)

> [I think there's this thing that happens when you're younger: The things that you want are different than when you're older, and sometimes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-cardellini/i-think-there-s-this-thing-that-happens-when-you-re-younger-the/)

[Linda Cardellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-cardellini/)

[Explore all 61 Linda Cardellini quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-cardellini/)

## More Able quotes

> [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/)

[Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/)

> [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/)

[Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/)

> [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/)

[Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/)

> [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/)

[Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/)

> [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/)

[Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/)

> [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/)

[Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/)

> [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/)

[Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/)

> [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/)

[Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/)

> [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/)

Greg Perry

> [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/)

[Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/)

> [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/)

[Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/)

> [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/)

[Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/)

> [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/)

[Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/)

> [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/)

[Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/)

> [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/)

[Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/)

Browse all 17,257 Able quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I remember when I took the role on E.R., I thought, 'I haven't really been able to play a working class woman. I've played girls, I've played funny, but I haven't played a working class woman. That sounds like something I'd like to do.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Linda Cardellini"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-cardellini/i-remember-when-i-took-the-role-on-e-r-i-thought-i-haven-t-really/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Able"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-cardellini/i-remember-when-i-took-the-role-on-e-r-i-thought-i-haven-t-really/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/750/linda-cardellini-11124_able_i-remember-when-i-took-the-role-on-e-r-i_328321.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/750/linda-cardellini-11124_able_i-remember-when-i-took-the-role-on-e-r-i_328321.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/750/linda-cardellini-11124_able_i-remember-when-i-took-the-role-on-e-r-i_328321.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I remember when I took the role on E.R., I thought, 'I haven't really been able to play a working class…” — Linda Cardellini",
                "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": "Linda Cardellini",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-cardellini/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I remember when I took the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-cardellini/i-remember-when-i-took-the-role-on-e-r-i-thought-i-haven-t-really/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-cardellini/i-remember-when-i-took-the-role-on-e-r-i-thought-i-haven-t-really/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
