---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think it's important to play real people."
description: "\"I think it's important to play real people.\" — Lindsay Mendez"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ba/lindsay-mendez-13100_i-think_i-think-it-s-important-to-play-real-peop_2566828.jpg"
---

#  I think it's important to play real people.

![“I think it's important to play real people.” quote by Lindsay Mendez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ba/lindsay-mendez-13100_i-think_i-think-it-s-important-to-play-real-peop_2566828.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ba/lindsay-mendez-13100_i-think_i-think-it-s-important-to-play-real-peop_2566828.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ba/lindsay-mendez-13100_i-think_i-think-it-s-important-to-play-real-peop_2566828.jpg)

> “I think it's important to play real people.”

[Lindsay Mendez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-mendez/)

## About This Quote

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

Playing real people requires authenticity and empathy, not caricature.

**In simple terms:** Act with genuine empathy.

Key Takeaway

Treat others as they truly are.

Themes

acting empathy authenticity

Mood

reflective thoughtful

Type

artistic psychological

When to use this quote

- theatre
- film
- personal relationships

Key Concepts

method acting psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you maintain self-identity while embodying others?
- When does empathy become over-identification?

A Different Perspective

Risk of losing personal boundaries.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Important Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-play/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-real-800039/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-people/)

## Related quotes

> [All I've ever tried to do is play real people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-alda/all-i-ve-ever-tried-to-do-is-play-real-people/)

[Alan Alda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-alda/)

> [I love to play real people... good people that I know the audience will get behind. It's the good people in the world that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/i-love-to-play-real-people-good-people-that-i-know-the-audience-will/)

[Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/)

> [I try to play real people who inspire me through something in their journey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-collette/i-try-to-play-real-people-who-inspire-me-through-something-in-their/)

[Toni Collette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-collette/)

> [People have said, 'You don't need to do any more biopics. You don't need to play any more real people.' I don't agree with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chadwick-boseman/people-have-said-you-don-t-need-to-do-any-more-biopics-you-don-t-need/)

[Chadwick Boseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chadwick-boseman/)

> [Anybody who works with me knows this: I always repeat wardrobe in my characters. We're trying to play real people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/busy-philipps/anybody-who-works-with-me-knows-this-i-always-repeat-wardrobe-in-my/)

[Busy Philipps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/busy-philipps/)

> [I have tried to defend what is most precious to our American society, a society that is now at war against the forces of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demian-bichir/i-have-tried-to-defend-what-is-most-precious-to-our-american-society/)

[Demian Bichir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demian-bichir/)

> [I think it's important to never play 'crazy' - you have to know what kind of crazy you're playing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/i-think-it-s-important-to-never-play-crazy-you-have-to-know-what-kind/)

[Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/)

> [It's very important for me to play in London. It's a wonderful city.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianluca-vialli/it-s-very-important-for-me-to-play-in-london-it-s-a-wonderful-city/)

[Gianluca Vialli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianluca-vialli/)

> [It is extremely important to play for your country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-wilfried-tsonga/it-is-extremely-important-to-play-for-your-country/)

[Jo-Wilfried Tsonga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-wilfried-tsonga/)

> [It's important to play the right way. If you play the right way, it's so much fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zaza-pachulia/it-s-important-to-play-the-right-way-if-you-play-the-right-way-it-s/)

[Zaza Pachulia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zaza-pachulia/)

> [It's important for me to play every match the best I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/memphis-depay/it-s-important-for-me-to-play-every-match-the-best-i-can/)

[Memphis Depay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/memphis-depay/)

> [Love is like a game, sometimes you win,sometimes you lose… but the most important is how you play it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lantapi/love-is-like-a-game-sometimes-you-win-sometimes-you-lose-but-the-most/)

[Richard Lantapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lantapi/)

> [One-day cricket is a very important part of our play. We've got a long way to go until the next World Cup and for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-hayden/one-day-cricket-is-a-very-important-part-of-our-play-we-ve-got-a-long/)

[Matthew Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-hayden/)

> [Most important to me is to play well and to win. That is what the fans want to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trina-gulliver/most-important-to-me-is-to-play-well-and-to-win-that-is-what-the-fans/)

[Trina Gulliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trina-gulliver/)

> [Turning the corner is the most important, but first play the run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-pierre-paul/turning-the-corner-is-the-most-important-but-first-play-the-run/)

[Jason Pierre-Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-pierre-paul/)

## More by Lindsay Mendez

> [I have a group of fans who pitched in and named a star after me... So. Cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-mendez/i-have-a-group-of-fans-who-pitched-in-and-named-a-star-after-me-so/)

[Lindsay Mendez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-mendez/)

> [Getting an agent is hard, and I also think people rush to get an agent too soon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-mendez/getting-an-agent-is-hard-and-i-also-think-people-rush-to-get-an-agent/)

[Lindsay Mendez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-mendez/)

> [I've never been a thin girl. I grew up being - I don't want to say a plus-size girl, but a girl of curves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-mendez/i-ve-never-been-a-thin-girl-i-grew-up-being-i-don-t-want-to-say-a/)

[Lindsay Mendez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-mendez/)

> ['Dogfight' is my favorite thing I've ever worked on. It's such a special piece, and I'm so close to the character of Rose. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-mendez/dogfight-is-my-favorite-thing-i-ve-ever-worked-on-it-s-such-a-special/)

[Lindsay Mendez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-mendez/)

> [I'm good friends with Matt Morrison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-mendez/i-m-good-friends-with-matt-morrison/)

[Lindsay Mendez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-mendez/)

> [I have a major love for musical theatre, including a lot of stuff I don't get to do very often.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-mendez/i-have-a-major-love-for-musical-theatre-including-a-lot-of-stuff-i/)

[Lindsay Mendez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-mendez/)

> [As I became an adult, I listened to a lot of jazz, to the ladies of jazz, Ella Fitzgerald and Carmen McRae and Nina…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-mendez/as-i-became-an-adult-i-listened-to-a-lot-of-jazz-to-the-ladies-of/)

[Lindsay Mendez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-mendez/)

> [I've never been a bridesmaid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-mendez/i-ve-never-been-a-bridesmaid/)

[Lindsay Mendez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-mendez/)

> [I think people feel completely stunted without an agent, but there's a lot of auditions to be had without one and a lot to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-mendez/i-think-people-feel-completely-stunted-without-an-agent-but-there-s-a/)

[Lindsay Mendez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-mendez/)

> [I do think television has really fantasized it to the point where now everyone wants a gay best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-mendez/i-do-think-television-has-really-fantasized-it-to-the-point-where-now/)

[Lindsay Mendez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-mendez/)

> [With 'Wicked,' I was stepping into a role that I didn't make so that felt like I had more boundaries then I did with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-mendez/with-wicked-i-was-stepping-into-a-role-that-i-didn-t-make-so-that/)

[Lindsay Mendez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-mendez/)

> [My parents were big movie-musical fans. And I thought 'Grease' was different from the usual MGM musical. I was intrigued and fell in love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-mendez/my-parents-were-big-movie-musical-fans-and-i-thought-grease-was/)

[Lindsay Mendez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-mendez/)

> [The first time I didn't get called back at an audition, I cried. My mom told me, 'We're doing this for fun, and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-mendez/the-first-time-i-didn-t-get-called-back-at-an-audition-i-cried-my-mom/)

[Lindsay Mendez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-mendez/)

> [I started taking voice when I was six and dance classes every day - I just couldn't get enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-mendez/i-started-taking-voice-when-i-was-six-and-dance-classes-every-day-i/)

[Lindsay Mendez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-mendez/)

> [I think, going into a room for an audition, the best thing you can do is represent who you are specifically as an individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-mendez/i-think-going-into-a-room-for-an-audition-the-best-thing-you-can-do/)

[Lindsay Mendez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-mendez/)

[Explore all 51 Lindsay Mendez quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-mendez/)

## More I think quotes

> [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/)

[Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/)

> [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/)

[Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/)

> [I'm not here trying to convince anybody to vote for Donald Trump. I think every Christian needs to make up his own mind about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/i-m-not-here-trying-to-convince-anybody-to-vote-for-donald-trump-i/)

[Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/)

> [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/)

[Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/)

> [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/)

[David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/)

> [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/)

[David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/)

> [William Maxwell's my favorite North American writer, I think. And an Irish writer who used to write for 'The New Yorker' called Maeve Brennan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/william-maxwell-s-my-favorite-north-american-writer-i-think-and-an/)

[Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/)

> [I think a person has to just be herself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-nixon/i-think-a-person-has-to-just-be-herself/)

[Pat Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-nixon/)

> [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. Generally, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-i-am-against-stereotype-generally-asian-guys-are-more-quiet/)

[Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/)

> [I think taking a hookline of a hit song and making a new song is fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-kumar/i-think-taking-a-hookline-of-a-hit-song-and-making-a-new-song-is-fun/)

[Tulsi Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-kumar/)

> [I thought I fought a really good Orlando Salido. I never let him get into his fight. I knew what I needed to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikey-garcia/i-thought-i-fought-a-really-good-orlando-salido-i-never-let-him-get/)

[Mikey Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikey-garcia/)

> [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/)

> [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 think it's a wonderful thing, turning 50. I think everyone should do it at least once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-duran/i-think-it-s-a-wonderful-thing-turning-50-i-think-everyone-should-do/)

[Elvis Duran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-duran/)

> [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/)

[Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/)

[Browse all 29,267 I think quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I think it's important to play real people.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Lindsay Mendez"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-mendez/i-think-it-s-important-to-play-real-people/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "I think"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-mendez/i-think-it-s-important-to-play-real-people/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ba/lindsay-mendez-13100_i-think_i-think-it-s-important-to-play-real-peop_2566828.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ba/lindsay-mendez-13100_i-think_i-think-it-s-important-to-play-real-peop_2566828.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ba/lindsay-mendez-13100_i-think_i-think-it-s-important-to-play-real-peop_2566828.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I think it's important to play real people.” — Lindsay Mendez",
                "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": "Lindsay Mendez",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-mendez/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I think it's important to play...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-mendez/i-think-it-s-important-to-play-real-people/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-mendez/i-think-it-s-important-to-play-real-people/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
