--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's a million and one things an actor…" description: "\"There's a million and one things an actor can do with a villain. He can go for all kinds of quirks and tricks. The hero is much harder to define for an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/lorne-greene-5780_actor_there-s-a-million-and-one-things-an-acto_2874033.jpg" --- # There's a million and one things an actor can do with a… ![“There's a million and one things an actor can do with a villain. He can go for all kinds of quirks and tricks. The hero is much harder to define for an actor. When you play a straight role or a hero, you're kind of stuck, It's much more difficult to give a good guy interesting qualities or to make…” quote by Lorne Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/lorne-greene-5780_actor_there-s-a-million-and-one-things-an-acto_2874033.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/lorne-greene-5780_actor_there-s-a-million-and-one-things-an-acto_2874033.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/lorne-greene-5780_actor_there-s-a-million-and-one-things-an-acto_2874033.jpg) > “There's a million and one things an actor can do with a villain. He can go for all kinds of quirks and tricks. The hero is much harder to define for an actor. When you play a straight role or a hero, you're kind of stuck, It's much more difficult to give a good guy interesting qualities or to make him unusual.” [Lorne Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-greene/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Villains allow creative expression; heroes demand nuanced depth, making them harder to portray compellingly. **In simple terms:** Heroes need depth. Key Takeaway Find complexity in good characters. Themes acting characterization creativity challenge Mood analytical inspirational Type creative motivational When to use this quote - theatre - film - workshop exercises Key Concepts Narrative theory character archetypes Questions to Reflect On - How can you add layers to a hero? - What quirks make a villain memorable? A Different Perspective Simplistic heroes feel flat. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actor Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-play/) [Actor Villain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-villain-1526677/) [Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-guy/) [Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hero/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Things Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-actor/) [Villain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/villain/) ## Related quotes > [Empathy is much bigger than sympathy. When the character is empathised with, that means you have succeeded as an actor. So even if it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neeraj-kabi/empathy-is-much-bigger-than-sympathy-when-the-character-is-empathised/) [Neeraj Kabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neeraj-kabi/) > [Being an actor, and a villain for various movies, I've played all parts of Ravana's persona already. But as familiar as all these parts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mukesh-rishi/being-an-actor-and-a-villain-for-various-movies-i-ve-played-all-parts/) [Mukesh Rishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mukesh-rishi/) > [There's gotta be a villain; there's gotta be a good guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-laettner/there-s-gotta-be-a-villain-there-s-gotta-be-a-good-guy/) [Christian Laettner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-laettner/) > [If I play a villain, I try to find his lightness and his good side. And if I play a hero or a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/if-i-play-a-villain-i-try-to-find-his-lightness-and-his-good-side-and/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [Well, you need the villain. If you don't have a villain, the good guy can stay home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christoph-waltz/well-you-need-the-villain-if-you-don-t-have-a-villain-the-good-guy/) [Christoph Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christoph-waltz/) > [One thing Im not gonna do, because Im black, is suddenly say you know what, I cant play a villain! You dont need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ll-cool-j/one-thing-im-not-gonna-do-because-im-black-is-suddenly-say-you-know/) [LL Cool J](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ll-cool-j/) > [It's as boring to see a completely evil villain as it is to see a completely good guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-helgeland/it-s-as-boring-to-see-a-completely-evil-villain-as-it-is-to-see-a/) [Brian Helgeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-helgeland/) > [I would love to play an out-and-out villain because I have always been perceived as the good guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-kapoor/i-would-love-to-play-an-out-and-out-villain-because-i-have-always/) [Kunal Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-kapoor/) > [As long as I have the talent and there's a demand for the old Chinese man - whether he's a philosopher, or a master,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hong/as-long-as-i-have-the-talent-and-there-s-a-demand-for-the-old-chinese/) [James Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hong/) > [I played Big Brother in a Studio One presentation of '1984,' and that should have marked me as a villain to American producers. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-greene/i-played-big-brother-in-a-studio-one-presentation-of-1984-and-that/) [Lorne Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-greene/) > [First of all, I never think of my characters as good or evil. I play them as honestly as I can. When you're playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-haysbert/first-of-all-i-never-think-of-my-characters-as-good-or-evil-i-play/) [Dennis Haysbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-haysbert/) > [One of the strangest things about being an actor is that people you don't know feel that they are allowed to comment on your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-strangest-things-about-being-an-actor-is-that-people-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One of the fun things as an actor is to really spread your wings as wide as possible and do a variety of roles.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michiel-huisman/one-of-the-fun-things-as-an-actor-is-to-really-spread-your-wings-as/) [Michiel Huisman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michiel-huisman/) > [I’ve done all kinds of cool things as an actor—I’ve jumped out of helicopters and done some daring stunts and played baseball in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pratt/i-ve-done-all-kinds-of-cool-things-as-an-actor-i-ve-jumped-out-of/) [Chris Pratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pratt/) > [One of the great things about being an actor is it serves a short attention span, which is something I have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-mack/one-of-the-great-things-about-being-an-actor-is-it-serves-a-short/) [Allison Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-mack/) ## More by Lorne Greene > [I feel energetic when I'm working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-greene/i-feel-energetic-when-i-m-working/) [Lorne Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-greene/) > [The Cartwrights happen to be a family that other families want to be like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-greene/the-cartwrights-happen-to-be-a-family-that-other-families-want-to-be/) [Lorne Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-greene/) > [I think the hearing loss started with 'Bonanza.' Sometimes the director would put us in a box canyon and have us fire our guns.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-greene/i-think-the-hearing-loss-started-with-bonanza-sometimes-the-director/) [Lorne Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-greene/) > [If I were following trends, I would never have done 'Ringo.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-greene/if-i-were-following-trends-i-would-never-have-done-ringo/) [Lorne Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-greene/) > [Ben Cartwright was patterned after my father, who never saw 'Bonanza.' In that sense, my father will live for a long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-greene/ben-cartwright-was-patterned-after-my-father-who-never-saw-bonanza-in/) [Lorne Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-greene/) > [A diversity of interests keep me very much alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-greene/a-diversity-of-interests-keep-me-very-much-alive/) [Lorne Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-greene/) > [I left Canada in 1953 because I could find nothing very satisfying about delivering commercial pitches on camera. I felt the whole atmosphere of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-greene/i-left-canada-in-1953-because-i-could-find-nothing-very-satisfying/) [Lorne Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-greene/) > [In my youth I wanted to be a concert violinist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-greene/in-my-youth-i-wanted-to-be-a-concert-violinist/) [Lorne Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-greene/) > [That's the joy of acting, to bring something to it. That's what makes acting exciting. Just saying lines is not terribly exciting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-greene/that-s-the-joy-of-acting-to-bring-something-to-it-that-s-what-makes/) [Lorne Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-greene/) > [When I was 16, I discovered wildlife. My father took me to a place called Algonquin Park in Northern Ontario - it has some 1,600 lakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-greene/when-i-was-16-i-discovered-wildlife-my-father-took-me-to-a-place/) [Lorne Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-greene/) > [I lived with my 'Bonanza' family for 14 years. On 'Battlestar,' we jumped right in and got to know each other later. That's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-greene/i-lived-with-my-bonanza-family-for-14-years-on-battlestar-we-jumped/) [Lorne Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-greene/) > [Getting old doesn't frighten me. But I've got to take care of myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-greene/getting-old-doesn-t-frighten-me-but-i-ve-got-to-take-care-of-myself/) [Lorne Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-greene/) > [People go to see Shakespeare plays over and over, not because the story is new, but because they want to see how a certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-greene/people-go-to-see-shakespeare-plays-over-and-over-not-because-the/) [Lorne Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-greene/) > [We're long on conversation in our house. Therefore, I don't like going to restaurants too much. There are too many distractions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-greene/we-re-long-on-conversation-in-our-house-therefore-i-don-t-like-going/) [Lorne Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-greene/) > [I played Big Brother in a Studio One presentation of '1984,' and that should have marked me as a villain to American producers. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-greene/i-played-big-brother-in-a-studio-one-presentation-of-1984-and-that/) [Lorne Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-greene/) [Explore all 100 Lorne Greene quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-greene/) ## More Actor quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [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'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [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/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [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/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There's a million and one things an actor can do with a villain. He can go for all kinds of quirks and tricks. The hero is much harder to define for an actor. When you play a straight role or a hero, you're kind of stuck, It's much more difficult to give a good guy interesting qualities or to make him unusual.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lorne Greene" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-greene/there-s-a-million-and-one-things-an-actor-can-do-with-a-villain-he/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-greene/there-s-a-million-and-one-things-an-actor-can-do-with-a-villain-he/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/lorne-greene-5780_actor_there-s-a-million-and-one-things-an-acto_2874033.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/lorne-greene-5780_actor_there-s-a-million-and-one-things-an-acto_2874033.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/lorne-greene-5780_actor_there-s-a-million-and-one-things-an-acto_2874033.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There's a million and one things an actor can do with a villain. He can go for all kinds of quirks and…” — Lorne Greene", "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": "Lorne Greene", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-greene/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There's a million and one things...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-greene/there-s-a-million-and-one-things-an-actor-can-do-with-a-villain-he/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-greene/there-s-a-million-and-one-things-an-actor-can-do-with-a-villain-he/#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 } } ] } ```