--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In a way, I don't create anything; I just…" description: "\"In a way, I don't create anything; I just open myself to the character, and the character takes over. Of course, I'm aware of it, and I'm driving it, b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/302/marion-cotillard-2955_character_in-a-way-i-don-t-create-anything-i-just_1452604.jpg" --- # In a way, I don't create anything; I just open myself to… ![“In a way, I don't create anything; I just open myself to the character, and the character takes over. Of course, I'm aware of it, and I'm driving it, but I don't try to control it. If I try to control it, it goes wrong.” quote by Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/302/marion-cotillard-2955_character_in-a-way-i-don-t-create-anything-i-just_1452604.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/302/marion-cotillard-2955_character_in-a-way-i-don-t-create-anything-i-just_1452604.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/302/marion-cotillard-2955_character_in-a-way-i-don-t-create-anything-i-just_1452604.jpg) > “In a way, I don't create anything; I just open myself to the character, and the character takes over. Of course, I'm aware of it, and I'm driving it, but I don't try to control it. If I try to control it, it goes wrong.” [Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The artist surrenders to the character, allowing it to guide performance while staying aware and steering. **In simple terms:** Let the character lead, but stay in control. Key Takeaway Trust the role, avoid over‑controlling. Themes creativity process acting Mood focused reflective Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - theatre rehearsals - film shoots - character workshops Key Concepts method acting flow state collaboration Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance surrender and control? - When does character dominance hinder authenticity? A Different Perspective If the actor loses awareness, the performance may become hollow. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-character/) [Character Takes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-takes-709720/) [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Create](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/create/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Open Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-character-2618954/) [Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try/) ## Related quotes > [I have always been open towards character roles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priyanshu-chatterjee/i-have-always-been-open-towards-character-roles/) [Priyanshu Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priyanshu-chatterjee/) > [I tend to plan as I write. And I want to leave myself open and the character open to keep on going until it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roddy-doyle/i-tend-to-plan-as-i-write-and-i-want-to-leave-myself-open-and-the/) [Roddy Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roddy-doyle/) > [I don't want to play the lead and look like a hero. I am open to do character roles; what is the harm in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aparshakti-khurana/i-don-t-want-to-play-the-lead-and-look-like-a-hero-i-am-open-to-do/) [Aparshakti Khurana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aparshakti-khurana/) > [Some people have heard of The Method, which originally goes back to Stanislavski... he gave you six major pointers whereby you became that character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wenham/some-people-have-heard-of-the-method-which-originally-goes-back-to/) [David Wenham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wenham/) > [You have to stay in character in between takes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/you-have-to-stay-in-character-in-between-takes/) [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) > [I doubt that I could create a character I loathed simply because when a character takes life, it is impossible not to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/i-doubt-that-i-could-create-a-character-i-loathed-simply-because-when/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [If you're playing your character and you're running into all these people who know who you are and treat you in a way that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-messina/if-you-re-playing-your-character-and-you-re-running-into-all-these/) [Chris Messina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-messina/) > [Yes, I am one of those people who feels that most of my work is adaptation of one sort or another. For me, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-henry-hwang/yes-i-am-one-of-those-people-who-feels-that-most-of-my-work-is/) [David Henry Hwang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-henry-hwang/) > [A person of character takes as much trouble to discover what is right as the lesser men take to discover what will pay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/a-person-of-character-takes-as-much-trouble-to-discover-what-is-right/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [A character takes shape in the act of writing. You start with something, and you add or subtract.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amitava-kumar/a-character-takes-shape-in-the-act-of-writing-you-start-with/) [Amitava Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amitava-kumar/) > [I'm not one of those actors who gets so taken by a role that I can't live my life. I'm the type of actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-porter/i-m-not-one-of-those-actors-who-gets-so-taken-by-a-role-that-i-can-t/) [Billy Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-porter/) > [A man's character always takes its hue, more or less, from the form and color of things about him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/a-man-s-character-always-takes-its-hue-more-or-less-from-the-form-and/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [For me, every character takes the same amount of immersion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tabu/for-me-every-character-takes-the-same-amount-of-immersion/) [Tabu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tabu/) > [It's interesting what happens when you take on a role, I think. What happens to me - without sounding too spiritual or too hippy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-hoeks/it-s-interesting-what-happens-when-you-take-on-a-role-i-think-what/) [Sylvia Hoeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-hoeks/) > [When a well-rounded character takes over, he doesn't lecture you about his history and how he is misunderstood. He lives his life, does things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lam/when-a-well-rounded-character-takes-over-he-doesn-t-lecture-you-about/) [Andrew Lam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lam/) ## More by Marion Cotillard > [I have a tendency to often share the point of view of the conspiracy theory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-cotillard/i-have-a-tendency-to-often-share-the-point-of-view-of-the-conspiracy/) [Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/) > [There is something strange about me. I don't ever feel at ease in a group of people. I have to fight hard to overcome…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-cotillard/there-is-something-strange-about-me-i-don-t-ever-feel-at-ease-in-a/) [Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/) > [I think that you always learn something from working with good actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-cotillard/i-think-that-you-always-learn-something-from-working-with-good-actors/) [Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/) > [I couldn't identify with anyone. At school, I was considered very strange. I didn't understand the relationships between people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-cotillard/i-couldn-t-identify-with-anyone-at-school-i-was-considered-very/) [Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/) > [I always thought that I was a terrible writer. And I started to write songs. And I started to like what I was writing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-cotillard/i-always-thought-that-i-was-a-terrible-writer-and-i-started-to-write/) [Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/) > [I started to write songs. And I started to like what I was writing. I think it's a new way for me to express…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-cotillard/i-started-to-write-songs-and-i-started-to-like-what-i-was-writing-i/) [Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/) > [For me, what Macbeth is about is people who cannot face their fears and pain and instead of facing them and going beyond, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-cotillard/for-me-what-macbeth-is-about-is-people-who-cannot-face-their-fears/) [Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/) > [I love to work this way - I love the time of preparation. If you feed yourself with all the information and you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-cotillard/i-love-to-work-this-way-i-love-the-time-of-preparation-if-you-feed/) [Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/) > [When someone would come up to me in the street, I would either run away or burst into tears. I didn't know what to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-cotillard/when-someone-would-come-up-to-me-in-the-street-i-would-either-run/) [Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/) > [I would love to go into an animal's dream - like a lion's or a cat's. I'm sure that's pretty awesome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-cotillard/i-would-love-to-go-into-an-animal-s-dream-like-a-lion-s-or-a-cat-s-i/) [Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/) > [I was shy. I was more than shy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-cotillard/i-was-shy-i-was-more-than-shy/) [Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/) > [Im very happy with whats happening now and how the awareness is spreading. Because 10 years ago my mind-set wasnt really normal for most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-cotillard/im-very-happy-with-whats-happening-now-and-how-the-awareness-is/) [Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/) > [There are so many actresses that I love. I think Jennifer Lawrence is a prodigy. I think Elle Fanning is absolutely amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-cotillard/there-are-so-many-actresses-that-i-love-i-think-jennifer-lawrence-is/) [Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/) > [I think in friendship, you want to be there for your friend, and sometimes you just don't know what to do or the relationship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-cotillard/i-think-in-friendship-you-want-to-be-there-for-your-friend-and/) [Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/) > [It's pretty refreshing to be in a situation where the spotlight is on someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-cotillard/it-s-pretty-refreshing-to-be-in-a-situation-where-the-spotlight-is-on/) [Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/) [Explore all 144 Marion Cotillard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/) ## 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. 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": "In a way, I don't create anything; I just open myself to the character, and the character takes over. 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