--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: On the surface, you think you wouldn't…" description: "\"On the surface, you think you wouldn't have to think at all about being asked to play Bilbo in 'The Hobbit.' It's not prison; it's a good gig. But you ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c4/martin-freeman-1860_about_on-the-surface-you-think-you-wouldn-t-ha_1138482.png" --- # On the surface, you think you wouldn't have to think at… ![“On the surface, you think you wouldn't have to think at all about being asked to play Bilbo in 'The Hobbit.' It's not prison; it's a good gig. But you know it's going to take a long time, and it does. There are times when you thought: 'Gee, I've not seen my house for months.'” quote by Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c4/martin-freeman-1860_about_on-the-surface-you-think-you-wouldn-t-ha_1138482.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c4/martin-freeman-1860_about_on-the-surface-you-think-you-wouldn-t-ha_1138482.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c4/martin-freeman-1860_about_on-the-surface-you-think-you-wouldn-t-ha_1138482.png) > “On the surface, you think you wouldn't have to think at all about being asked to play Bilbo in 'The Hobbit.' It's not prison; it's a good gig. But you know it's going to take a long time, and it does. There are times when you thought: 'Gee, I've not seen my house for months.'” [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Playing a beloved character demands endurance and patience, despite initial excitement. **In simple terms:** Long roles require stamina and commitment. Key Takeaway Embrace the journey, not just the fame. Themes patience endurance celebrity career expectations Mood reflective realistic Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - film set - long‑term projects - personal relationships - mental health Key Concepts character immersion personal growth work-life balance Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain personal identity during long projects? - What supports help you cope with time away from home? A Different Perspective Sustaining enthusiasm can be harder than the role itself. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Asked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asked/) [Asked Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asked-play-297889/) [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Bilbo Hobbit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bilbo-hobbit-3162808/) [Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/does/) [Gee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gee/) [Gig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gig/) [Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Hobbit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hobbit/) [Hobbit Prison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hobbit-prison-3162809/) [House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time/) [Months](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/months/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play Bilbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-bilbo-3162807/) [Prison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prison/) [Seen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seen/) [Surface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surface/) [Take](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/take/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/times/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > ['The Hobbit's a big gig. It's a huge circus that you become a part of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/the-hobbit-s-a-big-gig-it-s-a-huge-circus-that-you-become-a-part-of/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [Me and John Mayer met via a mutual connect, we were by the studio and he asked If I could play him my music.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoh-aalegra/me-and-john-mayer-met-via-a-mutual-connect-we-were-by-the-studio-and/) [Snoh Aalegra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoh-aalegra/) > [I'm always being asked to play roles or characters that I don't really resemble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/i-m-always-being-asked-to-play-roles-or-characters-that-i-don-t/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [When Jim Leyland calls - and I have so much respect for Jim Leyland - when he asked me to play, you don't say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-scherzer/when-jim-leyland-calls-and-i-have-so-much-respect-for-jim-leyland/) [Max Scherzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-scherzer/) > [No one ever asked me to play Hamlet. I don't think I'm right for the part, but it would have been nice to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/no-one-ever-asked-me-to-play-hamlet-i-don-t-think-i-m-right-for-the/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [I don't know any songs. People have asked me to play a song, and I say, "I don't know anything."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-day/i-don-t-know-any-songs-people-have-asked-me-to-play-a-song-and-i-say/) [Charlie Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-day/) > [In my first film, I was a basketball player. Like every good actor, I lied when they asked me if I could play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-morse/in-my-first-film-i-was-a-basketball-player-like-every-good-actor-i/) [David Morse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-morse/) > [I've kept my nose clean when I've been asked to to play out of position, and I've done it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-bellamy/i-ve-kept-my-nose-clean-when-i-ve-been-asked-to-to-play-out-of/) [Craig Bellamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-bellamy/) > [If I'm asked to play a certain position, I'll do it 100 per cent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-young/if-i-m-asked-to-play-a-certain-position-i-ll-do-it-100-per-cent/) [Ashley Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-young/) > [By the time I was 9, I was frequently asked to play exhibitions at grand openings, fund-raisers for charities, and other special events.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-austin/by-the-time-i-was-9-i-was-frequently-asked-to-play-exhibitions-at/) [Tracy Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-austin/) > [I took the part in 'Mr. Holland's Opus' because no one had ever asked me to play 'a life' before. I get to age…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dreyfuss/i-took-the-part-in-mr-holland-s-opus-because-no-one-had-ever-asked-me/) [Richard Dreyfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dreyfuss/) > [Sort of what you do in drama school when asked to play something way out of your reach. Anyway, we used to laugh a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-smith/sort-of-what-you-do-in-drama-school-when-asked-to-play-something-way/) [Maggie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-smith/) > [I followed a girl I met in Japan to Los Angeles and ended up working in a motorcycle store. I quit the job one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-reedus/i-followed-a-girl-i-met-in-japan-to-los-angeles-and-ended-up-working/) [Norman Reedus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-reedus/) > [Wherever I'm asked to play, I'll do my best and try to help the team as much as I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reece-james/wherever-i-m-asked-to-play-i-ll-do-my-best-and-try-to-help-the-team/) [Reece James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reece-james/) > [I asked to play for the Under-20's to have more game time but eventually the only position where I was going to get that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davinson-sanchez/i-asked-to-play-for-the-under-20-s-to-have-more-game-time-but/) [Davinson Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/davinson-sanchez/) ## More by Martin Freeman > [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [My mum was Labour-voting, but wanted us to know we were important. Basically, everyone's equal, but you, my children, are a bit better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/my-mum-was-labour-voting-but-wanted-us-to-know-we-were-important/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [I would wear a full-length cape if I could get away with it - I do love a good swirl in a fog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-would-wear-a-full-length-cape-if-i-could-get-away-with-it-i-do-love/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [I think people just like seeing friendship. I think people like seeing people who just drive each other up the wall, but at same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-think-people-just-like-seeing-friendship-i-think-people-like-seeing/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [I hadn't grown up with 'The Hobbit;' I hadn't grown up with 'Lord of The Rings,' anything like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-hadn-t-grown-up-with-the-hobbit-i-hadn-t-grown-up-with-lord-of-the/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [Americans assume all British people have at least one servant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/americans-assume-all-british-people-have-at-least-one-servant/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [I could say, 'I want to play a French-African humpback,' but I probably won't get that role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-could-say-i-want-to-play-a-french-african-humpback-but-i-probably/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [We can all look on the Internet and go, 'He hates me! Oh, but she loves me. Oh, but he hates me,' you know.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/we-can-all-look-on-the-internet-and-go-he-hates-me-oh-but-she-loves/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [You absorb 2,000 years of history just by being near the Thames.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/you-absorb-2-000-years-of-history-just-by-being-near-the-thames/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [I think when see you a character on the screen who is actually being touched by the world, and the stuff is actually landing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-think-when-see-you-a-character-on-the-screen-who-is-actually-being/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [I can spot someone with similar fashion sense to me a mile off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-can-spot-someone-with-similar-fashion-sense-to-me-a-mile-off/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [I don't like affectation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-don-t-like-affectation/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [I don't write anything off without reading a script, and if it's a good one, I'll consider it, whether it's for $20 or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-don-t-write-anything-off-without-reading-a-script-and-if-it-s-a/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [I think I'm less gloomy than I used to be - I've got a very supportive other half.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-think-i-m-less-gloomy-than-i-used-to-be-i-ve-got-a-very-supportive/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [As soon as you get two actors in a room and they're locking eyes, they're doing a scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/as-soon-as-you-get-two-actors-in-a-room-and-they-re-locking-eyes-they/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) [Explore all 203 Martin Freeman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) [Browse all 26,122 About quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "On the surface, you think you wouldn't have to think at all about being asked to play Bilbo in 'The Hobbit.' It's not prison; it's a good gig. But you know it's going to take a long time, and it does. 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