--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's always fun to play a bad guy because…" description: "\"It's always fun to play a bad guy because you get more to do. It's more arch. There's more energy to throw into it.\" — Matthew Lillard" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe9/matthew-lillard-13590_arches_it-s-always-fun-to-play-a-bad-guy-becaus_1763883.jpg" --- # It's always fun to play a bad guy because you get more to… ![“It's always fun to play a bad guy because you get more to do. It's more arch. There's more energy to throw into it.” quote by Matthew Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe9/matthew-lillard-13590_arches_it-s-always-fun-to-play-a-bad-guy-becaus_1763883.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe9/matthew-lillard-13590_arches_it-s-always-fun-to-play-a-bad-guy-becaus_1763883.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe9/matthew-lillard-13590_arches_it-s-always-fun-to-play-a-bad-guy-becaus_1763883.jpg) > “It's always fun to play a bad guy because you get more to do. It's more arch. There's more energy to throw into it.” [Matthew Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lillard/) ## 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 villain offers creative freedom and heightened energy compared to protagonist roles. **In simple terms:** Villains let actors explore bold, energetic performances. Key Takeaway Embrace challenging roles for growth. Themes creativity performance risk-taking Mood excited playful Type inspirational motivational When to use this quote - theatre auditions - film casting - improv workshops Key Concepts character archetype dramatic tension Questions to Reflect On - Do you seek roles that push your limits? - How does energy differ between hero and villain? A Different Perspective Playing a bad guy may typecast the actor. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arches/) [Bad guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-guy/) [Bad guys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-guys/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Energy Throw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy-throw-1716161/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Fun Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun-play-604576/) [Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guy/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-bad-401883/) ## Related quotes > [It's always fun to play the bad guy, that's for sure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmella/it-s-always-fun-to-play-the-bad-guy-that-s-for-sure/) [Carmella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmella/) > [You know, it's always fun to play the bad guy at the end of the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-mcmahon/you-know-it-s-always-fun-to-play-the-bad-guy-at-the-end-of-the-day/) [Julian McMahon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-mcmahon/) > [Everyone says I'm intense, or I'm mad, or I play bad guys. I don't see any of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-harris/everyone-says-i-m-intense-or-i-m-mad-or-i-play-bad-guys-i-don-t-see/) [Sean Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-harris/) > [It's great to be able to play the bad guy role because you always get a lot to do, but I'm always looking at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/it-s-great-to-be-able-to-play-the-bad-guy-role-because-you-always-get/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [My label is to play bad guys of Latin origin in American movies. I'm happy with that label. I prefer to play that than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordi-molla/my-label-is-to-play-bad-guys-of-latin-origin-in-american-movies-i-m/) [Jordi Molla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordi-molla/) > [As an actor in the theater you're taught that you never play a bad guy. You have to love who you are. You can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/as-an-actor-in-the-theater-you-re-taught-that-you-never-play-a-bad/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [I've kind of had to make a career of playing villains. In order to stay employed, I had to figure out how to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pierce/i-ve-kind-of-had-to-make-a-career-of-playing-villains-in-order-to/) [Jeffrey Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pierce/) > [I've never really had a chance to play a bad guy, and that's something I've always really, really wanted to do. I wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-ludwig/i-ve-never-really-had-a-chance-to-play-a-bad-guy-and-that-s-something/) [Alexander Ludwig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-ludwig/) > [Let's say you would see me in a lot more big movies had I done movies that I'd been asked to do playing bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-busey/let-s-say-you-would-see-me-in-a-lot-more-big-movies-had-i-done-movies/) [Jake Busey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-busey/) > [I came to The United States to see what would happen in 2000 after working for 20 years in Australia and asked my agent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dale/i-came-to-the-united-states-to-see-what-would-happen-in-2000-after/) [Alan Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dale/) > [There is something, yeah, I mean traditionally it's more fun to play bad guys than it is good guys and when you're playing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-nighy/there-is-something-yeah-i-mean-traditionally-it-s-more-fun-to-play/) [Bill Nighy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-nighy/) > [Usually bad guys are much more fun to play and much more interesting to watch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gilpin/usually-bad-guys-are-much-more-fun-to-play-and-much-more-interesting/) [John Gilpin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gilpin/) > [It's always fun to play the bad guy, because you get a chance to do things that most people only think about doing -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-hector/it-s-always-fun-to-play-the-bad-guy-because-you-get-a-chance-to-do/) [Jamie Hector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-hector/) > [It's so much fun to play the bad girl. Everybody has that little side of them they never really get to get out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-holland/it-s-so-much-fun-to-play-the-bad-girl-everybody-has-that-little-side/) [Willa Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-holland/) > [It's just so much more fun to play bad than good. Plus it's just good to get that out of your system so it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-zylka/it-s-just-so-much-more-fun-to-play-bad-than-good-plus-it-s-just-good/) [Chris Zylka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-zylka/) ## More by Matthew Lillard > [I direct with energy. I believe in energy. I think energy is an electric thing in actors. I try to inspire, encourage, and make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lillard/i-direct-with-energy-i-believe-in-energy-i-think-energy-is-an/) [Matthew Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lillard/) > [There are several times when I walked into a room and just felt like such a sham. That's the problem with auditioning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lillard/there-are-several-times-when-i-walked-into-a-room-and-just-felt-like/) [Matthew Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lillard/) > [I think one of the main reason's Rick Rosenthal and Whitewater PIctures decided to 'get in bed with me' on 'Fat Kid' was because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lillard/i-think-one-of-the-main-reason-s-rick-rosenthal-and-whitewater/) [Matthew Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lillard/) > [Thing is, I'm a funny actor, but I'm not good at being funny. I'm going to ramble for a second: I'm an actor who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lillard/thing-is-i-m-a-funny-actor-but-i-m-not-good-at-being-funny-i-m-going/) [Matthew Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lillard/) > [A lot of times, as a clown, you find acting for a reason. It's a way to exercise yourself. If you're funny, you test…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lillard/a-lot-of-times-as-a-clown-you-find-acting-for-a-reason-it-s-a-way-to/) [Matthew Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lillard/) > [I think everyone is given drama, by virtue of the fact that we all have drama in our lives, but not everyone can make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lillard/i-think-everyone-is-given-drama-by-virtue-of-the-fact-that-we-all/) [Matthew Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lillard/) > [Nothing would make my kids happier than to do another movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lillard/nothing-would-make-my-kids-happier-than-to-do-another-movie/) [Matthew Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lillard/) > [So much of Hollywood is about who the people you work with are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lillard/so-much-of-hollywood-is-about-who-the-people-you-work-with-are/) [Matthew Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lillard/) > [The more lines I have, in general, the worse a movie is. It's very rare that I get say great things in fantastic movies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lillard/the-more-lines-i-have-in-general-the-worse-a-movie-is-it-s-very-rare/) [Matthew Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lillard/) > [If I could act in theater, my whole life, and never act in film or television again, and just direct the rest of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lillard/if-i-could-act-in-theater-my-whole-life-and-never-act-in-film-or/) [Matthew Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lillard/) > [Something like 'Without a Paddle' does really well at the box office and I'm like, 'Oh, here we go.' In 'Without a Paddle' I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lillard/something-like-without-a-paddle-does-really-well-at-the-box-office/) [Matthew Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lillard/) > [You just realize that at the beginning of 'Scooby' you're just going to start at level ten and stay at ten the entire time.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lillard/you-just-realize-that-at-the-beginning-of-scooby-you-re-just-going-to/) [Matthew Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lillard/) > [For better or worse, I take my acting seriously. I may not have been in the best movies ever made, but I take it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lillard/for-better-or-worse-i-take-my-acting-seriously-i-may-not-have-been-in/) [Matthew Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lillard/) > [Charlie Brown's good. I always had a little crush on that Lucy. I thought she was kind of a hot little brunette.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lillard/charlie-brown-s-good-i-always-had-a-little-crush-on-that-lucy-i/) [Matthew Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lillard/) > [When I was in high school, I was the guy directing plays after class. I started my first theater company at 19, and my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lillard/when-i-was-in-high-school-i-was-the-guy-directing-plays-after-class-i/) [Matthew Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lillard/) [Explore all 50 Matthew Lillard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lillard/) ## More Arches quotes > [There was only the broad square with the scattered dim moons of the street lamps and with the monumental stone arch which receded into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/there-was-only-the-broad-square-with-the-scattered-dim-moons-of-the/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [Concord's little arch does not span all our fate, nor is what transpires under it law for the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/concord-s-little-arch-does-not-span-all-our-fate-nor-is-what/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [An arch consists of two weaknesses which, leaning one against the other, make a strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/an-arch-consists-of-two-weaknesses-which-leaning-one-against-the/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [If I'm ever feeling uninspired, all I have to do is go see Exodus or Arch Enemy, and think 'Oh yeah, that's what we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-king/if-i-m-ever-feeling-uninspired-all-i-have-to-do-is-go-see-exodus-or/) [Kerry King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-king/) > [The Golden Arches are now more widely recognized than the Christian cross.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schlosser/the-golden-arches-are-now-more-widely-recognized-than-the-christian/) [Eric Schlosser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schlosser/) > [If architects want to strengthen a decrepit arch, they increase the load which is laid upon it, for thereby the parts are joined more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/if-architects-want-to-strengthen-a-decrepit-arch-they-increase-the/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [History fades into fable; fact becomes clouded with doubt and controversy; the inscription molders from the tablet: the statue falls from the pedestal. Columns,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/history-fades-into-fable-fact-becomes-clouded-with-doubt-and/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [The Golden Arches of McDonald's rise, glorious across the landscape, contempo-monolithic, simple in concept as Stonehenge if we could but see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-howard/the-golden-arches-of-mcdonald-s-rise-glorious-across-the-landscape/) [Maureen Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-howard/) > [Suddenly the clouds seem high above us. They’re moving over us in an arch, circling the planet. They have seen abysmal oceans and charred,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-destefano/suddenly-the-clouds-seem-high-above-us-they-re-moving-over-us-in-an/) [Lauren DeStefano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-destefano/) > [Dianetics is a milestone for man comparable to his discovery of fire and superior to his invention of the wheel and the arch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-ron-hubbard/dianetics-is-a-milestone-for-man-comparable-to-his-discovery-of-fire/) [L. Ron Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-ron-hubbard/) > [The greatest sin is appearing naive or old-fashioned so that somebody can give you a sort of a very cool arch smile and devastate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/the-greatest-sin-is-appearing-naive-or-old-fashioned-so-that-somebody/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [Medicine is the keystone of the arch of socialism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/medicine-is-the-keystone-of-the-arch-of-socialism/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When the peacock has presented his back, the spectator will usually begin to walk around him to get a front view; but the peacock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/when-the-peacock-has-presented-his-back-the-spectator-will-usually/) [Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/) > [Polly Jean, I love you. I love the texture of your skin, the taste of your saliva, the softness of your ears. I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/polly-jean-i-love-you-i-love-the-texture-of-your-skin-the-taste-of/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [It is frivolous to fix pedantically the date of particular inventions. They have all been invented over and over fifty times. Man is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/it-is-frivolous-to-fix-pedantically-the-date-of-particular-inventions/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Browse all 190 Arches quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arches/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's always fun to play a bad guy because you get more to do. It's more arch. 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