--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you go into something saying, 'I'm the…" description: "\"If you go into something saying, 'I'm the bad guy,' you do yourself a disservice as an actor. It's always about trying to find the humanity in a charac..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/742/mekhi-phifer-11337_actor_if-you-go-into-something-saying-i-m-the_1798417.jpg" --- # If you go into something saying, 'I'm the bad guy,' you do… ![“If you go into something saying, 'I'm the bad guy,' you do yourself a disservice as an actor. It's always about trying to find the humanity in a character.” quote by Mekhi Phifer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/742/mekhi-phifer-11337_actor_if-you-go-into-something-saying-i-m-the_1798417.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/742/mekhi-phifer-11337_actor_if-you-go-into-something-saying-i-m-the_1798417.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/742/mekhi-phifer-11337_actor_if-you-go-into-something-saying-i-m-the_1798417.jpg) > “If you go into something saying, 'I'm the bad guy,' you do yourself a disservice as an actor. It's always about trying to find the humanity in a character.” [Mekhi Phifer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mekhi-phifer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Actors should avoid labeling themselves as villains; instead seek the character’s humanity. **In simple terms:** Don’t self‑label as bad; find humanity. Key Takeaway Explore depth beyond archetype. Themes acting character study humanity self‑perception Mood thoughtful inspirational Type interview professional advice When to use this quote - auditions - role preparation - character analysis Key Concepts theatre psychology method acting Questions to Reflect On - How can a villain’s motives be humanized? - What risks arise from denying a character’s darkness? A Different Perspective The quote may oversimplify complex roles that require antagonistic traits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Bad guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-guy/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [Sometime really good writing does you a disservice as an actor. Because you can get lazy. It's doing a lot of the work for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/sometime-really-good-writing-does-you-a-disservice-as-an-actor/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [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've become an actor rather than trying to be one, if that makes sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/callum-turner/i-ve-become-an-actor-rather-than-trying-to-be-one-if-that-makes-sense/) [Callum Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/callum-turner/) > [It can be a bit annoying if another actor is trying to talk to the director and the wife is sitting on his lap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-farrell/it-can-be-a-bit-annoying-if-another-actor-is-trying-to-talk-to-the/) [Colin Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-farrell/) > [I was an actor... or, at least, I was trying to be an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-donner/i-was-an-actor-or-at-least-i-was-trying-to-be-an-actor/) [Richard Donner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-donner/) > [I want to get better as an actor, to keep trying to work harder, trying to discover something different. In some ways, it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/i-want-to-get-better-as-an-actor-to-keep-trying-to-work-harder-trying/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [I'm not the type of actor who is trying to do a whole bunch of different shit, you know what I mean?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/i-m-not-the-type-of-actor-who-is-trying-to-do-a-whole-bunch-of/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [I'm an actor. I'm trying to be the character and do what they're doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-field/i-m-an-actor-i-m-trying-to-be-the-character-and-do-what-they-re-doing/) [Sally Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-field/) > [When you look at something that's so extraordinary, like a man who is traveling back in time to prevent JFK's assassination, for me as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-gadon/when-you-look-at-something-that-s-so-extraordinary-like-a-man-who-is/) [Sarah Gadon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-gadon/) > [I don't think I'm that much different from any other working actor that's trying to make a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/i-don-t-think-i-m-that-much-different-from-any-other-working-actor/) [Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/) > [I'm very much a jobbing actor who's still trying to find a place to rent down the road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-very-much-a-jobbing-actor-who-s-still-trying-to-find-a-place-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I spent so many years trying to become an actor, trying to be a person that I wasn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/i-spent-so-many-years-trying-to-become-an-actor-trying-to-be-a-person/) [Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) > [I suppose the underlying current for me is the idea of not doing something I've done before. I call myself a character actor and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/i-suppose-the-underlying-current-for-me-is-the-idea-of-not-doing/) [Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/) > [Now, being a model and an actor, I'm trying to learn more as my profession demands it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/urvashi-rautela/now-being-a-model-and-an-actor-i-m-trying-to-learn-more-as-my/) [Urvashi Rautela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/urvashi-rautela/) > [I'm not the type of actor who is trying to do a whole bunch of different stuff, you know what I mean?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/i-m-not-the-type-of-actor-who-is-trying-to-do-a-whole-bunch-of-2/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) ## More by Mekhi Phifer > [I've gotten to travel all over the world and meet all kinds of people and do all kinds of great things, so it's, like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mekhi-phifer/i-ve-gotten-to-travel-all-over-the-world-and-meet-all-kinds-of-people/) [Mekhi Phifer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mekhi-phifer/) > [In the early '80s, it was hard to find celebrities you can identify with if you lived in the hood. There weren't any rap…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mekhi-phifer/in-the-early-80s-it-was-hard-to-find-celebrities-you-can-identify/) [Mekhi Phifer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mekhi-phifer/) > [Actors look at life in a different way. When I meet people, I know that one day I may portray that person or someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mekhi-phifer/actors-look-at-life-in-a-different-way-when-i-meet-people-i-know-that/) [Mekhi Phifer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mekhi-phifer/) > [A lot of times you'll hear horror stories about actors being incredibly selfish and only wanting themselves to shine, but for me, it's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mekhi-phifer/a-lot-of-times-you-ll-hear-horror-stories-about-actors-being/) [Mekhi Phifer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mekhi-phifer/) > [I always try to pick and choose projects that will be impactful to someone. From films like 'Clockers' to playing a doctor on 'ER'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mekhi-phifer/i-always-try-to-pick-and-choose-projects-that-will-be-impactful-to/) [Mekhi Phifer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mekhi-phifer/) > [Once or twice a week, I try to do some kind of boxing. I'm hitting the bags and jumping rope - all that stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mekhi-phifer/once-or-twice-a-week-i-try-to-do-some-kind-of-boxing-i-m-hitting-the/) [Mekhi Phifer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mekhi-phifer/) > [I'm very comfortable with what I do, but it just seems like yesterday that I just started, at 19, and it's been like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mekhi-phifer/i-m-very-comfortable-with-what-i-do-but-it-just-seems-like-yesterday/) [Mekhi Phifer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mekhi-phifer/) > [Being from New York, living in L.A., being in Chicago, you kind of get more of the big-city, melting-pot sort of thing. But when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mekhi-phifer/being-from-new-york-living-in-l-a-being-in-chicago-you-kind-of-get/) [Mekhi Phifer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mekhi-phifer/) > [I'm a big road trip guy. I'm the guy who gets in the RV and drives across country. And when you do that, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mekhi-phifer/i-m-a-big-road-trip-guy-i-m-the-guy-who-gets-in-the-rv-and-drives/) [Mekhi Phifer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mekhi-phifer/) > [I grew up in a rough environment. You want to be strong and have your presence felt out there. That attitude reflects how people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mekhi-phifer/i-grew-up-in-a-rough-environment-you-want-to-be-strong-and-have-your/) [Mekhi Phifer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mekhi-phifer/) > [Rap is definitely a youthful expression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mekhi-phifer/rap-is-definitely-a-youthful-expression/) [Mekhi Phifer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mekhi-phifer/) > [Toronto is like a smaller, safe New York.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mekhi-phifer/toronto-is-like-a-smaller-safe-new-york/) [Mekhi Phifer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mekhi-phifer/) > [Being producer you're still going to have to sell somebody who's going to give you the money on the idea and everything like that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mekhi-phifer/being-producer-you-re-still-going-to-have-to-sell-somebody-who-s/) [Mekhi Phifer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mekhi-phifer/) > [When break dancing was out, I break danced. When rapping was the thing, I freestyled rap on the street and battled and all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mekhi-phifer/when-break-dancing-was-out-i-break-danced-when-rapping-was-the-thing/) [Mekhi Phifer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mekhi-phifer/) > [I love kids, outings, camping, sports, Legoland, all the Daddy stuff. I love it. I wish I could just do that, but I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mekhi-phifer/i-love-kids-outings-camping-sports-legoland-all-the-daddy-stuff-i/) [Mekhi Phifer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mekhi-phifer/) [Explore all 60 Mekhi Phifer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mekhi-phifer/) ## 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": "If you go into something saying, 'I'm the bad guy,' you do yourself a disservice as an actor. It's always about trying to find the humanity in a character.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mekhi Phifer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mekhi-phifer/if-you-go-into-something-saying-i-m-the-bad-guy-you-do-yourself-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mekhi-phifer/if-you-go-into-something-saying-i-m-the-bad-guy-you-do-yourself-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/742/mekhi-phifer-11337_actor_if-you-go-into-something-saying-i-m-the_1798417.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/742/mekhi-phifer-11337_actor_if-you-go-into-something-saying-i-m-the_1798417.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/742/mekhi-phifer-11337_actor_if-you-go-into-something-saying-i-m-the_1798417.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you go into something saying, 'I'm the bad guy,' you do yourself a disservice as an actor. It's always…” — Mekhi Phifer", "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": "Mekhi Phifer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mekhi-phifer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you go into something saying,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mekhi-phifer/if-you-go-into-something-saying-i-m-the-bad-guy-you-do-yourself-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mekhi-phifer/if-you-go-into-something-saying-i-m-the-bad-guy-you-do-yourself-a/#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 } } ] } ```