--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you become an actor, at some point…" description: "\"When you become an actor, at some point you look for something that brings you back to your roots. You find something that people around your neighborh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86f/mekhi-phifer-11337_actor_when-you-become-an-actor-at-some-point-y_1422515.jpg" --- # When you become an actor, at some point you look for… ![“When you become an actor, at some point you look for something that brings you back to your roots. You find something that people around your neighborhood can relate to. People that you're close with can relate to.” quote by Mekhi Phifer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86f/mekhi-phifer-11337_actor_when-you-become-an-actor-at-some-point-y_1422515.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86f/mekhi-phifer-11337_actor_when-you-become-an-actor-at-some-point-y_1422515.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86f/mekhi-phifer-11337_actor_when-you-become-an-actor-at-some-point-y_1422515.jpg) > “When you become an actor, at some point you look for something that brings you back to your roots. You find something that people around your neighborhood can relate to. People that you're close with can relate to.” [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 seek roles that echo their origins, fostering authenticity and community connection through relatable storytelling. **In simple terms:** Actors look for roles that reflect their roots and community. Key Takeaway Find roles that resonate with your background. Themes authenticity roots community storytelling craft Mood inspirational thoughtful Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - casting decisions - script selection - community outreach - personal branding Key Concepts relatability cultural resonance personal truth Questions to Reflect On - How can actors balance authenticity with artistic exploration? - What does “roots” mean for diverse audiences? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on roots may limit artistic growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actor Point](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-point-304027/) [Close Relate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/close-relate-5042252/) [Find](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/find/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Neighborhood Relate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neighborhood-relate-5042251/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Relate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relate/) [Relate People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relate-people/) [Roots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roots/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [“God can only relate effectively with you when you relate with people”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/god-can-only-relate-effectively-with-you-when-you-relate-with-people/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [Other people may complicate our lives, but life without them would be unbearably desolate. None of us can be truly human in isolation. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-s-kushner/other-people-may-complicate-our-lives-but-life-without-them-would-be/) [Harold S. Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-s-kushner/) > [I don't relate to people that look like me. I find it deeply unsatisfying to play a version of myself. It was something I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-riseborough/i-don-t-relate-to-people-that-look-like-me-i-find-it-deeply/) [Andrea Riseborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-riseborough/) > [If you don't live a normal life, how do you relate to people?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-speedman/if-you-don-t-live-a-normal-life-how-do-you-relate-to-people/) [Scott Speedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-speedman/) > [The only reason I would write a break-up song is because my own problem of allowing myself to relate to people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zola-jesus/the-only-reason-i-would-write-a-break-up-song-is-because-my-own/) [Zola Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zola-jesus/) > [I think people like players they can relate to. It seems as if people think they know me. I just think I'm an ordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-couples/i-think-people-like-players-they-can-relate-to-it-seems-as-if-people/) [Fred Couples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-couples/) > [I think, as an actor, I would find it a little run-of-the-mill doing procedurals where it's the same sort of thing week in and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-purefoy/i-think-as-an-actor-i-would-find-it-a-little-run-of-the-mill-doing/) [James Purefoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-purefoy/) > [I have made decisions based from purely an actor's point of view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lange/i-have-made-decisions-based-from-purely-an-actor-s-point-of-view/) [Jessica Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lange/) > [I think every star was a new actor at one point of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-gopal-varma/i-think-every-star-was-a-new-actor-at-one-point-of-time/) [Ram Gopal Varma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-gopal-varma/) > [No matter how brilliant an actor is, there's always a point where they let you down, but that's all part of their journey. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hale/no-matter-how-brilliant-an-actor-is-there-s-always-a-point-where-they/) [Amanda Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-hale/) > [I make it a habit of never trying to judge what an audience might think, only because all points of view are too close,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/i-make-it-a-habit-of-never-trying-to-judge-what-an-audience-might/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [It's hard to explain why exactly, but I think that when I began writing plays, it was from an actor's point of view more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/it-s-hard-to-explain-why-exactly-but-i-think-that-when-i-began/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) > [As an actor... at some point you've got to forget that the crew's there in order to do your job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cliff-curtis/as-an-actor-at-some-point-you-ve-got-to-forget-that-the-crew-s-there/) [Cliff Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cliff-curtis/) > [“To be successful, you have to be able to relate to people; they have to be satisfied with your personality to be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geroge-ross/to-be-successful-you-have-to-be-able-to-relate-to-people-they-have-to/) [Geroge Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geroge-ross/) > [I don't want to play everyone's best friend. I don't want to play the role of a girl struggling in the ghetto. It's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kravitz/i-don-t-want-to-play-everyone-s-best-friend-i-don-t-want-to-play-the/) [Zoe Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kravitz/) ## 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": "When you become an actor, at some point you look for something that brings you back to your roots. You find something that people around your neighborhood can relate to. 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