--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never think about the genre I'm in…" description: "\"I never think about the genre I'm in, really, when I'm acting. That's the director's job, to hone us in on the tone that they're envisioning. My job is..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd6/melissa-barrera-5415_acting_i-never-think-about-the-genre-i-m-in-rea_3048380.jpg" --- # I never think about the genre I'm in, really, when I'm… ![“I never think about the genre I'm in, really, when I'm acting. That's the director's job, to hone us in on the tone that they're envisioning. My job is to be as honest as I possibly can be for the character.” quote by Melissa Barrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd6/melissa-barrera-5415_acting_i-never-think-about-the-genre-i-m-in-rea_3048380.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd6/melissa-barrera-5415_acting_i-never-think-about-the-genre-i-m-in-rea_3048380.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd6/melissa-barrera-5415_acting_i-never-think-about-the-genre-i-m-in-rea_3048380.jpg) > “I never think about the genre I'm in, really, when I'm acting. That's the director's job, to hone us in on the tone that they're envisioning. My job is to be as honest as I possibly can be for the character.” [Melissa Barrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-barrera/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The actor focuses on authentic character portrayal, leaving genre concerns to the director's vision. **In simple terms:** Actors prioritize honesty over genre. Key Takeaway Embrace honesty in performance. Themes acting authenticity collaboration Mood reflective determined Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - theatre productions - film sets - auditions - character workshops Key Concepts character immersion directorial vision Questions to Reflect On - How does focusing on honesty affect your performance? - What challenges arise when ignoring genre expectations? A Different Perspective Genre constraints can limit creative freedom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Director](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/director/) [Genre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genre/) [Genre Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genre-really-491241/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Really Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-acting-987955/) [Think Genre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-genre-460060/) [Us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/us/) ## Related quotes > [I do experiment with lots of different genres. In making music, I don't think of genre like, "I want to do this, because I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/india-arie-2/i-do-experiment-with-lots-of-different-genres-in-making-music-i-don-t/) [India.Arie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/india-arie-2/) > [I really don't think I have a genre, honestly, 'cause I make such different music even though it is rap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-curry/i-really-don-t-think-i-have-a-genre-honestly-cause-i-make-such/) [Denzel Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-curry/) > [If you ask me what genre 'Beyond' is, it's really difficult for me to answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cage/if-you-ask-me-what-genre-beyond-is-it-s-really-difficult-for-me-to/) [David Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cage/) > [Action comedy, if you can get it right, it is, for me, a particularly brilliant genre. It really is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-statham/action-comedy-if-you-can-get-it-right-it-is-for-me-a-particularly/) [Jason Statham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-statham/) > [I get very frustrated by this term 'genre exercise.' I mean, what exactly is that? Genre is not really relevant when you are writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/i-get-very-frustrated-by-this-term-genre-exercise-i-mean-what-exactly/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [You can use the fun of the genre, but I also really wanted to come at it from the point of view of some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-hodges/you-can-use-the-fun-of-the-genre-but-i-also-really-wanted-to-come-at/) [Adrian Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-hodges/) > [Really, what I'm trying to do is make soul music, but I don't even think of it as a genre. It's more of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaytranada/really-what-i-m-trying-to-do-is-make-soul-music-but-i-don-t-even/) [Kaytranada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaytranada/) > [I don't ever really think about the genre I'm writing in, I just look at the project that I'm going to be contributing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-mccreary/i-don-t-ever-really-think-about-the-genre-i-m-writing-in-i-just-look/) [Bear McCreary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-mccreary/) > [I don't really think about genre. I like to write books that I'd love to read myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/i-don-t-really-think-about-genre-i-like-to-write-books-that-i-d-love/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [I love all types of music, and I think the genre lines are starting to get thinner every year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maren-morris/i-love-all-types-of-music-and-i-think-the-genre-lines-are-starting-to/) [Maren Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maren-morris/) > [I don't really think there's a genre that we couldn't do, but it wouldn't sound like that genre, if that makes sense. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avi-kaplan/i-don-t-really-think-there-s-a-genre-that-we-couldn-t-do-but-it/) [Avi Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avi-kaplan/) > [I don't think I make genre movies. There is a certain type of violence in my films but I think I have my own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-denis/i-don-t-think-i-make-genre-movies-there-is-a-certain-type-of-violence/) [Claire Denis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-denis/) > [I think my genre is more 'reality rap'; I talk about my life and the struggles that I've been through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tee-grizzley/i-think-my-genre-is-more-reality-rap-i-talk-about-my-life-and-the/) [Tee Grizzley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tee-grizzley/) > [I think where genre is limiting is that in the marketplace, you have to put things in a box to create expectations to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-eggers/i-think-where-genre-is-limiting-is-that-in-the-marketplace-you-have/) [Robert Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-eggers/) > [“I’ve been told by a few people at conferences I have a rather academic approach to the subject matter that makes it easy for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-ann-dawson/i-ve-been-told-by-a-few-people-at-conferences-i-have-a-rather/) [Julie Ann Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-ann-dawson/) ## More by Melissa Barrera > [I was in Mexico City prior to L.A. and doing my thing, not really knowing what the experience of being a Latino or Latina…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-barrera/i-was-in-mexico-city-prior-to-l-a-and-doing-my-thing-not-really/) [Melissa Barrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-barrera/) > [I mean, I've had my fair share of heartbreak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-barrera/i-mean-i-ve-had-my-fair-share-of-heartbreak/) [Melissa Barrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-barrera/) > [I think I approach all of my roles in the same way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-barrera/i-think-i-approach-all-of-my-roles-in-the-same-way/) [Melissa Barrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-barrera/) > [I was a body wash person before, but I find myself switching off between that and bar soap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-barrera/i-was-a-body-wash-person-before-but-i-find-myself-switching-off/) [Melissa Barrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-barrera/) > [I have so many memories of being a kid using Clinique beauty products.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-barrera/i-have-so-many-memories-of-being-a-kid-using-clinique-beauty-products/) [Melissa Barrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-barrera/) > [Vida' is a huge gift for me, in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-barrera/vida-is-a-huge-gift-for-me-in-my-life/) [Melissa Barrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-barrera/) > [Weather changes really are what affects my skin the most, and the skin on my hands in particular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-barrera/weather-changes-really-are-what-affects-my-skin-the-most-and-the-skin/) [Melissa Barrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-barrera/) > [It's so easy for the industry to just keep us in the corner and keep us on a side lane and just give us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-barrera/it-s-so-easy-for-the-industry-to-just-keep-us-in-the-corner-and-keep/) [Melissa Barrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-barrera/) > [I've learned from having people do my makeup over the years, and I can do my face, but I'm not particularly skilled at doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-barrera/i-ve-learned-from-having-people-do-my-makeup-over-the-years-and-i-can/) [Melissa Barrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-barrera/) > [I do my research about everyone that I'm going to work with. I kind of want to know them before I even get to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-barrera/i-do-my-research-about-everyone-that-i-m-going-to-work-with-i-kind-of/) [Melissa Barrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-barrera/) > [When you're in your late teens, you feel like you know everything. But as you grow up, you realize that every part of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-barrera/when-you-re-in-your-late-teens-you-feel-like-you-know-everything-but/) [Melissa Barrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-barrera/) > [I used to do so much writing and fill my scripts with thoughts and monologues and ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-barrera/i-used-to-do-so-much-writing-and-fill-my-scripts-with-thoughts-and/) [Melissa Barrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-barrera/) > [I crave the kind of representation where my identity is not the center and the most important part about the story that we're telling.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-barrera/i-crave-the-kind-of-representation-where-my-identity-is-not-the/) [Melissa Barrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-barrera/) > [I grew up going to see my classmates in theater perform, always wanting to be a part of that because it felt so cool.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-barrera/i-grew-up-going-to-see-my-classmates-in-theater-perform-always/) [Melissa Barrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-barrera/) > [You know what I actually would love to do? What my dream is? I would love to do a movie like 'Grease,' where I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-barrera/you-know-what-i-actually-would-love-to-do-what-my-dream-is-i-would/) [Melissa Barrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-barrera/) [Explore all 100 Melissa Barrera quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-barrera/) ## More Acting 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/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [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/) > [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/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) [Ryan Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-newman/) > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. 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