--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I play roles, but when I'm off stage, I…" description: "\"I play roles, but when I'm off stage, I always try to be myself.\" — Michael Ball" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/589/michael-ball-6205_always_i-play-roles-but-when-i-m-off-stage-i-al_1953660.jpg" --- # I play roles, but when I'm off stage, I always try to be… ![“I play roles, but when I'm off stage, I always try to be myself.” quote by Michael Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/589/michael-ball-6205_always_i-play-roles-but-when-i-m-off-stage-i-al_1953660.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/589/michael-ball-6205_always_i-play-roles-but-when-i-m-off-stage-i-al_1953660.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/589/michael-ball-6205_always_i-play-roles-but-when-i-m-off-stage-i-al_1953660.jpg) > “I play roles, but when I'm off stage, I always try to be myself.” [Michael Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ball/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He distinguishes his professional persona from his personal identity, emphasizing authenticity offstage. **In simple terms:** He tries to be himself when not performing. Key Takeaway Maintain personal authenticity. Themes identity authenticity performance self Mood reflective introspective Type personal philosophical When to use this quote - acting - social gatherings - personal reflection Key Concepts psychology self-concept public vs private Questions to Reflect On - How do you separate your work persona from your true self? - What challenges arise when you reveal your authentic self? A Different Perspective Balancing public expectations with private self can be stressful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [On stage I try to be as spontaneous as possible, feeding off the energy of the audience. I just let myself be and have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anupam-roy/on-stage-i-try-to-be-as-spontaneous-as-possible-feeding-off-the/) [Anupam Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anupam-roy/) > [You write some material, go up on stage and try it out; go back home and throw it in the trash can. And the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-esparza/you-write-some-material-go-up-on-stage-and-try-it-out-go-back-home/) [Felipe Esparza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-esparza/) > [I have played some wonderful leading roles on stage and had the whole 'China Beach' years where I really played a leading man on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-picardo/i-have-played-some-wonderful-leading-roles-on-stage-and-had-the-whole/) [Robert Picardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-picardo/) > [I started playing small roles, but it's the stage that I enjoy the most, as that's where I can entertain people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kubra-sait/i-started-playing-small-roles-but-it-s-the-stage-that-i-enjoy-the/) [Kubra Sait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kubra-sait/) > [One of the first roles I had on stage was with a brilliant director in a brilliant play with a brilliant cast, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/one-of-the-first-roles-i-had-on-stage-was-with-a-brilliant-director/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [I definitely play roles that are close to my persona. I was dying to be an actor, my whole life. I just always wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drea-de-matteo/i-definitely-play-roles-that-are-close-to-my-persona-i-was-dying-to/) [Drea de Matteo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drea-de-matteo/) > [When I'm not on stage, I always try to wear something comfy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dahyun/when-i-m-not-on-stage-i-always-try-to-wear-something-comfy/) [Dahyun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dahyun/) > [When I get on the stage, I try to connect with the fans and offer them the best of the best. I want them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romeo-santos/when-i-get-on-the-stage-i-try-to-connect-with-the-fans-and-offer-them/) [Romeo Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romeo-santos/) > [We gotta stop fighting amongst each other. I think the only rift should be when take it the stage and try to out perform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grandmaster-flash/we-gotta-stop-fighting-amongst-each-other-i-think-the-only-rift/) [Grandmaster Flash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grandmaster-flash/) > [When I get on stage, I try to win my pay: to please and that people leave satisfied... being seductive has given me good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romeo-santos/when-i-get-on-stage-i-try-to-win-my-pay-to-please-and-that-people/) [Romeo Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romeo-santos/) > [For stage I try to dress down, because I want people to take me seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marnie-stern/for-stage-i-try-to-dress-down-because-i-want-people-to-take-me/) [Marnie Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marnie-stern/) > [Every time I hit the stage I try to take something from it. There are a lot of shows and opportunities to be seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-marcel/every-time-i-hit-the-stage-i-try-to-take-something-from-it-there-are/) [Adrian Marcel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-marcel/) > [I love the stage and try to balance it out with movies. If you take the stage away from me, then nothing will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anupam-roy/i-love-the-stage-and-try-to-balance-it-out-with-movies-if-you-take/) [Anupam Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anupam-roy/) > [I try and be just completely me on stage. I try and put that across, and people seem to get that personality that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-marie/i-try-and-be-just-completely-me-on-stage-i-try-and-put-that-across/) [Anne-Marie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-marie/) > [On the stage you try to act real. On the screen you try to be real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/on-the-stage-you-try-to-act-real-on-the-screen-you-try-to-be-real/) [Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/) ## More by Michael Ball > [I'd love to explore South America, but the security issues worry me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ball/i-d-love-to-explore-south-america-but-the-security-issues-worry-me/) [Michael Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ball/) > [How many millions of times have I sung 'Love Changes Everything?' But when I see how it matters to people, it gives me the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ball/how-many-millions-of-times-have-i-sung-love-changes-everything-but/) [Michael Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ball/) > [As a person, Stephen Sondheim is a very funny, very dry and very shy man. I've never witnessed any diva-ish moments, he just always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ball/as-a-person-stephen-sondheim-is-a-very-funny-very-dry-and-very-shy/) [Michael Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ball/) > [I can't properly explain it, but I don't mind admitting I suffered a breakdown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ball/i-can-t-properly-explain-it-but-i-don-t-mind-admitting-i-suffered-a/) [Michael Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ball/) > [I've got soft features, curly hair with blonde bits and dimples. People think of me as a singer, an entertainer, someone who's always there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ball/i-ve-got-soft-features-curly-hair-with-blonde-bits-and-dimples-people/) [Michael Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ball/) > [You can generate a phenomenal relationship with an audience. It's very gratifying, a real privilege.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ball/you-can-generate-a-phenomenal-relationship-with-an-audience-it-s-very/) [Michael Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ball/) > [As a performer, once you've understood the genre of musical theatre, you can tire very quickly of the two-dimensional stuff. With Sondheim, it's always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ball/as-a-performer-once-you-ve-understood-the-genre-of-musical-theatre/) [Michael Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ball/) > [I've recorded a few Bacharach songs over the years and performed some in concert and always felt they suited me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ball/i-ve-recorded-a-few-bacharach-songs-over-the-years-and-performed-some/) [Michael Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ball/) > [We've all sort of been there: It's coming on Christmas, all that preparation is going on, and you just want to escape. You don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ball/we-ve-all-sort-of-been-there-it-s-coming-on-christmas-all-that/) [Michael Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ball/) > [Les Mis' was an amazing experience, to be in the original cast of 'Les Miserables,' and 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' God bless it that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ball/les-mis-was-an-amazing-experience-to-be-in-the-original-cast-of-les/) [Michael Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ball/) > [I'd always had this hankering to try some opera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ball/i-d-always-had-this-hankering-to-try-some-opera/) [Michael Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ball/) > [When I was playing Marius in the inaugural production of 'Les Mis,' I contracted glandular fever which developed into a post-viral depression. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ball/when-i-was-playing-marius-in-the-inaugural-production-of-les-mis-i/) [Michael Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ball/) > [I spent my 40th birthday on the stage of the Palladium in 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ball/i-spent-my-40th-birthday-on-the-stage-of-the-palladium-in-chitty/) [Michael Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ball/) > [That's what distinguishes the pros from people involved in amateur theatre. You just go out and do it again and again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ball/that-s-what-distinguishes-the-pros-from-people-involved-in-amateur/) [Michael Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ball/) > [Try to leave people feeling better for having met you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ball/try-to-leave-people-feeling-better-for-having-met-you/) [Michael Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ball/) [Explore all 99 Michael Ball quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ball/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [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 have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I play roles, but when I'm off stage, I always try to be myself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Ball" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ball/i-play-roles-but-when-i-m-off-stage-i-always-try-to-be-myself/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Always" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ball/i-play-roles-but-when-i-m-off-stage-i-always-try-to-be-myself/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/589/michael-ball-6205_always_i-play-roles-but-when-i-m-off-stage-i-al_1953660.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/589/michael-ball-6205_always_i-play-roles-but-when-i-m-off-stage-i-al_1953660.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/589/michael-ball-6205_always_i-play-roles-but-when-i-m-off-stage-i-al_1953660.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I play roles, but when I'm off stage, I always try to be myself.” — Michael Ball", "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": "Michael Ball", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ball/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I play roles, but when I'm...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ball/i-play-roles-but-when-i-m-off-stage-i-always-try-to-be-myself/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ball/i-play-roles-but-when-i-m-off-stage-i-always-try-to-be-myself/#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 } } ] } ```