--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a general thing, I've always been…" description: "\"As a general thing, I've always been drawn to characters who appear to be one thing on the surface, but are actually something else underneath.\" — Mich..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62d/michael-sheen-4062_always_as-a-general-thing-i-ve-always-been-draw_2908923.jpg" --- # As a general thing, I've always been drawn to characters… ![“As a general thing, I've always been drawn to characters who appear to be one thing on the surface, but are actually something else underneath.” quote by Michael Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62d/michael-sheen-4062_always_as-a-general-thing-i-ve-always-been-draw_2908923.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62d/michael-sheen-4062_always_as-a-general-thing-i-ve-always-been-draw_2908923.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62d/michael-sheen-4062_always_as-a-general-thing-i-ve-always-been-draw_2908923.jpg) > “As a general thing, I've always been drawn to characters who appear to be one thing on the surface, but are actually something else underneath.” [Michael Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often hide deeper complexities beneath a simple exterior. **In simple terms:** Surface can mask deeper truth. Key Takeaway Look beyond appearances. Themes identity perception complexity Mood curious analytical Type literary psychological When to use this quote - reading literature - casting roles - personal relationships Key Concepts character study psychology Questions to Reflect On - What hidden traits do you notice in others? - How do you reveal your own depth? A Different Perspective Surface impressions can be misleading. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actually Underneath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actually-underneath-4178199/) [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters/) [Characters Appear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters-appear-1397869/) [Drawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drawn/) [Drawn Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drawn-characters-418823/) [General](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/general/) [One thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-thing/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) [Surface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surface/) [Underneath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/underneath/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) ## Related quotes > [As an actor, I've been drawn to those characters that are further away from who I may be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-sutter/as-an-actor-i-ve-been-drawn-to-those-characters-that-are-further-away/) [Kurt Sutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-sutter/) > [Clearly, I'm drawn to characters with inner conflicts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-carey/clearly-i-m-drawn-to-characters-with-inner-conflicts/) [Jacqueline Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-carey/) > [Whether it's someone struggling with mental illness, someone struggling with poverty or struggling with their own limitations in their social behaviors, for some reason,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gbenga-akinnagbe/whether-it-s-someone-struggling-with-mental-illness-someone/) [Gbenga Akinnagbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gbenga-akinnagbe/) > [I'd say I'm drawn to characters that ring true to me. Adolescence is a troubled time for everyone, so a lot of those characters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-miller/i-d-say-i-m-drawn-to-characters-that-ring-true-to-me-adolescence-is-a/) [Ezra Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-miller/) > [I am drawn to characters that go on journeys, characters that are real people, that have life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-wilton/i-am-drawn-to-characters-that-go-on-journeys-characters-that-are-real/) [Penelope Wilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-wilton/) > [Many of the characters who appear in the pages of the Fourth Gospel are literary creations of its author and were never intended to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/many-of-the-characters-who-appear-in-the-pages-of-the-fourth-gospel/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [A lot of people have asked me about some of the characters that appear in 'Clockwork Prince,' like Aloysius Starkweather and Woolsey Scott. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/a-lot-of-people-have-asked-me-about-some-of-the-characters-that/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [As a writer, I have this compulsion to take characters who appear formidable and bombard them with adversity until they crumble. What's interesting is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-hanff-korelitz/as-a-writer-i-have-this-compulsion-to-take-characters-who-appear/) [Jean Hanff Korelitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-hanff-korelitz/) > [“Characters are not what they first appear, they are layers upon layers and that's the interesting bit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-h-sedgwick/characters-are-not-what-they-first-appear-they-are-layers-upon-layers/) [Brenda H. Sedgwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-h-sedgwick/) > [I take all my characters very seriously - the main, secondary, and supporting characters. Even if they only appear once, they still need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaume-cabre/i-take-all-my-characters-very-seriously-the-main-secondary-and/) [Jaume Cabre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaume-cabre/) > [One of the many falsities of fiction that we accept quite happily is the non-ageing of characters as they appear across series and sequels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-rosen/one-of-the-many-falsities-of-fiction-that-we-accept-quite-happily-is/) [Michael Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-rosen/) > [For me, there is a stigma attached to playing beautiful parts. They are often empty characters whom the action happens around. I'm more drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-wilson/for-me-there-is-a-stigma-attached-to-playing-beautiful-parts-they-are/) [Ruth Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-wilson/) > [I'm quite a rational person, but I'm drawn to the irrational. I love coincidences, and I like to question that in fiction: 'Is this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-tuttle/i-m-quite-a-rational-person-but-i-m-drawn-to-the-irrational-i-love/) [Lisa Tuttle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-tuttle/) > [I am drawn to characters who have a deeply chaotic inner life who are putting up a mask to the rest of the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myha-la/i-am-drawn-to-characters-who-have-a-deeply-chaotic-inner-life-who-are/) [Myha'la](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myha-la/) > [I have always been drawn to characters, and this was true for my feature-writing career as well, where there is a tension between rule-breaking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-nix/i-have-always-been-drawn-to-characters-and-this-was-true-for-my/) [Matt Nix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-nix/) ## More by Michael Sheen > [I don't want to do something that I've done before; I can't see the point of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/i-don-t-want-to-do-something-that-i-ve-done-before-i-can-t-see-the/) [Michael Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/) > [A lot of the times when I've auditioned for parts in America, the answer is, 'Sorry, we need a bigger name.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/a-lot-of-the-times-when-i-ve-auditioned-for-parts-in-america-the/) [Michael Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/) > [Everyone deserves compassion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/everyone-deserves-compassion/) [Michael Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/) > [I'm always aware that there are, broadly speaking, two different ways to act: there is acting, and then there's being, and I'm always more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/i-m-always-aware-that-there-are-broadly-speaking-two-different-ways/) [Michael Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/) > [I always say if I'm not good at something it's just because I've not had time to focus on it... it's just uncrafted, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/i-always-say-if-i-m-not-good-at-something-it-s-just-because-i-ve-not/) [Michael Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/) > [The first thing, when I read the script, is that I need to care about what happens and feel compelled by the story and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/the-first-thing-when-i-read-the-script-is-that-i-need-to-care-about/) [Michael Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/) > [I think the story of 'Alice in Wonderland' in a way is a reminder that life is frightening, it can shift on you at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/i-think-the-story-of-alice-in-wonderland-in-a-way-is-a-reminder-that/) [Michael Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/) > [For me, what makes life enjoyable is having a shared culture and shared references.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/for-me-what-makes-life-enjoyable-is-having-a-shared-culture-and/) [Michael Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/) > [I perceive and relate to the world through where I grew up; that's part of me. It's what I judge everything else against.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/i-perceive-and-relate-to-the-world-through-where-i-grew-up-that-s/) [Michael Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/) > [I'm not a Tony Blair impersonator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/i-m-not-a-tony-blair-impersonator/) [Michael Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/) > [You don't want to get into doing the same thing, over and over again. I know I don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/you-don-t-want-to-get-into-doing-the-same-thing-over-and-over-again-i/) [Michael Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/) > [We see death constantly on film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/we-see-death-constantly-on-film/) [Michael Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/) > [Getting older is a struggle. I always feel that just under the surface of acceptance and enjoyment of the ageing process is a terrible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/getting-older-is-a-struggle-i-always-feel-that-just-under-the-surface/) [Michael Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/) > [Wherever you come from, you carry the place with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/wherever-you-come-from-you-carry-the-place-with-you/) [Michael Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/) > [I live a very Kenneth Williams-like existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/i-live-a-very-kenneth-williams-like-existence/) [Michael Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/) [Explore all 116 Michael Sheen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/) ## 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 ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As a general thing, I've always been drawn to characters who appear to be one thing on the surface, but are actually something else underneath.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Sheen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/as-a-general-thing-i-ve-always-been-drawn-to-characters-who-appear-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Always" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/as-a-general-thing-i-ve-always-been-drawn-to-characters-who-appear-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62d/michael-sheen-4062_always_as-a-general-thing-i-ve-always-been-draw_2908923.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62d/michael-sheen-4062_always_as-a-general-thing-i-ve-always-been-draw_2908923.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62d/michael-sheen-4062_always_as-a-general-thing-i-ve-always-been-draw_2908923.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As a general thing, I've always been drawn to characters who appear to be one thing on the surface, but are…” — Michael Sheen", "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 Sheen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As a general thing, I've always...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/as-a-general-thing-i-ve-always-been-drawn-to-characters-who-appear-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/as-a-general-thing-i-ve-always-been-drawn-to-characters-who-appear-to/#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 } } ] } ```