--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't know what it is that I do, but…" description: "\"I don't know what it is that I do, but when I play a really bad guy, I'm able to bring some level of likability to it.\" — Miguel Ferrer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0a/miguel-ferrer-14880_bad_i-don-t-know-what-it-is-that-i-do-but-wh_28601.jpg" --- # I don't know what it is that I do, but when I play a… ![“I don't know what it is that I do, but when I play a really bad guy, I'm able to bring some level of likability to it.” quote by Miguel Ferrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0a/miguel-ferrer-14880_bad_i-don-t-know-what-it-is-that-i-do-but-wh_28601.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0a/miguel-ferrer-14880_bad_i-don-t-know-what-it-is-that-i-do-but-wh_28601.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0a/miguel-ferrer-14880_bad_i-don-t-know-what-it-is-that-i-do-but-wh_28601.jpg) > “I don't know what it is that I do, but when I play a really bad guy, I'm able to bring some level of likability to it.” [Miguel Ferrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ferrer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker claims that even when portraying a villain, they can make the character appealing to the audience. **In simple terms:** Villain can be likable. Key Takeaway Even antagonists can attract empathy. Themes character complexity performance nuance audience perception moral ambiguity charisma Mood playful self-aware confident Type observational personal insight When to use this quote - theatrical role playing - film casting - stage performance - voice acting - improvisation Key Concepts acting technique character empathy narrative tension Practical Applications - casting directors seeking versatile actors - writing multidimensional antagonists Questions to Reflect On - How does likability affect audience engagement with a villain? - What techniques help humanize antagonistic roles? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad/) [Bad guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-guy/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Know Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-play/) [Level](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/level/) [Level Likability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/level-likability-419607/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-really/) [Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really/) ## Related quotes > [Play is really the work of childhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/play-is-really-the-work-of-childhood/) [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) > [It's good to have certain restrictions sometimes, but it's definitely more fun to play really loud, with distortion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-mascis/it-s-good-to-have-certain-restrictions-sometimes-but-it-s-definitely/) [J Mascis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-mascis/) > [I really didn't have a plan, I just went in and started playing. one of my specialties was to be able to play for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-riley/i-really-didn-t-have-a-plan-i-just-went-in-and-started-playing-one-of/) [Terry Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-riley/) > [“Do you play?” “Not really. There are these dudes that play everything for me.” He began to sing, “Baby. Baby. Baby.” He hit some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mcmullen-sullivan/do-you-play-not-really-there-are-these-dudes-that-play-everything-for/) [David McMullen-Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mcmullen-sullivan/) > [If I play at a really high level, opportunities will come my way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richarlison/if-i-play-at-a-really-high-level-opportunities-will-come-my-way/) [Richarlison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richarlison/) > [I'm going to go out and play really hard. If I have another win, it will be icing on the cake. But I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-singh/i-m-going-to-go-out-and-play-really-hard-if-i-have-another-win-it/) [Vijay Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-singh/) > [When a play is really cooking, there's nothing like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ciaran-hinds/when-a-play-is-really-cooking-there-s-nothing-like-it/) [Ciaran Hinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ciaran-hinds/) > [I just think it's way funnier to play something really real than to be just poking fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-stalter/i-just-think-it-s-way-funnier-to-play-something-really-real-than-to/) [Megan Stalter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-stalter/) > [I don't really care if I play really well, well, or okay. I want to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-wawrinka/i-don-t-really-care-if-i-play-really-well-well-or-okay-i-want-to-win/) [Stan Wawrinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-wawrinka/) > [I'm amazed that I can still play really. But I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginger-baker/i-m-amazed-that-i-can-still-play-really-but-i-can/) [Ginger Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginger-baker/) > [Sometimes the better the writing, the harder it is to play because you really want to service it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/sometimes-the-better-the-writing-the-harder-it-is-to-play-because-you/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) > [I love to play at a really high level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-votto/i-love-to-play-at-a-really-high-level/) [Joey Votto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-votto/) > [One of my favorite things is when people will ask for a song that I hadn't planned to play. It is really fun to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyle-lovett/one-of-my-favorite-things-is-when-people-will-ask-for-a-song-that-i/) [Lyle Lovett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyle-lovett/) > [I don't mind what I play, really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-malkovich/i-don-t-mind-what-i-play-really/) [John Malkovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-malkovich/) > [I have to play really loose versions of songs I've made on the computer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-parker/i-have-to-play-really-loose-versions-of-songs-i-ve-made-on-the/) [Kyle Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-parker/) ## More by Miguel Ferrer > [I thought 'ER' was a really good script, but I didn't have any inkling that it would become the phenomenon that it did, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ferrer/i-thought-er-was-a-really-good-script-but-i-didn-t-have-any-inkling/) [Miguel Ferrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ferrer/) > [I didn't sing, but I did play the drums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ferrer/i-didn-t-sing-but-i-did-play-the-drums/) [Miguel Ferrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ferrer/) > [Maybe I was intimidated by my father's talent and success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ferrer/maybe-i-was-intimidated-by-my-father-s-talent-and-success/) [Miguel Ferrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ferrer/) > [First and foremost, it's got to be on the page. It starts with the writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ferrer/first-and-foremost-it-s-got-to-be-on-the-page-it-starts-with-the/) [Miguel Ferrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ferrer/) > [I'm not really a guy who draws on things from my own past. I think if you're a competent actor with a good imagination,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ferrer/i-m-not-really-a-guy-who-draws-on-things-from-my-own-past-i-think-if/) [Miguel Ferrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ferrer/) > [My dad won an Oscar in 1951 with an un-Anglicized name, the first Hispanic to ever win an Oscar, and the Academy is so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ferrer/my-dad-won-an-oscar-in-1951-with-an-un-anglicized-name-the-first/) [Miguel Ferrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ferrer/) > [I was drawn to it much to my father's dismay. He wanted me to be a pianist like he was, but I had coarser…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ferrer/i-was-drawn-to-it-much-to-my-father-s-dismay-he-wanted-me-to-be-a/) [Miguel Ferrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ferrer/) > [I'm not one of those people who writes a biography or tries to figure out what kind of ice cream the character liked when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ferrer/i-m-not-one-of-those-people-who-writes-a-biography-or-tries-to-figure/) [Miguel Ferrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ferrer/) > [My favorite place in the whole world is Jackson Hole, Wyoming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ferrer/my-favorite-place-in-the-whole-world-is-jackson-hole-wyoming/) [Miguel Ferrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ferrer/) > [We were given clear concrete tools. The course did a great job demystifying the art of fiction writing and fostering confidence. The instructor brought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ferrer/we-were-given-clear-concrete-tools-the-course-did-a-great-job/) [Miguel Ferrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ferrer/) > [My mother was loved by so many people, famous and not so famous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ferrer/my-mother-was-loved-by-so-many-people-famous-and-not-so-famous/) [Miguel Ferrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ferrer/) > [I think I was never home when I was directing, because you're either prepping, shooting, or editing, and then acting at the same time.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ferrer/i-think-i-was-never-home-when-i-was-directing-because-you-re-either/) [Miguel Ferrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ferrer/) > [I'd love to find a small movie that someone would sign off on me to do. I have no aspirations to do a big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ferrer/i-d-love-to-find-a-small-movie-that-someone-would-sign-off-on-me-to/) [Miguel Ferrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ferrer/) > [People sorta know my face, but I can still go out to the supermarket, and nobody pays much attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ferrer/people-sorta-know-my-face-but-i-can-still-go-out-to-the-supermarket/) [Miguel Ferrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ferrer/) > [I've played the drums for so long, I can't imagine saying goodbye to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ferrer/i-ve-played-the-drums-for-so-long-i-can-t-imagine-saying-goodbye-to-it/) [Miguel Ferrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ferrer/) [Explore all 45 Miguel Ferrer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ferrer/) ## More Bad quotes > [If I am going to be phased out by whatever powers, then I want people to know that it is not because I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parvathy/if-i-am-going-to-be-phased-out-by-whatever-powers-then-i-want-people/) [Parvathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parvathy/) > [Sometimes I'm in a bad mood, sometimes I'm in a good mood. It's like everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricky/sometimes-i-m-in-a-bad-mood-sometimes-i-m-in-a-good-mood-it-s-like/) [Tricky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricky/) > [Unfortunately, we all go through bad phases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushmita-sen/unfortunately-we-all-go-through-bad-phases/) [Sushmita Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushmita-sen/) > [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/) [Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/) > [What people tend to forget is the journey that I had getting to Formula One. There were plenty of years where I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hamilton/what-people-tend-to-forget-is-the-journey-that-i-had-getting-to/) [Lewis Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hamilton/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [I listen to heavy metal thanks to my son. When I argue with him on the kind of music he is listening to, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeenat-aman/i-listen-to-heavy-metal-thanks-to-my-son-when-i-argue-with-him-on-the/) [Zeenat Aman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeenat-aman/) > [I've said it before, good people are forced to do bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-cloud/i-ve-said-it-before-good-people-are-forced-to-do-bad-things/) [Angus Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-cloud/) > [“If any woman opens her legs for you, don't feel so lucky to be fed with nonsense, she has been a bitch for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-any-woman-opens-her-legs-for-you-don-t-feel-so-lucky-to-be-fed/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [One thing I always tell players is that there are three bad things: Nothing good happens after midnight, nothing good happens when you're around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/one-thing-i-always-tell-players-is-that-there-are-three-bad-things/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [Everybody has bad days, but how you respond to it is a testament to whether you are a winner or a loser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/everybody-has-bad-days-but-how-you-respond-to-it-is-a-testament-to/) [Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) > [Obviously I'm very grateful 'Bad Guy' is doing so well - it's shocking and surprising and gratifying - but I do think it's important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finneas/obviously-i-m-very-grateful-bad-guy-is-doing-so-well-it-s-shocking/) [Finneas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finneas/) > [I felt pretty good growing up. I didnt feel a lot of prejudice or racism. But I do remember, if there was going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-henry-hwang/i-felt-pretty-good-growing-up-i-didnt-feel-a-lot-of-prejudice-or/) [David Henry Hwang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-henry-hwang/) > [If you read 'Lord of the Rings' and dismiss it as a lie because it has orcs and elves, you're missing the whole point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-tennapel/if-you-read-lord-of-the-rings-and-dismiss-it-as-a-lie-because-it-has/) [Doug TenNapel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-tennapel/) > [My conscience is really active. So I feel bad about spending excess amount of money on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/my-conscience-is-really-active-so-i-feel-bad-about-spending-excess/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) [Browse all 7,973 Bad quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't know what it is that I do, but when I play a really bad guy, I'm able to bring some level of likability to it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Miguel Ferrer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ferrer/i-don-t-know-what-it-is-that-i-do-but-when-i-play-a-really-bad-guy-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bad" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ferrer/i-don-t-know-what-it-is-that-i-do-but-when-i-play-a-really-bad-guy-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0a/miguel-ferrer-14880_bad_i-don-t-know-what-it-is-that-i-do-but-wh_28601.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0a/miguel-ferrer-14880_bad_i-don-t-know-what-it-is-that-i-do-but-wh_28601.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0a/miguel-ferrer-14880_bad_i-don-t-know-what-it-is-that-i-do-but-wh_28601.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't know what it is that I do, but when I play a really bad guy, I'm able to bring some level of…” — Miguel Ferrer", "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": "Miguel Ferrer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ferrer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't know what it is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ferrer/i-don-t-know-what-it-is-that-i-do-but-when-i-play-a-really-bad-guy-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ferrer/i-don-t-know-what-it-is-that-i-do-but-when-i-play-a-really-bad-guy-i/#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 } } ] } ```