--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm not really a guy who draws on things…" description: "\"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, and if it's on the page, it mak..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68e/miguel-ferrer-14880_actor_i-m-not-really-a-guy-who-draws-on-things_596562.jpg" --- # I'm not really a guy who draws on things from my own past… ![“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, and if it's on the page, it makes your job a lot easier. If it's well written, it allows your imagination to run wild and draw inspiration from that.” quote by Miguel Ferrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68e/miguel-ferrer-14880_actor_i-m-not-really-a-guy-who-draws-on-things_596562.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68e/miguel-ferrer-14880_actor_i-m-not-really-a-guy-who-draws-on-things_596562.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68e/miguel-ferrer-14880_actor_i-m-not-really-a-guy-who-draws-on-things_596562.jpg) > “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, and if it's on the page, it makes your job a lot easier. If it's well written, it allows your imagination to run wild and draw inspiration from that.” [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. An actor should rely on imagination and script quality rather than personal experience to portray characters. **In simple terms:** Actors use imagination over personal history. Key Takeaway Focus on script and imagination. Themes acting imagination craft Mood thoughtful professional Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - theatre - film - audition - character development Key Concepts method acting creative process Questions to Reflect On - How does script quality affect performance? - Can imagination replace lived experience? A Different Perspective Personal experience can limit authenticity if overused. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Allows Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allows-imagination-4871140/) [Competent Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competent-actor-492930/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Draw Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/draw-inspiration-373660/) [Draws Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/draws-things-1854863/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-imagination-243245/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Well written](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/well-written/) ## Related quotes > [I think if you're a competent actor with a good imagination, and if it's on the page, it makes your job a lot easier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ferrer/i-think-if-you-re-a-competent-actor-with-a-good-imagination-and-if-it/) [Miguel Ferrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ferrer/) > [I'm not really a guy who draws on things from my own past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ferrer/i-m-not-really-a-guy-who-draws-on-things-from-my-own-past/) [Miguel Ferrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ferrer/) > [Every afternoon, I was in the pasture with cattle or fishing and shooting my BB gun. That kind of freedom allows imagination to develop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyle-lovett/every-afternoon-i-was-in-the-pasture-with-cattle-or-fishing-and/) [Lyle Lovett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyle-lovett/) > [“A good book allows the imagination to soar.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-maddison/a-good-book-allows-the-imagination-to-soar/) [Clive Maddison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-maddison/) > [If one draws things in a manner which provides only the barest clue to their meaning, the viewer is forced to fill in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoni-tapies/if-one-draws-things-in-a-manner-which-provides-only-the-barest-clue/) [Antoni Tapies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoni-tapies/) > [If you have life's experiences with you, nothing can stop you from being a competent actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randeep-hooda/if-you-have-life-s-experiences-with-you-nothing-can-stop-you-from/) [Randeep Hooda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randeep-hooda/) > [Any competent actor could have done what I did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hovis/any-competent-actor-could-have-done-what-i-did/) [Larry Hovis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hovis/) > [I've always had a good imagination. If I saw a sitcom, and everything was made out of cheese, I wouldn't go 'What?' I wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-fielding/i-ve-always-had-a-good-imagination-if-i-saw-a-sitcom-and-everything/) [Noel Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-fielding/) > [The writer must have a good imagination to begin with, but the imagination has to be muscular, which means it must be exercised in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-writer-must-have-a-good-imagination-to-begin-with-but-the/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“A good imagination may be the best friend of loners.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-smith/a-good-imagination-may-be-the-best-friend-of-loners/) [Kirsten Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-smith/) > [I've got a good imagination, so I can see someone arguing over a parking ticket and imagine they're getting a divorce or something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-stansfield/i-ve-got-a-good-imagination-so-i-can-see-someone-arguing-over-a/) [Lisa Stansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-stansfield/) > [If you have a good inner life, you don't get lonely. I've got a good imagination. I don't miss romance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-rigg/if-you-have-a-good-inner-life-you-don-t-get-lonely-i-ve-got-a-good/) [Diana Rigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-rigg/) > [Good Movies Are Result Of Good Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/good-movies-are-result-of-good-imagination/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [He smiled and tapped my nose. "Two thank-yous in as many days. I don't suppose I'll get to see any, uh, special gratitude?" I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/he-smiled-and-tapped-my-nose-two-thank-yous-in-as-many-days-i-don-t/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [I guess I'm a very keen observer, and I'd like to think I have a good imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bana/i-guess-i-m-a-very-keen-observer-and-i-d-like-to-think-i-have-a-good/) [Eric Bana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bana/) ## More by Miguel Ferrer > [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…](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/) [Miguel Ferrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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/) > [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 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": "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, and if it's on the page, it makes your job a lot easier. 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