--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I started 'Rent,' I already had an…" description: "\"When I started 'Rent,' I already had an idea of how I was going to portray Angel, simply because of who I was at that moment. Everyone always perceived..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89f/mj-rodriguez-14551_angel_when-i-started-rent-i-already-had-an-ide_1939456.jpg" --- # When I started 'Rent,' I already had an idea of how I was… ![“When I started 'Rent,' I already had an idea of how I was going to portray Angel, simply because of who I was at that moment. Everyone always perceived her as a drag queen, but the reality of the matter is that I truly believe she was a trans woman.” quote by Mj Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89f/mj-rodriguez-14551_angel_when-i-started-rent-i-already-had-an-ide_1939456.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89f/mj-rodriguez-14551_angel_when-i-started-rent-i-already-had-an-ide_1939456.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89f/mj-rodriguez-14551_angel_when-i-started-rent-i-already-had-an-ide_1939456.jpg) > “When I started 'Rent,' I already had an idea of how I was going to portray Angel, simply because of who I was at that moment. Everyone always perceived her as a drag queen, but the reality of the matter is that I truly believe she was a trans woman.” [Mj Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mj-rodriguez/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Personal identity informs artistic portrayal, leading to authentic representation of trans experiences. **In simple terms:** Identity shapes performance authenticity. Key Takeaway Embrace personal truth in creative work. Themes identity art representation trans rights Mood inspirational courageous Type artistic activist When to use this quote - theatre casting - media representation - L advocacy - personal storytelling - educational workshops Key Concepts authenticity self‑recognition Questions to Reflect On - How can artists balance authenticity with audience expectations? - What role does representation play in societal acceptance? A Different Perspective Risk of typecasting or public backlash. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Angel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angel/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believe Trans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-trans-2847318/) [Drag queen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drag-queen/) [Portray Angel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/portray-angel-3082627/) [Queen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/queen/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Trans Woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trans-woman-707339/) [Woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woman/) ## Related quotes > [Hopefully I can play a role where I'm not stigmatized to just being a trans woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mj-rodriguez/hopefully-i-can-play-a-role-where-i-m-not-stigmatized-to-just-being-a/) [Mj Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mj-rodriguez/) > [I believe that the trans movement is at a crossroads. We have achieved an unprecedented level of visibility in the last couple of years.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-manning/i-believe-that-the-trans-movement-is-at-a-crossroads-we-have-achieved/) [Chelsea Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-manning/) > [I happen to believe that trans people are anointed, and because of our experiences and the unique way we see the world, we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trace-lysette/i-happen-to-believe-that-trans-people-are-anointed-and-because-of-our/) [Trace Lysette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trace-lysette/) > [“Many people believe trans women choose to engage in the sex trade rather than get a real job. That belief is misguided because sex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-mock/many-people-believe-trans-women-choose-to-engage-in-the-sex-trade/) [Janet Mock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-mock/) > [“Books were irreplaceable to me as a teenage trans person trying to figure out my identity. I bought or borrowed every one I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kellaway/books-were-irreplaceable-to-me-as-a-teenage-trans-person-trying-to/) [Mitch Kellaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kellaway/) > [A drag queen on time is not a drag queen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-needles/a-drag-queen-on-time-is-not-a-drag-queen/) [Sharon Needles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-needles/) > [Yes, I am transgendered but I also am a cross-dresser - I dress as a woman. It's not that I just want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-arquette/yes-i-am-transgendered-but-i-also-am-a-cross-dresser-i-dress-as-a/) [Alexis Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-arquette/) > [In 1996 I was working on a play in New Orleans, and they needed a drag queen. I offered to play the role. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-del-rio/in-1996-i-was-working-on-a-play-in-new-orleans-and-they-needed-a-drag/) [Bianca Del Rio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-del-rio/) > [I definitely think that I, as a drag queen, can endure pain a lot better than most people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/violet-chachki/i-definitely-think-that-i-as-a-drag-queen-can-endure-pain-a-lot/) [Violet Chachki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/violet-chachki/) > [A drag queen is one that usually goes to a ball and that's the only time she gets dressed up. Transvestites live in drag.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsha-p-johnson/a-drag-queen-is-one-that-usually-goes-to-a-ball-and-that-s-the-only/) [Marsha P. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsha-p-johnson/) > [Always tip a drag queen. If they're good, they deserve it. And if they're bad, at least they'll go away after that buck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willam-belli/always-tip-a-drag-queen-if-they-re-good-they-deserve-it-and-if-they/) [Willam Belli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willam-belli/) > [There's a difference between being a drag queen on TV where the masses can tune in and watch, and then at a nightclub where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manila-luzon/there-s-a-difference-between-being-a-drag-queen-on-tv-where-the/) [Manila Luzon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manila-luzon/) > [If you were supposed to be a drag queen, and that's what you wanted to do, you'd be doing it already, you wouldn't be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/violet-chachki/if-you-were-supposed-to-be-a-drag-queen-and-that-s-what-you-wanted-to/) [Violet Chachki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/violet-chachki/) > [I started drag in Portland, Oregon, but I don't feel that I came to life as a drag queen until I started working in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jinkx-monsoon/i-started-drag-in-portland-oregon-but-i-don-t-feel-that-i-came-to/) [Jinkx Monsoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jinkx-monsoon/) > [If I was a man, I would be a drag queen. Honestly, I would. I absolutely love it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-moffatt/if-i-was-a-man-i-would-be-a-drag-queen-honestly-i-would-i-absolutely/) [Scarlett Moffatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-moffatt/) ## More by Mj Rodriguez > [Sometimes I wake up, and I wear jeans; sometimes I want to wear khakis or full-on overalls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mj-rodriguez/sometimes-i-wake-up-and-i-wear-jeans-sometimes-i-want-to-wear-khakis/) [Mj Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mj-rodriguez/) > [I would never try to measure fame; I'm really just a regular chick from New Jersey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mj-rodriguez/i-would-never-try-to-measure-fame-i-m-really-just-a-regular-chick/) [Mj Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mj-rodriguez/) > [It all started when I was 11 months old, singing a song by Jodeci in the back seat of the car. My mother turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mj-rodriguez/it-all-started-when-i-was-11-months-old-singing-a-song-by-jodeci-in/) [Mj Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mj-rodriguez/) > [My mom is my biggest cheerleader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mj-rodriguez/my-mom-is-my-biggest-cheerleader/) [Mj Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mj-rodriguez/) > [Sometimes I feel like my life is at risk. It doesn't matter if I'm famous or not. My life is as much at risk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mj-rodriguez/sometimes-i-feel-like-my-life-is-at-risk-it-doesn-t-matter-if-i-m/) [Mj Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mj-rodriguez/) > [I was always scared about my voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mj-rodriguez/i-was-always-scared-about-my-voice/) [Mj Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mj-rodriguez/) > [There were moments where I was called many derogatory names. I've gotten into a couple of fights. People have jumped me. You know, I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mj-rodriguez/there-were-moments-where-i-was-called-many-derogatory-names-i-ve/) [Mj Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mj-rodriguez/) > [Me, as a woman of the trans experience, I'm not able to have children biologically. And I have always been someone who was very,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mj-rodriguez/me-as-a-woman-of-the-trans-experience-i-m-not-able-to-have-children/) [Mj Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mj-rodriguez/) > [The one thing I thought I would never be able to do was sing on television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mj-rodriguez/the-one-thing-i-thought-i-would-never-be-able-to-do-was-sing-on/) [Mj Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mj-rodriguez/) > [I hear from a lot of young kids. One said to me, 'You remind me of my house mother that passed away,' and another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mj-rodriguez/i-hear-from-a-lot-of-young-kids-one-said-to-me-you-remind-me-of-my/) [Mj Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mj-rodriguez/) > ['Rent' was one of the main defining moments, and it was like the precipice of my transition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mj-rodriguez/rent-was-one-of-the-main-defining-moments-and-it-was-like-the/) [Mj Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mj-rodriguez/) > [I started out in the ballroom scene when I was fourteen years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mj-rodriguez/i-started-out-in-the-ballroom-scene-when-i-was-fourteen-years-old/) [Mj Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mj-rodriguez/) > [Home is like my detox: it's what keeps me grounded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mj-rodriguez/home-is-like-my-detox-it-s-what-keeps-me-grounded/) [Mj Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mj-rodriguez/) > [Throughout my life, my mom, my dad, my grandmother - these were people who made sure that I had the right people around me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mj-rodriguez/throughout-my-life-my-mom-my-dad-my-grandmother-these-were-people-who/) [Mj Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mj-rodriguez/) > [I just want to be a light of hope for anyone who might be in the dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mj-rodriguez/i-just-want-to-be-a-light-of-hope-for-anyone-who-might-be-in-the-dark/) [Mj Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mj-rodriguez/) [Explore all 46 Mj Rodriguez quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mj-rodriguez/) ## More Angel quotes > [A man walks down the street. It's a street in a strange world. Maybe it's the third world. Maybe it's his first time around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/a-man-walks-down-the-street-it-s-a-street-in-a-strange-world-maybe-it/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [If I wer an angel,i would make all your wishes come true..but I'm only a girl a girl who loves you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nix/if-i-wer-an-angel-i-would-make-all-your-wishes-come-true-but-i-m-only/) [Nix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nix/) > [Peace is the first thing the angels sang. Peace is the mark of the children of God. Peace is the nurse of love. Peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-i/peace-is-the-first-thing-the-angels-sang-peace-is-the-mark-of-the/) [Pope Leo I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-i/) > [“Every child is born as angel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/every-child-is-born-as-angel/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Behind my eyelids, I saw him dancing in spirals of coloured light, emerald, blue, and brilliant purple, enfolding him like the wings of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-hall/behind-my-eyelids-i-saw-him-dancing-in-spirals-of-coloured-light/) [Alexis Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-hall/) > [All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/all-that-i-am-or-ever-hope-to-be-i-owe-to-my-angel-mother/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I don't think people will ever forget I was an 'Angel,' anymore than they'll forget Sally Field was 'The Flying Nun.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-ladd/i-don-t-think-people-will-ever-forget-i-was-an-angel-anymore-than/) [Cheryl Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-ladd/) > [It's a great story for us whenever an entrepreneur makes a crazy amount of money and we get to tell the world about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lacy/it-s-a-great-story-for-us-whenever-an-entrepreneur-makes-a-crazy/) [Sarah Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lacy/) > [I believe in UFOs, I believe in extraterrestrials, and I believe in angels. And maybe they'll protect all of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/i-believe-in-ufos-i-believe-in-extraterrestrials-and-i-believe-in/) [Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/) > [Sometimes we have the absolute certainty there's something inside us that's so hideous and monstrous that if we ever search it out we won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-selby-jr/sometimes-we-have-the-absolute-certainty-there-s-something-inside-us/) [Hubert Selby, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-selby-jr/) > [Flowers are the alphabet of angels, whereby they write on the hills and fields mysterious truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/flowers-are-the-alphabet-of-angels-whereby-they-write-on-the-hills/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [You should never feel lonely, neglected, fearful, or defeated when you remember that there are the shining ones. They are watching with keen interest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flower-a-newhouse/you-should-never-feel-lonely-neglected-fearful-or-defeated-when-you/) [Flower A. Newhouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flower-a-newhouse/) > [Hark the herald angels sing, 'Glory to the new-born king.' Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-wesley/hark-the-herald-angels-sing-glory-to-the-new-born-king-peace-on-earth/) [Charles Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-wesley/) > [Man was created a little lower than the angels and has been getting a little lower ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/man-was-created-a-little-lower-than-the-angels-and-has-been-getting-a/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Mooner was walking around laying his hands on the cars, divining karma. "this is it", he said, standing by a small khaki-colored jeep."this car…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/mooner-was-walking-around-laying-his-hands-on-the-cars-divining-karma/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) [Browse all 4,625 Angel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angel/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I started 'Rent,' I already had an idea of how I was going to portray Angel, simply because of who I was at that moment. 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