--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I like the character roles. Somewhere…" description: "\"I like the character roles. Somewhere back there I really came to the conclusion in my mind that the difference between acting and stardom was major. A..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d36/morgan-freeman-1202_acting_i-like-the-character-roles-somewhere-bac_2938439.jpg" --- # I like the character roles. Somewhere back there I really… ![“I like the character roles. Somewhere back there I really came to the conclusion in my mind that the difference between acting and stardom was major. And that if you become a star, people are going to go to see you. If you remain an actor, they're going to go and see the story you're in.” quote by Morgan Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d36/morgan-freeman-1202_acting_i-like-the-character-roles-somewhere-bac_2938439.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d36/morgan-freeman-1202_acting_i-like-the-character-roles-somewhere-bac_2938439.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d36/morgan-freeman-1202_acting_i-like-the-character-roles-somewhere-bac_2938439.jpg) > “I like the character roles. Somewhere back there I really came to the conclusion in my mind that the difference between acting and stardom was major. And that if you become a star, people are going to go to see you. If you remain an actor, they're going to go and see the story you're in.” [Morgan Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-freeman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting focuses on the story, while stardom centers on the performer; fame shifts attention from narrative to individual. **In simple terms:** Acting serves the story; stardom serves the star. Key Takeaway Prioritize the story over personal fame. Themes art celebrity storytelling Mood reflective analytical Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - theatre - film - media appearances Key Concepts narrative focus ego public perception Questions to Reflect On - How does fame affect your creative choices? - Can you stay story to the story while famous? A Different Perspective Stardom can dilute artistic integrity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Conclusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conclusion/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Stardom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stardom/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [From the time I was 16 to really up until turning 21, the roles were really, really few and far between. I had people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naya-rivera/from-the-time-i-was-16-to-really-up-until-turning-21-the-roles-were/) [Naya Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naya-rivera/) > [Film roles really did start to dry up when I got into my 40s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/film-roles-really-did-start-to-dry-up-when-i-got-into-my-40s/) [Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/) > [It took several years of hard work in small roles before I attained stardom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-lugosi/it-took-several-years-of-hard-work-in-small-roles-before-i-attained/) [Bela Lugosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-lugosi/) > [When you look at sort of pop stardom now, some of these singers, it seems like the idea of them was created in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lloyd-young/when-you-look-at-sort-of-pop-stardom-now-some-of-these-singers-it/) [John Lloyd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lloyd-young/) > [I don't want to play the lead and look like a hero. I am open to do character roles; what is the harm in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aparshakti-khurana/i-don-t-want-to-play-the-lead-and-look-like-a-hero-i-am-open-to-do/) [Aparshakti Khurana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aparshakti-khurana/) > [I didn't want to do character roles because when you are doing comic characters, you only get character roles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiku-sharda/i-didn-t-want-to-do-character-roles-because-when-you-are-doing-comic/) [Kiku Sharda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiku-sharda/) > [It's true in the beginning I started playing villains, and I think that's pretty clear, because if you don't conventionally look a certain way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/it-s-true-in-the-beginning-i-started-playing-villains-and-i-think/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [Character roles only indicate that they're very different from who you are as a person, and for me, it's fun hiding behind characters that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hamill/character-roles-only-indicate-that-they-re-very-different-from-who/) [Mark Hamill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hamill/) > [All my roles are character roles. On the other hand, there are those people who have an inner...I think we all do the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/all-my-roles-are-character-roles-on-the-other-hand-there-are-those/) [Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) > [Theater actors like to change character roles. They don't like to always do the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcello-mastroianni/theater-actors-like-to-change-character-roles-they-don-t-like-to/) [Marcello Mastroianni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcello-mastroianni/) > [It's quite hard to find a ballsy or complex character. So the roles I've taken are those. Lot's of people put me in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-green/it-s-quite-hard-to-find-a-ballsy-or-complex-character-so-the-roles-i/) [Eva Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-green/) > [Honestly, a lot of the time the character roles are the best roles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-macdonald/honestly-a-lot-of-the-time-the-character-roles-are-the-best-roles/) [Danielle Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-macdonald/) > [Why can't I ever play a nice, normal, salt-of-the-earth type? Is there something I should know? It's fun to play villains and character roles,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mullally/why-can-t-i-ever-play-a-nice-normal-salt-of-the-earth-type-is-there/) [Megan Mullally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mullally/) > [I love character roles...You work hard, immerse yourself in the characters. I generally don't do big high-profile roles. They terrify me. They lead me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-mitchell/i-love-character-roles-you-work-hard-immerse-yourself-in-the/) [Elizabeth Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-mitchell/) > [I can play character roles for sure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumar-sanu/i-can-play-character-roles-for-sure/) [Kumar Sanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumar-sanu/) ## More by Morgan Freeman > [I always wanted to be a fireman, a cop, an Indian chief, a doctor, a lawyer. I always wanted to be all these things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-freeman/i-always-wanted-to-be-a-fireman-a-cop-an-indian-chief-a-doctor-a/) [Morgan Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-freeman/) > [If I wasn't acting, I have no clue what I'd be doing 'cause I have no other talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-freeman/if-i-wasn-t-acting-i-have-no-clue-what-i-d-be-doing-cause-i-have-no/) [Morgan Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-freeman/) > [I know people are saying they like you. I'm not being insulted or pushed around or anything. People are coming up because they like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-freeman/i-know-people-are-saying-they-like-you-i-m-not-being-insulted-or/) [Morgan Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-freeman/) > [Don't be afraid of what you want. This is your time. The barriers are down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-freeman/don-t-be-afraid-of-what-you-want-this-is-your-time-the-barriers-are/) [Morgan Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-freeman/) > [I find it difficult to watch myself... I find it boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-freeman/i-find-it-difficult-to-watch-myself-i-find-it-boring/) [Morgan Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-freeman/) > [People need to start to think about the messages that they send in the movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-freeman/people-need-to-start-to-think-about-the-messages-that-they-send-in/) [Morgan Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-freeman/) > [Acting means living, it's all I do and all I'm good at. 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You are an asshole,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-freeman/i-hate-the-word-homophobia-it-s-not-a-phobia-you-are-not-scared-you/) [Morgan Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-freeman/) > [I've never had any intimate relationships with a dolphin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-freeman/i-ve-never-had-any-intimate-relationships-with-a-dolphin/) [Morgan Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-freeman/) > [If you're comfortable on a horse, you're comfortable on a horse. It's like being on a motorbike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-freeman/if-you-re-comfortable-on-a-horse-you-re-comfortable-on-a-horse-it-s/) [Morgan Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-freeman/) > [It's what I learn from the great actors that I work with. Stillness. That's all and that's the hardest thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-freeman/it-s-what-i-learn-from-the-great-actors-that-i-work-with-stillness/) [Morgan Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-freeman/) > [Never let pride be your guiding principle. Let your accomplishments speak for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-freeman/never-let-pride-be-your-guiding-principle-let-your-accomplishments/) [Morgan Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-freeman/) > [You can make anything into a play for the simple reason that the human mind is one of the best writers in the business.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-freeman/you-can-make-anything-into-a-play-for-the-simple-reason-that-the/) [Morgan Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-freeman/) [Explore all 274 Morgan Freeman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-freeman/) ## More Acting quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. 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Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [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/) > [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/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) Ryan Newman > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. 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