--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When someone on screen portrays a…" description: "\"When someone on screen portrays a character that behaves in a way you don't expect, you're subverting ideas. So if there's a Venn diagram between why p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88f/natasha-rothwell-13307_acting_when-someone-on-screen-portrays-a-charac_469703.jpg" --- # When someone on screen portrays a character that behaves… ![“When someone on screen portrays a character that behaves in a way you don't expect, you're subverting ideas. So if there's a Venn diagram between why people are drawn to the characters I play, it may be that. But I'd like to think that the craft of acting and the choices I make as an actor are…” quote by Natasha Rothwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88f/natasha-rothwell-13307_acting_when-someone-on-screen-portrays-a-charac_469703.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88f/natasha-rothwell-13307_acting_when-someone-on-screen-portrays-a-charac_469703.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88f/natasha-rothwell-13307_acting_when-someone-on-screen-portrays-a-charac_469703.jpg) > “When someone on screen portrays a character that behaves in a way you don't expect, you're subverting ideas. So if there's a Venn diagram between why people are drawn to the characters I play, it may be that. But I'd like to think that the craft of acting and the choices I make as an actor are drawing people on their own merits.” [Natasha Rothwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-rothwell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Unexpected character choices challenge audience expectations, revealing the power of acting to shape perception. **In simple terms:** Surprising roles change how viewers see characters. Key Takeaway Choose roles that reflect authentic choices. Themes acting perception authenticity Mood thoughtful creative Type artistic professional When to use this quote - casting - scriptwriting - directing - theatre - film production Key Concepts subversion character development audience expectation Questions to Reflect On - What risks are you willing to take in your craft? - How does subversion affect your connection with viewers? A Different Perspective Audience may resist unconventional portrayals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [The way we treat people we think can't help or hurt us - like housekeepers, waiters, and secretaries - tells more about our character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/the-way-we-treat-people-we-think-can-t-help-or-hurt-us-like/) [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) > [You have to sort of see the way that the character behaves, and what the character says and does, and claim it in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-roxburgh/you-have-to-sort-of-see-the-way-that-the-character-behaves-and-what/) [Richard Roxburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-roxburgh/) > [Getting to work with Dylan McDermott was so... I didn't know anything about him, personally. He is hilarious and makes the most interesting, bizarre,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-grossman/getting-to-work-with-dylan-mcdermott-was-so-i-didn-t-know-anything/) [Leslie Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-grossman/) > [I planned so well for my post-'Cosby Show' life that I don't have to make desperate acting choices that conflict with what my values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jamal-warner/i-planned-so-well-for-my-post-cosby-show-life-that-i-don-t-have-to/) [Malcolm-Jamal Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jamal-warner/) > [“Great acting is as much about the choices a performer makes as it is about their ability.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-stafford/great-acting-is-as-much-about-the-choices-a-performer-makes-as-it-is/) [Stewart Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-stafford/) > [I'm not sure that my upbringing has in itself informed my acting choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-freeman/i-m-not-sure-that-my-upbringing-has-in-itself-informed-my-acting/) [Morgan Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-freeman/) > [I'm kind of bipolar in my acting choices because I just want to do a little bit of everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/i-m-kind-of-bipolar-in-my-acting-choices-because-i-just-want-to-do-a/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [You have to get beyond your own precious inner experiences. The actor cannot afford to look only to his own life for all his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-adler/you-have-to-get-beyond-your-own-precious-inner-experiences-the-actor/) [Stella Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-adler/) > [The actor cannot afford to look only to his own life for all his material nor pull strictly from his own experience to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-adler/the-actor-cannot-afford-to-look-only-to-his-own-life-for-all-his/) [Stella Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-adler/) > [Many directors try to direct things that are only going to make the actor uncomfortable. You tend to get more out of the actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neve-campbell/many-directors-try-to-direct-things-that-are-only-going-to-make-the/) [Neve Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neve-campbell/) > [Every choice you make as an actor ends up being really influential on your life, because you're spending a lot of time working on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cera/every-choice-you-make-as-an-actor-ends-up-being-really-influential-on/) [Michael Cera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cera/) > [The world can make an actor feel overly important. What I do isn't hard work. It's not ditch digging - which I have done,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ty-burrell/the-world-can-make-an-actor-feel-overly-important-what-i-do-isn-t/) [Ty Burrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ty-burrell/) > [Every film for every actor is a make-or-break film. I believe every film has the power to break you or make you. So, an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-bachchan/every-film-for-every-actor-is-a-make-or-break-film-i-believe-every/) [Abhishek Bachchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-bachchan/) > [A director, I forget who, told me that it takes 30 years to make an actor. And I believe that. You have to learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cillian-murphy/a-director-i-forget-who-told-me-that-it-takes-30-years-to-make-an/) [Cillian Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cillian-murphy/) > [I had no idea how to make it as an actor. But I knew I wanted to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-walton/i-had-no-idea-how-to-make-it-as-an-actor-but-i-knew-i-wanted-to/) [David Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-walton/) ## More by Natasha Rothwell > [As far as the adjectives that I lead with, I think a writer and a comedienne are first. I have never qualified my experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-rothwell/as-far-as-the-adjectives-that-i-lead-with-i-think-a-writer-and-a/) [Natasha Rothwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-rothwell/) > [I was sort of always the class clown, but I think that was confusing for my teachers because I had the grades to back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-rothwell/i-was-sort-of-always-the-class-clown-but-i-think-that-was-confusing/) [Natasha Rothwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-rothwell/) > [I don't know if there is an expiration date on diversity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-rothwell/i-don-t-know-if-there-is-an-expiration-date-on-diversity/) [Natasha Rothwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-rothwell/) > [I definitely was inspired by drama teachers in high school named Mr. Walsh and Ms. O'Neil, and both of them were very formative in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-rothwell/i-definitely-was-inspired-by-drama-teachers-in-high-school-named-mr/) [Natasha Rothwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-rothwell/) > [I have chosen to never take myself out of the running for roles. I will continue to throw myself into projects that I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-rothwell/i-have-chosen-to-never-take-myself-out-of-the-running-for-roles-i/) [Natasha Rothwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-rothwell/) > [In a world where you graduate with a theater degree from college, you gotta find your bread job. You gotta find that job to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-rothwell/in-a-world-where-you-graduate-with-a-theater-degree-from-college-you/) [Natasha Rothwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-rothwell/) > [I'm not going to run or be silent for fear of keeping a fan base.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-rothwell/i-m-not-going-to-run-or-be-silent-for-fear-of-keeping-a-fan-base/) [Natasha Rothwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-rothwell/) > [Rom-coms are my jam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-rothwell/rom-coms-are-my-jam/) [Natasha Rothwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-rothwell/) > [I grew up in a funny household, and I love making people laugh. It brings me so much joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-rothwell/i-grew-up-in-a-funny-household-and-i-love-making-people-laugh-it/) [Natasha Rothwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-rothwell/) > [I loved women who weren't afraid to get ugly in their comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-rothwell/i-loved-women-who-weren-t-afraid-to-get-ugly-in-their-comedy/) [Natasha Rothwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-rothwell/) > [I would just take dolls around the house - there's old VHS footage from my dad, who was an early adapter and had this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-rothwell/i-would-just-take-dolls-around-the-house-there-s-old-vhs-footage-from/) [Natasha Rothwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-rothwell/) > [When I was a teacher, I definitely noticed bullying happening, and I noticed people choosing to be quiet when they should speak up. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-rothwell/when-i-was-a-teacher-i-definitely-noticed-bullying-happening-and-i/) [Natasha Rothwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-rothwell/) > [Being authentic is important to me, and I am not going to present this fluff, fake, sanitized version of myself that doesn't reflect who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-rothwell/being-authentic-is-important-to-me-and-i-am-not-going-to-present-this/) [Natasha Rothwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-rothwell/) > [As far as being a plus-size woman, I play a plus-size character by default, and for me, the visibility - that, I think, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-rothwell/as-far-as-being-a-plus-size-woman-i-play-a-plus-size-character-by/) [Natasha Rothwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-rothwell/) > [My feet are firmly planted in my political ideology. To me, it's being authentic in every area, and that includes politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-rothwell/my-feet-are-firmly-planted-in-my-political-ideology-to-me-it-s-being/) [Natasha Rothwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-rothwell/) [Explore all 51 Natasha Rothwell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-rothwell/) ## More Acting 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/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. 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. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When someone on screen portrays a character that behaves in a way you don't expect, you're subverting ideas. So if there's a Venn diagram between why people are drawn to the characters I play, it may be that. 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