--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People think they know who I am, because…" description: "\"People think they know who I am, because I've played so many very, very out gay men on stage, and they think that's me\" — Nathan Lane" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fa/nathan-lane-14095_gay_people-think-they-know-who-i-am-because_1217488.jpg" --- # People think they know who I am, because I've played so… ![“People think they know who I am, because I've played so many very, very out gay men on stage, and they think that's me” quote by Nathan Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fa/nathan-lane-14095_gay_people-think-they-know-who-i-am-because_1217488.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fa/nathan-lane-14095_gay_people-think-they-know-who-i-am-because_1217488.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fa/nathan-lane-14095_gay_people-think-they-know-who-i-am-because_1217488.jpg) > “People think they know who I am, because I've played so many very, very out gay men on stage, and they think that's me” [Nathan Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-lane/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People assume an actor’s personal identity matches the roles they portray, especially when those roles are distinctive. **In simple terms:** Actors are not their characters. Key Takeaway Separate performance from personal identity. Themes identity perception stereotypes Mood reflective defensive Type observational personal When to use this quote - acting career - media interviews - personal branding Key Concepts typecasting public image Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain personal boundaries? - What impact does typecasting have on mental health? A Different Perspective Audience may still conflate roles with reality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [Gay men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay-men/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Who i am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who-i-am/) ## Related quotes > [I've played gay, and I've played straight... I'm proud to be a gay man myself, and I'm thrilled to get the opportunity to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arden/i-ve-played-gay-and-i-ve-played-straight-i-m-proud-to-be-a-gay-man/) [Michael Arden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arden/) > [I like the fact that it's like The Ramones. You just have to change your name, and you're a Ramone. You just have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cameron-mitchell/i-like-the-fact-that-it-s-like-the-ramones-you-just-have-to-change/) [John Cameron Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cameron-mitchell/) > [I'm certainly not going to tell other people what they should do with their own personal lives. I think it's certainly easier for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-m-certainly-not-going-to-tell-other-people-what-they-should-do-with/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [We don't have a lot of men on stage doing flamboyant or theatrical. We have a lot of female pop stars doing it, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lambert/we-don-t-have-a-lot-of-men-on-stage-doing-flamboyant-or-theatrical-we/) [Adam Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lambert/) > [I've often wondered, when they've done Of Mice And Men on stage, and I've seen it, how they did that gun thing. I've watched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-walston/i-ve-often-wondered-when-they-ve-done-of-mice-and-men-on-stage-and-i/) [Ray Walston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-walston/) > [I was fortunate to love men, so I could put them on stage and make roles for them, and move through their bodies in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/i-was-fortunate-to-love-men-so-i-could-put-them-on-stage-and-make/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [Being a young actor in the industry, I had a lot of people who strongly advised me to stay quiet. That was hard to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-amboyer/being-a-young-actor-in-the-industry-i-had-a-lot-of-people-who/) [Dan Amboyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-amboyer/) > [Any professional athlete who gets on TV or radio and says he never played with a gay guy is a stone-freakin' idiot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-barkley/any-professional-athlete-who-gets-on-tv-or-radio-and-says-he-never/) [Charles Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-barkley/) > [People sometimes think I'm gay because I once played a gay in a movie. It's funny. Audiences don't think you're a murderer if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perry-king/people-sometimes-think-i-m-gay-because-i-once-played-a-gay-in-a-movie/) Perry King > [I did a one-off episode of 'The New Normal' for Ryan Murphy, and that was the first time I played a gay role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-bomer/i-did-a-one-off-episode-of-the-new-normal-for-ryan-murphy-and-that/) [Matt Bomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-bomer/) > [I feel lucky that Viceland wanted to make it, and I'm producing more than one film with LGBT characters and stories and it's because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-page/i-feel-lucky-that-viceland-wanted-to-make-it-and-i-m-producing-more/) [Ellen Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-page/) > [It's upsetting that it is such a big deal. I wish it weren't an issue all the time. It's funny that people say it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-harrison/it-s-upsetting-that-it-is-such-a-big-deal-i-wish-it-weren-t-an-issue/) [Randy Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-harrison/) > [I had played many gay characters before, but they were finite - guest characters in TV shows or characters in plays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/i-had-played-many-gay-characters-before-but-they-were-finite-guest/) [Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/) > [I don't think there is a guy that played more gay characters than I have done in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-banderas/i-don-t-think-there-is-a-guy-that-played-more-gay-characters-than-i/) [Antonio Banderas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-banderas/) > [I had a friend write me that our music was being played at Gay Pride in New York, which is a big compliment. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-nettles/i-had-a-friend-write-me-that-our-music-was-being-played-at-gay-pride/) [Jennifer Nettles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-nettles/) ## More by Nathan Lane > [Relationships, for me, have been elusive. And I would say mostly it's been my fault. I was always more concentrated on my career. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-lane/relationships-for-me-have-been-elusive-and-i-would-say-mostly-it-s/) [Nathan Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-lane/) > [As a kid, I loved Godot because of the poetry and the humor and the strangeness, but then as you get older, its much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-lane/as-a-kid-i-loved-godot-because-of-the-poetry-and-the-humor-and-the/) [Nathan Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-lane/) > [There doesn't seem to be a lot of middle ground with me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-lane/there-doesn-t-seem-to-be-a-lot-of-middle-ground-with-me/) [Nathan Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-lane/) > [People have to do things in their own time, and that's what I did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-lane/people-have-to-do-things-in-their-own-time-and-that-s-what-i-did/) [Nathan Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-lane/) > [But in order for anyone to become successful, sometimes you have to be that driven and focused, and maybe there isn't a lot left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-lane/but-in-order-for-anyone-to-become-successful-sometimes-you-have-to-be/) [Nathan Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-lane/) > [I'm one of those old-fashioned homosexuals, not one of the newfangled ones who are born joining parades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-lane/i-m-one-of-those-old-fashioned-homosexuals-not-one-of-the-newfangled/) [Nathan Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-lane/) > [It's certainly not a shock to find that the industry has no imagination. I think people don't know what it is I do. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-lane/it-s-certainly-not-a-shock-to-find-that-the-industry-has-no/) [Nathan Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-lane/) > [Look, I'm over 40, I'm single, and I work in musical theater - you do the math!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-lane/look-i-m-over-40-i-m-single-and-i-work-in-musical-theater-you-do-the/) [Nathan Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-lane/) > [I have to accept the fact that, no matter what I do, it's going to annoy someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-lane/i-have-to-accept-the-fact-that-no-matter-what-i-do-it-s-going-to/) [Nathan Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-lane/) > [If you've seen Mary Poppins and The Grinch, come to the Booth Theater and let me shove a little coal down your stocking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-lane/if-you-ve-seen-mary-poppins-and-the-grinch-come-to-the-booth-theater/) [Nathan Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-lane/) > [People always think I'm Jewish and changed my last name from Rabinowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-lane/people-always-think-i-m-jewish-and-changed-my-last-name-from/) [Nathan Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-lane/) > [All I can do is try to create the best show possible, and I feel we've truly done that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-lane/all-i-can-do-is-try-to-create-the-best-show-possible-and-i-feel-we-ve/) [Nathan Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-lane/) > [My oldest brother used to take me to the theater. The first play he took me to see was 'Black Comedy,' then he took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-lane/my-oldest-brother-used-to-take-me-to-the-theater-the-first-play-he/) [Nathan Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-lane/) > [Hollywood... Real diamonds, fake breasts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-lane/hollywood-real-diamonds-fake-breasts/) [Nathan Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-lane/) > [Kevin Costner. I love Kevin Costner. That's all I have to say. I love Kevin Costner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-lane/kevin-costner-i-love-kevin-costner-that-s-all-i-have-to-say-i-love/) [Nathan Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-lane/) [Explore all 48 Nathan Lane quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-lane/) ## More Gay quotes > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. 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And God says…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/each-of-us-is-precious-to-god-because-each-of-us-has-their-name/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [“A disproportionate number of stories are love stories – and what is homosexuality but a special narrative of love?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bram/a-disproportionate-number-of-stories-are-love-stories-and-what-is/) [Christopher Bram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bram/) > [The Bible is to gays what Mein Kampf is to Jews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-tatchell/the-bible-is-to-gays-what-mein-kampf-is-to-jews/) [Peter Tatchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-tatchell/) > [I had to smile when stories emerged questioning whether I was gay. Obviously I knew I wasn't but people were curiously desperate to suggest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/i-had-to-smile-when-stories-emerged-questioning-whether-i-was-gay/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > [Jesus never said a word about homosexuality. In all of his teachings about multiple things - he never said that gay people should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/jesus-never-said-a-word-about-homosexuality-in-all-of-his-teachings/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [Any home where there is love constitutes a family and all families should have the same legal rights, including the right to marry and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/any-home-where-there-is-love-constitutes-a-family-and-all-families/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) > [Since 'coming out,' I've marched in gay pride parades all around the world, I've filled my home full of rainbow tat and I've become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-carr/since-coming-out-i-ve-marched-in-gay-pride-parades-all-around-the/) [Liz Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-carr/) > [I tend to get reactions just by being on screen, because I guess I'm physically queer-coded or something. Especially with 'Star Wars;' I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/i-tend-to-get-reactions-just-by-being-on-screen-because-i-guess-i-m/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [I didn't have any role models. I really thought I was doomed to this loveless, lonely life. I didn't know any gay people until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-batt/i-didn-t-have-any-role-models-i-really-thought-i-was-doomed-to-this/) [Bryan Batt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-batt/) > [ That is another theme in the book \[Dreams from My Father\]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams-from-my-father-how-do-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Western culture is what keeps women and gays safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milo-yiannopoulos/western-culture-is-what-keeps-women-and-gays-safe/) [Milo Yiannopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milo-yiannopoulos/) > [Unless you're of a certain age, you may not know my name, but you can Google it - I was a pretty big movie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/unless-you-re-of-a-certain-age-you-may-not-know-my-name-but-you-can/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) [Browse all 5,038 Gay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People think they know who I am, because I've played so many very, very out gay men on stage, and they think that's me", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nathan Lane" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-lane/people-think-they-know-who-i-am-because-i-ve-played-so-many-very-very/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Gay" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-lane/people-think-they-know-who-i-am-because-i-ve-played-so-many-very-very/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fa/nathan-lane-14095_gay_people-think-they-know-who-i-am-because_1217488.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fa/nathan-lane-14095_gay_people-think-they-know-who-i-am-because_1217488.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fa/nathan-lane-14095_gay_people-think-they-know-who-i-am-because_1217488.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“People think they know who I am, because I've played so many very, very out gay men on stage, and they think…” — Nathan Lane", "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": "Nathan Lane", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-lane/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "People think they know who I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-lane/people-think-they-know-who-i-am-because-i-ve-played-so-many-very-very/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-lane/people-think-they-know-who-i-am-because-i-ve-played-so-many-very-very/#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 } } ] } ```