--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Playing a villain was fun, only because…" description: "\"Playing a villain was fun, only because you get to do all the things you wouldn't normally do in your real life.\" — Neil Patrick Harris" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98d/neil-patrick-harris-2281_character_playing-a-villain-was-fun-only-because-y_1408186.png" --- # Playing a villain was fun, only because you get to do all… ![“Playing a villain was fun, only because you get to do all the things you wouldn't normally do in your real life.” quote by Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98d/neil-patrick-harris-2281_character_playing-a-villain-was-fun-only-because-y_1408186.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98d/neil-patrick-harris-2281_character_playing-a-villain-was-fun-only-because-y_1408186.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98d/neil-patrick-harris-2281_character_playing-a-villain-was-fun-only-because-y_1408186.png) > “Playing a villain was fun, only because you get to do all the things you wouldn't normally do in your real life.” [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Playing a villain lets you explore actions and behaviors you normally avoid, providing a safe outlet for taboo impulses. **In simple terms:** Villain roles let you act out forbidden things. Key Takeaway Use role‑play to understand hidden desires. Themes creativity freedom identity risk play Mood excited curious Type entertaining reflective When to use this quote - theatre - acting workshops - cosplay events - writing fictional scenes Key Concepts psychology role theory catharsis Questions to Reflect On - What boundaries do you test when playing a villain? - How does this role affect your real‑life choices? A Different Perspective May reinforce harmful stereotypes if not reflected upon. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Fun things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun-things/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Playing Villain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-villain-300439/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-life/) [Villain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/villain/) [Villain Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/villain-fun-3823916/) ## Related quotes > [I think a lot of actors will tell you that playing a villain can be more fun than playing the straight and narrow good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-joel-osment/i-think-a-lot-of-actors-will-tell-you-that-playing-a-villain-can-be/) [Haley Joel Osment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-joel-osment/) > [The hardest part of playing the villain was the prosthetics, because I couldn't really move my face as much as I wanted to, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/the-hardest-part-of-playing-the-villain-was-the-prosthetics-because-i/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [Villains can often be one note and I would say in that case, it’s not fun to play the villain. It’s fun to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-franco/villains-can-often-be-one-note-and-i-would-say-in-that-case-it-s-not/) [James Franco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-franco/) > [I love playing the villain, but a villain with class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-van-damme-2/i-love-playing-the-villain-but-a-villain-with-class/) [Jean Claude Van Damme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-van-damme-2/) > [I don't know that I feel comfortable playing a villain; as a matter of fact I probably don't feel comfortable, which is why I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dean-morgan/i-don-t-know-that-i-feel-comfortable-playing-a-villain-as-a-matter-of/) [Jeffrey Dean Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dean-morgan/) > [I dont think playing a villain is my greatest talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-waterston/i-dont-think-playing-a-villain-is-my-greatest-talent/) [Sam Waterston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-waterston/) > [You can't think that you're playing a villain, or you'll end up with a cartoon. You have to think about him as a person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-berenger/you-can-t-think-that-you-re-playing-a-villain-or-you-ll-end-up-with-a/) [Tom Berenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-berenger/) > [I'm incredibly grateful to be playing the villain in a world which, if I really thought to hard about what I was doing, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hardy/i-m-incredibly-grateful-to-be-playing-the-villain-in-a-world-which-if/) [Tom Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hardy/) > [I find the trick to playing a villain is that you can't be bad for the sake of being bad. It has to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-davis/i-find-the-trick-to-playing-a-villain-is-that-you-can-t-be-bad-for/) [Matthew Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-davis/) > [There is something very exciting when you're playing a villain. You're being a rebel within the story because you are breaking the norms, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahir-raj-bhasin/there-is-something-very-exciting-when-you-re-playing-a-villain-you-re/) [Tahir Raj Bhasin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahir-raj-bhasin/) > [I was playing the villain 'Falseface' on Batman, and I got wind that they were going to pay a young starlet $25,000 to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-throne/i-was-playing-the-villain-falseface-on-batman-and-i-got-wind-that/) [Malachi Throne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-throne/) > [It's always fun playing a villain, I do have to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-henwick/it-s-always-fun-playing-a-villain-i-do-have-to-say/) [Jessica Henwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-henwick/) > [I love playing a villain. I think that there's something freeing about that, and it's a different kind of challenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dean-morgan/i-love-playing-a-villain-i-think-that-there-s-something-freeing-about/) [Jeffrey Dean Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dean-morgan/) > [Of course I enjoy playing the villain. Some of these players are 10 times better than you on the pitch, so you've got to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-barnes/of-course-i-enjoy-playing-the-villain-some-of-these-players-are-10/) [Ashley Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-barnes/) > [It gives me a chance to explore so many dynamics - that's what we actors dream of doing. So, I love playing the villain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-robinson/it-gives-me-a-chance-to-explore-so-many-dynamics-that-s-what-we/) [Angela Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-robinson/) ## More by Neil Patrick Harris > [My favorite time to dance is at, like, wedding receptions, when it's all ages and everyone seems to be having fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/my-favorite-time-to-dance-is-at-like-wedding-receptions-when-it-s-all/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [I pride myself in being able to straddle demographics, and if that was said as Barney Stinson, it would mean a little different thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/i-pride-myself-in-being-able-to-straddle-demographics-and-if-that-was/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [Paris is not so exciting and romantic when you’re jet lagged and alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/paris-is-not-so-exciting-and-romantic-when-you-re-jet-lagged-and-alone/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [I didn't want to go marching down the street with camera crews. Oy. To get married? Really? It seems like you have an agenda…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/i-didn-t-want-to-go-marching-down-the-street-with-camera-crews-oy-to/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > ['Smurfs' just seemed like a great way to represent a young father to be, guy in a marriage, work in conflict, and I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/smurfs-just-seemed-like-a-great-way-to-represent-a-young-father-to-be/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [What defines a relationship is the work that's involved to maintain it, and it's constantly changing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/what-defines-a-relationship-is-the-work-that-s-involved-to-maintain/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [I like to make decisions based on things I'm interested in doing, not what seems like the next move in my quote-unquote career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/i-like-to-make-decisions-based-on-things-i-m-interested-in-doing-not/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [“He wanted a home. He wanted a family. He wanted to have friends. But none of those things were realistic. At least not until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/he-wanted-a-home-he-wanted-a-family-he-wanted-to-have-friends-but/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [Rest in peace, Steve Jobs. Your genius will live on for generations to come...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/rest-in-peace-steve-jobs-your-genius-will-live-on-for-generations-to/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [Before babies, I worked very hard to make sure I understood my surroundings and figured out where I fit in the world, whether it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/before-babies-i-worked-very-hard-to-make-sure-i-understood-my/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [I often teach a graduate theater seminar on Greek tragedy in performance. I usually begin by saying that no matter what technological advances occur,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/i-often-teach-a-graduate-theater-seminar-on-greek-tragedy-in/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [Thankfully I've been quite lucky in my career, but it's always good to re-evaluate things and think about what else you want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/thankfully-i-ve-been-quite-lucky-in-my-career-but-it-s-always-good-to/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [I think it has been a weird mistake to have people with their own music careers going on and judging people because when they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/i-think-it-has-been-a-weird-mistake-to-have-people-with-their-own/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [I have more artistic control in a smaller show. But it doesn't really matter. Sometimes you can have the smallest role in the smallest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/i-have-more-artistic-control-in-a-smaller-show-but-it-doesn-t-really/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [As I learned from chapters past, it's important to try and stay in the chapter that you're in, and enjoy it while it's lasting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/as-i-learned-from-chapters-past-it-s-important-to-try-and-stay-in-the/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) [Explore all 174 Neil Patrick Harris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) [David Hudgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hudgins/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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