--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whenever you have a character in which…" description: "\"Whenever you have a character in which one of his defining qualities is his sexuality, it's always challenging, because you don't want to bring in some..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/924/nelsan-ellis-12920_actors_whenever-you-have-a-character-in-which-o_169346.jpg" --- # Whenever you have a character in which one of his defining… ![“Whenever you have a character in which one of his defining qualities is his sexuality, it's always challenging, because you don't want to bring in someone who's going to play that in a phony way.” quote by Nelsan Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/924/nelsan-ellis-12920_actors_whenever-you-have-a-character-in-which-o_169346.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/924/nelsan-ellis-12920_actors_whenever-you-have-a-character-in-which-o_169346.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/924/nelsan-ellis-12920_actors_whenever-you-have-a-character-in-which-o_169346.jpg) > “Whenever you have a character in which one of his defining qualities is his sexuality, it's always challenging, because you don't want to bring in someone who's going to play that in a phony way.” [Nelsan Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelsan-ellis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Authentic representation of sexuality in storytelling requires depth, avoiding stereotypes and superficial portrayals. **In simple terms:** Portraying sexuality honestly avoids clichés. Key Takeaway Seek nuanced, respectful character development. Themes representation authenticity stereotypes storytelling Mood thoughtful critical Type ethical creative When to use this quote - casting decisions - scriptwriting - media criticism Key Concepts identity sexuality character depth Questions to Reflect On - How can creators ensure genuine representation? - What risks arise from tokenism? A Different Perspective Balancing authenticity with audience expectations can be difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Sexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sexuality/) ## Related quotes > [As an actor, you have total rights to privacy and mystery, whatever your sexuality, whatever you do. I don't see why that has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-whishaw/as-an-actor-you-have-total-rights-to-privacy-and-mystery-whatever/) [Ben Whishaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-whishaw/) > [Sexual activity, and the thoughts and fantasies of sex, use up a great portion of our vital force. When that force is conserved through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patanjali/sexual-activity-and-the-thoughts-and-fantasies-of-sex-use-up-a-great/) [Patanjali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patanjali/) > [“Love makes temporary saints and poets of us all. We feel the source of life welling up inside us and long to express the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maxwell-taylor/love-makes-temporary-saints-and-poets-of-us-all-we-feel-the-source-of/) [John Maxwell Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maxwell-taylor/) > [Chastity is a virtue with some, but with many it is almost a vice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/chastity-is-a-virtue-with-some-but-with-many-it-is-almost-a-vice/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [This film business, perhaps more so in America than in Europe, has always been about young sexuality. It's not true of theatre, but in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-bisset/this-film-business-perhaps-more-so-in-america-than-in-europe-has/) [Jacqueline Bisset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-bisset/) > [“It is curious how little interested we are in the sexual desires of those who do not attract us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/it-is-curious-how-little-interested-we-are-in-the-sexual-desires-of/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [ I will not agree to have this bill \[to repeal DADT \] go forward, because our economy is in the tank. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-will-not-agree-to-have-this-bill-to-repeal-dadt-go-forward-because/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [“i don't know the ethics, but some times sex is at highest priority in a relationship.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-yadav/i-don-t-know-the-ethics-but-some-times-sex-is-at-highest-priority-in/) [Nikhil Yadav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-yadav/) > [Doctrine tied itself into infinite knots over the realities of sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/doctrine-tied-itself-into-infinite-knots-over-the-realities-of-sex/) [Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/) > [When it really comes down to it, the job you do is more important and is more representative of who you are than your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/when-it-really-comes-down-to-it-the-job-you-do-is-more-important-and/) [Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) > [Thinking of sex provides enough mental stimulation to reduce risk of diseases that damage the brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thinking-of-sex-provides-enough-mental-stimulation-to-reduce-risk-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I hate prejudice on any level. I don't care if it's somebody being discriminated against because of the color of their skin or their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlamagne-tha-god/i-hate-prejudice-on-any-level-i-don-t-care-if-it-s-somebody-being/) [Charlamagne tha God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlamagne-tha-god/) > [“She needed him to take her. His way seemed right to her. Somehow, his blunt brand of sexuality had always seemed right to her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eden-connor/she-needed-him-to-take-her-his-way-seemed-right-to-her-somehow-his/) [Eden Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eden-connor/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) ## More by Nelsan Ellis > [It's hard to get an education when teachers spend 70 percent of their time trying to discipline students.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelsan-ellis/it-s-hard-to-get-an-education-when-teachers-spend-70-percent-of-their/) [Nelsan Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelsan-ellis/) > [When I moved to Chicago, I was coming from a school that didn't have any arts in Alabama. I essentially came from a town…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelsan-ellis/when-i-moved-to-chicago-i-was-coming-from-a-school-that-didn-t-have/) [Nelsan Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelsan-ellis/) > [I'm not an emotional person; I keep it in, and I wouldn't know how to get it out if it weren't for acting and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelsan-ellis/i-m-not-an-emotional-person-i-keep-it-in-and-i-wouldn-t-know-how-to/) [Nelsan Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelsan-ellis/) > [At some point in my life, I wanted to be in a vampire movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelsan-ellis/at-some-point-in-my-life-i-wanted-to-be-in-a-vampire-movie/) [Nelsan Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelsan-ellis/) > [I was quiet, and I was artistic. I liked writing poetry, and that was very strange, so I was bullied a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelsan-ellis/i-was-quiet-and-i-was-artistic-i-liked-writing-poetry-and-that-was/) [Nelsan Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelsan-ellis/) > [When you're in a position that you can comfortably give, you need to pay it forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelsan-ellis/when-you-re-in-a-position-that-you-can-comfortably-give-you-need-to/) [Nelsan Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelsan-ellis/) > [I am a vampire/werewolf and sci-fi fanatic. God is so good! I get to play in a series that has all that!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelsan-ellis/i-am-a-vampire-werewolf-and-sci-fi-fanatic-god-is-so-good-i-get-to/) [Nelsan Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelsan-ellis/) > [There were not many black students at Juilliard, unfortunately. So when you get there, you become very good friends, in particular, with the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelsan-ellis/there-were-not-many-black-students-at-juilliard-unfortunately-so-when/) [Nelsan Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelsan-ellis/) > [Although I can be a leading man, you wouldn't look at me and go, 'He's a leading man.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelsan-ellis/although-i-can-be-a-leading-man-you-wouldn-t-look-at-me-and-go-he-s-a/) [Nelsan Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelsan-ellis/) > [My mom's side, they're southern Baptist Christian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelsan-ellis/my-mom-s-side-they-re-southern-baptist-christian/) [Nelsan Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelsan-ellis/) > [I had no intention of being an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelsan-ellis/i-had-no-intention-of-being-an-actor/) [Nelsan Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelsan-ellis/) > [You go back to my town, it's like going back to the 1960s... just not a great place to grow up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelsan-ellis/you-go-back-to-my-town-it-s-like-going-back-to-the-1960s-just-not-a/) [Nelsan Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelsan-ellis/) > [Being different makes you beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelsan-ellis/being-different-makes-you-beautiful/) [Nelsan Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelsan-ellis/) > [The sci-fi fans in America... they are die-hard. They will follow you to the ends of the Earth. Once they attach themselves to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelsan-ellis/the-sci-fi-fans-in-america-they-are-die-hard-they-will-follow-you-to/) [Nelsan Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelsan-ellis/) > [When you deal with Alan Ball, you're dealing with a person who is a genius in terms of how art imitates life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelsan-ellis/when-you-deal-with-alan-ball-you-re-dealing-with-a-person-who-is-a/) [Nelsan Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelsan-ellis/) [Explore all 52 Nelsan Ellis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelsan-ellis/) ## More Actors quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/) [Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [When we watch a film as actors, you have to understand that we always see much more than what's on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/when-we-watch-a-film-as-actors-you-have-to-understand-that-we-always/) [Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/) > [As actors, you become an expert at starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-actors-you-become-an-expert-at-starting-over/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [A rapper is about being completely true to yourself. Being an actor is about changing who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/a-rapper-is-about-being-completely-true-to-yourself-being-an-actor-is/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [I've been a professional actor for almost 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-been-a-professional-actor-for-almost-40-years/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [American actors are coy. We all have pricks and cunts, or are you different from the rest of us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/american-actors-are-coy-we-all-have-pricks-and-cunts-or-are-you/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) [Browse all 11,394 Actors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Whenever you have a character in which one of his defining qualities is his sexuality, it's always challenging, because you don't want to bring in someone who's going to play that in a phony way.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nelsan Ellis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelsan-ellis/whenever-you-have-a-character-in-which-one-of-his-defining-qualities/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actors" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelsan-ellis/whenever-you-have-a-character-in-which-one-of-his-defining-qualities/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/924/nelsan-ellis-12920_actors_whenever-you-have-a-character-in-which-o_169346.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/924/nelsan-ellis-12920_actors_whenever-you-have-a-character-in-which-o_169346.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/924/nelsan-ellis-12920_actors_whenever-you-have-a-character-in-which-o_169346.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Whenever you have a character in which one of his defining qualities is his sexuality, it's always…” — Nelsan Ellis", "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": "Nelsan Ellis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelsan-ellis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Whenever you have a character in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelsan-ellis/whenever-you-have-a-character-in-which-one-of-his-defining-qualities/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelsan-ellis/whenever-you-have-a-character-in-which-one-of-his-defining-qualities/#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 } } ] } ```