--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think it's interesting that when you…" description: "\"I think it's interesting that when you play a lesbian, people ask you if you're a lesbian, but if you play a serial killer, nobody asks you if you're a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de1/nora-dunn-37554_actors_i-think-it-s-interesting-that-when-you-p_1939095.png" --- # I think it's interesting that when you play a lesbian… ![“I think it's interesting that when you play a lesbian, people ask you if you're a lesbian, but if you play a serial killer, nobody asks you if you're a serial killer.” quote by Nora Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de1/nora-dunn-37554_actors_i-think-it-s-interesting-that-when-you-p_1939095.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de1/nora-dunn-37554_actors_i-think-it-s-interesting-that-when-you-p_1939095.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de1/nora-dunn-37554_actors_i-think-it-s-interesting-that-when-you-p_1939095.png) > “I think it's interesting that when you play a lesbian, people ask you if you're a lesbian, but if you play a serial killer, nobody asks you if you're a serial killer.” [Nora Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-dunn/) ## 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 role they portray, especially with marginalized identities, but not with violent characters. **In simple terms:** Roles don’t define personal identity. Key Takeaway Question stereotypes about actors. Themes stereotypes identity media perception Mood reflective critical Type observational social commentary When to use this quote - casting decisions - media interviews - public discussions - film festivals Key Concepts gender roles typecasting public perception Questions to Reflect On - How do you separate character from self? - What impact does typecasting have on careers? A Different Perspective Assumptions can ignore an actor’s personal agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Ask Lesbian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-lesbian-487723/) [Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting/) [Killers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killers/) [Lesbian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lesbian/) [Lesbian People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lesbian-people-1115674/) [Lesbian Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lesbian-play-3079046/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play Lesbian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-lesbian-3073650/) [Serial killer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serial-killer/) [Serials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serials/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [It's funny when people ask if I'm a lesbian. I played a real estate agent in 'Father of the Bride, Part II,' but no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-dunn/it-s-funny-when-people-ask-if-i-m-a-lesbian-i-played-a-real-estate/) [Nora Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-dunn/) > [In 'A Few Best Men,' I play a lesbian character. I played the lesbian sister of the bride who ends up kissing a dude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebel-wilson/in-a-few-best-men-i-play-a-lesbian-character-i-played-the-lesbian/) [Rebel Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebel-wilson/) > [I long to play a judge. I long to play a lesbian woman. I long to play a councilman, someone with some chutzpah,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupe-ontiveros/i-long-to-play-a-judge-i-long-to-play-a-lesbian-woman-i-long-to-play/) [Lupe Ontiveros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupe-ontiveros/) > [When Bound was released, Boys don't Cry wasn't out yet. Therefore it was very taboo to play a lesbian. I loved the part, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-gershon/when-bound-was-released-boys-don-t-cry-wasn-t-out-yet-therefore-it/) [Gina Gershon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-gershon/) > ["Only write what you know" is very good advice. I do my best to stick to it. I wrote about gods and dreams and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/only-write-what-you-know-is-very-good-advice-i-do-my-best-to-stick-to/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [ \[In The Dark Backward \] someone who has writer's block and kills people in A Cabin By The Lake. I guess he's a type… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-nelson/in-the-dark-backward-someone-who-has-writer-s-block-and-kills-people/) [Judd Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-nelson/) > [Men who drink herbal teas are seldom serial killers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/men-who-drink-herbal-teas-are-seldom-serial-killers/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) > [I prefer to be part of a positive statement. I'm not interested in the psyche of a serial killer. What I'm interested in is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-ford/i-prefer-to-be-part-of-a-positive-statement-i-m-not-interested-in-the/) [Harrison Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-ford/) > [People are disturbed enough by serial killers, but the whole notion of female violence, particularly maternal violence - the idea of mothers who kill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caleb-carr/people-are-disturbed-enough-by-serial-killers-but-the-whole-notion-of/) [Caleb Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caleb-carr/) > [We read about secret lives that people have on the Internet, or alternate lives of a serial killer where the whole family didn't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-hardwicke/we-read-about-secret-lives-that-people-have-on-the-internet-or/) [Catherine Hardwicke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-hardwicke/) > [I wouldn't call and tell anybody on him, but I'd probably move. But I'm not gonna call and be like, 'The serial killer's in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cam-ron/i-wouldn-t-call-and-tell-anybody-on-him-but-i-d-probably-move-but-i-m/) [Cam'ron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cam-ron/) > [In a brilliant fusion of fact and fiction, Jayne Anne Phillips has written the novel of the year. It's the story of a serial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/in-a-brilliant-fusion-of-fact-and-fiction-jayne-anne-phillips-has/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“It's my job as best friend to make sure he's not a serial killer. Or an English major, not sure which one's worse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelly-crane/it-s-my-job-as-best-friend-to-make-sure-he-s-not-a-serial-killer-or/) [Shelly Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelly-crane/) > [For me, the scariest thing about a serial killer is that there's somebody who lives next door to you, running power tools late into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fincher/for-me-the-scariest-thing-about-a-serial-killer-is-that-there-s/) [David Fincher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fincher/) > [Perhaps I'm being too optimistic, but I think this country is finally ready for a black serial killer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/perhaps-i-m-being-too-optimistic-but-i-think-this-country-is-finally/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) ## More by Nora Dunn > [I love improvisation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-dunn/i-love-improvisation/) [Nora Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-dunn/) > [When I'm with my friends I'm funny, but I don't feel like I'm a funny clown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-dunn/when-i-m-with-my-friends-i-m-funny-but-i-don-t-feel-like-i-m-a-funny/) [Nora Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-dunn/) > [Milk Duds kept me going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-dunn/milk-duds-kept-me-going/) [Nora Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-dunn/) > [The gun issue is a big, unresolved issue in this country right now. I think it's out of control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-dunn/the-gun-issue-is-a-big-unresolved-issue-in-this-country-right-now-i/) [Nora Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-dunn/) > [It's funny when people ask if I'm a lesbian. I played a real estate agent in 'Father of the Bride, Part II,' but no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-dunn/it-s-funny-when-people-ask-if-i-m-a-lesbian-i-played-a-real-estate/) [Nora Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-dunn/) > [As an actor, you have to have your history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-dunn/as-an-actor-you-have-to-have-your-history/) [Nora Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-dunn/) > [I prepared for the part by drinking, but I was sober when I was performing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-dunn/i-prepared-for-the-part-by-drinking-but-i-was-sober-when-i-was/) [Nora Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-dunn/) > [John Cusack is a dream. I did one one-on-one scene with him and we got to shoot it so many times, and he did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-dunn/john-cusack-is-a-dream-i-did-one-one-on-one-scene-with-him-and-we-got/) [Nora Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-dunn/) > [I never thought I was funny, but I enjoy being funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-dunn/i-never-thought-i-was-funny-but-i-enjoy-being-funny/) [Nora Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-dunn/) > [Years ago I was a runway model, and I used to get laughs. I thought it was a joke anyway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-dunn/years-ago-i-was-a-runway-model-and-i-used-to-get-laughs-i-thought-it/) [Nora Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-dunn/) > [I think at the end of a show, you have to walk out with a message. That's my hardest struggle right now; that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-dunn/i-think-at-the-end-of-a-show-you-have-to-walk-out-with-a-message-that/) [Nora Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-dunn/) [Explore all 12 Nora Dunn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-dunn/) ## 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": "I think it's interesting that when you play a lesbian, people ask you if you're a lesbian, but if you play a serial killer, nobody asks you if you're a serial killer.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nora Dunn" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-dunn/i-think-it-s-interesting-that-when-you-play-a-lesbian-people-ask-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actors" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-dunn/i-think-it-s-interesting-that-when-you-play-a-lesbian-people-ask-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de1/nora-dunn-37554_actors_i-think-it-s-interesting-that-when-you-p_1939095.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de1/nora-dunn-37554_actors_i-think-it-s-interesting-that-when-you-p_1939095.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de1/nora-dunn-37554_actors_i-think-it-s-interesting-that-when-you-p_1939095.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think it's interesting that when you play a lesbian, people ask you if you're a lesbian, but if you play a…” — Nora Dunn", "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": "Nora Dunn", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-dunn/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think it's interesting that when...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-dunn/i-think-it-s-interesting-that-when-you-play-a-lesbian-people-ask-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-dunn/i-think-it-s-interesting-that-when-you-play-a-lesbian-people-ask-you/#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 } } ] } ```