--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every character I get to play has some…" description: "\"Every character I get to play has some element of who I am, but there's no fun in playing yourself. At least, for me, there isn't.\" — Octavia Spencer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7a/octavia-spencer-6802_character_every-character-i-get-to-play-has-some-e_218041.jpg" --- # Every character I get to play has some element of who I… ![“Every character I get to play has some element of who I am, but there's no fun in playing yourself. At least, for me, there isn't.” quote by Octavia Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7a/octavia-spencer-6802_character_every-character-i-get-to-play-has-some-e_218041.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7a/octavia-spencer-6802_character_every-character-i-get-to-play-has-some-e_218041.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7a/octavia-spencer-6802_character_every-character-i-get-to-play-has-some-e_218041.jpg) > “Every character I get to play has some element of who I am, but there's no fun in playing yourself. At least, for me, there isn't.” [Octavia Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-spencer/) ## 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 character that mirrors oneself can feel limiting, reducing the creative challenge and enjoyment of performance. **In simple terms:** Playing yourself can be boring for actors. Key Takeaway Seek roles that stretch beyond personal experience. Themes acting self‑exploration creativity identity career Mood introspective motivational Type inspirational career When to use this quote - audition preparation - career planning - creative workshops - self‑reflection Key Concepts typecasting authenticity artistic growth Questions to Reflect On - What makes a role feel authentic? - How can you bring fresh perspective to familiar parts? A Different Perspective Might limit personal growth and audience connection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-play/) [Elements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elements/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play Element](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-element-2234759/) [Playing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing/) [Playing Isn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-isn-861047/) [Playing yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-yourself/) [Who i am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who-i-am/) ## Related quotes > [Playing well with others isn't all it's cracked up to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alafair-burke/playing-well-with-others-isn-t-all-it-s-cracked-up-to-be/) [Alafair Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alafair-burke/) > [Any time people are breaking outside the norm and playing something that isn't expected - that feels like punk to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-commerford/any-time-people-are-breaking-outside-the-norm-and-playing-something/) [Tim Commerford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-commerford/) > [It's more fun playing someone who isn't just a bad guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/it-s-more-fun-playing-someone-who-isn-t-just-a-bad-guy/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [Guitar playing isn't really for everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-paisley/guitar-playing-isn-t-really-for-everybody/) [Brad Paisley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-paisley/) > [Playing is just about feeling. Playing isn't necessarily about misery. Playing isn't necessarily about happiness. But it's just about letting yourself feel all those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-joplin/playing-is-just-about-feeling-playing-isn-t-necessarily-about-misery/) [Janis Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-joplin/) > [Role-playing isn't storytelling. If the dungeon master is directing it, it's not a game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-gygax/role-playing-isn-t-storytelling-if-the-dungeon-master-is-directing-it/) [Gary Gygax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-gygax/) > [In every character you play, as much as you hate to admit it as an actor, but there's an element of you that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-montgomery/in-every-character-you-play-as-much-as-you-hate-to-admit-it-as-an/) [Janet Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-montgomery/) > [The player always ends up played. When u attempt to play the 1 who actually cares about u, u're actually playing yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bismark-frimpong/the-player-always-ends-up-played-when-u-attempt-to-play-the-1-who/) [Bismark Frimpong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bismark-frimpong/) > [There are nights when you can feel stale because you've fallen into a pattern by touring too much, but it's easy to get out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-kottke/there-are-nights-when-you-can-feel-stale-because-you-ve-fallen-into-a/) [Leo Kottke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-kottke/) > [You are never really playing an opponent. You are playing yourself... and when you reach your limits, that is real joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-ashe/you-are-never-really-playing-an-opponent-you-are-playing-yourself-and/) [Arthur Ashe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-ashe/) > [I love empowering women. I think it's crazy: if you ever try to belittle women, you're playing yourself - I ride with whoever rides…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sza/i-love-empowering-women-i-think-it-s-crazy-if-you-ever-try-to/) [SZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sza/) > [If you got somebody who will go through thick & thin and hold it down for you, don't ever play them. You'll end up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-got-somebody-who-will-go-through-thick-thin-and-hold-it-down/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being an actor means asking people to look at you. I guess I accept that. But it's a profession in which the job is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-fiennes/being-an-actor-means-asking-people-to-look-at-you-i-guess-i-accept/) [Ralph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-fiennes/) > [“While you’re playing yourself out in lonesome dissipation in front of a pinball machine, someone else might be reading through Proust. Still another might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/while-you-re-playing-yourself-out-in-lonesome-dissipation-in-front-of/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [Anything you are shows up in your music - jazz is whatever you are, playing yourself, being yourself, letting your thoughts come through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-lou-williams/anything-you-are-shows-up-in-your-music-jazz-is-whatever-you-are/) [Mary Lou Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-lou-williams/) ## More by Octavia Spencer > [There are enough negative images of Black women out there and I did not want to portray Dorothy Vaughn in any stereotype. I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-spencer/there-are-enough-negative-images-of-black-women-out-there-and-i-did/) [Octavia Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-spencer/) > [Our challenges make us unique, and how we deal with them makes us unique.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-spencer/our-challenges-make-us-unique-and-how-we-deal-with-them-makes-us/) [Octavia Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-spencer/) > [Because we all come from different circumstances, our life experiences really color how we view things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-spencer/because-we-all-come-from-different-circumstances-our-life-experiences/) [Octavia Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-spencer/) > [The things that scare you only make you better and stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-spencer/the-things-that-scare-you-only-make-you-better-and-stronger/) [Octavia Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-spencer/) > [Meeting Oprah Winfrey, I cried like a baby. Meeting Steven Spielberg, I cried like a baby. Meeting Denzel Washington, I gushed like a crazy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-spencer/meeting-oprah-winfrey-i-cried-like-a-baby-meeting-steven-spielberg-i/) [Octavia Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-spencer/) > [I do believe that everyone has something to contribute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-spencer/i-do-believe-that-everyone-has-something-to-contribute/) [Octavia Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-spencer/) > [I can only be the best version of myself and understand that the only way that we as a people can heal is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-spencer/i-can-only-be-the-best-version-of-myself-and-understand-that-the-only/) [Octavia Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-spencer/) > [The first time I saw E.T., the actual image of an alien, and he was so sweet-looking. I wanted him. I wanted E.T.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-spencer/the-first-time-i-saw-e-t-the-actual-image-of-an-alien-and-he-was-so/) [Octavia Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-spencer/) > [There is one thing about knowing history, and another in recreating it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-spencer/there-is-one-thing-about-knowing-history-and-another-in-recreating-it/) [Octavia Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-spencer/) > [I'm an actor and I am looking for roles where I can continue to evolve, and things that are challenging. I gravitate to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-spencer/i-m-an-actor-and-i-am-looking-for-roles-where-i-can-continue-to/) [Octavia Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-spencer/) > [I look for roles that resonate with me these days. While I love putting out just fabulous entertainment, I think now as artists, especially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-spencer/i-look-for-roles-that-resonate-with-me-these-days-while-i-love/) [Octavia Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-spencer/) > [At 21, you can live life with reckless abandon, as reckless as your abandon is. Then, at 30, there's something there are the supposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-spencer/at-21-you-can-live-life-with-reckless-abandon-as-reckless-as-your/) [Octavia Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-spencer/) > [As an actor, I've learned to become a detective. You have to figure out who that person is. If the character is a thief,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-spencer/as-an-actor-i-ve-learned-to-become-a-detective-you-have-to-figure-out/) [Octavia Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-spencer/) > [I'm glad that I get to take my final walk as the princess of 2012. ...there's nothing wrong with winning an Oscar!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-spencer/i-m-glad-that-i-get-to-take-my-final-walk-as-the-princess-of-2012/) [Octavia Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-spencer/) > [I can only live in my truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-spencer/i-can-only-live-in-my-truth/) [Octavia Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-spencer/) [Explore all 97 Octavia Spencer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-spencer/) ## 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. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [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/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Every character I get to play has some element of who I am, but there's no fun in playing yourself. 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