--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you start out on a project as an…" description: "\"When you start out on a project as an actor, you know, you approach the character from the standpoint of maybe writing a list - even if it's a mental l..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/745/omari-hardwick-4343_actors_when-you-start-out-on-a-project-as-an-ac_1439406.jpg" --- # When you start out on a project as an actor, you know, you… ![“When you start out on a project as an actor, you know, you approach the character from the standpoint of maybe writing a list - even if it's a mental list that you make - of the adjectives that the character has or that character possesses.” quote by Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/745/omari-hardwick-4343_actors_when-you-start-out-on-a-project-as-an-ac_1439406.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/745/omari-hardwick-4343_actors_when-you-start-out-on-a-project-as-an-ac_1439406.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/745/omari-hardwick-4343_actors_when-you-start-out-on-a-project-as-an-ac_1439406.jpg) > “When you start out on a project as an actor, you know, you approach the character from the standpoint of maybe writing a list - even if it's a mental list that you make - of the adjectives that the character has or that character possesses.” [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Actors develop characters by listing traits and internal motivations. **In simple terms:** Use detailed traits to shape roles. Key Takeaway Create character lists. Themes acting character process Mood analytical creative Type instructional philosophical When to use this quote - theatre - film - role preparation Key Concepts Method acting character analysis Questions to Reflect On - How detailed should a character list be? - When to improvise? A Different Perspective Rigid lists can stifle spontaneity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actor Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-know/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Adjectives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adjectives/) [Adjectives Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adjectives-character-5147230/) [Approach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach/) [Approach Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach-character-614087/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character Possesses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-possesses-5147231/) [Lists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lists/) [Project Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/project-actor-5147229/) [Projects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/projects/) [Standpoint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standpoint/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I would say that the woman's ability to multi-task and to be maternal in instinct, it fosters a different approach to the character that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/i-would-say-that-the-woman-s-ability-to-multi-task-and-to-be-maternal/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) > [I don't approach my character in a set pattern. I want to get into the skin of the character. I don't love Manoj Bajpayee;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manoj-bajpayee/i-don-t-approach-my-character-in-a-set-pattern-i-want-to-get-into-the/) [Manoj Bajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manoj-bajpayee/) > [There are so many ways to approach a character. You have to figure out the similarities between you and the character, build on them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushant-singh-rajput/there-are-so-many-ways-to-approach-a-character-you-have-to-figure-out/) [Sushant Singh Rajput](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushant-singh-rajput/) > [The way I approach the character isn't about being gay or straight. It's just about who you love. Gender has very little to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-kirshner/the-way-i-approach-the-character-isn-t-about-being-gay-or-straight-it/) [Mia Kirshner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-kirshner/) > [As an actor, it's hard to approach any character with negatives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/as-an-actor-it-s-hard-to-approach-any-character-with-negatives/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [The ideal way to approach a character is to find something in yourself that relates in some way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-eisenberg/the-ideal-way-to-approach-a-character-is-to-find-something-in/) [Jesse Eisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-eisenberg/) > [There's a lovely freedom of will when you approach a character that no one has really come across before, because it is your own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-leslie/there-s-a-lovely-freedom-of-will-when-you-approach-a-character-that/) [Rose Leslie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-leslie/) > [Whenever I approach any character, I try to find examples to draw upon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-marvel/whenever-i-approach-any-character-i-try-to-find-examples-to-draw-upon/) [Elizabeth Marvel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-marvel/) > [I'm not a trained actor. I have neither read acting books nor gone to acting school. But I have certain fundamentals on how I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-massey/i-m-not-a-trained-actor-i-have-neither-read-acting-books-nor-gone-to/) [Vikrant Massey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-massey/) > [I don't really approach a character as to whether or not it's good or bad. I just approach a character as to where it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-don-t-really-approach-a-character-as-to-whether-or-not-it-s-good-or/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [You get the part, sign the contract and start to realize millions of people follow this guy and know more about your character than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hemsworth/you-get-the-part-sign-the-contract-and-start-to-realize-millions-of/) [Chris Hemsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hemsworth/) > [Well, you know, I think the way to approach any character is just with a deep sense of empathy for whoever it is, whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/well-you-know-i-think-the-way-to-approach-any-character-is-just-with/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) > [Everybody's going to approach a character differently, depending upon what they bring to it on their own intellectual level or their feelings from their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cullen/everybody-s-going-to-approach-a-character-differently-depending-upon/) [Peter Cullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cullen/) > [Even when I do comedy, since I have no training in stand-up, I always approach a character like a character and not like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-grover/even-when-i-do-comedy-since-i-have-no-training-in-stand-up-i-always/) [Sunil Grover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-grover/) > [I can't approach a character with judgment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelsan-ellis/i-can-t-approach-a-character-with-judgment/) [Nelsan Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelsan-ellis/) ## More by Omari Hardwick > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) > [My dad was really complex, and I was raised by that. My mom is really bright - very book bright - and so those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/my-dad-was-really-complex-and-i-was-raised-by-that-my-mom-is-really/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) > [If reality shows are so popular, that means their viewers are screaming for more realness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/if-reality-shows-are-so-popular-that-means-their-viewers-are/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) > [Like anybody who grew up in the Eighties, I cringe at the thought of these movies being remade, because of the corniness and cheesiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/like-anybody-who-grew-up-in-the-eighties-i-cringe-at-the-thought-of/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) > [I was at a ballpark as much as I was in school. I was on a basketball court or football field as much as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/i-was-at-a-ballpark-as-much-as-i-was-in-school-i-was-on-a-basketball/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) > [ The reason why people don't get called back to sequels is because they did badly in the original \[movie\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/the-reason-why-people-don-t-get-called-back-to-sequels-is-because/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) > [I think Gil Scott-Heron is a king. He's a brilliant, broken king.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/i-think-gil-scott-heron-is-a-king-he-s-a-brilliant-broken-king/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) > [The way the recession has affected Hollywood, a lot of actors that had robust opportunities before in film no longer have such plum options,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/the-way-the-recession-has-affected-hollywood-a-lot-of-actors-that-had/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) > [I grew up in Decatur, Georgia. We had three boys in the household; actually, it felt like four of us. My pops sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/i-grew-up-in-decatur-georgia-we-had-three-boys-in-the-household/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) > [You can't look at the dollar and say, 'I'm not what I dreamed of being unless I do this type of movie and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/you-can-t-look-at-the-dollar-and-say-i-m-not-what-i-dreamed-of-being/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) > [I'm addicted to the hotel life. It's humbling and fly at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/i-m-addicted-to-the-hotel-life-it-s-humbling-and-fly-at-the-same-time/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) > [You know how you can be romantic? You can be romantic by going to a beautiful setting, sitting on a park bench, and getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/you-know-how-you-can-be-romantic-you-can-be-romantic-by-going-to-a/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) > [I've been writing for years, you know, and when I get to a particular place, city, or different locale, I find myself first of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/i-ve-been-writing-for-years-you-know-and-when-i-get-to-a-particular/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) > [As an actor, I come to set, and I have already broken the character down by writing a poem about the character. I try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/as-an-actor-i-come-to-set-and-i-have-already-broken-the-character/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) > [I think the universe just brings people around others they find to be interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/i-think-the-universe-just-brings-people-around-others-they-find-to-be/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Explore all 112 Omari Hardwick quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) ## More Actor quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [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/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [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/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you start out on a project as an actor, you know, you approach the character from the standpoint of maybe writing a list - even if it's a mental list that you make - of the adjectives that the character has or that character possesses.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Omari Hardwick" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/when-you-start-out-on-a-project-as-an-actor-you-know-you-approach-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/when-you-start-out-on-a-project-as-an-actor-you-know-you-approach-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/745/omari-hardwick-4343_actors_when-you-start-out-on-a-project-as-an-ac_1439406.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/745/omari-hardwick-4343_actors_when-you-start-out-on-a-project-as-an-ac_1439406.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/745/omari-hardwick-4343_actors_when-you-start-out-on-a-project-as-an-ac_1439406.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When you start out on a project as an actor, you know, you approach the character from the standpoint of…” — Omari Hardwick", "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": "Omari Hardwick", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When you start out on a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/when-you-start-out-on-a-project-as-an-actor-you-know-you-approach-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/when-you-start-out-on-a-project-as-an-actor-you-know-you-approach-the/#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 } } ] } ```