--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You look at the part in '12 Years A…" description: "\"You look at the part in '12 Years A Slave,' you finish that script - I mean, it's a powerful story. You go, 'Man, I have to play a bad character in thi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/473/paul-dano-2579_bad_you-look-at-the-part-in-12-years-a-slave_1906875.jpg" --- # You look at the part in '12 Years A Slave,' you finish… ![“You look at the part in '12 Years A Slave,' you finish that script - I mean, it's a powerful story. You go, 'Man, I have to play a bad character in this.' And then you go, 'Well, do I want to play a bad character and contribute to a good story?'” quote by Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/473/paul-dano-2579_bad_you-look-at-the-part-in-12-years-a-slave_1906875.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/473/paul-dano-2579_bad_you-look-at-the-part-in-12-years-a-slave_1906875.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/473/paul-dano-2579_bad_you-look-at-the-part-in-12-years-a-slave_1906875.jpg) > “You look at the part in '12 Years A Slave,' you finish that script - I mean, it's a powerful story. You go, 'Man, I have to play a bad character in this.' And then you go, 'Well, do I want to play a bad character and contribute to a good story?'” [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing to portray a flawed character can serve a larger, meaningful narrative despite personal discomfort. **In simple terms:** Playing a bad role can support a good story. Key Takeaway Embrace challenging roles for greater impact. Themes art morality craft character storytelling Mood conflicted thoughtful Type artistic ethical When to use this quote - theatre - film - personal growth - audience engagement Key Concepts ethical acting narrative impact Questions to Reflect On - When does a role’s negative portrayal outweigh its narrative benefit? - How can actors reconcile personal values with problematic characters? A Different Perspective Audience may misinterpret the actor’s intent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-character/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Good story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-story/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) ## Related quotes > [I know it's boring to say this but I always start with the script. I mean if it's well written and it's a character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/i-know-it-s-boring-to-say-this-but-i-always-start-with-the-script-i/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [If somebody sent me a good script, I would do it, and I mean that, but it never happens. Not once. I can't even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-shainberg/if-somebody-sent-me-a-good-script-i-would-do-it-and-i-mean-that-but/) [Steven Shainberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-shainberg/) > [Once you finish the script, it's no longer yours; it's the other people making it, which sometimes can be hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-dippold/once-you-finish-the-script-it-s-no-longer-yours-it-s-the-other-people/) [Katie Dippold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-dippold/) > [If I'm on a roll, and I finish a script at 3:00, I'll start another at 3:02.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hughes/if-i-m-on-a-roll-and-i-finish-a-script-at-3-00-i-ll-start-another-at/) [John Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hughes/) > [It is extremely satisfying when you finish a script, but the process of it can be just nerve-wracking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikramaditya-motwane/it-is-extremely-satisfying-when-you-finish-a-script-but-the-process/) [Vikramaditya Motwane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikramaditya-motwane/) > [For me, playing a really bad character is about figuring out what brought the person to where we need him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/for-me-playing-a-really-bad-character-is-about-figuring-out-what/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > ['12 Years a Slave' was very powerful, very moving, and deserved all of the acclaim it did get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glynn-turman/12-years-a-slave-was-very-powerful-very-moving-and-deserved-all-of/) [Glynn Turman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glynn-turman/) > [The concept of a 'job' is pretty recent. If you go back a few hundred years, everyone was either a slave or a serf,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jurvetson/the-concept-of-a-job-is-pretty-recent-if-you-go-back-a-few-hundred/) [Steve Jurvetson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jurvetson/) > [Michael Fassbender is phenomenal in '12 Years a Slave.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stana-katic/michael-fassbender-is-phenomenal-in-12-years-a-slave/) [Stana Katic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stana-katic/) > [I didn't like '12 Years a Slave' because it was playing to the Spielbergian model of redemption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilton-als/i-didn-t-like-12-years-a-slave-because-it-was-playing-to-the/) [Hilton Als](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilton-als/) > [The argument for '12 Years a Slave' was that - yes, it's a beautiful film. Beautifully shot, beautifully acted. It's a real story, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/the-argument-for-12-years-a-slave-was-that-yes-it-s-a-beautiful-film/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [It's funny: over time, if you're fortunate, you build a nice career, and you have these interesting moments, and I would not, looking back,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/it-s-funny-over-time-if-you-re-fortunate-you-build-a-nice-career-and/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [The set of '12 Years a Slave' was an extremely joyous one! We all recognized that we were making a powerful, necessary and beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/the-set-of-12-years-a-slave-was-an-extremely-joyous-one-we-all/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [I think '12 Years a Slave' really helped me, as a person and as a student, to grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/storm-reid/i-think-12-years-a-slave-really-helped-me-as-a-person-and-as-a/) [Storm Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/storm-reid/) > [“I didn’t believe that these nice liberals would have missed seeing the film 12 Years a Slave, in which Solomon Northup’s friend Patsey was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-brazile/i-didn-t-believe-that-these-nice-liberals-would-have-missed-seeing/) [Donna Brazile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-brazile/) ## More by Paul Dano > [When somebody mentions that I did a play with George C. Scott, I'm like, it can't have happened. What was I doing on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/when-somebody-mentions-that-i-did-a-play-with-george-c-scott-i-m-like/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [ Of course I think it's a movie for everybody \[Insane Farting Corpse\], but that's probably just because it's a movie for me. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/of-course-i-think-it-s-a-movie-for-everybody-insane-farting-corpse/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [Some projects go as you hope or imagine, and some change or reveal themselves in a different way; it depends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/some-projects-go-as-you-hope-or-imagine-and-some-change-or-reveal/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [I try to leave my work at the door when I leave the set. It's almost like summer camp. You go in hard, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/i-try-to-leave-my-work-at-the-door-when-i-leave-the-set-it-s-almost/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [I dont normally like getting dressed up, but when I go to events, I like to look put together. Ive got to say, getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/i-dont-normally-like-getting-dressed-up-but-when-i-go-to-events-i/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [Nobody is a perfect actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/nobody-is-a-perfect-actor/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [The better the acting is, the harder it is to see what the process is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/the-better-the-acting-is-the-harder-it-is-to-see-what-the-process-is/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [ If you could call me buff, my version of buff was when I finished that film \[Swiss Army Man\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/if-you-could-call-me-buff-my-version-of-buff-was-when-i-finished-that/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [The only constant I can find is hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/the-only-constant-i-can-find-is-hard-work/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [ Reading the script \[Insane Farting Corpse\], by page two or three, I felt that way. I thought, I'm in. It was so beautiful and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/reading-the-script-insane-farting-corpse-by-page-two-or-three-i-felt/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [I went to tranny bars and kind of got used to being around that and then getting dressed up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/i-went-to-tranny-bars-and-kind-of-got-used-to-being-around-that-and/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [ I'm really excited to share the movie \[Swiss Army Man\] with people, so I'm glad that people are seeing it. And I want them… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/i-m-really-excited-to-share-the-movie-swiss-army-man-with-people-so-i/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [I want to do some bigger films, so long as there's some sort of exciting creative element or a good filmmaker behind them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/i-want-to-do-some-bigger-films-so-long-as-there-s-some-sort-of/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [As an actor, I always feel you basically have to be able to delude yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/as-an-actor-i-always-feel-you-basically-have-to-be-able-to-delude/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [People have asked me about playing outsiders. I don't consider myself an outsider. Maybe that's why I'm interested in that. I'm not really sure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/people-have-asked-me-about-playing-outsiders-i-don-t-consider-myself/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) [Explore all 160 Paul Dano quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) ## More Bad quotes > [If I am going to be phased out by whatever powers, then I want people to know that it is not because I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parvathy/if-i-am-going-to-be-phased-out-by-whatever-powers-then-i-want-people/) [Parvathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parvathy/) > [Sometimes I'm in a bad mood, sometimes I'm in a good mood. It's like everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricky/sometimes-i-m-in-a-bad-mood-sometimes-i-m-in-a-good-mood-it-s-like/) [Tricky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricky/) > [Unfortunately, we all go through bad phases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushmita-sen/unfortunately-we-all-go-through-bad-phases/) [Sushmita Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushmita-sen/) > [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/) [Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/) > [What people tend to forget is the journey that I had getting to Formula One. There were plenty of years where I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hamilton/what-people-tend-to-forget-is-the-journey-that-i-had-getting-to/) [Lewis Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hamilton/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [I listen to heavy metal thanks to my son. When I argue with him on the kind of music he is listening to, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeenat-aman/i-listen-to-heavy-metal-thanks-to-my-son-when-i-argue-with-him-on-the/) [Zeenat Aman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeenat-aman/) > [I've said it before, good people are forced to do bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-cloud/i-ve-said-it-before-good-people-are-forced-to-do-bad-things/) [Angus Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-cloud/) > [“If any woman opens her legs for you, don't feel so lucky to be fed with nonsense, she has been a bitch for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-any-woman-opens-her-legs-for-you-don-t-feel-so-lucky-to-be-fed/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [One thing I always tell players is that there are three bad things: Nothing good happens after midnight, nothing good happens when you're around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/one-thing-i-always-tell-players-is-that-there-are-three-bad-things/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [Everybody has bad days, but how you respond to it is a testament to whether you are a winner or a loser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/everybody-has-bad-days-but-how-you-respond-to-it-is-a-testament-to/) [Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) > [Obviously I'm very grateful 'Bad Guy' is doing so well - it's shocking and surprising and gratifying - but I do think it's important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finneas/obviously-i-m-very-grateful-bad-guy-is-doing-so-well-it-s-shocking/) [Finneas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finneas/) > [I felt pretty good growing up. 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So I feel bad about spending excess amount of money on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/my-conscience-is-really-active-so-i-feel-bad-about-spending-excess/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) Browse all 7,973 Bad quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You look at the part in '12 Years A Slave,' you finish that script - I mean, it's a powerful story. You go, 'Man, I have to play a bad character in this.' 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