--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't usually get to play somebody who…" description: "\"I don't usually get to play somebody who is, at least, nominally in charge. I'm usually playing somebody's lawyer or a doctor.\" — Peter Jacobson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/132/peter-jacobson-13237_doctors_i-don-t-usually-get-to-play-somebody-who_1069994.jpg" --- # I don't usually get to play somebody who is, at least… ![“I don't usually get to play somebody who is, at least, nominally in charge. I'm usually playing somebody's lawyer or a doctor.” quote by Peter Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/132/peter-jacobson-13237_doctors_i-don-t-usually-get-to-play-somebody-who_1069994.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/132/peter-jacobson-13237_doctors_i-don-t-usually-get-to-play-somebody-who_1069994.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/132/peter-jacobson-13237_doctors_i-don-t-usually-get-to-play-somebody-who_1069994.jpg) > “I don't usually get to play somebody who is, at least, nominally in charge. I'm usually playing somebody's lawyer or a doctor.” [Peter Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-jacobson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Actors often play supporting roles like lawyers or doctors, rarely the main authority figure, shaping narratives from the background. **In simple terms:** Actors usually portray secondary characters. Key Takeaway Embrace the impact of supporting roles. Themes acting career storytelling roles Mood thoughtful encouraging Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - theatre productions - TV dramas - film sets Key Concepts Character archetypes narrative structure Questions to Reflect On - How can a supporting actor leave a lasting impression? - What skills enhance a secondary role? A Different Perspective Limited screen time can restrict character development and audience recognition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doctors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctors/) [Lawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lawyer/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) ## Related quotes > [Playing somebody who's real, you can bring all kind of nuances and things to him that you get from source material and things like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-mackie/playing-somebody-who-s-real-you-can-bring-all-kind-of-nuances-and/) [Anthony Mackie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-mackie/) > [When I'm playing somebody, their wardrobe, for me, is completely transformative. You just step into who that person is with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-spiridakos/when-i-m-playing-somebody-their-wardrobe-for-me-is-completely/) [Tracy Spiridakos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-spiridakos/) > [It's a tricky one when you're playing somebody who is mad. There's often the big actor's question, if you're playing a part like that:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keira-knightley/it-s-a-tricky-one-when-you-re-playing-somebody-who-is-mad-there-s/) [Keira Knightley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keira-knightley/) > [What's nice about playing somebody real is that generally there's more information about them, so a lot of the questions that you'd otherwise have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keira-knightley/what-s-nice-about-playing-somebody-real-is-that-generally-there-s/) [Keira Knightley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keira-knightley/) > [I'm not that interested in someone that one-dimensional, but I'm interested in playing somebody that's more complicated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/i-m-not-that-interested-in-someone-that-one-dimensional-but-i-m/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [Playing somebody who's obsessed. Playing somebody who is transgressing, and who is really crossing moral lines and ethical lines. That's always interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcavoy/playing-somebody-who-s-obsessed-playing-somebody-who-is-transgressing/) [James McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcavoy/) > [Sometimes I'm playing somebody that I may have a problem with. Your job as an actor is not to go only play things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/sometimes-i-m-playing-somebody-that-i-may-have-a-problem-with-your/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [If you're playing with somebody from another idiom, you can't react to them in the same way that you react to somebody that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sanborn/if-you-re-playing-with-somebody-from-another-idiom-you-can-t-react-to/) [David Sanborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sanborn/) > [The fastest way to succeed is to look as if you're playing by somebody else's rules, while quietly playing by your own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/the-fastest-way-to-succeed-is-to-look-as-if-you-re-playing-by/) [Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/) > [If you're playing somebody who is not you, then you can imagine that you are that person. You can feel like he feels, move…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-freeman/if-you-re-playing-somebody-who-is-not-you-then-you-can-imagine-that/) [Morgan Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-freeman/) > [Sometimes you walk away from playing somebody and you think, "Wow that was far as from my own experience as I can possibly be."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/sometimes-you-walk-away-from-playing-somebody-and-you-think-wow-that/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [I've played many criminals, but I loved playing somebody on the right side of the law who had a family and who had ethics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje/i-ve-played-many-criminals-but-i-loved-playing-somebody-on-the-right/) [Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje/) > [It is true that in this culture, they throw you out when you get older. I see it all the time, especially in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/it-is-true-that-in-this-culture-they-throw-you-out-when-you-get-older/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [I don't mind playing somebody who's not likable, or makes the audience feel slightly conflicted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcavoy/i-don-t-mind-playing-somebody-who-s-not-likable-or-makes-the-audience/) [James McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcavoy/) > [And for the first time in a long time, I'm playing along somebody that has that same energy and fire and plays pretty much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/latrell-sprewell/and-for-the-first-time-in-a-long-time-i-m-playing-along-somebody-that/) [Latrell Sprewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/latrell-sprewell/) ## More by Peter Jacobson > [I know I'm going to sound like an idiot, because I actually think that everybody's the nicest guy ever, but I'm telling you: George…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-jacobson/i-know-i-m-going-to-sound-like-an-idiot-because-i-actually-think-that/) [Peter Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-jacobson/) > [ Everybody else, they're wonderful, but \[Robert\] Duvall sets the tone for all of cinema acting. So just to be in his space was amazing. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-jacobson/everybody-else-they-re-wonderful-but-robert-duvall-sets-the-tone-for/) [Peter Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-jacobson/) > [Woody Allen, that was a dream come true, although I never really talked to him. Auditioning was fun, because you don't really hear much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-jacobson/woody-allen-that-was-a-dream-come-true-although-i-never-really-talked/) [Peter Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-jacobson/) > [Steve Zaillian is just the sweetest. A very, very wonderful and interesting director.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-jacobson/steve-zaillian-is-just-the-sweetest-a-very-very-wonderful-and/) [Peter Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-jacobson/) > [My first film role was a reporter. It's funny, because my father was a news reporter. I always thought there was something strange about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-jacobson/my-first-film-role-was-a-reporter-it-s-funny-because-my-father-was-a/) [Peter Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-jacobson/) > [I lived in New York, and I was the guy who was flying home almost every week, so there was a physical exhaustion and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-jacobson/i-lived-in-new-york-and-i-was-the-guy-who-was-flying-home-almost/) [Peter Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-jacobson/) > [ It was fun shooting with Josh \[Holloway\], not just how great he is, but just how handsome he is. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-jacobson/it-was-fun-shooting-with-josh-holloway-not-just-how-great-he-is-but/) [Peter Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-jacobson/) > [Anything government or politics is always exciting for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-jacobson/anything-government-or-politics-is-always-exciting-for-me/) [Peter Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-jacobson/) > [If it's a good role, I'm happy to play it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-jacobson/if-it-s-a-good-role-i-m-happy-to-play-it/) [Peter Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-jacobson/) > [I think if I learned anything in graduate school, it was to not drool around other actors who would normally make you drool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-jacobson/i-think-if-i-learned-anything-in-graduate-school-it-was-to-not-drool/) [Peter Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-jacobson/) > [Every actor wants to know in different ways. Some like to know everything. Some don't want to know anything. I think I land somewhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-jacobson/every-actor-wants-to-know-in-different-ways-some-like-to-know/) [Peter Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-jacobson/) > [I couldn't stop to be upset or depressed about anything when I was at Tiger Stadium with Billy Crystal shooting for three weeks. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-jacobson/i-couldn-t-stop-to-be-upset-or-depressed-about-anything-when-i-was-at/) [Peter Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-jacobson/) > [In terms of what's going to actually happen to me in the story, down towards the end of the season, I'm dying to know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-jacobson/in-terms-of-what-s-going-to-actually-happen-to-me-in-the-story-down/) [Peter Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-jacobson/) > [Intimidation is 99 percent in the intimidatee's head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-jacobson/intimidation-is-99-percent-in-the-intimidatee-s-head/) [Peter Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-jacobson/) > [Why things get canceled or not is so unbelievably out of actors' hands that it's one of those things where you've just got to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-jacobson/why-things-get-canceled-or-not-is-so-unbelievably-out-of-actors-hands/) [Peter Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-jacobson/) [Explore all 51 Peter Jacobson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-jacobson/) ## More Doctors quotes > [When other boys dreamt of going to the moon or becoming doctors, I wanted to be a designer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-theyskens/when-other-boys-dreamt-of-going-to-the-moon-or-becoming-doctors-i/) [Olivier Theyskens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-theyskens/) > [Every patient carries her or his own doctor inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/every-patient-carries-her-or-his-own-doctor-inside/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [One reason for the tremendous increase in health-care costs in the U.S. is managerial neglect of the "hotel services" by the people who dominate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/one-reason-for-the-tremendous-increase-in-health-care-costs-in-the-u/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [being asked to decide between your passion for work and your passion for children was like being asked by your doctor whether you preferred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-bevington/being-asked-to-decide-between-your-passion-for-work-and-your-passion/) [Helen Bevington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-bevington/) > [I want to roll my eyes right now, but the doctor says that if I keep doing it, my ocular muscles might spasm and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz/i-want-to-roll-my-eyes-right-now-but-the-doctor-says-that-if-i-keep/) [LIZ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz/) > [Heart surgeons do not have the world's smallest egos: when you ask them to name the world's three leading practitioners, they never can remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-paretsky/heart-surgeons-do-not-have-the-world-s-smallest-egos-when-you-ask/) [Sara Paretsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-paretsky/) > [Do you think that was kind? Do you think it was godlike? What would you think of a physician, if a woman came to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-h-gardener/do-you-think-that-was-kind-do-you-think-it-was-godlike-what-would-you/) [Helen H. Gardener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-h-gardener/) > [I always wanted to be a fireman, a cop, an Indian chief, a doctor, a lawyer. I always wanted to be all these things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-freeman/i-always-wanted-to-be-a-fireman-a-cop-an-indian-chief-a-doctor-a/) [Morgan Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-freeman/) > [You know, in playing a role like this, you really want to get it right, because this is a person who was revered by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-stuart-masterson/you-know-in-playing-a-role-like-this-you-really-want-to-get-it-right/) [Mary Stuart Masterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-stuart-masterson/) > [I've always been interested in medicine and was pleased when my brother became a doctor. But after thinking seriously about that field, I realized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-lowry/i-ve-always-been-interested-in-medicine-and-was-pleased-when-my/) [Lois Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-lowry/) > [Two things suck about becoming an adult male - paying taxes and getting a finger in your butt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-code/two-things-suck-about-becoming-an-adult-male-paying-taxes-and-getting/) Guy Code > [There are many good (medical) doctors, but very few good diagnostics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florya99/there-are-many-good-medical-doctors-but-very-few-good-diagnostics/) Florya99 > [If Christian scientists had more science and doctors more Christianity, it wouldn't make any difference which you called in - if you had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finley-peter-dunne/if-christian-scientists-had-more-science-and-doctors-more/) [Finley Peter Dunne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finley-peter-dunne/) > [“In quixotically trying to conquer death doctors all too frequently do no good for their patients’ “ease” but at the same time they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kevorkian/in-quixotically-trying-to-conquer-death-doctors-all-too-frequently-do/) [Jack Kevorkian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kevorkian/) > [“Medicare rewards doctors far better for doing procedures than for assessing whether they should be done at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwidge-danticat/medicare-rewards-doctors-far-better-for-doing-procedures-than-for/) [Edwidge Danticat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwidge-danticat/) [Browse all 2,887 Doctors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't usually get to play somebody who is, at least, nominally in charge. 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