--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: 'Transparent' was huge for me when I…" description: "\"'Transparent' was huge for me when I first saw it. I felt that, from an authorial point of view, no one was trying to sell characters to us, you know? ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f9/phoebe-waller-bridge-8068_point-of-view_transparent-was-huge-for-me-when-i-first_1244566.jpg" --- # 'Transparent' was huge for me when I first saw it. I felt… ![“'Transparent' was huge for me when I first saw it. I felt that, from an authorial point of view, no one was trying to sell characters to us, you know? It's the idea of not having to adore these characters and want to cuddle them; you just have to be into them and their psychology and be compelled…” quote by Phoebe Waller-Bridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f9/phoebe-waller-bridge-8068_point-of-view_transparent-was-huge-for-me-when-i-first_1244566.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f9/phoebe-waller-bridge-8068_point-of-view_transparent-was-huge-for-me-when-i-first_1244566.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f9/phoebe-waller-bridge-8068_point-of-view_transparent-was-huge-for-me-when-i-first_1244566.jpg) > “'Transparent' was huge for me when I first saw it. I felt that, from an authorial point of view, no one was trying to sell characters to us, you know? It's the idea of not having to adore these characters and want to cuddle them; you just have to be into them and their psychology and be compelled by them.” [Phoebe Waller-Bridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-waller-bridge/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The show succeeds by presenting characters as complex humans, not idealized objects, inviting deep psychological engagement. **In simple terms:** Complex characters over idealization. Key Takeaway Seek depth in storytelling. Themes character depth psychology authenticity Mood thoughtful introspective Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - film analysis - writing workshops - book clubs Key Concepts narrative theory empathy Questions to Reflect On - Why do audiences prefer flawed characters? - How does authenticity affect viewer connection? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters/) [Point of view](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/point-of-view/) ## Related quotes > [I have often endeavoured to view the circulation of the blood in terrestrial animals, but without success, by reason that no parts of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonie-van-leeuwenhoek/i-have-often-endeavoured-to-view-the-circulation-of-the-blood-in/) [Antonie van Leeuwenhoek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonie-van-leeuwenhoek/) > [I want to have a lengthy career. I want to play interesting characters. I want to tell beautiful stories, complex stories, deep stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jovan-adepo/i-want-to-have-a-lengthy-career-i-want-to-play-interesting-characters/) [Jovan Adepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jovan-adepo/) > [People want to find out what happens to the characters, and want to keep reading, and turning the pages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-b-jenkins/people-want-to-find-out-what-happens-to-the-characters-and-want-to/) [Jerry B. Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-b-jenkins/) > [I want to play so many different characters. I want to, like, understand so many different people, and psychoanalysis, everything. I love that about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-hoeks/i-want-to-play-so-many-different-characters-i-want-to-like-understand/) [Sylvia Hoeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-hoeks/) > [“Make your characters want something right away even if it's only a glass of water. Characters paralyzed by the meaninglessness of modern life still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/make-your-characters-want-something-right-away-even-if-it-s-only-a/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [When I used to teach creative writing, I would tell the students to make their characters want something right away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/when-i-used-to-teach-creative-writing-i-would-tell-the-students-to/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Unlike life, you've got more or less complete control over what's going on in your stories. That's not to say you can make characters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kane/unlike-life-you-ve-got-more-or-less-complete-control-over-what-s/) [Paul Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kane/) > [But now, I think I have found a corner, a groove of what kind of stories I want to be part of and what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-sadh/but-now-i-think-i-have-found-a-corner-a-groove-of-what-kind-of/) [Amit Sadh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-sadh/) > [You have to make sure you have the characters you want. That's really the most complicated part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/you-have-to-make-sure-you-have-the-characters-you-want-that-s-really/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [I look forward to playing characters where I want to play the ordinary, to be honest... Farmer's wife, tailor's daughter, the teacher characters that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sobhita-dhulipala/i-look-forward-to-playing-characters-where-i-want-to-play-the/) [Sobhita Dhulipala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sobhita-dhulipala/) > [I just want to play interesting characters, and I want to work with the best directors I can work with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-holland/i-just-want-to-play-interesting-characters-and-i-want-to-work-with/) [Andre Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-holland/) > [“I live precariously through my characters - so I want them to be loved passionately, live vibrantly, love unconditionally. Make friends they would die…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-roberts/i-live-precariously-through-my-characters-so-i-want-them-to-be-loved/) [Patti Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-roberts/) > [I wasn't thinking that I was two horrors back to back; I was thinking these were characters that I want to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maika-monroe/i-wasn-t-thinking-that-i-was-two-horrors-back-to-back-i-was-thinking/) [Maika Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maika-monroe/) > [I guess it's easier to get things made when you know the story you want to tell, you know the characters you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-mara/i-guess-it-s-easier-to-get-things-made-when-you-know-the-story-you/) [Kate Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-mara/) > [I want to play male characters; I want to be Ranbir Kapoor of 'Rockstar.' Those are exciting parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shweta-tripathi/i-want-to-play-male-characters-i-want-to-be-ranbir-kapoor-of-rockstar/) [Shweta Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shweta-tripathi/) ## More by Phoebe Waller-Bridge > [I am comfortable talking about sex scenes and stuff, but to me, when it's physically explicit, I do feel prudish and uncomfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-waller-bridge/i-am-comfortable-talking-about-sex-scenes-and-stuff-but-to-me-when-it/) [Phoebe Waller-Bridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-waller-bridge/) > [I think there's something funny about people who laugh in the face of convention or surprise us morally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-waller-bridge/i-think-there-s-something-funny-about-people-who-laugh-in-the-face-of/) [Phoebe Waller-Bridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-waller-bridge/) > [I'll never get bored of seeing flawed women on the screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-waller-bridge/i-ll-never-get-bored-of-seeing-flawed-women-on-the-screen/) [Phoebe Waller-Bridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-waller-bridge/) > [Fleabag knows men and women are equal and should be treated as such, but what she's confused about - and what I was confused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-waller-bridge/fleabag-knows-men-and-women-are-equal-and-should-be-treated-as-such/) [Phoebe Waller-Bridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-waller-bridge/) > [I feel like my home is stage acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-waller-bridge/i-feel-like-my-home-is-stage-acting/) [Phoebe Waller-Bridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-waller-bridge/) > [I just kind of like to feel myself into stuff by writing scenes and seeing what characters end up saying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-waller-bridge/i-just-kind-of-like-to-feel-myself-into-stuff-by-writing-scenes-and/) [Phoebe Waller-Bridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-waller-bridge/) > [I just find all that stuff incredibly funny. I love a fart. I'd do anything for a good poo story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-waller-bridge/i-just-find-all-that-stuff-incredibly-funny-i-love-a-fart-i-d-do/) [Phoebe Waller-Bridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-waller-bridge/) > [Women know what they're doing all the time, and they're pretending that they don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-waller-bridge/women-know-what-they-re-doing-all-the-time-and-they-re-pretending/) [Phoebe Waller-Bridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-waller-bridge/) > [I suppose the cult of the strong woman character on TV has probably been misinterpreted in so many different ways, meaning that a woman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-waller-bridge/i-suppose-the-cult-of-the-strong-woman-character-on-tv-has-probably/) [Phoebe Waller-Bridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-waller-bridge/) > [Actually, my worst nightmare is losing my best friend, as I imagine most people's are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-waller-bridge/actually-my-worst-nightmare-is-losing-my-best-friend-as-i-imagine/) [Phoebe Waller-Bridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-waller-bridge/) > [I'm just constantly on the verge of bursting into tears with joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-waller-bridge/i-m-just-constantly-on-the-verge-of-bursting-into-tears-with-joy/) [Phoebe Waller-Bridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-waller-bridge/) > [The main relationship in the whole series was the one between the camera and Fleabag. I had to convince myself that whoever was watching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-waller-bridge/the-main-relationship-in-the-whole-series-was-the-one-between-the/) [Phoebe Waller-Bridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-waller-bridge/) > [This world of 'Star Wars' is just so accepting and beautiful that the idea a droid and a human are trying to waddle their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-waller-bridge/this-world-of-star-wars-is-just-so-accepting-and-beautiful-that-the/) [Phoebe Waller-Bridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-waller-bridge/) > [I always knew that if I was ever going to perform something that I wrote in front of an audience, I was going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-waller-bridge/i-always-knew-that-if-i-was-ever-going-to-perform-something-that-i/) [Phoebe Waller-Bridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-waller-bridge/) > [I'd go so far as to say I was bullied into writing, but sometimes you need that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-waller-bridge/i-d-go-so-far-as-to-say-i-was-bullied-into-writing-but-sometimes-you/) [Phoebe Waller-Bridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-waller-bridge/) [Explore all 84 Phoebe Waller-Bridge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-waller-bridge/) ## More Characters 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'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/) > [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/) > [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [Since I don't outline my books very much, I feel like sometimes I don't have a choice in what the characters do; they just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-todd/since-i-don-t-outline-my-books-very-much-i-feel-like-sometimes-i-don/) [Anna Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-todd/) > [I'm truly, 100% guided by the characters and my Muse. If one of the characters suddenly decided to do something very different, I'd just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-foster/i-m-truly-100-guided-by-the-characters-and-my-muse-if-one-of-the/) [Lori Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-foster/) > [I have played several characters that are crabby and cranky. I don't know if I'm just not a very well-developed human being or if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-greer/i-have-played-several-characters-that-are-crabby-and-cranky-i-don-t/) [Judy Greer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-greer/) > [You do get fond of your characters. Handing them on is like giving a child to a nanny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-fellowes/you-do-get-fond-of-your-characters-handing-them-on-is-like-giving-a/) [Julian Fellowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-fellowes/) > [Your job as a writer is to find storylines, narrative structures, and characters to show the things that you believe rather than saying them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philipp-meyer/your-job-as-a-writer-is-to-find-storylines-narrative-structures-and/) [Philipp Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philipp-meyer/) > [Being of Indian heritage is a challenge - and it's a blessing as well sometimes - because being good isn't good enough. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sacha-dhawan/being-of-indian-heritage-is-a-challenge-and-it-s-a-blessing-as-well/) [Sacha Dhawan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sacha-dhawan/) > [On the stage, the characters express themselves more through words than images. So the arguments of the characters and the tension between characters -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-alda/on-the-stage-the-characters-express-themselves-more-through-words/) [Alan Alda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-alda/) > [I really like all of the characters in 'The Secret History' by Donna Tartt, especially Camilla, the one girl. I find her fascinating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-murray/i-really-like-all-of-the-characters-in-the-secret-history-by-donna/) [Hannah Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-murray/) > [I've just always loved really good projects. The things that draw me into a new project have very little to do with genre and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jewel-staite/i-ve-just-always-loved-really-good-projects-the-things-that-draw-me/) [Jewel Staite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jewel-staite/) > [“Take care of your costume and your confidence will take care of itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/take-care-of-your-costume-and-your-confidence-will-take-care-of-itself/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [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/) [Browse all 3,066 Characters quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "'Transparent' was huge for me when I first saw it. I felt that, from an authorial point of view, no one was trying to sell characters to us, you know? 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