--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can't play a character that I am judging." description: "\"I can't play a character that I am judging.\" — Rachelle Lefevre" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e24/rachelle-lefevre-19316_character_i-can-t-play-a-character-that-i-am-judgi_1674168.jpg" --- # I can't play a character that I am judging. ![“I can't play a character that I am judging.” quote by Rachelle Lefevre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e24/rachelle-lefevre-19316_character_i-can-t-play-a-character-that-i-am-judgi_1674168.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e24/rachelle-lefevre-19316_character_i-can-t-play-a-character-that-i-am-judgi_1674168.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e24/rachelle-lefevre-19316_character_i-can-t-play-a-character-that-i-am-judgi_1674168.jpg) > “I can't play a character that I am judging.” [Rachelle Lefevre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachelle-lefevre/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An actor cannot convincingly portray a role they are personally critical of. **In simple terms:** You can’t play a character you judge harshly. Key Takeaway Avoid self‑judgment to embody roles authentically. Themes acting self‑awareness integrity performance psychology Mood thoughtful professional Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - audition preparation - character study - self‑reflection - director feedback Key Concepts method acting cognitive bias emotional honesty Questions to Reflect On - Can you separate personal bias from character work? - What techniques help you stay objective? A Different Perspective Even judged actors can separate personal opinion from performance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character Judging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-judging-891246/) [Judging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judging/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-character-336271/) ## Related quotes > [“You better be a better judge of character than the character judging you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cinder-rella/you-better-be-a-better-judge-of-character-than-the-character-judging/) [Cinder Rella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cinder-rella/) > [If you're constantly stepping outside of the character and judging them, you'll never really be able to fully engage because you'll always be slightly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-norton/if-you-re-constantly-stepping-outside-of-the-character-and-judging/) [James Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-norton/) > [The most important thing in playing any character is not judging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keira-knightley/the-most-important-thing-in-playing-any-character-is-not-judging/) [Keira Knightley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keira-knightley/) > [I agree to play a character if I feel that as an audience member, it will entertain me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babu-antony/i-agree-to-play-a-character-if-i-feel-that-as-an-audience-member-it/) [Babu Antony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babu-antony/) > [Every so often you read a play and a character just speaks to you - almost seems to speak through you, in fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/every-so-often-you-read-a-play-and-a-character-just-speaks-to-you/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [That's what's so great, I get to play any character in the world. And I think that's one of the things that makes doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-lapkus/that-s-what-s-so-great-i-get-to-play-any-character-in-the-world-and-i/) [Lauren Lapkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-lapkus/) > [The script should be exciting enough for me to play the character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pratik-gandhi/the-script-should-be-exciting-enough-for-me-to-play-the-character/) [Pratik Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pratik-gandhi/) > [Fried Green Tomatoes' is the first time I got to play a character with some depth and some complexity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-searcy/fried-green-tomatoes-is-the-first-time-i-got-to-play-a-character-with/) [Nick Searcy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-searcy/) > [Nobody wants to play - I've talked to Brent Spiner about this. You don't want to play a character indefinitely who's not supposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-picardo/nobody-wants-to-play-i-ve-talked-to-brent-spiner-about-this-you-don-t/) [Robert Picardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-picardo/) > [My only job is to act and play the character truthfully and honestly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajkummar-rao/my-only-job-is-to-act-and-play-the-character-truthfully-and-honestly/) [Rajkummar Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajkummar-rao/) > [I think it's every actor's dream to play a character that's really odd, and you know no one wants to play himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-claflin/i-think-it-s-every-actor-s-dream-to-play-a-character-that-s-really/) [Sam Claflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-claflin/) > [If I could play any character from the book though it’d be Church. Who wouldn’t want to be a cat?!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-campbell-bower/if-i-could-play-any-character-from-the-book-though-it-d-be-church-who/) [Jamie Campbell Bower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-campbell-bower/) > [I'd rather play a character that was really, really different to me as to someone who is quite close to my character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-felton/i-d-rather-play-a-character-that-was-really-really-different-to-me-as/) [Tom Felton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-felton/) > [I like playing these awkward moments in between that build relationships. I don’t ever want to play that character that grabs the girl and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-reedus/i-like-playing-these-awkward-moments-in-between-that-build/) [Norman Reedus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-reedus/) > [You know, the truth is that us actors would all like to believe we re-invent the wheel, every time we play a character. But,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-reilly/you-know-the-truth-is-that-us-actors-would-all-like-to-believe-we-re/) [John C. Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-reilly/) ## More by Rachelle Lefevre > [I drink tons of water. It always sounds like the lamest thing, but there's a reason you keep hearing this over and over again.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachelle-lefevre/i-drink-tons-of-water-it-always-sounds-like-the-lamest-thing-but/) [Rachelle Lefevre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachelle-lefevre/) > [Most actors will tell you that it takes a while to figure out what you want to be because we just want to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachelle-lefevre/most-actors-will-tell-you-that-it-takes-a-while-to-figure-out-what/) [Rachelle Lefevre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachelle-lefevre/) > [You only know who you think you are. You sort of feel like you could change at any minute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachelle-lefevre/you-only-know-who-you-think-you-are-you-sort-of-feel-like-you-could/) [Rachelle Lefevre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachelle-lefevre/) > [I'm interested in everything about what it means to be a human being, so every role is an excuse to delve into a different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachelle-lefevre/i-m-interested-in-everything-about-what-it-means-to-be-a-human-being/) [Rachelle Lefevre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachelle-lefevre/) > [My awkward stage extended well into high school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachelle-lefevre/my-awkward-stage-extended-well-into-high-school/) [Rachelle Lefevre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachelle-lefevre/) > [I'm always a little skeptical when I hear people promoting a film and they say it has something for everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachelle-lefevre/i-m-always-a-little-skeptical-when-i-hear-people-promoting-a-film-and/) [Rachelle Lefevre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachelle-lefevre/) > [Dating and getting attention from boys was something that came later to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachelle-lefevre/dating-and-getting-attention-from-boys-was-something-that-came-later/) [Rachelle Lefevre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachelle-lefevre/) > [I volunteer with School on Wheels in Los Angeles, and I also tutor with Koreh L.A.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachelle-lefevre/i-volunteer-with-school-on-wheels-in-los-angeles-and-i-also-tutor/) [Rachelle Lefevre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachelle-lefevre/) > [A lot of our lives are about being polite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachelle-lefevre/a-lot-of-our-lives-are-about-being-polite/) [Rachelle Lefevre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachelle-lefevre/) > [For me, playing a vampire isn't about the fact that they're a vampire, it's about who they are specifically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachelle-lefevre/for-me-playing-a-vampire-isn-t-about-the-fact-that-they-re-a-vampire/) [Rachelle Lefevre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachelle-lefevre/) > [I'm obsessed with being human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachelle-lefevre/i-m-obsessed-with-being-human/) [Rachelle Lefevre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachelle-lefevre/) > [I'm a workaholic because I love to play, if that makes sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachelle-lefevre/i-m-a-workaholic-because-i-love-to-play-if-that-makes-sense/) [Rachelle Lefevre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachelle-lefevre/) > [The idea of somebody being a fan of something I can totally understand. The idea of being followed around by cameras or people taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachelle-lefevre/the-idea-of-somebody-being-a-fan-of-something-i-can-totally/) [Rachelle Lefevre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachelle-lefevre/) > [I go to various boot camps 4-5 times a week, and I try to get some Pilates in there to thin and tone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachelle-lefevre/i-go-to-various-boot-camps-4-5-times-a-week-and-i-try-to-get-some/) [Rachelle Lefevre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachelle-lefevre/) > [I am tone deaf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachelle-lefevre/i-am-tone-deaf/) [Rachelle Lefevre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachelle-lefevre/) [Explore all 33 Rachelle Lefevre quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachelle-lefevre/) ## 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": "I can't play a character that I am judging.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rachelle Lefevre" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachelle-lefevre/i-can-t-play-a-character-that-i-am-judging/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachelle-lefevre/i-can-t-play-a-character-that-i-am-judging/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e24/rachelle-lefevre-19316_character_i-can-t-play-a-character-that-i-am-judgi_1674168.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e24/rachelle-lefevre-19316_character_i-can-t-play-a-character-that-i-am-judgi_1674168.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e24/rachelle-lefevre-19316_character_i-can-t-play-a-character-that-i-am-judgi_1674168.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I can't play a character that I am judging.” — Rachelle Lefevre", "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": "Rachelle Lefevre", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachelle-lefevre/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I can't play a character that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachelle-lefevre/i-can-t-play-a-character-that-i-am-judging/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachelle-lefevre/i-can-t-play-a-character-that-i-am-judging/#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 } } ] } ```