--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There was that sense that as soon as a…" description: "\"There was that sense that as soon as a Northern Irish person opens their mouth, you go, 'Ah, terrorist,' so I refused to do TV and film. Instead, I did..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5c/richard-dormer-23298_actor_there-was-that-sense-that-as-soon-as-a-n_716170.jpg" --- # There was that sense that as soon as a Northern Irish… ![“There was that sense that as soon as a Northern Irish person opens their mouth, you go, 'Ah, terrorist,' so I refused to do TV and film. Instead, I did theatre for 20 years.” quote by Richard Dormer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5c/richard-dormer-23298_actor_there-was-that-sense-that-as-soon-as-a-n_716170.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5c/richard-dormer-23298_actor_there-was-that-sense-that-as-soon-as-a-n_716170.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5c/richard-dormer-23298_actor_there-was-that-sense-that-as-soon-as-a-n_716170.jpg) > “There was that sense that as soon as a Northern Irish person opens their mouth, you go, 'Ah, terrorist,' so I refused to do TV and film. Instead, I did theatre for 20 years.” [Richard Dormer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dormer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker avoided TV/film due to stereotypes about Northern Irish people, opting for theatre to escape typecasting. **In simple terms:** Choose paths that defy limiting stereotypes. Key Takeaway Pursue authentic expression despite bias. Themes identity stereotype career choice Mood determined defiant Type personal reflective When to use this quote - acting career - creative arts - public perception - personal branding Key Concepts self‑determination media perception regional bias Questions to Reflect On - How can you challenge assumptions about your background? - What alternative platforms allow authentic storytelling? A Different Perspective Stereotypes can restrict opportunities if internalized. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Irish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irish/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [Northern Irish people tend to have this sharp, dark sense of humour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aisling-bea/northern-irish-people-tend-to-have-this-sharp-dark-sense-of-humour/) [Aisling Bea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aisling-bea/) > [Well, I couldn't speak English before I went to Belfast. 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The thought of another heartbreak was far too much for her to bear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-a-o-neal/she-refused-to-know-love-again-the-thought-of-another-heartbreak-was/) [Terry a O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-a-o-neal/) > [Every champion was once a contender that refused to give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/every-champion-was-once-a-contender-that-refused-to-give-up/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [A favor is half granted, when graciously refused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/a-favor-is-half-granted-when-graciously-refused/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [I had only two offers of marriage in my life, and I refused both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-helen-spence/i-had-only-two-offers-of-marriage-in-my-life-and-i-refused-both/) [Catherine Helen Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-helen-spence/) ## More by Richard Dormer > [In scale, 'Fortitude' is just as big as 'Game of Thrones.' It's equally as epic - it's just starting out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dormer/in-scale-fortitude-is-just-as-big-as-game-of-thrones-it-s-equally-as/) [Richard Dormer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dormer/) > [When I was 16, my friends were in a drama group, and they asked me to join. I said no, I'm not interested, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dormer/when-i-was-16-my-friends-were-in-a-drama-group-and-they-asked-me-to/) [Richard Dormer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dormer/) > [I think the benefit of being a writer is that I'm looking for the subtext on the page, because all good writing has subtext.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dormer/i-think-the-benefit-of-being-a-writer-is-that-i-m-looking-for-the/) [Richard Dormer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dormer/) > [Sometimes you even start to sound like the character because you're living and breathing them every day on the set. 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Nobody's going to argue with a flaming sword.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dormer/having-a-weapon-like-that-means-you-re-pretty-much-in-control-of/) [Richard Dormer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dormer/) > [So much Western storytelling comes from Scandinavia. I've read that in the past, storytellers would travel to Iceland and exchange stories. It's kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dormer/so-much-western-storytelling-comes-from-scandinavia-i-ve-read-that-in/) [Richard Dormer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dormer/) > [As soon as people really get into the swamp - the scary swamp that is 'Fortitude' - there's no getting out of it. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dormer/as-soon-as-people-really-get-into-the-swamp-the-scary-swamp-that-is/) [Richard Dormer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dormer/) > [I met David Croft. He was a man of few words. But he had great charisma.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dormer/i-met-david-croft-he-was-a-man-of-few-words-but-he-had-great-charisma/) [Richard Dormer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dormer/) > [A lot of the time, because of the polar bears you're not allowed to go outside the door without your hunting rifle, even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dormer/a-lot-of-the-time-because-of-the-polar-bears-you-re-not-allowed-to-go/) [Richard Dormer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dormer/) > [When you're working with really good actors, it raises your own game and you get better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dormer/when-you-re-working-with-really-good-actors-it-raises-your-own-game/) [Richard Dormer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dormer/) > [Did it ever occur to you that there might be more than one alternative?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dormer/did-it-ever-occur-to-you-that-there-might-be-more-than-one-alternative/) [Richard Dormer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dormer/) > [It's a real luxury to be able to develop with your character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dormer/it-s-a-real-luxury-to-be-able-to-develop-with-your-character/) [Richard Dormer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dormer/) > [The first director I ever worked with on 'Thrones,' he had a big hand in casting me. He said he cast me because there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dormer/the-first-director-i-ever-worked-with-on-thrones-he-had-a-big-hand-in/) [Richard Dormer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dormer/) [Explore all 26 Richard Dormer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dormer/) ## 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. 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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! 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