--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you see Robert Englund in a movie…" description: "\"When you see Robert Englund in a movie, you think he is the bad guy, but if I'm not the bad guy, and I'm supposed to just kind of fool the audience, it..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/890/robert-englund-2458_actor_when-you-see-robert-englund-in-a-movie-y_3124594.jpg" --- # When you see Robert Englund in a movie, you think he is… ![“When you see Robert Englund in a movie, you think he is the bad guy, but if I'm not the bad guy, and I'm supposed to just kind of fool the audience, it makes it a lot easier for whichever actor is the bad guy. So I find myself doing a lot of those, I think they're called red herring characters…” quote by Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/890/robert-englund-2458_actor_when-you-see-robert-englund-in-a-movie-y_3124594.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/890/robert-englund-2458_actor_when-you-see-robert-englund-in-a-movie-y_3124594.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/890/robert-englund-2458_actor_when-you-see-robert-englund-in-a-movie-y_3124594.jpg) > “When you see Robert Englund in a movie, you think he is the bad guy, but if I'm not the bad guy, and I'm supposed to just kind of fool the audience, it makes it a lot easier for whichever actor is the bad guy. So I find myself doing a lot of those, I think they're called red herring characters, faking out the audience.” [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Explaining how playing a deceptive role (red herring) can ease the audience's perception of the true antagonist. **In simple terms:** Playing a fake villain helps hide the real one. Key Takeaway Use misdirection strategically. Themes acting deception storytelling Mood analytical playful Type technical inspirational When to use this quote - theatre - film production - creative writing Key Concepts character archetype audience manipulation narrative technique Questions to Reflect On - When is misdirection effective? - How does it affect audience trust? A Different Perspective Overuse of red herrings can confuse audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actor Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-bad-2366138/) [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad/) [Bad guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-guy/) [Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters/) [Characters Faking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters-faking-5500107/) [Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing/) [Easier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easier/) [Englund Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/englund-movie-5500108/) [Faking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faking/) [Find](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/find/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guy/) [He](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Lot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lot/) [Makes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/makes/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/out/) [Red](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/red/) [Red Herring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/red-herring-365573/) [Robert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robert/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robert-englund-1578054/) [See](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/see/) [Supposed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supposed/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Those](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/those/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [I'm kind of like a combination of a red herring and a fake-out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/i-m-kind-of-like-a-combination-of-a-red-herring-and-a-fake-out/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [Convincing Robert Englund to come out of retirement to play Freddy Krueger one last time is a true bucket-list moment for me as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-f-goldberg/convincing-robert-englund-to-come-out-of-retirement-to-play-freddy/) [Adam F. Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-f-goldberg/) > [One name always stands out when it comes to actors taking on the monsters of our nightmares - Robert Englund. In the 'Nightmare on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/one-name-always-stands-out-when-it-comes-to-actors-taking-on-the/) [Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/) > [Robert Englund's done an amazing job over the years playing Freddy. Everybody's that's a fan of "Nightmare" loves Robert and you know so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-earle-haley/robert-englund-s-done-an-amazing-job-over-the-years-playing-freddy/) [Jackie Earle Haley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-earle-haley/) > [I don't consider myself a very good actor. I'm not bad, but there's not a lot of range in characterizations for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jon-benjamin/i-don-t-consider-myself-a-very-good-actor-i-m-not-bad-but-there-s-not/) [H. Jon Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jon-benjamin/) > [Even though I'm an actor, I'm a very bad liar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lincoln/even-though-i-m-an-actor-i-m-a-very-bad-liar/) [Andrew Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lincoln/) > [In live action movies, you just hope that everything works. Because the actor may had a bad morning and doesn't play good, or accidents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hench/in-live-action-movies-you-just-hope-that-everything-works-because-the/) [John Hench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hench/) > [If I weren't an actor, I would have been a bad actor because this is where I belong. This is my love and my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiku-sharda/if-i-weren-t-an-actor-i-would-have-been-a-bad-actor-because-this-is/) [Kiku Sharda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiku-sharda/) > [Damn'd neuters, in their middle way of steering, Are neither fish, nor flesh, nor good red herring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/damn-d-neuters-in-their-middle-way-of-steering-are-neither-fish-nor/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [“When these early settlers hunted, they would leave red herring along their trail because the strong smell would confuse wolves, which is the origin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-kurlansky/when-these-early-settlers-hunted-they-would-leave-red-herring-along/) [Mark Kurlansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-kurlansky/) > [Writing and directing might be a red herring, and really I'm just re-examining what it is to act, to do it well and do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-lewis/writing-and-directing-might-be-a-red-herring-and-really-i-m-just-re/) [Damian Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-lewis/) > [I knew with The West Wing that that wasn't going to be for very long, that I was just the red herring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-devane/i-knew-with-the-west-wing-that-that-wasn-t-going-to-be-for-very-long/) [William Devane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-devane/) > [Gay marriage is a complete red herring to distract everyone from the economy and the war and health care and education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-russell/gay-marriage-is-a-complete-red-herring-to-distract-everyone-from-the/) [David O. Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-russell/) > [“I think I’m falling for a red herring here,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liane-moriarty/i-think-i-m-falling-for-a-red-herring-here/) [Liane Moriarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liane-moriarty/) > [“Yes sir, the fish was left in place of the crystal ball. It's been bagged and tagged for analysis.” Great. Now we have another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-f-stewart/yes-sir-the-fish-was-left-in-place-of-the-crystal-ball-it-s-been/) [A.F. Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-f-stewart/) ## More by Robert Englund > [There's plenty of great stuff out there. I think it's just what we do is we all spend our allowance on the thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/there-s-plenty-of-great-stuff-out-there-i-think-it-s-just-what-we-do/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [I was quite a snob when I was a theatre actor earlier in my career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/i-was-quite-a-snob-when-i-was-a-theatre-actor-earlier-in-my-career/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [Any film you make is a crap shoot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/any-film-you-make-is-a-crap-shoot/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [I didn't make good money on 'Nightmare' until part three. I eventually got some nice merchandising checks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/i-didn-t-make-good-money-on-nightmare-until-part-three-i-eventually/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [I used to drive up from theatre in Michigan to Stratford, Ontario to watch every show. I idolized the actors from Stratford. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/i-used-to-drive-up-from-theatre-in-michigan-to-stratford-ontario-to/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [I make a star's salary when I do horror, because I can still open a movie in Italy or Spain or Germany.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/i-make-a-star-s-salary-when-i-do-horror-because-i-can-still-open-a/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [Surfing is real private. It's a solo, loner sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/surfing-is-real-private-it-s-a-solo-loner-sport/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [I've worked with pythons and such in a couple of movies, and I had to wrangle around, but I was okay. Still, if I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/i-ve-worked-with-pythons-and-such-in-a-couple-of-movies-and-i-had-to/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [I was trained to serve the writer and director as an actor before I serve myself. Not to say that's gotten in my way,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/i-was-trained-to-serve-the-writer-and-director-as-an-actor-before-i/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [I do a lot of stuff in my career, but I like to keep a hand in horror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/i-do-a-lot-of-stuff-in-my-career-but-i-like-to-keep-a-hand-in-horror/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [By the time I'm out of makeup, I'm ready to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/by-the-time-i-m-out-of-makeup-i-m-ready-to-act/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [The roughest make-up I ever wore was for 'Phantom of the Opera' because the phantom's face was all disfigured, and he's trying to pass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/the-roughest-make-up-i-ever-wore-was-for-phantom-of-the-opera-because/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [I don't choose roles. I go where I'm wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/i-don-t-choose-roles-i-go-where-i-m-wanted/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [I'm at that stage in my career, especially now where I go where I am wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/i-m-at-that-stage-in-my-career-especially-now-where-i-go-where-i-am/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [Jeff Bridges taught me a lot about how to keep a scene fresh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/jeff-bridges-taught-me-a-lot-about-how-to-keep-a-scene-fresh/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) [Explore all 165 Robert Englund quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) ## 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. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [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/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [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/) > [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! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you see Robert Englund in a movie, you think he is the bad guy, but if I'm not the bad guy, and I'm supposed to just kind of fool the audience, it makes it a lot easier for whichever actor is the bad guy. 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