--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know there are only so many characters…" description: "\"I know there are only so many characters I'll be able to play.\" — Ryan Gosling" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/311/ryan-gosling-1941_able_i-know-there-are-only-so-many-characters_1556318.jpg" --- # I know there are only so many characters I'll be able to… ![“I know there are only so many characters I'll be able to play.” quote by Ryan Gosling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/311/ryan-gosling-1941_able_i-know-there-are-only-so-many-characters_1556318.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/311/ryan-gosling-1941_able_i-know-there-are-only-so-many-characters_1556318.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/311/ryan-gosling-1941_able_i-know-there-are-only-so-many-characters_1556318.jpg) > “I know there are only so many characters I'll be able to play.” [Ryan Gosling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-gosling/) ## 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 acknowledges limited roles but seeks depth within constraints **In simple terms:** Only few characters are available, so choose wisely Key Takeaway Focus on quality, not quantity, of roles Themes artistry choice career strategy Mood thoughtful ambitious Type reflective career When to use this quote - audition preparation - typecasting - career planning - creative fulfillment Key Concepts acting theory role selection Questions to Reflect On - How do you find fulfillment with limited opportunities? - What criteria guide your role selection? A Different Perspective Limited roles may restrict artistic expression ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Able Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able-play/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters/) [Characters Ll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters-ll-5828353/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Know Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-characters/) [Many](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/many/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) ## Related 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/) > [Don't start writing your novel until you know your characters very, very well. What they'd do if they saw somebody shoplifting. What they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-moggach/don-t-start-writing-your-novel-until-you-know-your-characters-very/) [Deborah Moggach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-moggach/) > [I very seldom, very seldom, even know what my characters look like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/i-very-seldom-very-seldom-even-know-what-my-characters-look-like/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [I'm very grateful to be where I'm at and be able to play. That's really the bottom line for me. 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It's when you come to know your characters and begin to perceive their motivations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dufresne/in-revision-your-imagination-becomes-deeply-engaged-with-your/) [John Dufresne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dufresne/) > [Get to know your characters as well as you can let there be something at stake, and then let the chips fall where they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/get-to-know-your-characters-as-well-as-you-can-let-there-be-something/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [I don't need all that much - I just need to know who my characters are and what kind of jam they're going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-price/i-don-t-need-all-that-much-i-just-need-to-know-who-my-characters-are/) [Richard Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-price/) > [ You're right, we both have been working on these films \[Kung Fu Panda\] forever and we know these characters so well that literally we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-yuh-nelson/you-re-right-we-both-have-been-working-on-these-films-kung-fu-panda/) [Jennifer Yuh Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-yuh-nelson/) > [Even in horror novels where you know most characters aren't going to make it to the end, it's crucial to have fully fleshed-out characters.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/even-in-horror-novels-where-you-know-most-characters-aren-t-going-to/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [There are a million little things, but one of the best ways to get to know characters is to just put them in situations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-gerwig/there-are-a-million-little-things-but-one-of-the-best-ways-to-get-to/) [Greta Gerwig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-gerwig/) > [I make extensive outlines before I write a book. I usually know what will happen. I know the characters, and I know what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amor-towles/i-make-extensive-outlines-before-i-write-a-book-i-usually-know-what/) [Amor Towles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amor-towles/) > [Gettting to know your characters is so much more important than plotting. Working out every detail of your story in advance, especially when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/gettting-to-know-your-characters-is-so-much-more-important-than/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [To some degree, Hollywood doesn't know what to do with me because the characters I do are so different. But hopefully, that will give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharlto-copley/to-some-degree-hollywood-doesn-t-know-what-to-do-with-me-because-the/) [Sharlto Copley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharlto-copley/) ## More by Ryan Gosling > [We should get a Roomba for our Roomba. I feel bad for it because it works tirelessly, and at night I can hear it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-gosling/we-should-get-a-roomba-for-our-roomba-i-feel-bad-for-it-because-it/) [Ryan Gosling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-gosling/) > [“I met a girl, and she is a gamechanger”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-gosling/i-met-a-girl-and-she-is-a-gamechanger/) [Ryan Gosling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-gosling/) > [I don't like the process of meeting someone and you make a film and that's it. You think you're just getting started, and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-gosling/i-don-t-like-the-process-of-meeting-someone-and-you-make-a-film-and/) [Ryan Gosling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-gosling/) > [That's the power of film. If it's good, it can somehow make you feel connected to even the farthest thing from your own experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-gosling/that-s-the-power-of-film-if-it-s-good-it-can-somehow-make-you-feel/) [Ryan Gosling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-gosling/) > [I got a Twitter because some guy was pretending to be me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-gosling/i-got-a-twitter-because-some-guy-was-pretending-to-be-me/) [Ryan Gosling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-gosling/) > [I don't think anyone can teach you how to be a man but a woman. You only learn by learning what they need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-gosling/i-don-t-think-anyone-can-teach-you-how-to-be-a-man-but-a-woman-you/) [Ryan Gosling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-gosling/) > [Muscles. We're talking about muscles? They're like pets, basically, and they're not worth it. They're just not worth it. You have to feed them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-gosling/muscles-we-re-talking-about-muscles-they-re-like-pets-basically-and/) [Ryan Gosling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-gosling/) > [There's something messed up with my brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-gosling/there-s-something-messed-up-with-my-brain/) [Ryan Gosling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-gosling/) > [Im glad I have an outlet. I dont think I would put my aggression elsewhere, but working on the projects I have worked on,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-gosling/im-glad-i-have-an-outlet-i-dont-think-i-would-put-my-aggression/) [Ryan Gosling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-gosling/) > [I'm not very good at knowing what people want. I don't have that talent. The best I can do is make films that resonate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-gosling/i-m-not-very-good-at-knowing-what-people-want-i-don-t-have-that/) [Ryan Gosling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-gosling/) > [I read a lot of script. In my opinion, most of them aren't good or aren't about people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-gosling/i-read-a-lot-of-script-in-my-opinion-most-of-them-aren-t-good-or-aren/) [Ryan Gosling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-gosling/) > [I left Canada to come to Hollywood to make movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-gosling/i-left-canada-to-come-to-hollywood-to-make-movies/) [Ryan Gosling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-gosling/) > [What a lot of people don't understand about the NC-17, which I didn't understand, is that you can't show it in major theater chains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-gosling/what-a-lot-of-people-don-t-understand-about-the-nc-17-which-i-didn-t/) [Ryan Gosling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-gosling/) > [I think about death a lot, like I think we all do. I don't think of suicide as an option, but as fun. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-gosling/i-think-about-death-a-lot-like-i-think-we-all-do-i-don-t-think-of/) [Ryan Gosling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-gosling/) > [Acting isn't that hard, really. I mean, I think that people make a big deal about it, but you just kind of try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-gosling/acting-isn-t-that-hard-really-i-mean-i-think-that-people-make-a-big/) [Ryan Gosling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-gosling/) [Explore all 196 Ryan Gosling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-gosling/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) [Greg Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-perry/) > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. 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This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) [Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I know there are only so many characters I'll be able to play.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ryan Gosling" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-gosling/i-know-there-are-only-so-many-characters-i-ll-be-able-to-play/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Able" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-gosling/i-know-there-are-only-so-many-characters-i-ll-be-able-to-play/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/311/ryan-gosling-1941_able_i-know-there-are-only-so-many-characters_1556318.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/311/ryan-gosling-1941_able_i-know-there-are-only-so-many-characters_1556318.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/311/ryan-gosling-1941_able_i-know-there-are-only-so-many-characters_1556318.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I know there are only so many characters I'll be able to play.” — Ryan Gosling", "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": "Ryan Gosling", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-gosling/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I know there are only so...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-gosling/i-know-there-are-only-so-many-characters-i-ll-be-able-to-play/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-gosling/i-know-there-are-only-so-many-characters-i-ll-be-able-to-play/#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 } } ] } ```