--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Once you're sort of pigeonholed into…" description: "\"Once you're sort of pigeonholed into something, it's quite difficult to get out of it. I have no aversion to playing a gay character again, but it woul..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a09/sarah-shahi-8734_actors_once-you-re-sort-of-pigeonholed-into-som_2524965.jpg" --- # Once you're sort of pigeonholed into something, it's quite… ![“Once you're sort of pigeonholed into something, it's quite difficult to get out of it. I have no aversion to playing a gay character again, but it would definitely have to be the right role.” quote by Sarah Shahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a09/sarah-shahi-8734_actors_once-you-re-sort-of-pigeonholed-into-som_2524965.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a09/sarah-shahi-8734_actors_once-you-re-sort-of-pigeonholed-into-som_2524965.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a09/sarah-shahi-8734_actors_once-you-re-sort-of-pigeonholed-into-som_2524965.jpg) > “Once you're sort of pigeonholed into something, it's quite difficult to get out of it. I have no aversion to playing a gay character again, but it would definitely have to be the right role.” [Sarah Shahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-shahi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being typecast limits growth; choosing roles wisely matters. **In simple terms:** Avoid being pigeonholed. Key Takeaway Select roles that challenge you. Themes career typecasting authenticity Mood determined optimistic Type interview motivational When to use this quote - acting auditions - career planning - public speaking Key Concepts identity politics professional development Questions to Reflect On - How can you expand your range? - What role defines you? A Different Perspective Industry pressures may force compromise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Aversion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aversion/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) ## Related quotes > [I’m quite flirtatious with anyone. Some people, because I’m playing a gay character, get quite nervous. And I have to reassure them. I’m like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-james-collier/i-m-quite-flirtatious-with-anyone-some-people-because-i-m-playing-a/) [Rob James-Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-james-collier/) > [Honestly, I think some of my family members of a certain generation were more skittish about me playing a gay character on Six Feet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-c-hall/honestly-i-think-some-of-my-family-members-of-a-certain-generation/) [Michael C. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-c-hall/) > [Movie stars exaggerate certain things to let the audience know they're just playing a character, as if they're saying, "Look at me, I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-hanson/movie-stars-exaggerate-certain-things-to-let-the-audience-know-they/) [Curtis Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-hanson/) > [The question people ask me all the time is, 'How was it playing a gay character? How was it pretending to love a man?'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevante-rhodes/the-question-people-ask-me-all-the-time-is-how-was-it-playing-a-gay/) [Trevante Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevante-rhodes/) > [If someone doesn't want to work with me because I'm playing a gay character, I don't want to work with them. They can fck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gale-harold/if-someone-doesn-t-want-to-work-with-me-because-i-m-playing-a-gay/) [Gale Harold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gale-harold/) > [I thought my character definitely was very much in love with him and wanted to be with him, but I think at some point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosario-dawson/i-thought-my-character-definitely-was-very-much-in-love-with-him-and/) [Rosario Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosario-dawson/) > [Playing a real-life character is definitely a lot more responsibility than one that is fictionalized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lacey-chabert/playing-a-real-life-character-is-definitely-a-lot-more-responsibility/) [Lacey Chabert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lacey-chabert/) > [I thought he was an interesting central figure, central character, one who is definitely not your typical central character figure in a film, who's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-warburton/i-thought-he-was-an-interesting-central-figure-central-character-one/) [Patrick Warburton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-warburton/) > [In 'Breaking Bad,' we have a lead character who definitely finds himself in a situation he would never have expected to find himself in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-maclaren/in-breaking-bad-we-have-a-lead-character-who-definitely-finds-himself/) [Michelle MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-maclaren/) > [ I know I'm not normal in this, but \[ Severus \] Snape is absolutely my favorite character in the Harry Potter books. He is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-chance/i-know-i-m-not-normal-in-this-but-severus-snape-is-absolutely-my/) [Megan Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-chance/) > [The taboo for straight actors playing gay is gone... My mother was squirming a bit in the theater because she comes from a different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-cain/the-taboo-for-straight-actors-playing-gay-is-gone-my-mother-was/) [Dean Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-cain/) > [I'm obviously comfortable with my feminine side! I didn't have any reservations playing a gay guy as it was kind of a neat idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-perry/i-m-obviously-comfortable-with-my-feminine-side-i-didn-t-have-any/) [Matthew Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-perry/) > [I didn't have enough trepidation about playing a gay funeral director not to play it. I didn't have enough trepidation about playing a serial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-c-hall-2/i-didn-t-have-enough-trepidation-about-playing-a-gay-funeral-director/) [Michael C Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-c-hall-2/) > [There have been amazing performances by straight people playing gay and by gay people playing straight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-bailey/there-have-been-amazing-performances-by-straight-people-playing-gay/) [Jonathan Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-bailey/) > [It's hard enough to be a heterosexual playing gay and not having the gay gestures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-sieber/it-s-hard-enough-to-be-a-heterosexual-playing-gay-and-not-having-the/) Christopher Sieber ## More by Sarah Shahi > [I'm attracted to playing characters that have flaws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-shahi/i-m-attracted-to-playing-characters-that-have-flaws/) [Sarah Shahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-shahi/) > [I want to be the most famous actor the world's ever seen. I don't want to be able to walk down the street or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-shahi/i-want-to-be-the-most-famous-actor-the-world-s-ever-seen-i-don-t-want/) [Sarah Shahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-shahi/) > [I know it sounds weird, but my definition of 'sexy' has changed as I've gotten older. And being smart and informed makes me feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-shahi/i-know-it-sounds-weird-but-my-definition-of-sexy-has-changed-as-i-ve/) [Sarah Shahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-shahi/) > [My mother raised three kids on her own, so I was taught that to be a working mom was a good thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-shahi/my-mother-raised-three-kids-on-her-own-so-i-was-taught-that-to-be-a/) [Sarah Shahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-shahi/) > [The goal as an actor is to constantly surround yourself with amazing artists who challenge you and make you grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-shahi/the-goal-as-an-actor-is-to-constantly-surround-yourself-with-amazing/) [Sarah Shahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-shahi/) > [We try to make the comedy situations more natural and organic .You don't want to be cutesy for cutesy's sake but the writers have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-shahi/we-try-to-make-the-comedy-situations-more-natural-and-organic-you-don/) [Sarah Shahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-shahi/) > [I know social rules in Iran are very conservative and I am very respectful for that, and every type of culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-shahi/i-know-social-rules-in-iran-are-very-conservative-and-i-am-very/) [Sarah Shahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-shahi/) > [The most important mark I will leave on this world is my son.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-shahi/the-most-important-mark-i-will-leave-on-this-world-is-my-son/) [Sarah Shahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-shahi/) > [I just like to go where the material is, whether that's TV, or movies, or the stage. As long as it's great writing, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-shahi/i-just-like-to-go-where-the-material-is-whether-that-s-tv-or-movies/) [Sarah Shahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-shahi/) > [You know, I never really paid attention to sports, which, coming from the mecca of football in Texas, is kind of odd. I played…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-shahi/you-know-i-never-really-paid-attention-to-sports-which-coming-from/) [Sarah Shahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-shahi/) > [Just because we are women doesn't mean the only roles we can play are that of the finger-shaking girlfriend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-shahi/just-because-we-are-women-doesn-t-mean-the-only-roles-we-can-play-are/) [Sarah Shahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-shahi/) > [NFL cheerleading is harder than most people think. They train up to six hours every day with games on Sundays. They gave me a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-shahi/nfl-cheerleading-is-harder-than-most-people-think-they-train-up-to/) [Sarah Shahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-shahi/) > [I think it's important to love what you do and have a good time with it. I go to work every day and have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-shahi/i-think-it-s-important-to-love-what-you-do-and-have-a-good-time-with/) [Sarah Shahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-shahi/) > [To sit next to Walter Hill, and to be able to exchange ideas back and forth, and for him to be able to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-shahi/to-sit-next-to-walter-hill-and-to-be-able-to-exchange-ideas-back-and/) [Sarah Shahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-shahi/) > [I don't really like 'acting' - I like things to feel as natural as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-shahi/i-don-t-really-like-acting-i-like-things-to-feel-as-natural-as/) [Sarah Shahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-shahi/) [Explore all 78 Sarah Shahi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-shahi/) ## More Actors quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/) [Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [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/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [When we watch a film as actors, you have to understand that we always see much more than what's on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/when-we-watch-a-film-as-actors-you-have-to-understand-that-we-always/) [Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/) > [As actors, you become an expert at starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-actors-you-become-an-expert-at-starting-over/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [A rapper is about being completely true to yourself. Being an actor is about changing who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/a-rapper-is-about-being-completely-true-to-yourself-being-an-actor-is/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [I've been a professional actor for almost 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-been-a-professional-actor-for-almost-40-years/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [American actors are coy. We all have pricks and cunts, or are you different from the rest of us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/american-actors-are-coy-we-all-have-pricks-and-cunts-or-are-you/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) [Browse all 11,394 Actors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Once you're sort of pigeonholed into something, it's quite difficult to get out of it. 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