--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I got obsessed with impersonations…" description: "\"I got obsessed with impersonations: impersonating people that I knew - people, not famous people but people like my family. At first, it was just fun; ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e9/stephan-james-17537_family_i-got-obsessed-with-impersonations-imper_2411047.jpg" --- # I got obsessed with impersonations: impersonating people… ![“I got obsessed with impersonations: impersonating people that I knew - people, not famous people but people like my family. At first, it was just fun; it's always been just fun. But I sort of got to a point in maybe seventh or eighth grade where I started getting heavily involved in drama programs…” quote by Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e9/stephan-james-17537_family_i-got-obsessed-with-impersonations-imper_2411047.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e9/stephan-james-17537_family_i-got-obsessed-with-impersonations-imper_2411047.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e9/stephan-james-17537_family_i-got-obsessed-with-impersonations-imper_2411047.jpg) > “I got obsessed with impersonations: impersonating people that I knew - people, not famous people but people like my family. At first, it was just fun; it's always been just fun. But I sort of got to a point in maybe seventh or eighth grade where I started getting heavily involved in drama programs via programs in my high school.” [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Impersonating familiar people sparked a lifelong passion for drama, turning play into serious artistic pursuit. **In simple terms:** Playing others led to a deep love of theater. Key Takeaway Explore roles that reflect real people. Themes creativity identity artistic development Mood playful introspective Type inspirational creative When to use this quote - school drama clubs - community theater - improv workshops - character study - writing scripts Key Concepts theatre psychology performance studies Questions to Reflect On - How does portraying real people affect your own identity? - What boundaries exist between imitation and authenticity? A Different Perspective Focusing on imitation may limit original expression; balance is needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Famous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/famous/) [Famous people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/famous-people/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [High](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Impersonating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impersonating-295220/) [Impersonating People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impersonating-people-295219/) [Impersonations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impersonations-492229/) [Impersonations Impersonating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impersonations-impersonating-6070080/) [Obsessed Impersonations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsessed-impersonations-6070081/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [I've been doing comedy for 20 years now. I started when I was 13 and I think for the first 10 years I was impersonating other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-martin/i-ve-been-doing-comedy-for-20-years-now-i-started-when-i-was-13-and-i/) [Mae Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-martin/) > [I was impersonating people way, way, way early, as far back as I can remember. And I would do people on my street for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-armisen/i-was-impersonating-people-way-way-way-early-as-far-back-as-i-can/) [Fred Armisen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-armisen/) > [I saw some pretty famous people, but when I tell you I saw Steve Urkel, I just dropped everything. I started impersonating him. Of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-parsons/i-saw-some-pretty-famous-people-but-when-i-tell-you-i-saw-steve-urkel/) [Micah Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-parsons/) > [There are people who do De Niro and Walken impersonations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-michael-hall/there-are-people-who-do-de-niro-and-walken-impersonations/) [Anthony Michael Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-michael-hall/) > [Most drag impersonations are a drag. But women can like Geraldine, men can like Geraldine, everyone can like Geraldine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flip-wilson/most-drag-impersonations-are-a-drag-but-women-can-like-geraldine-men/) [Flip Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flip-wilson/) > [It's funny; recently I've started to notice people's impersonations of me, and it's basically like a hyperactive child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/it-s-funny-recently-i-ve-started-to-notice-people-s-impersonations-of/) [Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/) > [The one thing I could do was voices and impersonations and weird characters, and there was really no call for that, except on Saturday…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hartman/the-one-thing-i-could-do-was-voices-and-impersonations-and-weird/) [Phil Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hartman/) > [All I can tell you with certainty is that I, for one, have no self, and that I am unwilling or unable to perpetrate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/all-i-can-tell-you-with-certainty-is-that-i-for-one-have-no-self-and/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [Even when I was at 'SNL,' I didn't do impersonations. I always wanted to be the kind of person who could do them -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/even-when-i-was-at-snl-i-didn-t-do-impersonations-i-always-wanted-to/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [I love how much people are drawn to my 'impersonations' of Trump because they aren't really impersonations at all. I'm not trying to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-cooper/i-love-how-much-people-are-drawn-to-my-impersonations-of-trump/) [Sarah Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-cooper/) > [The truth of the matter is, all of those guys on Star Trek: The Next Generation actually want to be me. These impersonations they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-stewart/the-truth-of-the-matter-is-all-of-those-guys-on-star-trek-the-next/) [Patrick Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-stewart/) > [I love doing impersonations of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/i-love-doing-impersonations-of-people/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [I can't say I ever wanted to become an entertainer. I already was one, sort of-around the house, at school, doing my magic tricks,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/i-can-t-say-i-ever-wanted-to-become-an-entertainer-i-already-was-one/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [Nobody can imitate me. You can always see impersonations of Katharine Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe. But not me. Because I've always drawn on myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-crawford/nobody-can-imitate-me-you-can-always-see-impersonations-of-katharine/) [Joan Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-crawford/) > [I used to do impersonations: Harry Butler in the wild, or I'd do Gough Whitlam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wenham/i-used-to-do-impersonations-harry-butler-in-the-wild-or-i-d-do-gough/) [David Wenham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wenham/) ## More by Stephan James > [What I've learned about that word is context, where the world is coming from - in the era the film is set, it obviously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/what-i-ve-learned-about-that-word-is-context-where-the-world-is/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [My parents are from Jamaica, and I love reggae music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/my-parents-are-from-jamaica-and-i-love-reggae-music/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [John Lewis is such a remarkable human being. Literally, such a beautiful human being. I remember the first time I met him. We were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/john-lewis-is-such-a-remarkable-human-being-literally-such-a/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [Jesse Owens had to be a very strong person. There were a lot of protests, but I think that he knew, despite the pressure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/jesse-owens-had-to-be-a-very-strong-person-there-were-a-lot-of/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [I want to be a superhero, I want to be Spider-Man or Batman. Will you let me know if you have any connections? Let's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/i-want-to-be-a-superhero-i-want-to-be-spider-man-or-batman-will-you/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [I enjoy challenging perspective - challenging ideas of what it means to be a black man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/i-enjoy-challenging-perspective-challenging-ideas-of-what-it-means-to/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [I really believe in speaking things into existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/i-really-believe-in-speaking-things-into-existence/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [I care a lot about who I'm working with as directors and other actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/i-care-a-lot-about-who-i-m-working-with-as-directors-and-other-actors/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [When is not a good time to speak up for our vets and support them in any way that we can?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/when-is-not-a-good-time-to-speak-up-for-our-vets-and-support-them-in/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [Everything I do is just an opportunity to tell a great story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/everything-i-do-is-just-an-opportunity-to-tell-a-great-story/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [I feel like I've always been an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/i-feel-like-i-ve-always-been-an-actor/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [We have to start creating more material that gives a platform for people of colour, for women, for old people and young people alike…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/we-have-to-start-creating-more-material-that-gives-a-platform-for/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [The issue of racism happens all over the world. Granted, people - especially Americans - don't know the the Canadian culture. But if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/the-issue-of-racism-happens-all-over-the-world-granted-people/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [I've been a big fan of Barry Jenkins for a long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/i-ve-been-a-big-fan-of-barry-jenkins-for-a-long-time/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [I know I'm a black actor, but really, I'm an actor who happens to be black.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/i-know-i-m-a-black-actor-but-really-i-m-an-actor-who-happens-to-be/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) [Explore all 37 Stephan James quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) ## More Family quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [One can put some trust in the gratitude of a sovereign, and also in that of his family; under certain conditions, one can even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/one-can-put-some-trust-in-the-gratitude-of-a-sovereign-and-also-in/) [Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/) > [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/) > [“ever day Maureen is Selfish To her friend and Family One she get mad at her friend and family and She need to Grad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-andeson/ever-day-maureen-is-selfish-to-her-friend-and-family-one-she-get-mad/) [Maureen Andeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-andeson/) > [Our concept of a family holiday was going to a guest house in the Lake district or Wales where walking was part of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/our-concept-of-a-family-holiday-was-going-to-a-guest-house-in-the/) [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) > [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. "But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I have friends and family that identify as LGBTQ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mace/i-have-friends-and-family-that-identify-as-lgbtq/) [Nancy Mace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mace/) > [Her dignity consists in being unknown to the world; her glory is in the esteem of her husband; her pleasures in the happiness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/her-dignity-consists-in-being-unknown-to-the-world-her-glory-is-in/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [It's not just that families can't buy a home or start a business without some savings tucked away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/it-s-not-just-that-families-can-t-buy-a-home-or-start-a-business/) [Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/) > [“She knew how to play him so very well. He slipped his hand around hers. "Friends," he repeated roughly. Her smile was bright enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-smith/she-knew-how-to-play-him-so-very-well-he-slipped-his-hand-around-hers/) [Kathryn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-smith/) > [As a family, we all loved the Flyers. To me, rooting for the Flyers were how I bonded with my dad especially.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-f-goldberg/as-a-family-we-all-loved-the-flyers-to-me-rooting-for-the-flyers-were/) [Adam F. Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-f-goldberg/) > [The people have always been family to me here in Las Vegas. The people have always been very, very kind to me, and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-cunningham/the-people-have-always-been-family-to-me-here-in-las-vegas-the-people/) [Randall Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-cunningham/) > [“Your relationship with your brother will be, in many ways, the most complex and bewildering of all the interpersonal connections you will form. An…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-currie-jr/your-relationship-with-your-brother-will-be-in-many-ways-the-most/) [Ron Currie Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-currie-jr/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Family over friends, because real friends are family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/family-over-friends-because-real-friends-are-family/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 36,913 Family quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I got obsessed with impersonations: impersonating people that I knew - people, not famous people but people like my family. 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