--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you play a character you have to ask…" description: "\"When you play a character you have to ask yourself, 'Can I make sense of what's happening here? Is this authentic?'\" — Stephen Moyer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/578/stephen-moyer-15622_ask_when-you-play-a-character-you-have-to-as_3230828.png" --- # When you play a character you have to ask yourself, 'Can I… ![“When you play a character you have to ask yourself, 'Can I make sense of what's happening here? Is this authentic?'” quote by Stephen Moyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/578/stephen-moyer-15622_ask_when-you-play-a-character-you-have-to-as_3230828.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/578/stephen-moyer-15622_ask_when-you-play-a-character-you-have-to-as_3230828.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/578/stephen-moyer-15622_ask_when-you-play-a-character-you-have-to-as_3230828.png) > “When you play a character you have to ask yourself, 'Can I make sense of what's happening here? Is this authentic?'” [Stephen Moyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-moyer/) ## 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 must ensure their performance feels genuine and understandable to the audience. **In simple terms:** Act with authenticity and clarity. Key Takeaway Seek truth in every role. Themes authenticity interpretation performance Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type acting self‑reflection When to use this quote - theatre - film - rehearsals - character development Key Concepts Method acting character analysis Questions to Reflect On - What makes a character feel real? - How do you balance personal truth with script? A Different Perspective Authenticity can be limited by script constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask/) [Ask yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-yourself/) [Authentic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authentic/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character Ask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-ask-3219756/) [Happening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happening/) [Happening Authentic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happening-authentic-6111669/) [Here](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/here/) [Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make/) [Make sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-sense/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-character-336271/) [Sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) [Yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yourself/) ## Related quotes > [Integrity: A name is the blueprint of the thing we call character. You ask, What's in a name? I answer, Just about everything you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-mandel/integrity-a-name-is-the-blueprint-of-the-thing-we-call-character-you/) [Morris Mandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-mandel/) > [“Can I ask you a question?” he asks as we complete our first loop on the train. “Okay,” I say, warily, not sure what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-harper/can-i-ask-you-a-question-he-asks-as-we-complete-our-first-loop-on-the/) [Emily Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-harper/) > [I'd play the same character for ten years if the words and the moments that I'm playing are authentic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-walton/i-d-play-the-same-character-for-ten-years-if-the-words-and-the/) [David Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-walton/) > [The script should be exciting enough for me to play the character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pratik-gandhi/the-script-should-be-exciting-enough-for-me-to-play-the-character/) [Pratik Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pratik-gandhi/) > [Fried Green Tomatoes' is the first time I got to play a character with some depth and some complexity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-searcy/fried-green-tomatoes-is-the-first-time-i-got-to-play-a-character-with/) [Nick Searcy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-searcy/) > [Nobody wants to play - I've talked to Brent Spiner about this. You don't want to play a character indefinitely who's not supposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-picardo/nobody-wants-to-play-i-ve-talked-to-brent-spiner-about-this-you-don-t/) [Robert Picardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-picardo/) > [My only job is to act and play the character truthfully and honestly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajkummar-rao/my-only-job-is-to-act-and-play-the-character-truthfully-and-honestly/) [Rajkummar Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajkummar-rao/) > [I think it's every actor's dream to play a character that's really odd, and you know no one wants to play himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-claflin/i-think-it-s-every-actor-s-dream-to-play-a-character-that-s-really/) [Sam Claflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-claflin/) > [You know, the truth is that us actors would all like to believe we re-invent the wheel, every time we play a character. But,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-reilly/you-know-the-truth-is-that-us-actors-would-all-like-to-believe-we-re/) [John C. Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-reilly/) > [I'd rather play a character that was really, really different to me as to someone who is quite close to my character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-felton/i-d-rather-play-a-character-that-was-really-really-different-to-me-as/) [Tom Felton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-felton/) > [That's what's so great, I get to play any character in the world. And I think that's one of the things that makes doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-lapkus/that-s-what-s-so-great-i-get-to-play-any-character-in-the-world-and-i/) [Lauren Lapkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-lapkus/) > [I like playing these awkward moments in between that build relationships. I don’t ever want to play that character that grabs the girl and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-reedus/i-like-playing-these-awkward-moments-in-between-that-build/) [Norman Reedus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-reedus/) > [If I could play any character from the book though it’d be Church. Who wouldn’t want to be a cat?!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-campbell-bower/if-i-could-play-any-character-from-the-book-though-it-d-be-church-who/) [Jamie Campbell Bower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-campbell-bower/) > [Every so often you read a play and a character just speaks to you - almost seems to speak through you, in fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rickman/every-so-often-you-read-a-play-and-a-character-just-speaks-to-you/) [Alan Rickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rickman/) > [I agree to play a character if I feel that as an audience member, it will entertain me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babu-antony/i-agree-to-play-a-character-if-i-feel-that-as-an-audience-member-it/) [Babu Antony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babu-antony/) ## More by Stephen Moyer > [There is a difference between looking all right in a shirt and taking the shirt off. The older that us dudes get, the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-moyer/there-is-a-difference-between-looking-all-right-in-a-shirt-and-taking/) [Stephen Moyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-moyer/) > [The position of power and having to make decisions that you don't necessarily want to make is always good conflict and good drama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-moyer/the-position-of-power-and-having-to-make-decisions-that-you-don-t/) [Stephen Moyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-moyer/) > [I didn't want to do film or commercials or television. That was cheap. That was selling out. I was the classic liberal, left-wing, 'Theater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-moyer/i-didn-t-want-to-do-film-or-commercials-or-television-that-was-cheap/) [Stephen Moyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-moyer/) > [A film that I love is 'Raising Arizona' and that's funny but it's quite indie and weird and odd and quirky. I'd love to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-moyer/a-film-that-i-love-is-raising-arizona-and-that-s-funny-but-it-s-quite/) [Stephen Moyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-moyer/) > [I love the fact you can walk down a street in London and get lost, even though you've lived here 20 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-moyer/i-love-the-fact-you-can-walk-down-a-street-in-london-and-get-lost/) [Stephen Moyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-moyer/) > [You know, men would much rather run away than talk about stuff, and my default setting has always been, 'If you have an argument,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-moyer/you-know-men-would-much-rather-run-away-than-talk-about-stuff-and-my/) [Stephen Moyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-moyer/) > [One of the things that I've been trying to do with my characters, one of the things that does lead to me turning things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-moyer/one-of-the-things-that-i-ve-been-trying-to-do-with-my-characters-one/) [Stephen Moyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-moyer/) > [I think half of what a trainer does is make you feel shame if you dont show up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-moyer/i-think-half-of-what-a-trainer-does-is-make-you-feel-shame-if-you/) [Stephen Moyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-moyer/) > [Marmite is my little English touch, and I'm crazy for chutneys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-moyer/marmite-is-my-little-english-touch-and-i-m-crazy-for-chutneys/) [Stephen Moyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-moyer/) > [HBO Go is a fantastic way to spend your time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-moyer/hbo-go-is-a-fantastic-way-to-spend-your-time/) [Stephen Moyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-moyer/) > [I was a mod when I was a kid. I'd be in Italian pencil-leg trousers with those bowling shoes you wear outside and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-moyer/i-was-a-mod-when-i-was-a-kid-i-d-be-in-italian-pencil-leg-trousers/) [Stephen Moyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-moyer/) > [Conflict is drama, and how people deal with conflict shows you the kind of people they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-moyer/conflict-is-drama-and-how-people-deal-with-conflict-shows-you-the/) [Stephen Moyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-moyer/) > [Cardio is the devil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-moyer/cardio-is-the-devil/) [Stephen Moyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-moyer/) > [Even if you know that what you'll say will hurt a woman's feelings, I've learned that it's better to be truthful with her than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-moyer/even-if-you-know-that-what-you-ll-say-will-hurt-a-woman-s-feelings-i/) [Stephen Moyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-moyer/) > [If my missus is there and she approves of the person I get to bite boobs - and necks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-moyer/if-my-missus-is-there-and-she-approves-of-the-person-i-get-to-bite/) [Stephen Moyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-moyer/) [Explore all 42 Stephen Moyer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-moyer/) ## More Ask quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [I ask to be judged on the issue of unemployment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-hollande/i-ask-to-be-judged-on-the-issue-of-unemployment/) [Francois Hollande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-hollande/) > [When the only people in mainstream discourse who care about the working class are Wall Street investors, it really is time to ask where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/when-the-only-people-in-mainstream-discourse-who-care-about-the/) [Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/) > [I used to sit in front of McDonald's and ask people for dollars to get me a cheeseburger. It was bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-pain/i-used-to-sit-in-front-of-mcdonald-s-and-ask-people-for-dollars-to/) [T-Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-pain/) > [If you ask why I do what I do - I want to make a difference. I don't just want to maintain the status…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/if-you-ask-why-i-do-what-i-do-i-want-to-make-a-difference-i-don-t/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [Every morning when I pick up the newspaper and read about an earthquake in Japan or problems in European financial institutions, the first question…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-schapiro/every-morning-when-i-pick-up-the-newspaper-and-read-about-an/) [Mary Schapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-schapiro/) > [I follow a simple formula when I compose. I ask myself, 'What would the audience want to hear?' and 'Why would they buy my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-rahman/i-follow-a-simple-formula-when-i-compose-i-ask-myself-what-would-the/) [A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-rahman/) > [If you ask an actor what he'd prefer to act on, he'd probably say a tangible, real set, or even better, a real location…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/if-you-ask-an-actor-what-he-d-prefer-to-act-on-he-d-probably-say-a/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [It turns out that this part of the brain is one of the first areas that's attacked by Alzheimer's disease. So we can now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-keefe/it-turns-out-that-this-part-of-the-brain-is-one-of-the-first-areas/) [John O'Keefe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-keefe/) > [I prefer department stores. In boutiques, they come up and ask you if you need help. I can't get lost in the experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-netrebko/i-prefer-department-stores-in-boutiques-they-come-up-and-ask-you-if/) [Anna Netrebko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-netrebko/) > [A lot of people ask: 'Will you play a psycho to really change your image and prove you can act?' But that's not what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-efron/a-lot-of-people-ask-will-you-play-a-psycho-to-really-change-your/) [Zac Efron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-efron/) > [I'm not in the movie business anymore, and hardly any 70 year olds are. I always ask the producers: 'Are there no 70-year old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-dennehy/i-m-not-in-the-movie-business-anymore-and-hardly-any-70-year-olds-are/) [Brian Dennehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-dennehy/) > [I would ask my mum to feed my dolls and make sure they were tucked in when I went to school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-rankin/i-would-ask-my-mum-to-feed-my-dolls-and-make-sure-they-were-tucked-in/) [Gayle Rankin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gayle-rankin/) > [I certainly know that on our first tour of America in 1968, David Crosby came to see us backstage at the Fillmore East in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-hayward/i-certainly-know-that-on-our-first-tour-of-america-in-1968-david/) [Justin Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-hayward/) > [For the most part, if somebody approaches me and says, 'I'd like to interview you,' who am I to say no, when I spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/for-the-most-part-if-somebody-approaches-me-and-says-i-d-like-to/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) [Browse all 1,306 Ask quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you play a character you have to ask yourself, 'Can I make sense of what's happening here? 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