--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I like character-driven stuff. It doesn't…" description: "\"I like character-driven stuff. It doesn't matter, the size of the part.\" — Steve Buscemi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f09/steve-buscemi-5055_character_i-like-character-driven-stuff-it-doesn-t_1756527.jpg" --- # I like character-driven stuff. It doesn't matter, the size… ![“I like character-driven stuff. It doesn't matter, the size of the part.” quote by Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f09/steve-buscemi-5055_character_i-like-character-driven-stuff-it-doesn-t_1756527.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f09/steve-buscemi-5055_character_i-like-character-driven-stuff-it-doesn-t_1756527.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f09/steve-buscemi-5055_character_i-like-character-driven-stuff-it-doesn-t_1756527.jpg) > “I like character-driven stuff. It doesn't matter, the size of the part.” [Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He values character depth over role size, focusing on storytelling quality. **In simple terms:** He prefers strong characters regardless of part size. Key Takeaway Seek roles that challenge you, not just showcase you. Themes craft character acting artistry Mood thoughtful inspired Type professional creative When to use this quote - theatre - indie film - TV series - auditions Key Concepts method acting character study Questions to Reflect On - What makes a character compelling to you? - How do you find depth in minor roles? A Different Perspective Large roles can still lack depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Driven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driven/) ## Related quotes > [We have always found that, if the principles were right, the area over which they were affected did not matter. Size is only a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/we-have-always-found-that-if-the-principles-were-right-the-area-over/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [I like character-driven stuff that shows humanity and something that can make people think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-marc-vallee/i-like-character-driven-stuff-that-shows-humanity-and-something-that/) [Jean-Marc Vallee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-marc-vallee/) > [I'd like to be taken in charge of as an actor, not to be abandoned with asinine dialogue and meaningless actions or stereotyped characters.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xavier-dolan/i-d-like-to-be-taken-in-charge-of-as-an-actor-not-to-be-abandoned/) [Xavier Dolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xavier-dolan/) > [Monumental is not a matter of size.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-paley/monumental-is-not-a-matter-of-size/) Albert Paley > [Its not the size of a person thats really matter; its size WITHIN a person thats really matter the most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wazim-shaw/its-not-the-size-of-a-person-thats-really-matter-its-size-within-a/) [Wazim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wazim-shaw/) > [I've always been interested in character-driven pieces, and my approach to directing is through acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/i-ve-always-been-interested-in-character-driven-pieces-and-my/) [Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/) > [I'm probably more character-driven than plot-driven. It's rare for me to attach myself to an idea for a story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-soderbergh/i-m-probably-more-character-driven-than-plot-driven-it-s-rare-for-me/) [Steven Soderbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-soderbergh/) > [Maybe there is a sort of a sweet middle ground there, where you can do something with something with like 20 to 40 million…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-jones/maybe-there-is-a-sort-of-a-sweet-middle-ground-there-where-you-can-do/) [Duncan Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-jones/) > [I'm character-driven. If it's a great character and something different; because I find that a lot of the times you do get pigeon-holed, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-cook/i-m-character-driven-if-it-s-a-great-character-and-something/) [A. J. Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-cook/) > [I've always liked game shows - the competitive aspect and the character-driven personalities you see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apolo-ohno/i-ve-always-liked-game-shows-the-competitive-aspect-and-the-character/) [Apolo Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apolo-ohno/) > [“At this point in the story, the character looks at himself. He takes stock of where he is in the conflict and––depending on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-scott-bell/at-this-point-in-the-story-the-character-looks-at-himself-he-takes/) [James Scott Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-scott-bell/) > [I seek a diverse spectrum of roles. If I just was in a large-budget feature for a younger audience, then I want to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-monaghan/i-seek-a-diverse-spectrum-of-roles-if-i-just-was-in-a-large-budget/) [Cameron Monaghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-monaghan/) > [I'm not a huge fan of very plotty shows. I'm much more of a fan of character-driven stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-esmail/i-m-not-a-huge-fan-of-very-plotty-shows-i-m-much-more-of-a-fan-of/) [Sam Esmail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-esmail/) > [I think a writer's first job is to entertain, even in novels: to tell a compelling story that pulls the reader along toward an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-hawley/i-think-a-writer-s-first-job-is-to-entertain-even-in-novels-to-tell-a/) [Noah Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-hawley/) > [Those are my favorite kinds of movies, where the plots are quite small and character-driven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-goth/those-are-my-favorite-kinds-of-movies-where-the-plots-are-quite-small/) [Mia Goth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-goth/) ## More by Steve Buscemi > [I suppose things are better now, but ... I don't know. People still hate each other, they just know how to hide it better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/i-suppose-things-are-better-now-but-i-don-t-know-people-still-hate/) [Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/) > [I read the script and decide if a particular character looks fun to play. I look for complexity and a sense of humor. Those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/i-read-the-script-and-decide-if-a-particular-character-looks-fun-to/) [Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/) > [Bob Altman had this relaxed but serious attitude. Everybody loved him. I wanted him to adopt me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/bob-altman-had-this-relaxed-but-serious-attitude-everybody-loved-him/) [Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/) > [I never know what I'm going to get. A 'Sopranos' fan is very different from a 'Big Lebowski' fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/i-never-know-what-i-m-going-to-get-a-sopranos-fan-is-very-different/) [Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/) > [Nothing's really changed for me over the years. I like telling stories about people with problems. I can't really put it much simpler than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/nothing-s-really-changed-for-me-over-the-years-i-like-telling-stories/) [Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/) > [I don't tend to think of the characters i play as losers. I like the struggles that people have, people who are feeling like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/i-don-t-tend-to-think-of-the-characters-i-play-as-losers-i-like-the/) [Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/) > [Casting is everything. Getting the person that you imagined is this character and then seeing what they bring to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/casting-is-everything-getting-the-person-that-you-imagined-is-this/) [Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/) > [I like the struggles that people have, people who are feeling like they don't fit into society, because I still sort of feel that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/i-like-the-struggles-that-people-have-people-who-are-feeling-like/) [Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/) > [Anything you write, even if you have to start over, is valuable. I let the story write itself through the characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/anything-you-write-even-if-you-have-to-start-over-is-valuable-i-let/) [Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/) > [I never did improv professionally, but that was certainly in my training as an actor. I like it. Actually, when I did theater, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/i-never-did-improv-professionally-but-that-was-certainly-in-my/) [Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/) > [When I was doing stand-up, I was about twenty, and I really think that that's a little too young. I didn't have a whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/when-i-was-doing-stand-up-i-was-about-twenty-and-i-really-think-that/) [Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/) > [With Animal Factory you'd think that because it's mostly interiors, you could shoot it anywhere. So we shot this in Philadelphia, and we had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/with-animal-factory-you-d-think-that-because-it-s-mostly-interiors/) [Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/) > [I never made a daring rescue, which is the story people want to hear. I did go to my share of fires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/i-never-made-a-daring-rescue-which-is-the-story-people-want-to-hear-i/) [Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/) > [I never want to feel like the way that I see it isthe only way. Sometimes mistakes happen and that's better than whatyou thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/i-never-want-to-feel-like-the-way-that-i-see-it-isthe-only-way/) [Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/) > [I was very surprised that for a while I could only get cast as straight. It was that way for a few years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/i-was-very-surprised-that-for-a-while-i-could-only-get-cast-as/) [Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/) [Explore all 103 Steve Buscemi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/) ## More Character 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/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [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/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) David Hudgins > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [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/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [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/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I like character-driven stuff. 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