--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm certainly not who people think I am…" description: "\"I'm certainly not who people think I am. I always do whatever I want to do, and my films are personal to me.\" — Steve McQueen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f1/steve-mcqueen-11077_always_i-m-certainly-not-who-people-think-i-am_439858.png" --- # I'm certainly not who people think I am. I always do… ![“I'm certainly not who people think I am. I always do whatever I want to do, and my films are personal to me.” quote by Steve McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f1/steve-mcqueen-11077_always_i-m-certainly-not-who-people-think-i-am_439858.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f1/steve-mcqueen-11077_always_i-m-certainly-not-who-people-think-i-am_439858.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f1/steve-mcqueen-11077_always_i-m-certainly-not-who-people-think-i-am_439858.png) > “I'm certainly not who people think I am. I always do whatever I want to do, and my films are personal to me.” [Steve McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcqueen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker asserts personal authenticity, rejecting external labels and emphasizing creative independence. **In simple terms:** I am true to myself, not what others expect. Key Takeaway Embrace your own vision. Themes authenticity creativity individualism Mood defiant reflective Type artistic personal When to use this quote - filmmaking - personal branding - career decisions - creative projects Key Concepts self‑definition artistic integrity Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance personal expression with audience expectations? - What risks arise from defying external perceptions? A Different Perspective May alienate collaborators who prefer conformity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Films](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/films/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Personal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal/) ## Related quotes > [There certainly is no secret in that there are plenty of people who don't like plenty of my movies. Each one of my films…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-reitman/there-certainly-is-no-secret-in-that-there-are-plenty-of-people-who/) [Jason Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-reitman/) > [“It’s not just about entertainment. It’s about telling stories that audiences connect with emotionally. The way to do this is to make our films…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-levy/it-s-not-just-about-entertainment-it-s-about-telling-stories-that/) [Lawrence Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-levy/) > [I was very close to Mani Rabadi. She not only designed my clothes in some of my films, she was also a personal friend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharmila-tagore/i-was-very-close-to-mani-rabadi-she-not-only-designed-my-clothes-in/) [Sharmila Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharmila-tagore/) > [I think that to me, films are personal affairs. It doesn't mean that I am against other people doing things differently, but I'm talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamer-el-said/i-think-that-to-me-films-are-personal-affairs-it-doesn-t-mean-that-i/) [Tamer El Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamer-el-said/) > [Making films is - or should be - a very personal experience. You shouldn't listen to anybody, other than the people you choose to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-fontaine/making-films-is-or-should-be-a-very-personal-experience-you-shouldn-t/) [Anne Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-fontaine/) > [I do make films for personal reasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-haigh/i-do-make-films-for-personal-reasons/) [Andrew Haigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-haigh/) > [My films are personal-voice-driven films about human characters and the place we live. Technically, I'm an independent filmmaker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-jenkins/my-films-are-personal-voice-driven-films-about-human-characters-and/) [Barry Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-jenkins/) > [With journalism, films always have to be to do with some personal statement of your own. As a general rule, I resist that. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-daldry/with-journalism-films-always-have-to-be-to-do-with-some-personal/) [Stephen Daldry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-daldry/) > [I just want to make films that are personal, but interesting to an audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-anderson/i-just-want-to-make-films-that-are-personal-but-interesting-to-an/) [Wes Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-anderson/) > [I'd like to think that my films are personal enough to exist without hearkening back to their respective novels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-darabont/i-d-like-to-think-that-my-films-are-personal-enough-to-exist-without/) [Frank Darabont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-darabont/) > [My films are a personal reflection on the impact that the state - the system and the world - has on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vetrimaaran/my-films-are-a-personal-reflection-on-the-impact-that-the-state-the/) [Vetrimaaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vetrimaaran/) > [I want to try not to repeat myself. But then I seem to do it continuously in my films. It's not something I make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-anderson/i-want-to-try-not-to-repeat-myself-but-then-i-seem-to-do-it/) [Wes Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-anderson/) > [I make films that are very personal, and I always have. It's kind of the only thing that I think I have to offer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-sachs/i-make-films-that-are-very-personal-and-i-always-have-it-s-kind-of/) [Ira Sachs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-sachs/) > [Each one of my films is personal; each one of my films is emotionally autobiographical. And I like directors who do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-reitman/each-one-of-my-films-is-personal-each-one-of-my-films-is-emotionally/) [Jason Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-reitman/) > [If we cannot by reason, by influence, by example, by strenuous effort, and by personal sacrifice, mend the bad places of civilization, we certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/auberon-herbert/if-we-cannot-by-reason-by-influence-by-example-by-strenuous-effort/) [Auberon Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/auberon-herbert/) ## More by Steve McQueen > [Anything that doesn't make sense, I don't want to give too much of my brain to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcqueen/anything-that-doesn-t-make-sense-i-don-t-want-to-give-too-much-of-my/) [Steve McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcqueen/) > [I love actors. That's my bread and butter, and I got to work with some amazing ones on '12 Years'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcqueen/i-love-actors-that-s-my-bread-and-butter-and-i-got-to-work-with-some/) [Steve McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcqueen/) > [The camera movement should be like a cat jumping onto a table - with just enough amount of effort and that's it. That's enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcqueen/the-camera-movement-should-be-like-a-cat-jumping-onto-a-table-with/) [Steve McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcqueen/) > [You see, I don't believe in that grabbin' and grabbin' and stuffin yourself and not givin' anythin' or puttin' it back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcqueen/you-see-i-don-t-believe-in-that-grabbin-and-grabbin-and-stuffin/) [Steve McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcqueen/) > [When I did 'The Great Escape,' I kept thinking, 'If they were making a movie of my life, that's what they'd call it -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcqueen/when-i-did-the-great-escape-i-kept-thinking-if-they-were-making-a/) [Steve McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcqueen/) > [I really don't like to act. At the beginning, back in '51, I had to force myself to stick with it. I was real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcqueen/i-really-don-t-like-to-act-at-the-beginning-back-in-51-i-had-to-force/) [Steve McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcqueen/) > [I'm a filmmaker, so I always think: When is the breaking point? Sometimes you've got to go beyond the breaking point, and then you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcqueen/i-m-a-filmmaker-so-i-always-think-when-is-the-breaking-point/) [Steve McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcqueen/) > [The world is as good as you are. You've got to learn to like yourself first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcqueen/the-world-is-as-good-as-you-are-you-ve-got-to-learn-to-like-yourself/) [Steve McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcqueen/) > [Sometimes you have to say goodbye to the things you know and hello to the things you dont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcqueen/sometimes-you-have-to-say-goodbye-to-the-things-you-know-and-hello-to/) [Steve McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcqueen/) > [Often the best way to relax is just to go back to work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcqueen/often-the-best-way-to-relax-is-just-to-go-back-to-work/) [Steve McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcqueen/) > [Ill never be as good an actor as I want to be…but I'll be good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcqueen/ill-never-be-as-good-an-actor-as-i-want-to-be-but-i-ll-be-good/) [Steve McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcqueen/) > [I can't work in an environment where it's a stiff hierarchy; that's not my kind of way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcqueen/i-can-t-work-in-an-environment-where-it-s-a-stiff-hierarchy-that-s/) [Steve McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcqueen/) > [I need to have a reason why I'm doing something. Otherwise I'm lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcqueen/i-need-to-have-a-reason-why-i-m-doing-something-otherwise-i-m-lost/) [Steve McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcqueen/) > [One of the things that make motorcycling so great is because it never fails to give you a feeling of freedom and adventure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcqueen/one-of-the-things-that-make-motorcycling-so-great-is-because-it-never/) [Steve McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcqueen/) > [Sometimes you have to bend with the breeze or you break.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcqueen/sometimes-you-have-to-bend-with-the-breeze-or-you-break/) [Steve McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcqueen/) [Explore all 62 Steve McQueen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcqueen/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [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/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm certainly not who people think I am. I always do whatever I want to do, and my films are personal to me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steve McQueen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcqueen/i-m-certainly-not-who-people-think-i-am-i-always-do-whatever-i-want/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Always" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcqueen/i-m-certainly-not-who-people-think-i-am-i-always-do-whatever-i-want/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f1/steve-mcqueen-11077_always_i-m-certainly-not-who-people-think-i-am_439858.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f1/steve-mcqueen-11077_always_i-m-certainly-not-who-people-think-i-am_439858.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f1/steve-mcqueen-11077_always_i-m-certainly-not-who-people-think-i-am_439858.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm certainly not who people think I am. 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