--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every role you play is literally - and…" description: "\"Every role you play is literally - and I've said this before - every single role that you play, the only way you can connect to that character is becau..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/099/terrence-howard-10939_caught_every-role-you-play-is-literally-and-i-v_1269136.jpg" --- # Every role you play is literally - and I've said this… ![“Every role you play is literally - and I've said this before - every single role that you play, the only way you can connect to that character is because that was a piece of you that was scattered around that yard, almost like we got caught up in some whirlwind” quote by Terrence Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/099/terrence-howard-10939_caught_every-role-you-play-is-literally-and-i-v_1269136.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/099/terrence-howard-10939_caught_every-role-you-play-is-literally-and-i-v_1269136.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/099/terrence-howard-10939_caught_every-role-you-play-is-literally-and-i-v_1269136.jpg) > “Every role you play is literally - and I've said this before - every single role that you play, the only way you can connect to that character is because that was a piece of you that was scattered around that yard, almost like we got caught up in some whirlwind” [Terrence Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-howard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He explains that each role is a fragment of oneself, and connecting to a character requires integrating those scattered personal pieces. **In simple terms:** Roles are pieces of yourself you assemble. Key Takeaway Integrate personal experiences into performance. Themes acting identity craft Mood introspective practical Type performance psychological When to use this quote - theatre rehearsals - character workshops - personal journaling Key Concepts method acting self‑reflection Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain personal identity while embodying a character? - What techniques help separate self from role? A Different Perspective Over‑identifying can blur boundaries between self and role. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Caught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caught/) [Caught up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caught-up/) [Caught Whirlwind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caught-whirlwind-3843598/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Pieces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pieces/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play Literally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-literally-2527505/) [Role Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/role-play/) [Roles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roles/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Scattered Yard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scattered-yard-4061757/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Whirlwind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whirlwind/) [Yards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yards/) ## Related quotes > [“Don’t panic. It’s normal to get lost every once in a while. Caught up in a whirlwind, sometimes winds too get lost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhuwan-thapaliya/don-t-panic-it-s-normal-to-get-lost-every-once-in-a-while-caught-up/) [Bhuwan Thapaliya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhuwan-thapaliya/) > [I'm an actor, I can play anything. That's literally what I'm hired to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-cooper/i-m-an-actor-i-can-play-anything-that-s-literally-what-i-m-hired-to-do/) [Brett Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-cooper/) > [I love what I do and I think I have one of the best jobs out there; I get paid to do what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-korda/i-love-what-i-do-and-i-think-i-have-one-of-the-best-jobs-out-there-i/) [Jessica Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-korda/) > [It was really a pleasure to play someone who's literally pushed past her breaking point repeatedly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeri-ryan/it-was-really-a-pleasure-to-play-someone-who-s-literally-pushed-past/) [Jeri Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeri-ryan/) > [Know your role and play it very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/know-your-role-and-play-it-very-well/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [With any role I play, I find out what the human problem is first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-pellegrino/with-any-role-i-play-i-find-out-what-the-human-problem-is-first/) [Mark Pellegrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-pellegrino/) > [Sudesh Lahri spotted me in a park playing, and called me for a small role in a play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bharti-singh/sudesh-lahri-spotted-me-in-a-park-playing-and-called-me-for-a-small/) [Bharti Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bharti-singh/) > [You've got to leave the reader with more than just a name and a costume - they need to know who the character is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-busiek/you-ve-got-to-leave-the-reader-with-more-than-just-a-name-and-a/) [Kurt Busiek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-busiek/) > [I think that you have to find a piece of yourself in every role you play. If you don't believe what you're doing, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-jo-rupp/i-think-that-you-have-to-find-a-piece-of-yourself-in-every-role-you/) [Debra Jo Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-jo-rupp/) > [My role is to play out the full overs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babar-azam/my-role-is-to-play-out-the-full-overs/) [Babar Azam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babar-azam/) > [To me, any character that is conflicted inside as well as outside of themselves is always a better role to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-sexton/to-me-any-character-that-is-conflicted-inside-as-well-as-outside-of/) [Brent Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-sexton/) > [Any role I play, which is native or highlights native history or culture, whether or not it's laid out, I'm always going to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-gladstone/any-role-i-play-which-is-native-or-highlights-native-history-or/) [Lily Gladstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-gladstone/) > [The conversation topic in my head is not what role I should play; it is whether I am going to play at all,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonny-wilkinson/the-conversation-topic-in-my-head-is-not-what-role-i-should-play-it/) [Jonny Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonny-wilkinson/) > [The most interesting thing about movies is that with every role you get to play a different person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/koena-mitra/the-most-interesting-thing-about-movies-is-that-with-every-role-you/) [Koena Mitra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koena-mitra/) > [It's easy to diet or get off a diet when you've got a juicy role to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-cattrall/it-s-easy-to-diet-or-get-off-a-diet-when-you-ve-got-a-juicy-role-to/) [Kim Cattrall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-cattrall/) ## More by Terrence Howard > [I found from working on the film that I am a bigot, at times. And that I am also a coward, at times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-howard/i-found-from-working-on-the-film-that-i-am-a-bigot-at-times-and-that/) [Terrence Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-howard/) > [And when I stopped doing that and started thinking about what feels natural and what feels right to me and started pleasing myself, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-howard/and-when-i-stopped-doing-that-and-started-thinking-about-what-feels/) [Terrence Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-howard/) > [The difference with Cleveland is that the racial tension was not a casual taste of it. It was outlandish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-howard/the-difference-with-cleveland-is-that-the-racial-tension-was-not-a/) [Terrence Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-howard/) > [I've always had a natural fear of the police, or abuse of their power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-howard/i-ve-always-had-a-natural-fear-of-the-police-or-abuse-of-their-power/) [Terrence Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-howard/) > [If evolution works, why are monkeys still around?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-howard/if-evolution-works-why-are-monkeys-still-around/) [Terrence Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-howard/) > [The reason that I'm an actor, or an artist, is ultimately because I'm trying to paint a self-portrait, and the most complete and beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-howard/the-reason-that-i-m-an-actor-or-an-artist-is-ultimately-because-i-m/) [Terrence Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-howard/) > [The purpose of my life is being a father to my kids and being a husband to my wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-howard/the-purpose-of-my-life-is-being-a-father-to-my-kids-and-being-a/) [Terrence Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-howard/) > [When you hear buzz around the beehive, you know they're making honey in there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-howard/when-you-hear-buzz-around-the-beehive-you-know-they-re-making-honey/) [Terrence Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-howard/) > [I don't think President Obama has been that revolutionary in reaching out to ethnic communities. President Reagan did a lot for the black community…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-howard/i-don-t-think-president-obama-has-been-that-revolutionary-in-reaching/) [Terrence Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-howard/) > [As a child our dreams got scattered all about and all our future prospects got scattered to so many places, and we spend our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-howard/as-a-child-our-dreams-got-scattered-all-about-and-all-our-future/) [Terrence Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-howard/) > [I want to be the condensation on the glass. I want to be that phenomenon that takes place between hot and cold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-howard/i-want-to-be-the-condensation-on-the-glass-i-want-to-be-that/) [Terrence Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-howard/) > [If you're not going to do your job, get out of here. Don't mess up my work. This is how I feed my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-howard/if-you-re-not-going-to-do-your-job-get-out-of-here-don-t-mess-up-my/) [Terrence Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-howard/) > [I am an engineer, but what I find important and necessary is that you just learn things as you go along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-howard/i-am-an-engineer-but-what-i-find-important-and-necessary-is-that-you/) [Terrence Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-howard/) > [I like to watch mankind in its futile attempt to understand the unknown, when they don't even understand that which they know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-howard/i-like-to-watch-mankind-in-its-futile-attempt-to-understand-the/) [Terrence Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-howard/) > [Sometimes the only way to make palatable that which is appalling and apprehensive is to season it with some humor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-howard/sometimes-the-only-way-to-make-palatable-that-which-is-appalling-and/) [Terrence Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-howard/) [Explore all 62 Terrence Howard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-howard/) ## More Caught 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/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [Hollywood is very much an industry town. Your life becomes caught up in all of the parties and this list and that list. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-johnson/hollywood-is-very-much-an-industry-town-your-life-becomes-caught-up/) [Don Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-johnson/) > [I'd always have grease in at least two places, in case the umpires would ask me to wipe one off. I never wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaylord-perry/i-d-always-have-grease-in-at-least-two-places-in-case-the-umpires/) [Gaylord Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaylord-perry/) > [Merkel has realized that the euro is not working, but she cannot change the narrative she has created because that narrative has caught the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/merkel-has-realized-that-the-euro-is-not-working-but-she-cannot/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Sam reached his hand toward mine and I automatically put my fingers in his. With a guilty little smile he pulled my hand toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/sam-reached-his-hand-toward-mine-and-i-automatically-put-my-fingers/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [I never caught on to being a bully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-nolte/i-never-caught-on-to-being-a-bully/) [Nick Nolte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-nolte/) > [“I caught you!" he beamed. "See, girls really do throw themselves at me. Hey, guys!" His voice echoed off the carved stone and marble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-kirk/i-caught-you-he-beamed-see-girls-really-do-throw-themselves-at-me-hey/) [A&E Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-kirk/) > [In the olden days in England, you could be hung for stealing a sheep or a loaf of bread. However, if a sheep stole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-harding/in-the-olden-days-in-england-you-could-be-hung-for-stealing-a-sheep/) [Mike Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-harding/) > [Everybody here is so caught up in the game of life they don't see death. They don't see beyond their deaths. They are on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/everybody-here-is-so-caught-up-in-the-game-of-life-they-don-t-see/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [America today is a confused society, caught up in a terror war, a culture war, and a media war, where honesty and professional standards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/america-today-is-a-confused-society-caught-up-in-a-terror-war-a/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [My phone rings, they call me up and say, 'Chael, your testosterone level is too high.' I say, 'Well, how high was it?' They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chael-sonnen/my-phone-rings-they-call-me-up-and-say-chael-your-testosterone-level/) [Chael Sonnen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chael-sonnen/) > [Do not be caught up in materialism, one of the real plagues of our generation-that is, acquiring things, fast-paced living, and securing career success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/do-not-be-caught-up-in-materialism-one-of-the-real-plagues-of-our/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) [Browse all 2,627 Caught quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caught/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Every role you play is literally - and I've said this before - every single role that you play, the only way you can connect to that character is because that was a piece of you that was scattered around that yard, almost like we got caught up in some whirlwind", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Terrence Howard" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-howard/every-role-you-play-is-literally-and-i-ve-said-this-before-every/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Caught" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-howard/every-role-you-play-is-literally-and-i-ve-said-this-before-every/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/099/terrence-howard-10939_caught_every-role-you-play-is-literally-and-i-v_1269136.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/099/terrence-howard-10939_caught_every-role-you-play-is-literally-and-i-v_1269136.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/099/terrence-howard-10939_caught_every-role-you-play-is-literally-and-i-v_1269136.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Every role you play is literally - and I've said this before - every single role that you play, the only way…” — Terrence Howard", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Terrence Howard", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-howard/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Every role you play is literally...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-howard/every-role-you-play-is-literally-and-i-ve-said-this-before-every/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-howard/every-role-you-play-is-literally-and-i-ve-said-this-before-every/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```