--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think I could play a character…" description: "\"I don't think I could play a character that I couldn't relate to somehow. I'm not unfamiliar with frustration, anger, shame, helplessness and a load of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b8/terry-o-quinn-14978_anger_i-don-t-think-i-could-play-a-character-t_686936.jpg" --- # I don't think I could play a character that I couldn't… ![“I don't think I could play a character that I couldn't relate to somehow. I'm not unfamiliar with frustration, anger, shame, helplessness and a load of other emotions that make up our psycho-soup. I try to focus on that frustration, that sense of unfairness, and multiply it.” quote by Terry O'Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b8/terry-o-quinn-14978_anger_i-don-t-think-i-could-play-a-character-t_686936.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b8/terry-o-quinn-14978_anger_i-don-t-think-i-could-play-a-character-t_686936.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b8/terry-o-quinn-14978_anger_i-don-t-think-i-could-play-a-character-t_686936.jpg) > “I don't think I could play a character that I couldn't relate to somehow. I'm not unfamiliar with frustration, anger, shame, helplessness and a load of other emotions that make up our psycho-soup. I try to focus on that frustration, that sense of unfairness, and multiply it.” [Terry O'Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-o-quinn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The actor emphasizes the need to connect personally with a role, using personal frustrations and emotions as a foundation for authentic performance. **In simple terms:** Connect personal emotions to a character for authenticity Key Takeaway Use personal feelings to inform acting choices Themes acting emotional authenticity self-awareness character development Mood introspective thoughtful Type creative reflective When to use this quote - theatre - film - character workshops - personal reflection - creative process Key Concepts method acting emotional resonance psychology Questions to Reflect On - Which emotions best serve a given role? - How to balance personal experience with character truth? A Different Perspective Focusing solely on personal frustration may limit broader character depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Frustration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frustration/) [Helplessness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helplessness/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Shame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shame/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Unfairness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unfairness/) ## Related quotes > [Growing up when I was watching wrestling, if a guy couldn't talk, I didn't care about him. You could have the fanciest moves and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-drake/growing-up-when-i-was-watching-wrestling-if-a-guy-couldn-t-talk-i/) [Eli Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-drake/) > [I think the main thing was that the character couldn't speak in regular language, so he had to be mimed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mayhew/i-think-the-main-thing-was-that-the-character-couldn-t-speak-in/) [Peter Mayhew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mayhew/) > [“Anger and shame laced with loneliness spread throughout her, heating her to the core. Self-pity wasn’t something Bess would normally succumb to, but things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inger-iversen/anger-and-shame-laced-with-loneliness-spread-throughout-her-heating/) [Inger Iversen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inger-iversen/) > [“I had to sever my emotional cord to escape the anger and shame that silently slithered through my head, disconnecting myself from the stares…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-donovan/i-had-to-sever-my-emotional-cord-to-escape-the-anger-and-shame-that/) [Rebecca Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-donovan/) > [“We’re all the same to them, Phuong understood with a mix of anger and shame—small, charming, and forgettable. She”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viet-thanh-nguyen/we-re-all-the-same-to-them-phuong-understood-with-a-mix-of-anger-and/) [Viet Thanh Nguyen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viet-thanh-nguyen/) > [You can't look outside of yourself. You must look within yourself, and address all of the things that are going on within you, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/you-can-t-look-outside-of-yourself-you-must-look-within-yourself-and/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [As I'm traveling around, I meet many small children. And when I look at a small and think how we've harmed this beautiful planet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/as-i-m-traveling-around-i-meet-many-small-children-and-when-i-look-at/) [Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/) > [I was an incredibly misanthrope. I couldn't relate to people my age, and I'm not sure why, as I wasn't particularly smart or interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-marling/i-was-an-incredibly-misanthrope-i-couldn-t-relate-to-people-my-age/) [Laura Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-marling/) > [My nephews all look at me differently now. Before, they couldn't relate to me, and now I'm like a god.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-buzzi/my-nephews-all-look-at-me-differently-now-before-they-couldn-t-relate/) [Ruth Buzzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-buzzi/) > [I couldn't relate to kid stuff. 'Jimmy doesn't like me!' Who cares? I was worried we didn't have gas money or food. Those were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leighton-meester/i-couldn-t-relate-to-kid-stuff-jimmy-doesn-t-like-me-who-cares-i-was/) [Leighton Meester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leighton-meester/) > [I couldn't relate to the mindset of people in my hometown. Since I had no educational qualification, I only got menial jobs in Delhi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harshvardhan-rane/i-couldn-t-relate-to-the-mindset-of-people-in-my-hometown-since-i-had/) [Harshvardhan Rane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harshvardhan-rane/) > [I moved to Des Moines when I was 15. I asked my mother to give up costody and sign parental rights over to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-taylor/i-moved-to-des-moines-when-i-was-15-i-asked-my-mother-to-give-up/) [Corey Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-taylor/) > [People used to call me for donations, and I couldn't relate to that because I have spent most of my life trying to support…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harshvardhan-rane/people-used-to-call-me-for-donations-and-i-couldn-t-relate-to-that/) [Harshvardhan Rane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harshvardhan-rane/) > [I had a hard time actually. It was an emotion that I couldn't relate to. I've never experienced grief and sadness but to come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/january-jones/i-had-a-hard-time-actually-it-was-an-emotion-that-i-couldn-t-relate/) [January Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/january-jones/) > [I loved music from a young age. At school I played the violin but I didn't sing much; there was an expectation of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-bailey-rae/i-loved-music-from-a-young-age-at-school-i-played-the-violin-but-i/) [Corinne Bailey Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-bailey-rae/) ## More by Terry O'Quinn > [I like New York in the spring and in the fall. It's one of the best cities to walk that I've ever been in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-o-quinn/i-like-new-york-in-the-spring-and-in-the-fall-it-s-one-of-the-best/) [Terry O'Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-o-quinn/) > [It's easier to be healthy in Hawaii than it is, almost anywhere else I've lived. You spend a lot of time outside, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-o-quinn/it-s-easier-to-be-healthy-in-hawaii-than-it-is-almost-anywhere-else-i/) [Terry O'Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-o-quinn/) > [I know 'Lost' used to drive people mad trying to anticipate what was happening or what something meant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-o-quinn/i-know-lost-used-to-drive-people-mad-trying-to-anticipate-what-was/) [Terry O'Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-o-quinn/) > [Things like Facebook and Twitter, all that stuff, are about, 'I'm here! Here I am! I'm somebody special!'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-o-quinn/things-like-facebook-and-twitter-all-that-stuff-are-about-i-m-here/) [Terry O'Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-o-quinn/) > [I spend a lot of time in Los Angeles, but I probably wouldn't say it's my favorite city.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-o-quinn/i-spend-a-lot-of-time-in-los-angeles-but-i-probably-wouldn-t-say-it-s/) [Terry O'Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-o-quinn/) > [There's no particular formula for 'Lost.' I mean, I think there were a few attempts to follow it and copy it, but it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-o-quinn/there-s-no-particular-formula-for-lost-i-mean-i-think-there-were-a/) [Terry O'Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-o-quinn/) > [The reality is that most of us actors have to take work that we would rather not at some time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-o-quinn/the-reality-is-that-most-of-us-actors-have-to-take-work-that-we-would/) [Terry O'Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-o-quinn/) > [I'm always looking for work. There are only two states of being an actor, so if I'm not working, I'm looking for employment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-o-quinn/i-m-always-looking-for-work-there-are-only-two-states-of-being-an/) [Terry O'Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-o-quinn/) > ['Heaven's Gate' I remember, because it was the first movie I ever was cast in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-o-quinn/heaven-s-gate-i-remember-because-it-was-the-first-movie-i-ever-was/) [Terry O'Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-o-quinn/) > [I think when you get to a certain age, older people become more emotional than younger people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-o-quinn/i-think-when-you-get-to-a-certain-age-older-people-become-more/) [Terry O'Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-o-quinn/) > [I think that you only occasionally have to play evil because everything you're doing is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-o-quinn/i-think-that-you-only-occasionally-have-to-play-evil-because/) [Terry O'Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-o-quinn/) > [I'm not sure it's possible to stay in Hawaii. It's kind of impractical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-o-quinn/i-m-not-sure-it-s-possible-to-stay-in-hawaii-it-s-kind-of-impractical/) [Terry O'Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-o-quinn/) > [I developed more as an actor in the course of 'Lost' than I had in any period in my career before because they trusted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-o-quinn/i-developed-more-as-an-actor-in-the-course-of-lost-than-i-had-in-any/) [Terry O'Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-o-quinn/) > [The people I meet on the street satisfy my need to make contact with the fans. I love to meet them and I never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-o-quinn/the-people-i-meet-on-the-street-satisfy-my-need-to-make-contact-with/) [Terry O'Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-o-quinn/) > [We all hope we have something else to do. We're going to be unemployed actors. It's a consistent state of being a professional actor,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-o-quinn/we-all-hope-we-have-something-else-to-do-we-re-going-to-be-unemployed/) [Terry O'Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-o-quinn/) [Explore all 44 Terry O'Quinn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-o-quinn/) ## More Anger quotes > [“If I let myself think of it the pain and anger were still fresh, adrenalin racing down my limbs to pool, hot and itchy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylie-ladd/if-i-let-myself-think-of-it-the-pain-and-anger-were-still-fresh/) [Kylie Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kylie-ladd/) > [I receive something we might euphemistically call an 'inappropriately hostile' response - that is to say, more than fair criticism or even fair anger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beard/i-receive-something-we-might-euphemistically-call-an-inappropriately/) [Mary Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-beard/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Anger is a rough water; if you can canalize it into a water mill, you can benefit from it. Anything bad can be transformed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/anger-is-a-rough-water-if-you-can-canalize-it-into-a-water-mill-you/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [“When you feel terribly angry, you're possessed by anger ghost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/when-you-feel-terribly-angry-you-re-possessed-by-anger-ghost/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [“Medical studies have shown that cursing reduces levels of stress and pain. Repressing your anger is not healthy. It's much better to verbalize it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/medical-studies-have-shown-that-cursing-reduces-levels-of-stress-and/) [Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/) > [My care will be in the heart n not in words My anger will be in Words n not in the Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/my-care-will-be-in-the-heart-n-not-in-words-my-anger-will-be-in-words/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-a-negro-in-this-country-and-to-be-relatively-conscious-is-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“God, you had enough time to have been through it three times. You've been through my stuff. I bet you over and let one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/god-you-had-enough-time-to-have-been-through-it-three-times-you-ve/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [The present contains nothing more than the past, and what is found in the effect was already in the cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/the-present-contains-nothing-more-than-the-past-and-what-is-found-in/) [Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/) > [Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/depression-is-merely-anger-without-enthusiasm/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [I always fight better when my opponent's angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-haye/i-always-fight-better-when-my-opponent-s-angry/) [David Haye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-haye/) > [ “Where there are kashays (anger-pride-deceit-greed), there is worldly life. As long as anger-pride-deceit-greed exist; one is a sansaari \[living a worldly life\] regardless of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-are-kashays-anger-pride-deceit-greed-there-is-worldly/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) [Browse all 7,469 Anger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't think I could play a character that I couldn't relate to somehow. I'm not unfamiliar with frustration, anger, shame, helplessness and a load of other emotions that make up our psycho-soup. 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