--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: With any role, you're extending yourself…" description: "\"With any role, you're extending yourself and acting out things that never happened to you.\" — Tom Hiddleston" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/824/tom-hiddleston-1633_acting_with-any-role-you-re-extending-yourself_1309268.png" --- # With any role, you're extending yourself and acting out… ![“With any role, you're extending yourself and acting out things that never happened to you.” quote by Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/824/tom-hiddleston-1633_acting_with-any-role-you-re-extending-yourself_1309268.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/824/tom-hiddleston-1633_acting_with-any-role-you-re-extending-yourself_1309268.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/824/tom-hiddleston-1633_acting_with-any-role-you-re-extending-yourself_1309268.png) > “With any role, you're extending yourself and acting out things that never happened to you.” [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Playing a role forces you to inhabit experiences beyond your own life, expanding empathy and self‑knowledge. **In simple terms:** Acting broadens your perspective. Key Takeaway Embrace roles that challenge you. Themes empathy self‑growth creativity Mood reflective inspired Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - theatre - film - leadership training - personal development Key Concepts identity role‑playing psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does a role change your view of yourself? - What boundaries do you set when embodying others? A Different Perspective Roles may reinforce stereotypes if not reflected upon. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-things/) [Extending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extending/) [Extending Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extending-acting-4325721/) [Happened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happened/) [Role Extending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/role-extending-4325722/) [Roles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roles/) ## Related quotes > [When you do improv, you're everything. You're a performer, writer, and director, because you're moving the scene in the direction you want it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-reiner/when-you-do-improv-you-re-everything-you-re-a-performer-writer-and/) [Rob Reiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-reiner/) > [Acting is many things. Acting is playing lines, of course, but it's much more profound than that. Acting is truth-telling, and trying to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-greengrass/acting-is-many-things-acting-is-playing-lines-of-course-but-it-s-much/) [Paul Greengrass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-greengrass/) > [I have been offered so many parts in movies and I just think it's so outrageous as I've never really done acting or things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-macdonald/i-have-been-offered-so-many-parts-in-movies-and-i-just-think-it-s-so/) [Amy Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-macdonald/) > [The upsides of acting in things is mostly getting your hair done and having people give you clothes. So as long as you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/the-upsides-of-acting-in-things-is-mostly-getting-your-hair-done-and/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [I've been really lucky thus far with acting, in that I can do things I believe in and feel good about, and feel good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-jones/i-ve-been-really-lucky-thus-far-with-acting-in-that-i-can-do-things-i/) [Rashida Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-jones/) > [There's something about being any kind of entertainer that is acting. You have to put on a show. Things you wouldn't do in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heavy-d/there-s-something-about-being-any-kind-of-entertainer-that-is-acting/) [Heavy D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heavy-d/) > [Acting is one of the two things that give me the most joy. The other thing is travelling. Nothing else matters to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anushka-sharma/acting-is-one-of-the-two-things-that-give-me-the-most-joy-the-other/) [Anushka Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anushka-sharma/) > [I guess I was a child actor. Acting was one of the things I did alongside going to school: I'd be playing guitar, I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michiel-huisman/i-guess-i-was-a-child-actor-acting-was-one-of-the-things-i-did/) [Michiel Huisman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michiel-huisman/) > [If I love the story, and if I really connect with my character, I'm willing to do it. I'm willing to try new characters,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-gonzalez/if-i-love-the-story-and-if-i-really-connect-with-my-character-i-m/) [Anthony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-gonzalez/) > [I got it into my head that I was going to be starring in movies that I wrote, so that's what I did. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-bishop/i-got-it-into-my-head-that-i-was-going-to-be-starring-in-movies-that/) [Larry Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-bishop/) > [I learned the process of this kind of acting, how things run, how chaotic it can be, and what kind of different muscles you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-benoist/i-learned-the-process-of-this-kind-of-acting-how-things-run-how/) [Melissa Benoist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-benoist/) > [I like the idea of acting. Of all these things I've done, sometimes I think I've done well, and sometimes I think I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flea/i-like-the-idea-of-acting-of-all-these-things-i-ve-done-sometimes-i/) [Flea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flea/) > [You really have to be a character to serve it properly. Obviously, you're acting, but you have to have those things in yourself, whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-bryk/you-really-have-to-be-a-character-to-serve-it-properly-obviously-you/) [Greg Bryk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-bryk/) > [Music has been more a solitary, creative thing. The acting side of things and working in movies has helped me collaboratively with music in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-geiger/music-has-been-more-a-solitary-creative-thing-the-acting-side-of/) [Teddy Geiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-geiger/) > [Society is about masks and hiding and pretending to be something that you're not and not opening up, and in acting, you do all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-wheatley/society-is-about-masks-and-hiding-and-pretending-to-be-something-that/) [Ben Wheatley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-wheatley/) ## More by Tom Hiddleston > [“My mum always taught me the value of knowing, recognizing and acknowledging when you had a good day. There are so many bad days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/my-mum-always-taught-me-the-value-of-knowing-recognizing-and/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [I definitely go through periods where I'm in a particular mood, or there's a consistent imaginative context that I feel I'm in, and I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/i-definitely-go-through-periods-where-i-m-in-a-particular-mood-or/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [We're all intrigued, in our civilized world that we live in, and curious about how we would get on, on an undiscovered island that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/we-re-all-intrigued-in-our-civilized-world-that-we-live-in-and/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [Ancient societies had anthropomorphic gods: a huge pantheon expanding into centuries of dynastic drama; fathers and sons, martyred heroes, star-crossed lovers, the deaths of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/ancient-societies-had-anthropomorphic-gods-a-huge-pantheon-expanding/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [“To have compassion for a character is no different from having compassion for another human being.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/to-have-compassion-for-a-character-is-no-different-from-having/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [I think a healthy connection with the natural world actually makes us more human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/i-think-a-healthy-connection-with-the-natural-world-actually-makes-us/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [If you look at all of the villains in the course of human history, they've all believed, delusionally, in the virtue of their actions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/if-you-look-at-all-of-the-villains-in-the-course-of-human-history/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [I don't want to be quoted as 'Tom Hiddleston, psychologist says...' But there is a psychological aspect to being an actor. We are particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/i-don-t-want-to-be-quoted-as-tom-hiddleston-psychologist-says-but/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [I gave myself permission to care, because there are a lot of people in this world who are afraid of caring, who are afraid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/i-gave-myself-permission-to-care-because-there-are-a-lot-of-people-in/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [The most interesting thing about being alive is that there is no black and white; there are many shades of gray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/the-most-interesting-thing-about-being-alive-is-that-there-is-no/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [ “Well, the thing that I suppose is closest to my heart is Shakespeare. I really am a nerd about Shakespeare, I love it \[laughs\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/well-the-thing-that-i-suppose-is-closest-to-my-heart-is-shakespeare-i/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [I would always play the baddie, incidentally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/i-would-always-play-the-baddie-incidentally/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [Make love, not war. Unless you’re Loki, in which case: do what you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/make-love-not-war-unless-you-re-loki-in-which-case-do-what-you-want/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [Everybody is great and the chemistry is different with everyone. That is the joy of acting - you really don't know how it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/everybody-is-great-and-the-chemistry-is-different-with-everyone-that/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [Truth in drama is elusive. You never quite find it, but the search for it is compulsive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/truth-in-drama-is-elusive-you-never-quite-find-it-but-the-search-for/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) [Explore all 220 Tom Hiddleston quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) ## More Acting quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) [Ryan Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-newman/) > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. 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