--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Being in a long-running series is great…" description: "\"Being in a long-running series is great because it gives you so many opportunities - but at the same time it's a bit desk jobby: you go to the same pla..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/811/tom-payne-11262_character_being-in-a-long-running-series-is-great_1160699.jpg" --- # Being in a long-running series is great because it gives… ![“Being in a long-running series is great because it gives you so many opportunities - but at the same time it's a bit desk jobby: you go to the same place every day, you do the same thing and you play the same character.” quote by Tom Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/811/tom-payne-11262_character_being-in-a-long-running-series-is-great_1160699.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/811/tom-payne-11262_character_being-in-a-long-running-series-is-great_1160699.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/811/tom-payne-11262_character_being-in-a-long-running-series-is-great_1160699.jpg) > “Being in a long-running series is great because it gives you so many opportunities - but at the same time it's a bit desk jobby: you go to the same place every day, you do the same thing and you play the same character.” [Tom Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-payne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Working on a long series offers many chances but can become monotonous. **In simple terms:** Series work gives chances but can feel repetitive. Key Takeaway Seek variety within routine roles. Themes career monotony opportunity Mood reflective motivational Type advice career When to use this quote - TV production - career planning - personal development Key Concepts creative growth role diversification Questions to Reflect On - How to stay creative in repetitive jobs? - What strategies prevent desk‑job fatigue? A Different Perspective Risk of burnout if variety is lacking. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [You never say never, but I don't think I'd want to do a long-running series.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-pearce/you-never-say-never-but-i-don-t-think-i-d-want-to-do-a-long-running/) [Guy Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-pearce/) > [When you are in a long-running series you don't look outside it because you don't really need to do much else. When you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-deayton/when-you-are-in-a-long-running-series-you-don-t-look-outside-it/) [Angus Deayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-deayton/) > [I was lucky because I was in a long-running series.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-redman/i-was-lucky-because-i-was-in-a-long-running-series/) [Amanda Redman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-redman/) > [When youre on a long running series, you reach a very rarefied, high oxygen area and after a while to keep a show on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-van-ark/when-youre-on-a-long-running-series-you-reach-a-very-rarefied-high/) [Joan Van Ark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-van-ark/) > [I watched the Lost series in the US and it's great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elijah-wood/i-watched-the-lost-series-in-the-us-and-it-s-great/) [Elijah Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elijah-wood/) > [You're not always going to have a great series or a great year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayank-agarwal/you-re-not-always-going-to-have-a-great-series-or-a-great-year/) [Mayank Agarwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayank-agarwal/) > [To be honest, when you're running a series and you have an open end, you don't want to limit yourself too much with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-fellowes/to-be-honest-when-you-re-running-a-series-and-you-have-an-open-end/) [Julian Fellowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-fellowes/) > [I'm not the kind of actor who's going to fit well with a long-running series unless that series offers me the chance to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-lester/i-m-not-the-kind-of-actor-who-s-going-to-fit-well-with-a-long-running/) [Adrian Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-lester/) > [“Make sure you work at a place which gives you opportunities to learn, travel, explore, interact with intellectuals and new work skills.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-ratna/make-sure-you-work-at-a-place-which-gives-you-opportunities-to-learn/) [Abhishek Ratna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-ratna/) > [“Life only gives opportunities, not offers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-only-gives-opportunities-not-offers/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I love that basketball gives me the opportunities to do good things for people and to point them towards the Man who died for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-curry/i-love-that-basketball-gives-me-the-opportunities-to-do-good-things/) [Stephen Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-curry/) > [The Trump administration gives me so many more opportunities to be verbal and vocal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mazie-hirono/the-trump-administration-gives-me-so-many-more-opportunities-to-be/) [Mazie Hirono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mazie-hirono/) > [“Sometimes the things we would never pick for our lives gives us opportunities to receive God's provision, to see Him working in ways we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-davis-majors/sometimes-the-things-we-would-never-pick-for-our-lives-gives-us/) [Katie Davis Majors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-davis-majors/) > [When God gives you some opportunities, it is almost like a process that you do not even realize what is recurring at the moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-padilla/when-god-gives-you-some-opportunities-it-is-almost-like-a-process/) [Barbara Padilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-padilla/) > [Anytime you get good service to the box, it's always great as an attacking player because it gives you more opportunities to score.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-dempsey/anytime-you-get-good-service-to-the-box-it-s-always-great-as-an/) [Clint Dempsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-dempsey/) ## More by Tom Payne > ['Downton Abbey' is my worst nightmare. I just hate that whole 'Upstairs Downstairs' thing, I think it's really lazy and it doesn't represent England,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-payne/downton-abbey-is-my-worst-nightmare-i-just-hate-that-whole-upstairs/) [Tom Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-payne/) > [I've lived in California for years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-payne/i-ve-lived-in-california-for-years/) [Tom Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-payne/) > [I had been working in England since 2005 when I left drama school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-payne/i-had-been-working-in-england-since-2005-when-i-left-drama-school/) [Tom Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-payne/) > [All great leaders choose great advisors, people they really trust for their governance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-payne/all-great-leaders-choose-great-advisors-people-they-really-trust-for/) [Tom Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-payne/) > [Well, conventions are so cool, because I just feel like I'm giving out smiles all day, it's so fun, and you get people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-payne/well-conventions-are-so-cool-because-i-just-feel-like-i-m-giving-out/) [Tom Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-payne/) > [I never believe it when people claim they knew they wanted to be actors when they were 4 or 5 years old. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-payne/i-never-believe-it-when-people-claim-they-knew-they-wanted-to-be/) [Tom Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-payne/) > [There aren't that many actors with hair like this. And Amazon are casting Aragorn and they're doing Interview with the Vampire' on Hulu, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-payne/there-aren-t-that-many-actors-with-hair-like-this-and-amazon-are/) [Tom Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-payne/) > [I wasn't thinking about awards or becoming rich. I just wanted to be able to make my living by working as an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-payne/i-wasn-t-thinking-about-awards-or-becoming-rich-i-just-wanted-to-be/) [Tom Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-payne/) > [I had an audition notice from my agent telling me the fake name of the part with a short description. I knew it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-payne/i-had-an-audition-notice-from-my-agent-telling-me-the-fake-name-of/) [Tom Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-payne/) > [When you don't know how to fight you tend to put all your energy into one punch. That will tire you out quickly. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-payne/when-you-don-t-know-how-to-fight-you-tend-to-put-all-your-energy-into/) [Tom Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-payne/) > [I was on the tube the other day and it was after the Chelsea match and everyone was going crazy screaming across at each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-payne/i-was-on-the-tube-the-other-day-and-it-was-after-the-chelsea-match/) [Tom Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-payne/) > [When learning boxing and martial arts, there wasn't any fakery in my training. When teaching you the basics of fighting, even though it's faked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-payne/when-learning-boxing-and-martial-arts-there-wasn-t-any-fakery-in-my/) [Tom Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-payne/) > [Honestly, a lot of the time, I'm like, 'Oh, my god, I've got so many lines to learn,' that I have to focus and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-payne/honestly-a-lot-of-the-time-i-m-like-oh-my-god-i-ve-got-so-many-lines/) [Tom Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-payne/) > [There's no difference between a gay person and a heterosexual person at the end of the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-payne/there-s-no-difference-between-a-gay-person-and-a-heterosexual-person/) [Tom Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-payne/) > [I'm a huge Highlander' fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-payne/i-m-a-huge-highlander-fan/) [Tom Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-payne/) [Explore all 61 Tom Payne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-payne/) ## 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": "Being in a long-running series is great because it gives you so many opportunities - but at the same time it's a bit desk jobby: you go to the same place every day, you do the same thing and you play the same character.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Payne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-payne/being-in-a-long-running-series-is-great-because-it-gives-you-so-many/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-payne/being-in-a-long-running-series-is-great-because-it-gives-you-so-many/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/811/tom-payne-11262_character_being-in-a-long-running-series-is-great_1160699.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/811/tom-payne-11262_character_being-in-a-long-running-series-is-great_1160699.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/811/tom-payne-11262_character_being-in-a-long-running-series-is-great_1160699.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Being in a long-running series is great because it gives you so many opportunities - but at the same time…” — Tom Payne", "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": "Tom Payne", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-payne/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Being in a long-running series is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-payne/being-in-a-long-running-series-is-great-because-it-gives-you-so-many/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-payne/being-in-a-long-running-series-is-great-because-it-gives-you-so-many/#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 } } ] } ```