--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've always just simply seen myself as an…" description: "\"I've always just simply seen myself as an actor. And I believe that it serves me well to just think in terms of my craft. If hypothetically, I saw myse..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c43/viola-davis-1174_actor_i-ve-always-just-simply-seen-myself-as-a_523241.png" --- # I've always just simply seen myself as an actor. And I… ![“I've always just simply seen myself as an actor. And I believe that it serves me well to just think in terms of my craft. If hypothetically, I saw myself only as a sex symbol, or as some other limited stereotype, I think I would feel like a complete failure.” quote by Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c43/viola-davis-1174_actor_i-ve-always-just-simply-seen-myself-as-a_523241.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c43/viola-davis-1174_actor_i-ve-always-just-simply-seen-myself-as-a_523241.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c43/viola-davis-1174_actor_i-ve-always-just-simply-seen-myself-as-a_523241.png) > “I've always just simply seen myself as an actor. And I believe that it serves me well to just think in terms of my craft. If hypothetically, I saw myself only as a sex symbol, or as some other limited stereotype, I think I would feel like a complete failure.” [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Seeing oneself as a versatile artist rather than a limiting stereotype preserves self-worth and creative freedom. **In simple terms:** Identify as an artist, not a label. Key Takeaway Embrace your craft fully. Themes identity self‑perception creativity Mood reflective determined Type inspirational personal When to use this quote - acting auditions - career decisions - public image - media interviews Key Concepts role theory stereotype threat self‑concept Questions to Reflect On - How does your self‑image affect your performance choices? - What labels have you resisted? A Different Perspective Stereotypes can be internalized despite conscious effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Crafts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crafts/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex/) [Sex symbol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex-symbol/) [Stereotype](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stereotype/) [Symbols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/symbols/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [People often say that you should never work with child actors. I think that's all wrong. Children have not had the imagination kicked out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/people-often-say-that-you-should-never-work-with-child-actors-i-think/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) > [I'm not a selfish actor. I believe that it's a team effort. You're not in a scene by yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taraji-p-henson/i-m-not-a-selfish-actor-i-believe-that-it-s-a-team-effort-you-re-not/) [Taraji P. Henson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taraji-p-henson/) > [As an actor I believe in doing all sorts of genres.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautam-rode/as-an-actor-i-believe-in-doing-all-sorts-of-genres/) [Gautam Rode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautam-rode/) > [As an actor, I believe that acting is actually behaving truthfully under imaginary circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saba-qamar/as-an-actor-i-believe-that-acting-is-actually-behaving-truthfully/) [Saba Qamar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saba-qamar/) > [As an actor, you have to believe in the point of view of a director; as a director, you have to be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-luna/as-an-actor-you-have-to-believe-in-the-point-of-view-of-a-director-as/) [Diego Luna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-luna/) > [Being an actor I believe in doing a variety of roles so that the audience gets to see different shades of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautam-rode/being-an-actor-i-believe-in-doing-a-variety-of-roles-so-that-the/) [Gautam Rode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautam-rode/) > [I believe in method acting. Whenever I'm working on a character, I start behaving like him. I start doing these things which the character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kartik-aaryan/i-believe-in-method-acting-whenever-i-m-working-on-a-character-i/) [Kartik Aaryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kartik-aaryan/) > [My favorite actor is - I can't believe I'm saying this - is Meagan Good. I've met her in person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quvenzhane-wallis/my-favorite-actor-is-i-can-t-believe-i-m-saying-this-is-meagan-good-i/) [Quvenzhane Wallis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quvenzhane-wallis/) > [I feel it's very important for an actor to believe in the character that he/she is playing and do full justice to it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmin-bhasin/i-feel-it-s-very-important-for-an-actor-to-believe-in-the-character/) [Jasmin Bhasin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmin-bhasin/) > [I always say YCDA: you can do anything. If you want to be a successful actor, you have to believe in yourself more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-always-say-ycda-you-can-do-anything-if-you-want-to-be-a-successful/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A director, I forget who, told me that it takes 30 years to make an actor. And I believe that. You have to learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cillian-murphy/a-director-i-forget-who-told-me-that-it-takes-30-years-to-make-an/) [Cillian Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cillian-murphy/) > [When I believe in an actor, I believe there is something in that actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-gopal-varma/when-i-believe-in-an-actor-i-believe-there-is-something-in-that-actor/) [Ram Gopal Varma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-gopal-varma/) > [As an actor, I believe that theatre is the one of the most immediate and exciting mediums to inspire young girls to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karla-crome/as-an-actor-i-believe-that-theatre-is-the-one-of-the-most-immediate/) [Karla Crome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karla-crome/) > [Good characters don't believe they're bad. As long as you as an actor believe in them and try to understand them, it's not hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-hogh-andersen/good-characters-don-t-believe-they-re-bad-as-long-as-you-as-an-actor/) [Alex Hogh Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-hogh-andersen/) > [As far as I'm concerned, the sexiness, the sex symbol, it's not a consideration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-craig/as-far-as-i-m-concerned-the-sexiness-the-sex-symbol-it-s-not-a/) [Daniel Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-craig/) ## More by Viola Davis > [I look back at pictures of myself and I remember thinking, "I was so fat when I was growing up. I was 165 pounds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-look-back-at-pictures-of-myself-and-i-remember-thinking-i-was-so/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I am not a glam woman - this definitely is a mask I put on for the public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-am-not-a-glam-woman-this-definitely-is-a-mask-i-put-on-for-the/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I was bullied at school. The black girl in Central Falls, Rhode Island, in 1973. There'd be 8 or 10 boys; I would count…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-was-bullied-at-school-the-black-girl-in-central-falls-rhode-island/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [That's why there's so much bad acting out there, because you could see actors watching themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/that-s-why-there-s-so-much-bad-acting-out-there-because-you-could-see/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I want my work to reflect my level of gifts and talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-want-my-work-to-reflect-my-level-of-gifts-and-talent/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I don’t want anyone putting any limits on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-don-t-want-anyone-putting-any-limits-on-me/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [ I think that's why August \[Wilson\] named her Rose \[in "Fences"\]; I really do. She's a rose in her sweetness and her kindness and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-think-that-s-why-august-wilson-named-her-rose-in-fences-i-really-do/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [When you're working as an actor, you don't think that when you get out of school, it's going to be so hard to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/when-you-re-working-as-an-actor-you-don-t-think-that-when-you-get-out/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I suffered from low self-esteem for much of my life. And now to feel like maybe something that I'm projecting or saying could mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-suffered-from-low-self-esteem-for-much-of-my-life-and-now-to-feel/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I tell my daughter every morning, 'Now, what are the two most important parts of you?' And she says, 'My head and my heart.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-tell-my-daughter-every-morning-now-what-are-the-two-most-important/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I started a production company out of necessity, the need for great narratives for actors of color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-started-a-production-company-out-of-necessity-the-need-for-great/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [That's always the biggest surprise when people meet me: how buoyant I am and how fun and light I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/that-s-always-the-biggest-surprise-when-people-meet-me-how-buoyant-i/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [When you're working as an actor, you don't think that when you get out of school, it's going to be so hard to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/when-you-re-working-as-an-actor-you-don-t-think-that-when-you-get-out-2/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [ It was hard, that confrontation scene \[in "Fences"\], that was a hard one. I felt like it was relentless, I never felt like I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/it-was-hard-that-confrontation-scene-in-fences-that-was-a-hard-one-i/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I am addicted to any facial product that's anti-aging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-am-addicted-to-any-facial-product-that-s-anti-aging/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) [Explore all 279 Viola Davis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) ## More Actor 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/) > [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 once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [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/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [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/) > [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/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [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/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've always just simply seen myself as an actor. And I believe that it serves me well to just think in terms of my craft. 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