--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Obviously, [\"Fences\"] is a…" description: "\"Obviously, [\"Fences\"] is a character-driven piece in every sense of the word, and Denzel [Washington] knows the actor. He gave us two weeks of rehearsa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7da/viola-davis-1174_actors_obviously-fences-is-a-character-driven-p_2744209.png" --- # Obviously, \["Fences"\] is a character-driven piece in every… ![“Obviously, ["Fences"] is a character-driven piece in every sense of the word, and Denzel [Washington] knows the actor. He gave us two weeks of rehearsal. He is a truth teller, and he is a truth seer. So he knows when something is not going in the right direction, and he will call you on it. But…” quote by Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7da/viola-davis-1174_actors_obviously-fences-is-a-character-driven-p_2744209.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7da/viola-davis-1174_actors_obviously-fences-is-a-character-driven-p_2744209.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7da/viola-davis-1174_actors_obviously-fences-is-a-character-driven-p_2744209.png) > “Obviously, \["Fences"\] is a character-driven piece in every sense of the word, and Denzel \[Washington\] knows the actor. He gave us two weeks of rehearsal. He is a truth teller, and he is a truth seer. So he knows when something is not going in the right direction, and he will call you on it. But, he knows the word to use to unlock whatever is blocking you. So I think he's fabulous and he's a teacher.” [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. Washington is portrayed as a candid, insightful mentor who uses precise language to guide and challenge others toward growth. **In simple terms:** He is a truthful, guiding teacher. Key Takeaway Seek honest feedback from mentors. Themes mentorship truth communication growth leadership Mood inspirational direct Type motivational educational When to use this quote - acting - career development - personal improvement Key Concepts coaching emotional intelligence self-awareness Questions to Reflect On - When is honesty more harmful than helpful? - How do you respond to tough feedback? A Different Perspective His approach may be too direct for some personalities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Driven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driven/) [Fabulous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fabulous/) [Fences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fences/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Rehearsal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rehearsal/) [Right direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-direction/) [Seers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seers/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/week/) ## Related quotes > [ Denzel \[Washington\] just knows the actor. He knows the process, and you don't often get that. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/denzel-washington-just-knows-the-actor-he-knows-the-process-and-you/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [ \[Denzel Washington\] was rustling with something and when he came back it was with a word about loving myself and the body that I'm… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/denzel-washington-was-rustling-with-something-and-when-he-came-back/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [ When Denzel \[Washington\] first called me on the phone after we'd just done a reading of the film \["Fences"\]. He said, "Oh Viola it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/when-denzel-washington-first-called-me-on-the-phone-after-we-d-just/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [ When I hear people comparing Mike's \[Jordan\] work to Denzel \[Washington\] I think it's amazing.. Because Denzel is such an amazing, textured actor. And… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/when-i-hear-people-comparing-mike-s-jordan-work-to-denzel-washington/) [Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/) > [Talent grips us. We are overtaken by the beauty of Michelangelo's sculpture, riveted by Mariah Carey's angelic voice, doubled over in laughter by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/talent-grips-us-we-are-overtaken-by-the-beauty-of-michelangelo-s/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [When most actors finally get to L.A., I think they expect to be the next Will Smith or Denzel Washington and that's not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-hall/when-most-actors-finally-get-to-l-a-i-think-they-expect-to-be-the/) [Andrea Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-hall/) > [Every year, Hollywood is looking for that new, white leading man and new white starlet that audiences fall in love with. But they're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chadwick-boseman/every-year-hollywood-is-looking-for-that-new-white-leading-man-and/) [Chadwick Boseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chadwick-boseman/) > [Denzel Washington was so great at The Great Debaters, so focused and talented. That was just an honor to be cast in that, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heard/denzel-washington-was-so-great-at-the-great-debaters-so-focused-and/) [John Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heard/) > [Anyway, I'm doing my rave and this spittle comes out of my mouth and it winds its way very delicately through the wire fence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-crowe/anyway-i-m-doing-my-rave-and-this-spittle-comes-out-of-my-mouth-and/) [Russell Crowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-crowe/) > [Meeting Oprah Winfrey, I cried like a baby. Meeting Steven Spielberg, I cried like a baby. Meeting Denzel Washington, I gushed like a crazy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-spencer/meeting-oprah-winfrey-i-cried-like-a-baby-meeting-steven-spielberg-i/) [Octavia Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-spencer/) > [Mix one part Denzel Washington and two parts Eva Mendes and you have a nice hot cocktail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-cain/mix-one-part-denzel-washington-and-two-parts-eva-mendes-and-you-have/) [Dean Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-cain/) > [Watch me when people say deaf and dumb, or deaf mute, and I give them a look like you might get if you called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/watch-me-when-people-say-deaf-and-dumb-or-deaf-mute-and-i-give-them-a/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [My mom graduated from the University of Michigan, which is a great school. Then she got her Master's from NYU. She wanted to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/my-mom-graduated-from-the-university-of-michigan-which-is-a-great/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [Whether you know who Denzel Washington is or you don't, when he walks into the room, you're going to pay attention, because he's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mila-kunis/whether-you-know-who-denzel-washington-is-or-you-don-t-when-he-walks/) [Mila Kunis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mila-kunis/) > [I like 'The Usual Suspects'. Great film. I also like 'Scarface', films like that. Lots of gangster films. I really like watching all kinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barkhad-abdi/i-like-the-usual-suspects-great-film-i-also-like-scarface-films-like/) [Barkhad Abdi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barkhad-abdi/) ## 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 Actors quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/) [Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [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/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [When we watch a film as actors, you have to understand that we always see much more than what's on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/when-we-watch-a-film-as-actors-you-have-to-understand-that-we-always/) [Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/) > [As actors, you become an expert at starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-actors-you-become-an-expert-at-starting-over/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [A rapper is about being completely true to yourself. Being an actor is about changing who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/a-rapper-is-about-being-completely-true-to-yourself-being-an-actor-is/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [I've been a professional actor for almost 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-been-a-professional-actor-for-almost-40-years/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [American actors are coy. We all have pricks and cunts, or are you different from the rest of us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/american-actors-are-coy-we-all-have-pricks-and-cunts-or-are-you/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) [Browse all 11,394 Actors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Obviously, [\"Fences\"] is a character-driven piece in every sense of the word, and Denzel [Washington] knows the actor. He gave us two weeks of rehearsal. He is a truth teller, and he is a truth seer. So he knows when something is not going in the right direction, and he will call you on it. But, he knows the word to use to unlock whatever is blocking you. So I think he's fabulous and he's a teacher.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Viola Davis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/obviously-fences-is-a-character-driven-piece-in-every-sense-of-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actors" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/obviously-fences-is-a-character-driven-piece-in-every-sense-of-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7da/viola-davis-1174_actors_obviously-fences-is-a-character-driven-p_2744209.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7da/viola-davis-1174_actors_obviously-fences-is-a-character-driven-p_2744209.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7da/viola-davis-1174_actors_obviously-fences-is-a-character-driven-p_2744209.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Obviously, [\"Fences\"] is a character-driven piece in every sense of the word, and Denzel [Washington] knows…” — Viola Davis", "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": "Viola Davis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Obviously, [\"Fences\"] is a character-driven piece...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/obviously-fences-is-a-character-driven-piece-in-every-sense-of-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/obviously-fences-is-a-character-driven-piece-in-every-sense-of-the/#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 } } ] } ```