--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I really believe that when you're playing…" description: "\"I really believe that when you're playing a character that everything is contained in the script. If I'm pulling from things from my own life, then I t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcd/walton-goggins-13029_believe_i-really-believe-that-when-you-re-playin_2411582.png" --- # I really believe that when you're playing a character that… ![“I really believe that when you're playing a character that everything is contained in the script. If I'm pulling from things from my own life, then I think I'm being disingenuous to the character and the story.” quote by Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcd/walton-goggins-13029_believe_i-really-believe-that-when-you-re-playin_2411582.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcd/walton-goggins-13029_believe_i-really-believe-that-when-you-re-playin_2411582.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcd/walton-goggins-13029_believe_i-really-believe-that-when-you-re-playin_2411582.png) > “I really believe that when you're playing a character that everything is contained in the script. If I'm pulling from things from my own life, then I think I'm being disingenuous to the character and the story.” [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An actor should fully inhabit a role using only the script, not personal experience, to stay true to the character. **In simple terms:** Stay true to the script, not personal life. Key Takeaway Separate personal life from performance. Themes acting integrity craft Mood reflective professional Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - theatre performance - film audition - character study Key Concepts method acting character immersion Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance personal truth with fictional truth? - When is it appropriate to draw from life? A Different Perspective Personal anecdotes can enrich authenticity but may blur character boundaries. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character Contained](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-contained-6073051/) [Character Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-story/) [Disingenuous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disingenuous/) [Disingenuous Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disingenuous-character-6073050/) [My own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-own/) [Playing Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-character/) [Pulling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pulling/) [Script](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/script/) [Scripts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scripts/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I'll try to find a character or a story that is different from those I've done before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shin-min-a/i-ll-try-to-find-a-character-or-a-story-that-is-different-from-those/) [Shin Min-a](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shin-min-a/) > [Technique is of less interest than character and story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-friedkin/technique-is-of-less-interest-than-character-and-story/) [William Friedkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-friedkin/) > [Even one word, or certainly one sentence, should be able to describe the basic characteristic that the scene has, or the character has, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shatner/even-one-word-or-certainly-one-sentence-should-be-able-to-describe/) [William Shatner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shatner/) > [I've always kind of gravitated toward characters who are a bit distant from the narrator or the point-of-view characters, so that's kind of important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noelle-stevenson/i-ve-always-kind-of-gravitated-toward-characters-who-are-a-bit/) [Noelle Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noelle-stevenson/) > [New York in a way functions as another character within the story, as it does within most of Woody Allen's stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radha-mitchell/new-york-in-a-way-functions-as-another-character-within-the-story-as/) [Radha Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radha-mitchell/) > [From a writer's standpoint, each character and story presents its own unique challenges and delights. I'm deeply curious about all of my characters, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-st-john/from-a-writer-s-standpoint-each-character-and-story-presents-its-own/) [Tina St. John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-st-john/) > [“Never make someone else the main character in your own story.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-darhower/never-make-someone-else-the-main-character-in-your-own-story/) [J.M. Darhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-darhower/) > [It is always character first and story second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-wachtel/it-is-always-character-first-and-story-second/) [Jeff Wachtel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-wachtel/) > [“She's the main character in her story, just like I'm the main character in mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-de-los-santos/she-s-the-main-character-in-her-story-just-like-i-m-the-main/) [Marisa de los Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-de-los-santos/) > [For Marvel, we've never looked at any of our characters in terms of gender, race, or religion. It truly is about, who is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeph-loeb/for-marvel-we-ve-never-looked-at-any-of-our-characters-in-terms-of/) [Jeph Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeph-loeb/) > [Some actors just have a quality, a way of combining music and character and story, where everything just falls into place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tiffany/some-actors-just-have-a-quality-a-way-of-combining-music-and/) [John Tiffany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tiffany/) > [I think all writers are always collecting characters as we go along. Not just characters of course, we're collecting EVERYTHING. Bits and pieces of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-sokoloff/i-think-all-writers-are-always-collecting-characters-as-we-go-along/) [Alexandra Sokoloff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-sokoloff/) > [Before I begin a novel I have a strong sense of at least one central character and how the story begins, and a more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-erickson/before-i-begin-a-novel-i-have-a-strong-sense-of-at-least-one-central/) [Steve Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-erickson/) > [I never try to give a message in my books. It's about living with characters long enough to hear their voices and let them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/i-never-try-to-give-a-message-in-my-books-it-s-about-living-with/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [In a series, you really need to stay open-minded. It's not like a play or a film, where you can create and fully commit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-galecki/in-a-series-you-really-need-to-stay-open-minded-it-s-not-like-a-play/) [Johnny Galecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-galecki/) ## More by Walton Goggins > [ Quentin \[Taranino\] will say, "We've got it, but we're gonna do it one more time. Why?" And then, the entire cast and crew chimes… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/quentin-taranino-will-say-we-ve-got-it-but-we-re-gonna-do-it-one-more/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [If you ever get the opportunity to work with Quentin Tarantino, you had better believe that it will be an experience of extremes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/if-you-ever-get-the-opportunity-to-work-with-quentin-tarantino-you/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [Success in TV-showmaking is just a matter of being authentic and doing the best you can, and you hope that people watch it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/success-in-tv-showmaking-is-just-a-matter-of-being-authentic-and/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [T I was doing Predators, this new movie for FOX simultaneously, and this character that I play in the movie is "Walter Stands," and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/t-i-was-doing-predators-this-new-movie-for-fox-simultaneously-and/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [Unfortunately, when you're the king of the hill, there's really only one way to go, and that's down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/unfortunately-when-you-re-the-king-of-the-hill-there-s-really-only/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [Like everybody, I've had a lot of pain in my life and I'm a work in progress. You must have a true desire to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/like-everybody-i-ve-had-a-lot-of-pain-in-my-life-and-i-m-a-work-in/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [No, but there are people I grew up with from the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains that would give any person on 'Justified'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/no-but-there-are-people-i-grew-up-with-from-the-foothills-of-the-blue/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [You can go to a history class with one teacher and want to stick a pencil in your throat, and then go to another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/you-can-go-to-a-history-class-with-one-teacher-and-want-to-stick-a/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [I aimlessly travel, meaning I have no agenda other than to get small in the world, be quiet and observe people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/i-aimlessly-travel-meaning-i-have-no-agenda-other-than-to-get-small/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [I think I've made a career out of making despicable people likable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/i-think-i-ve-made-a-career-out-of-making-despicable-people-likable/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [I find that I have no problem getting a table at a restaurant when I walk in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/i-find-that-i-have-no-problem-getting-a-table-at-a-restaurant-when-i/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [I'm drawn to villains that are three-dimensional and raw and that I can kind of see in my own life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/i-m-drawn-to-villains-that-are-three-dimensional-and-raw-and-that-i/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [We want to see ourselves reflected in our heroes. Unfortunately most of us don't look like Arnold Schwarzenegger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/we-want-to-see-ourselves-reflected-in-our-heroes-unfortunately-most/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [But probably my favorite music, believe it or not, is sad music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/but-probably-my-favorite-music-believe-it-or-not-is-sad-music/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) > [An actor that tells you that they have real choices between material is, for the most part, lying. There are very few people that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/an-actor-that-tells-you-that-they-have-real-choices-between-material/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) [Explore all 52 Walton Goggins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) ## More Believe 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/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I really believe that when you're playing a character that everything is contained in the script. 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