---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The western has always been, for me, the…"
description: "\"The western has always been, for me, the bread and butter. It's the easiest place for an identifiable Native American to be able to work. But I do year..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44b/wes-studi-21665_actor_the-western-has-always-been-for-me-the-b_1599569.jpg"
---

#  The western has always been, for me, the bread and butter…

![“The western has always been, for me, the bread and butter. It's the easiest place for an identifiable Native American to be able to work. But I do yearn to be known as an actor rather than a 'Native American actor.'” quote by Wes Studi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44b/wes-studi-21665_actor_the-western-has-always-been-for-me-the-b_1599569.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44b/wes-studi-21665_actor_the-western-has-always-been-for-me-the-b_1599569.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44b/wes-studi-21665_actor_the-western-has-always-been-for-me-the-b_1599569.jpg)

> “The western has always been, for me, the bread and butter. It's the easiest place for an identifiable Native American to be able to work. But I do yearn to be known as an actor rather than a 'Native American actor.'”

[Wes Studi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-studi/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He seeks roles beyond ethnic typecasting, desiring recognition for talent rather than heritage.

**In simple terms:** Wants acting roles, not ethnic labels.

Key Takeaway

Pursue diverse roles beyond stereotypes.

Themes

identity career representation

Mood

determined hopeful

Type

personal inspirational

When to use this quote

- theatre
- film
- television
- casting decisions

Key Concepts

typecasting authenticity

Questions to Reflect On

- How can actors break stereotypes?
- What support helps diverse casting?

A Different Perspective

Industry bias limits opportunities.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Actor Native](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor-native-6079968/) [American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) [Bread](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bread/) [Bread and butter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bread-and-butter/) [Identifiable Native](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identifiable-native-6079969/) [Native](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/native/) [Native american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/native-american/) [Place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/place/) [Western](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/western/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/)

## Related quotes

> [Films are not my bread and butter. I do ads. I've survived through ads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-mathur/films-are-not-my-bread-and-butter-i-do-ads-i-ve-survived-through-ads/)

[Arjun Mathur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-mathur/)

> [The interpretive element of 'Lost' - the fact that you immediately need, as soon as the episode is over, to seek out a community…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-lindelof/the-interpretive-element-of-lost-the-fact-that-you-immediately-need/)

[Damon Lindelof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-lindelof/)

> [At the end of the day, I know what my bread and butter is and how I can be effective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jahlil-okafor/at-the-end-of-the-day-i-know-what-my-bread-and-butter-is-and-how-i/)

[Jahlil Okafor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jahlil-okafor/)

> [It's cool to know that you're doing something that people of all ages can watch and enjoy, even though my bread and butter is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-samberg/it-s-cool-to-know-that-you-re-doing-something-that-people-of-all-ages/)

[Andy Samberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-samberg/)

> [I was extremely into the escapism of fantasy, so series like 'Redwall' and 'Eragon' were my bread and butter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/i-was-extremely-into-the-escapism-of-fantasy-so-series-like-redwall/)

[Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/)

> [My work is my bread and butter and my husband is very supportive; he would love me to do more work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shriya-saran/my-work-is-my-bread-and-butter-and-my-husband-is-very-supportive-he/)

[Shriya Saran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shriya-saran/)

> [I find campfire stories and urban legends are kind of the bread and butter that inspires a lot of people who are making horror…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peele/i-find-campfire-stories-and-urban-legends-are-kind-of-the-bread-and/)

[Jordan Peele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peele/)

> [I thought that I should do Marathi cinema as I knew that there I would be able to explore different subjects. But I also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahesh-manjrekar/i-thought-that-i-should-do-marathi-cinema-as-i-knew-that-there-i/)

[Mahesh Manjrekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahesh-manjrekar/)

> [She can't do Subtraction." said the White Queen. "Can you do Division? Divide a loaf by a knife-what's the answer to that?" "I suppose-"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/she-can-t-do-subtraction-said-the-white-queen-can-you-do-division/)

[Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/)

> [We've always prided ourselves on putting together a great live show. That's something that means a lot to us because our bread and butter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-demarcus/we-ve-always-prided-ourselves-on-putting-together-a-great-live-show/)

[Jay DeMarcus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-demarcus/)

> [In order to save the 40,000,000 inhabitants of the United Kingdom from a bloody civil war, we colonial statesmen must acquire new lands to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecil-rhodes/in-order-to-save-the-40-000-000-inhabitants-of-the-united-kingdom/)

[Cecil Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecil-rhodes/)

> [I love actors. That's my bread and butter, and I got to work with some amazing ones on '12 Years'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcqueen/i-love-actors-that-s-my-bread-and-butter-and-i-got-to-work-with-some/)

[Steve McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcqueen/)

> [Such things as anguish, woe, affliction, guilt, feelings of awfulness, and utter wretchedness, the bread and butter of Days of Yore and Russians, sadly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisha-pessl/such-things-as-anguish-woe-affliction-guilt-feelings-of-awfulness-and/)

[Marisha Pessl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisha-pessl/)

> [I never thrust my nose into other men's porridge. It is no bread and butter of mine; every man for himself, and God for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-never-thrust-my-nose-into-other-men-s-porridge-it-is-no-bread-and/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [My favorite poets may not be your bread and butter. I have more favorite poems than favorite poets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-dove/my-favorite-poets-may-not-be-your-bread-and-butter-i-have-more/)

[Rita Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-dove/)

## More by Wes Studi

> [At times, you're welcome, depending on what's being cast. 'Dances with Wolves' - they wanted authentic-looking Indians in the film, and so they got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-studi/at-times-you-re-welcome-depending-on-what-s-being-cast-dances-with/)

[Wes Studi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-studi/)

> [People talk about gangs as if they're something new. But it really isn't that way. The Democratic Party is a gang. The Republican Party…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-studi/people-talk-about-gangs-as-if-they-re-something-new-but-it-really-isn/)

[Wes Studi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-studi/)

> [One of the things I learned early on was the system of believing: you have to believe in what you say. The camera is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-studi/one-of-the-things-i-learned-early-on-was-the-system-of-believing-you/)

[Wes Studi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-studi/)

> [When I saw the 'Geronimo' script and was offered the part, it was overwhelming in that it brought back all of those feelings -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-studi/when-i-saw-the-geronimo-script-and-was-offered-the-part-it-was/)

[Wes Studi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-studi/)

> [An old-codger comedy - that's what I want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-studi/an-old-codger-comedy-that-s-what-i-want-to-do/)

[Wes Studi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-studi/)

> [I'm proud to have served there for 12 months with Alpha Company of the 39th Infantry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-studi/i-m-proud-to-have-served-there-for-12-months-with-alpha-company-of/)

[Wes Studi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-studi/)

> [I am not a representative of anything. I have my opinions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-studi/i-am-not-a-representative-of-anything-i-have-my-opinions/)

[Wes Studi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-studi/)

> ['Dances with Wolves' really started the movement, using subtitles for Lakota Sioux and showing Indians as interesting, complex people - not just the enemy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-studi/dances-with-wolves-really-started-the-movement-using-subtitles-for/)

[Wes Studi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-studi/)

> [I can be a teddy bear, but more people tend to see me as the other side of the coin, and that has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-studi/i-can-be-a-teddy-bear-but-more-people-tend-to-see-me-as-the-other/)

[Wes Studi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-studi/)

> [I feel very fortunate that I was able to be cast in roles that showed the humanity, if you will, of usually stereotypical Indian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-studi/i-feel-very-fortunate-that-i-was-able-to-be-cast-in-roles-that-showed/)

[Wes Studi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-studi/)

> [It's a dangerous thing to build pipelines underground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-studi/it-s-a-dangerous-thing-to-build-pipelines-underground/)

[Wes Studi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-studi/)

> [I'm Cherokee, and there were times when social expansion was something that is needed by a cultural group or a national group.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-studi/i-m-cherokee-and-there-were-times-when-social-expansion-was-something/)

[Wes Studi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-studi/)

> [At times, I'm thinking negatively, thinking that we don't learn from our mistakes, but then I get more positive-minded. I do believe in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-studi/at-times-i-m-thinking-negatively-thinking-that-we-don-t-learn-from/)

[Wes Studi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-studi/)

> [I tried bull-riding... I wasn't good at all: I don't think I ever got eight seconds anywhere. But then, after that, I discovered acting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-studi/i-tried-bull-riding-i-wasn-t-good-at-all-i-don-t-think-i-ever-got/)

[Wes Studi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-studi/)

> [We were created to take care of, steward the land. That is mankind's purpose on earth, to steward and take care of the land…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-studi/we-were-created-to-take-care-of-steward-the-land-that-is-mankind-s/)

[Wes Studi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-studi/)

[Explore all 28 Wes Studi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-studi/)

## 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": "The western has always been, for me, the bread and butter. It's the easiest place for an identifiable Native American to be able to work. But I do yearn to be known as an actor rather than a 'Native American actor.'",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Wes Studi"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-studi/the-western-has-always-been-for-me-the-bread-and-butter-it-s-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Actor"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-studi/the-western-has-always-been-for-me-the-bread-and-butter-it-s-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44b/wes-studi-21665_actor_the-western-has-always-been-for-me-the-b_1599569.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44b/wes-studi-21665_actor_the-western-has-always-been-for-me-the-b_1599569.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44b/wes-studi-21665_actor_the-western-has-always-been-for-me-the-b_1599569.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The western has always been, for me, the bread and butter. It's the easiest place for an identifiable Native…” — Wes Studi",
                "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": "Wes Studi",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-studi/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The western has always been, for...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-studi/the-western-has-always-been-for-me-the-bread-and-butter-it-s-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-studi/the-western-has-always-been-for-me-the-bread-and-butter-it-s-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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
