--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I definitely try to play a common man in…" description: "\"I definitely try to play a common man in my roles so people can identify with my characters, but the truth of the matter is that it doesn't really matt..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/571/zach-braff-854_character_i-definitely-try-to-play-a-common-man-in_2056491.png" --- # I definitely try to play a common man in my roles so… ![“I definitely try to play a common man in my roles so people can identify with my characters, but the truth of the matter is that it doesn't really matter what I do or my lines are, I'm still Zach Braff, and people know I'm better than them.” quote by Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/571/zach-braff-854_character_i-definitely-try-to-play-a-common-man-in_2056491.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/571/zach-braff-854_character_i-definitely-try-to-play-a-common-man-in_2056491.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/571/zach-braff-854_character_i-definitely-try-to-play-a-common-man-in_2056491.png) > “I definitely try to play a common man in my roles so people can identify with my characters, but the truth of the matter is that it doesn't really matter what I do or my lines are, I'm still Zach Braff, and people know I'm better than them.” [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even with fame, the actor acknowledges his personal brand overshadows character authenticity, highlighting ego’s role in perception. **In simple terms:** Fame can eclipse character work. Key Takeaway Recognize personal bias in performance. Themes identity ego authenticity Mood reflective critical Type celebrity self‑awareness When to use this quote - acting workshops - personal branding - public speaking - self‑reflection Key Concepts media studies psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does your reputation affect your creative choices? - Can you separate self‑image from character? A Different Perspective Relying on fame may limit artistic growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters/) [Common man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-man/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) ## Related quotes > [It was fun to create characters who had truth to them but were also made up so as not to completely offend!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-cassavetes/it-was-fun-to-create-characters-who-had-truth-to-them-but-were-also/) [Zoe Cassavetes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-cassavetes/) > [What I want to do is play roles as a black man, instead of playing black man's roles. You know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/what-i-want-to-do-is-play-roles-as-a-black-man-instead-of-playing/) [Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/) > [I've always thought of myself as a character actor, even though I've played some leading-man roles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gets/i-ve-always-thought-of-myself-as-a-character-actor-even-though-i-ve/) [Malcolm Gets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gets/) > [I love finding the vulnerability in characters. There's truth there. There's beauty in vulnerability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-pablo-di-pace/i-love-finding-the-vulnerability-in-characters-there-s-truth-there/) [Juan Pablo Di Pace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-pablo-di-pace/) > [People see me in powerful roles. That's what people want to see. That's what I want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-sorvino/people-see-me-in-powerful-roles-that-s-what-people-want-to-see-that-s/) [Paul Sorvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-sorvino/) > [I'm drawn to roles that people don't think I'm right for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-pendleton/i-m-drawn-to-roles-that-people-don-t-think-i-m-right-for/) Austin Pendleton > [“You like to assign roles to the people in your life. And when they don't play their parts right, you have a hard time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kasie-west/you-like-to-assign-roles-to-the-people-in-your-life-and-when-they-don/) [Kasie West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kasie-west/) > [I want to do different kind of roles that people don't want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saqib-saleem/i-want-to-do-different-kind-of-roles-that-people-don-t-want-to-do/) [Saqib Saleem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saqib-saleem/) > [When I started out in the '90s, there were not many people of color writing, directing and producing - hence, the roles for people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie-panjabi/when-i-started-out-in-the-90s-there-were-not-many-people-of-color/) [Archie Panjabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie-panjabi/) > [The thing I always say is that I wasn't going out reaching for roles, I wasn't fighting for roles - people came to me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-lansbury/the-thing-i-always-say-is-that-i-wasn-t-going-out-reaching-for-roles/) [Angela Lansbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-lansbury/) > [The blessing and the curse of not having a huge hit... you can go in and out of roles and some people know who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-wilson/the-blessing-and-the-curse-of-not-having-a-huge-hit-you-can-go-in-and/) [Patrick Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-wilson/) > [I can't get the serious roles. People don't see me that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-coolidge/i-can-t-get-the-serious-roles-people-don-t-see-me-that-way/) [Jennifer Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-coolidge/) > [At the end of the day we need to experiment and if we start being too cautious, we'll end up working with the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lara-dutta/at-the-end-of-the-day-we-need-to-experiment-and-if-we-start-being-too/) [Lara Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lara-dutta/) > [A lot of roles for people with disabilities are quite patronising. It's a real pity when they are just used to give dull PC…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-haddon/a-lot-of-roles-for-people-with-disabilities-are-quite-patronising-it/) [Mark Haddon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-haddon/) > [I was very willing to take on controversial roles that people didn't really want to look at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-perez/i-was-very-willing-to-take-on-controversial-roles-that-people-didn-t/) [Rosie Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-perez/) ## More by Zach Braff > [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [The greatest charity you can contribute to is yourself. Instead of spending a dollar to help feed hungry children, why not spend that dollar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-greatest-charity-you-can-contribute-to-is-yourself-instead-of/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [When you're the director and the writer, you never have to remember your lines, and there's no one to call you on it. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/when-you-re-the-director-and-the-writer-you-never-have-to-remember/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [Yea, he's alright...but he's no Zach Braff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/yea-he-s-alright-but-he-s-no-zach-braff/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [It was really starting to get pathetic, everyday they would come in looking for one thing or another. 'Zach, can you give me some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/it-was-really-starting-to-get-pathetic-everyday-they-would-come-in/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [People ask me, 'Did the fame come too fast? Do you ever wish for your old life?' I always tell them that there's nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/people-ask-me-did-the-fame-come-too-fast-do-you-ever-wish-for-your/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [I wouldn't exactly call it 'Intelligent', but somebody has to be behind designing the human form other than just biological necessity. Why else would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/i-wouldn-t-exactly-call-it-intelligent-but-somebody-has-to-be-behind/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [People have called me fake, but personally, I don't think I'm fake because I'm so insincere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/people-have-called-me-fake-but-personally-i-don-t-think-i-m-fake/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [When things seem to be slowing down, there's this little trick I like to play. I'd plow this virgin who's on her period, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/when-things-seem-to-be-slowing-down-there-s-this-little-trick-i-like/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [I want to take piano lessons, I want to study at university, I want to travel, I want to do other parts, make another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/i-want-to-take-piano-lessons-i-want-to-study-at-university-i-want-to/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [If John McCain were really a war hero he would've won Vietnam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/if-john-mccain-were-really-a-war-hero-he-would-ve-won-vietnam/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [If I could change anything about Garden State, it would be to cast somebody else for the female lead. Natalie just isn't really that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/if-i-could-change-anything-about-garden-state-it-would-be-to-cast/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [Well it's not that I HATE them, but honestly if I saw two homeless people begging for money, one white and one black, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/well-it-s-not-that-i-hate-them-but-honestly-if-i-saw-two-homeless/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [I never looked at bread the same way again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/i-never-looked-at-bread-the-same-way-again/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [I don't belive Oprah's sexual abuse stories, I mean who would take a black girl when there are plenty of white?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/i-don-t-belive-oprah-s-sexual-abuse-stories-i-mean-who-would-take-a/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) [Explore all 349 Zach Braff quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) ## 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. 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