There starts to be an overlap between you and the character.

Meaning of the quote

When you act in a movie or play, you start to become like the character you are playing. You can feel the character's thoughts and feelings as if they are your own. It's like the line between you and the character starts to disappear, and you become one with the role you are acting.

About Stephen Collins

Stephen Collins was an American actor best known for his role as Eric Camden on the TV series 7th Heaven. He also had notable roles in Star Trek: The Motion Picture and the ABC series Tales of the Gold Monkey. However, his career ended in 2014 after he confessed to sexual misconduct against multiple minors.

More about the author

More quotes from Stephen Collins

Bit parts in Mediocre TV shows won’t develop your acting chops.

Stephen Collins

American actor

I took the role because it’s rare to read a script that makes me laugh and cry, and it spoke to my own religious feelings, as well as giving me a chance to draw on my experience as a parent. Accepting it was a no-brainer.

Stephen Collins

American actor

In Hawaii, we go to this wonderful place, all families. My wife and I go directly from breakfast to a beach chair where we read all day. My daughter goes from water to pool to running around with friends she meets, some of whom are regulars there.

Stephen Collins

American actor

The script was just the best I’d read in a long time and I love the humor, which I wasn’t expecting, and I like the fact that my six year old daughter can see the show without being, you know, protected from it.

Stephen Collins

American actor

There are many exceptions, but New York is a great place to start a career.

Stephen Collins

American actor

Writing a book is such a full-time job. If you’re away for a few days, you have to start again.

Stephen Collins

American actor

When you put a group of actors together who get along, and we have since day one, they don’t become like their roles. What tends to happen is their age disappears and they all deal with each other as friends.

Stephen Collins

American actor

Don’t try to start a career in LA, unless money is all you’re interested in.

Stephen Collins

American actor

There starts to be an overlap between you and the character.

Stephen Collins

American actor

Aaron is not at all what his image might indicate. He’s fiercly loyal and a true and total gentleman. He’s very shy but has very strong opinions. He’s into everything, wardrobe, hair, script, casting.

Stephen Collins

American actor

You need to develop, somehow, a huge amount of faith and confidence in yourself, because there’s a lot of rejection throughout an actor’s life and you have to believe in yourself more than anyone else.

Stephen Collins

American actor

I’m working on a new novel, in its 3rd draft, but it’s hard to write while doing 7th Heaven.

Stephen Collins

American actor

I don’t think this show would have come to me 10 years ago. It continues to be this wonderful miracle.

Stephen Collins

American actor

Part of the beauty of the show in a way is that he’s not perfect, but you can always count on him to do the right thing in a pinch. That’s why he inspires people and inspires me.

Stephen Collins

American actor

I have an almost seven year old… I think it’s essential to be consistent with kids. And truthful, without scaring them. I could go on for hours on this one.

Stephen Collins

American actor

Well I’m a longtime AOL subscriber and I love the whole thing. I’m an email junkie and I love the internet, though 7th Heaven doesn’t give me much free time to surf these days.

Stephen Collins

American actor

But I loved the script to 7th Heaven and couldn’t say no. It made me laugh and cry, and I was hooked. I’d love to know who turned it down, because I’m sure at least one other actor did. But I’m glad he did, whoever it was.

Stephen Collins

American actor

I might be in an airport, late or angry with a ticket person, and I’m going to sort of check myself, because part of me is seen as Eric Camden. We all need as much help as we can get. It’s a role model to me as much as to anybody else.

Stephen Collins

American actor

I’d be happy to do Star Trek again, if the writing was right.

Stephen Collins

American actor

The process of doing plays will make you an actor.

Stephen Collins

American actor

I go to St. Matthews in Pacific Palisades, an Episcopal Church.

Stephen Collins

American actor

I’m from the US of A. Born in Des Moines, raised in the New York suburbs.

Stephen Collins

American actor

I spent 26 years in the business without ever knowing what I was doing a month from now.

Stephen Collins

American actor

I can’t come on like a parent to these kids, if I do, I won’t be able to have fun working with them. The good news is they all have parents. The younger ones, their parents by law have to be on set.

Stephen Collins

American actor