I always find it easier to portray myself as being unlikeable and idiotic; to actually play a character that is likeable and engages the audience is far more difficult. It's a more subtle kind of challenge.
James Callahan, ... is a likeable and energetic man. And he takes his work seriously. Indeed it is said that he has recently sat for and passed an advanced correspondence course in Economics.
There's a horrible fallacy that exists in the popular discussion of fiction these days: the idea that a successful central character need be 'likeable' or 'sympathetic'. It is surely more important that they be human, no? More crucial that they breathe?
Whether you know Jack Ryan or you don't know Jack Ryan, he's a compelling person to spend time with.
Take up giving-away as a hobby while you are young, and you will have a happy life. What is more, because you do so many thoughtful things on impulse, you will develop a lively and interesting personality- gracious, friendly, and likeable.
The easiest way for readers to connect with characters and feel sympathy is to make the character entertaining, sympathetic and likeable.
I guess I always knew going into the movie that casting that part would be difficult. Oliver just felt likeable. I felt it would be hard to dislike this man. I don't know why, but I'm sure other directors have felt the same when casting him. Oliver is goofy yet formidable, smart but likeable... I didn't want the character of Alex to be nasty or demonised. I wanted him to be struggling with his actions.
I would love to be on a show where I'm allowed to play a character that you're not suspicious of, from the get-go, and who's someone that you can just relax with, take in and like, right off the bat.
