"Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth." -Oscar Wilde

I found this quote among my collection of quotations from movies and famous people: "Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth." -Oscar Wilde

It made me think of a character I played back in Malaysia. In the second half of the year I helped script and plan a play along with a teacher and a few other fellow students. In the quarter after, we held auditions and built sets, and I had the distinct honor and pleasure of directing and acting in out little play.
The plot is unimportant right now, what I want to focus on is the character I played. My character was Jack Griffin, a cold, temperamental, cranky old TV station manager. His voice was harsh, his attitude abrupt and abrasive. He walked with a cane due to old injuries that constantly pained him, and his dark and damaged past weighed heavily on him. Yes, he had a heart, but it was buried under his hurt and pain., His temper would come out in violent flashes that cowed anyone in the room. Even his own son was pushed away, leaving Jack to be alone and even more bitter.
After the play was done with, a few people who knew me commented that the character reminded them of me. Other people who didn't know me so well told me my portrayal was scary and done extremely well.
The thing is, it wasn't an act. All I did was put on a suit, dash some gray in my hair, pick up a cane, and assume a different name. Now given, I am a bit more in touch with my softer side than Jack was, and I have a bit more control of my tongue and am a bit more sensitive to how my words and actions will affect other people. But, if I let myself go, which I do on occasion, thats me.
Another example of which I loosely based my portrayal of Jack on and have compared to myself before, is Dr. Gregory House. Old injuries paining him, abrasive personality, cynical, but with a heart that peeks through every so often.
I think this is why I like to act. I can put more of myself into my characters than I usually can put into myself. Ask me to play myself, and I cant do it. But give me a mask and I will be more myself than I ever could be on my own.

"Life is a stage, how will you play it?" -Josh