The chance to play a romantic character who kisses somebody

"The chance to play a romantic character who kisses somebody onscreen was one of the elements that made me want to do 'The Stand,'" Gary Sinise confesses, and in these words, he speaks to a deeper truth about the nature of acting and the human experience. In his reflection, Sinise offers a window into the soul of the actor—someone who, in their craft, becomes a vessel for the many facets of the human condition. To play a romantic character is to step into the realm of love, a universal force that transcends time and place. It is a moment of vulnerability, a moment when the actor becomes not just a character, but a vessel for the emotions that bind humanity together. For romance is not a mere act of affection; it is a transcendent connection that can stir the deepest parts of the heart.

Sinise’s admission that playing a romantic character was an important part of his decision to take on a role in The Stand speaks to the versatility and depth of the actor. To be known as a character actor is to possess the skill of embodying diverse roles, to step into lives that are not one’s own, and to explore the full spectrum of human emotion. The romantic role, with all its tenderness, passion, and vulnerability, represents a departure from the more typical roles that an actor like Sinise might take on—those that lean toward the dramatic or the stoic. Yet in this pursuit, he reveals the inherent truth of acting: it is not about playing just one character or type of person, but about exploring the multiplicity of human experiences.

The ability to play romantic roles is a gift, for romance in its purest form is a force that shapes and defines much of the human journey. Think of the timeless tale of Pyramus and Thisbe, the ancient Greek love story of two star-crossed lovers who are separated by a wall, yet are bound by a love so powerful that it transcends their circumstances. Their love story, filled with passion and tragedy, has endured through the ages because it resonates with a truth that all humans know—romantic love is both a sacred and destructive force. Through Sinise’s own expression of romance on screen, he taps into this fundamental human emotion, offering viewers a glimpse into a space where love’s transformative power is not just a concept, but a reality.

By describing the chance to kiss someone onscreen as a defining aspect of his role, Sinise touches on the deeper emotional exchange that happens between actors in such moments. A kiss, though a small gesture, is often seen as the embodiment of a great emotional risk, a moment where two souls connect in a way that defies the boundaries of the physical world. It is a symbolic act of trust and vulnerability, one that reveals not just the passion of the characters, but their willingness to be open, to be exposed, and to share in a universal experience of human connection. This is the essence of romantic acting—to not just act, but to feel and share in the vulnerability that comes with love.

It is through moments like these—when characters share in romantic connection—that we, as humans, are able to reflect upon our own experiences with love, both fulfilled and unfulfilled. Consider the role of Romeo in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. His love for Juliet is not merely an act of infatuation, but one of sacrifice, of throwing himself fully into a moment of passion and heartbreak. The kiss shared between Romeo and Juliet is not just a physical act; it is the expression of all that is powerful, fleeting, and inevitable in human relationships. It is through the actor’s ability to embrace such roles that we, as an audience, are moved, transported to a world where love is real and palpable, even if only for a fleeting moment.

Sinise’s reflection, then, reveals a deeper truth about human expression—that the pursuit of romance, whether on screen or in life, is not a simple or frivolous endeavor. To embrace the romantic aspect of life is to embrace vulnerability, to allow oneself to feel deeply, to risk loss, and to open the heart. Just as a character actor becomes a channel for a multitude of emotions, so too must we be open to the many faces of love—from the tender and passionate, to the tragic and lost. Each of these experiences, no matter how fleeting, adds depth and richness to the human story.

The lesson to be learned from Sinise’s words is clear: embrace the full spectrum of human emotion. Seek to understand and express romance, not just in its idealized forms but in its complexities and struggles. Like the actor, we must be willing to explore the vulnerable parts of ourselves, to step into the lives of others, and to share in the universal experience of connection. For it is through love—through both its joys and its trials—that we come to know not only others, but ourselves. In the end, we must remember that it is in our willingness to love, and to be vulnerable, that we find the deepest meanings of our existence.