To dream of being an understudy suggests that you aren’t being true to yourself. You might be copying others instead of following your own values, and/or being dishonest with the people around you. You won’t achieve the respect you crave until you can learn to be yourself, be truthful, and not knock down others to make yourself look good. However, if you dream of an understudy taking over the part you were supposed to play, this warns of a false friend coming into your life.