Revelations come when you're in the thick of it, pitting yourself up against something larger than yourself.
Look at the Coen brothers. All their minor characters are as interesting as their protagonists. If the smaller characters are well-written, the whole world of the film becomes enriched. It's not the size of the thing, but the detail.
I've always been comfortable working with women and I've had two happy marriages. Draw what conclusions you like from that.