Actor Nerves, Stagefright, Camera Fear, On-Camera Freeze, Pre-Scene Jitters, Acting Panic…
Whatever it’s called, fear and nervousness is something that all actors live with. In varying intensities, it ebbs and flows at different stages of everyone’s career. It does get better; especially after awhile, as an actor gets real acting experience. The more work an actor completes; on their own, the jitters somewhat subside, especially if the acting work becomes steady. (And, yes, steady work is uncommon in the acting profession.)
But, absolutely, acting experience does alleviate a lot of pre-performance terrors, when actors are no longer on-the-set virgins…
Yep, jumpin’ through that fire takes a lot of fear away. Once you’ve done it, at least you survived, and now you know what it’s like. Similarly, it’s even better if it was good for you and everyone else.
Even non-actors know about stage fright.
It’s what happens to anyone, before doing something important. It’s the thing that feels, at times, like your stomach climbed up into your throat and is choking you, and your talent. Sometimes, your ability to speak your lines. And, of course, speaking is a big part of acting. And when an actor chokes on their lines, they panic more. Right?
Everyone knows that fear can be debilitating. For those who have been there, it’s a terrible feeling, because it creates a lack of trust, in one’s self. Subsequently followed, by more fear, about fear.
And about how compromising it can be…simple performance anxiety. (One only needs to see some spam to know that half of the world’s population knows what that is.)
If you are a sensitive actor, you feel fear now, just reading about it. I’m channeling it myself, from writing about it.
It’s a mythical misconception that experienced actors, professional actors, don’t get nervous.
It is absolutely untrue that successful actors feel no pressure. Far from it. They have other pressures, to perform up to par. Some have feelings of fraud, and having to prove they aren’t; or making sure that each performance is as good as the last. Or better.
There doesn’t have to be a reason. That energy exists just fine, without one. It also comes and goes on it’s own. (I’ve seen hand-trembling in some big stars, on-set.)
No matter what level the actor: if the glands still work, the adrenals still surge.
What makes it different for successful actors; is that they have had experience handling their nerves, they are actually used to working under high pressure with internal churning. But there’s more.
Professional actors not only accept that nervous energy.
Often, they have a different interpretation about it. Commonly, it’s a motivator for even better, more authentic, acting.
Dealing with the adrenaline surge about acting, before performance, has everything to do with perspective. And utilization. Successful actors can take that energy and use it, as an acting tool. A powerful tool.
These Oscar© Nominated Actors discuss actor fear, and their methods of dealing with it; using (nervy) energy:
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- Sandra Bullock
- Jeff Bridges
- Morgan Freeman
- Woody Harrelson
- Gabourey Sidibe
- Carey Mulligan
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Thanks to Newsweek for this video.
For more about the Academy Awards and Oscar© Nominated Actors, visit Oscar Prep [...another Dana Kaminski Internet Jam].
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;~Dana
This is a wonderful and empowering post. Thank you!!
The ability to go from really good to extraordinary in anything is aligned with the willingness…cross over that threshold anyway. Extraordinary people do whatever it takes – listen to Mission Impossible music, for example – to get themselves ‘in the zone’ for a masterful performance. You can be a victim of fear or you can use it to challenge yourself to rise above to even greater achievement and performance.