anxiety and acting

Commenting about her feelings this morning and her best-actress Oscar nomination for “Transamerica,” Felicity Huffman [left, as Bree in the film] said, “I woke up in fear and anxiety - which I know is the enemy of art, and in general.” [CNN Showbiz Tonight Feb 13 2006]

Nicole Kidman admits, “Every time I star in a film, I think I cannot act. I’ve tried to pull out of almost every one I’ve done because of sheer terror.” [Reuters news story in 2003] Her ongoing anxiety and stage fright is also related to impostor feelings.

Many artists reportedly struggle with anxiety: Kim Basinger; Barbra Streisand; Alanis Morisette; Aretha Franklin; author John Steinbeck; Nicholas Cage; Naomi Judd; Carly Simon; Edie Falco among many others.

But anxiety has different flavors and degrees of impact on us, and it isn’t always a “bad thing” to be avoided or medicated away, unless it is really interfering with your ability to be aware and able to express any emotions and thoughts you want to.

Neuropsychiatrist Richard Restak, M.D. thinks “We’re all anxious and it’s a good thing that we are. At its optimum level, anxiety can help you formulate possibilities and imagine yourself in the future. When you ask yourself, Can I perform at the best level? you’re having an anxious thought, but it’s leading you to strive toward something.”

His book is: Poe’s Heart and the Mountain Climber : Exploring the Effect of Anxiety on Our Brains and Our Culture

Actor Alison Lohman notes, “With any film and even theater, you never get over being scared and overwhelmed, because it’s a new character and that brings on a whole new set of circumstances. That’s the exciting part of it - it’s those nerves that bring you to a higher level and makes you more hyper-aware. It makes your performance better. [Hollywood Reporter, Mar 5 2003]

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A recent news story provides another example of how anxiety shows up:

Heath Ledger is horrified that some people who watched him introduce a clip from “Brokeback Mountain” at the Screen Actors Guild Awards misinterpreted his stage fright as some kind of gay spoof.

There was no time for Jake Gyllenhaal and him to rehearse their introduction of the cast, Ledger said, and they were told to go out onstage. Gulp.

“I am not a public speaker and never will be… I’m just not one of those naturally funny, relaxed actors who enjoy the spotlight and are so good at it. And this was really weird because we were basically introducing ourselves, like here’s this brilliant cast and guess what, it’s us.”

So he got the giggles. “How can you say all that stuff - ‘two brave cowboys’ - with a straight face? It was just so surreal.”

“I am so sorry and I apologize for my nervousness. I would be absolutely horrified if my stage fright was misinterpreted as a lack of respect for the film, the topic and for the amazing filmmakers.”

[from article “Ledger explains his SAG giggles” by Elizabeth Snead on TheEnvelope.com / LA Times

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| 02.13.06 |
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