I Want To Be An Actress

Dear Miss Know It All,

I want to be an actress. When I'm acting all by myself I'm really great, but when I audition, I completely chicken out or just fail overall most of the time. The last time I auditioned, I got a part that I was really excited for -- I memorized all my lines in a few days and practiced a lot but. on the day of the dress rehearsal, I got sick and our play got cancelled. I don’t know what I should do now. Do you have any advice to get over nerves or just get better at acting in general? It would help a bunch :)

J.P.

Hey there!

You know, it's really cool that we have the same dream. That's something we already have in common! I've always wanted to be an actress -- I still do.

I'm sure you're great at acting -- you even managed to get a good part! That's awesome. You've got the first step covered - you've got the talent. The only thing you need is the confidence to make that talent shine. Confidence is key. When you go for an audition, pretend like you've already got the part. There's plenty of actors who've screwed up during really important auditions. It's okay to fail at auditions. That's how you learn what not to do.

Whenever you get scared before a show, pretend like it's simply another practice session. Bring your mind to all the times you absolutely killed it during practice, how well you were able to perform then. Think about everything that could go right. It's not your fault that you fell sick the day of the dress rehearsal. Think of it this way: You were so important, a play was cancelled for you! (I'm not sure if that makes you feel better, but I hope it does) Don't give up just because you failed at one role. If every single actor in the world was like that, you'd have no movies to watch! NEVER GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMS, AND STAY AWAY FROM ANYONE WHO EVEN REMOTELY SUGGESTS THAT YOU SHOULD.

Getting over nerves - Why do we feel nervous? The feeling of nervousness isn't necessarily something you need to be scared of. In fact, nerves are a way of your body releasing adrenaline to prep your body to do it's best. That's a good thing, right? Even your body is rooting for you! But, nervousness becomes a pain in the butt when it gets in the way of you actually performing well; it ends up doing the opposite of what it's actually supposed to do, like stuff you buy from the dollar store ;) Also, fun fact: Nervousness and excitement are the same emotion - what makes a difference is the way you interpret it. Whenever you feel nervous, convince yourself that you're excited to perform. Think about the spotlights in your face, think about the crowd that's going to cheer for you, think about the absolute joy that flows through your veins when you're up on the stage. 

If you still find it hard to calm down, use a physical/mental ritual that makes you feel happy or calm. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and picture yourself in your happy place. If you want, carry a small vial of essential oil (of whatever scent makes you comfortable) with you backstage, so you can take a sniff when you feel jittery. Sing a little song to yourself. Put together a playlist of chill beats that can help you, well, chill. 

Being prepared is also a great way to boost your confidence, but you've mentioned that you were able to learn your lines quickly and that you practise a lot, so you've got that covered already! Acting tips: Plenty of times, the best actors don't get the roles they auditioned for. For example, Chelsea Peretti, who plays Gina in Brooklyn Nine Nine, was told that she wasn't good enough for the part. You know what made them call her back? The persona she displayed at her audition. The first thing you've got to remind yourself during an audition is to simply be yourself. The casting panel doesn't only want to see how you play the role. They also want to see who you are, what your personality is like, and how you incorporate it into your character.

I'm not sure if you already know this, but one of the best ways to get into the industry is to climb your way up steadily. Get as much experience as you can. Audition for as many roles as you can. Volunteer to be an extra - there are plenty of websites that hire extras. Look out for social media casting calls, but make sure they're trusted and verified sources - we don't want you getting into anything shady. Most importantly, work your way up to getting signed by an agent, that way, you can get more exposure to roles. 

I don't know if this works for you, but one thing I like to do is take pointers from actors in movies that I watch. I observe the expressions they make, the lines they say, and wonder how I can do that, or incorporate and improve certain expressions while acting. If I'm watching using a streaming service, I even rewind a particular scene a couple times and take notes. 

Also: Scenebot is a great way to get on with your journey as an actor - check it out! 

I hope you become a famous actor - invite me to your Oscars afterparty when you do ;)

Love,

Miss Know It All