A wonderful, old definition of acting is “committing private acts in public.” But what does this mean? It means that actors must have the freedom to be a fool in public, brave enough to lose and be humiliated, courageous enough to look stupid, to allow, even seek to let the ugliness and the neediness show through, to appear physically, vocally or emotionally unattractive, to share fantasies and dreams, no matter how much you may be mocked or derided. Ultimately, the studio, classroom, or location is the safe place – the place where you need not care about other’s values, judgments, needs or agendas – care only about your honest search for what is true, real and meaningful.

The only reasons to be embarrassed stem from timid work and half-baked preparation. No fear!