The Courage of an Actor

The Courage of an Actor

Most actors, when they finally decide to do something about their incredible urge to get on stage or in front of a camera and transform into someone else in order to entertain large numbers of people, aren’t completely sure that they can do it. That they can “act.” I mean, it’s them up there and only them – their body, their voice, their movements – so it’s a bit intimidating, or can be. It’s not like they are playing an instrument or painting a painting with a brush, paint and a canvas that someone looks at and either appreciates it or doesn’t. It’s their own body, their own voice and their own movements that are being looked at. No one is judging a canvas they worked on. They are being judged directly.

It is because of this that actors are the most courageous of artists. It is a well-known and over-used fact to the general population at large that standing up and speaking in front of an audience or crowd is more terrifying than death itself. Yet an actor does this for their daily bread. Courage indeed.

But an actor takes this fear to another level and that is, they not only stand up in front of a crowd and speak they allow those who are observing them to judge them. They allow them to have an opinion of their ability to “act” and to play a character. I am sure one and all have at one time or another made a statement similar to this, “That person just isn’t a good actor.” or “What a great actor!” Being open and vulnerable like that requires even more courage.

Now I have set the stage.  But this is only the beginning. Let’s add another layer. The layer of rejection. Yes, that’s what it’s called, rejection. Actors must stand or sit in front of total strangers (directors and producers) and bear their souls and be judged in order just to get cast in a role.

And the next layer – after doing all that in front of these judges the majority of the time they never hear back. Close to 90% of the time. There is this complete void of communication. Silence. I don’t know about you but when there is silence from a person that I just communicated to I tend to fill it with, let’s say, unwanted thoughts. Here are few that I used to think when I first started auditioning, “I really screwed that one up.” or “I guess I just don’t know how to act.” or “I mustn’t be talented.” or “I’m too old.” or “I’m too young.” or “I’m too fat.” or “I’m too short.” or “I started too late in life. I should have started when I was 4!” or “I’ll never make it.” The list goes on. Facing this fact of rejection takes strength and yet another level of courage is required to continue. One more notch of courage.

This quality of courage is the very thing that audiences the world over admire. When an audience member watches one of their favourite stars overcome some of the most incredible odds in order to save themselves and probably the world at large, their courage is what is attractive. One can easily say that it’s really the “character” that the actor is playing and that it’s just a movie. True. Very true. I say, though, the essence of the actor him or herself must be present in the “character” as well and that the most attractive quality the audience identifies with or wants to experience in themselves is courage. If that actor doesn’t have courage in themself, it will not come through in any character they play no matter how well it is written for them.

So what makes up courage and are people born with it or can it be developed? What I will write here is strictly my opinion as an actor myself and a director. I am no authority on the subject but I have observed some things that may help the neophyte thespian.

People, in general, are not courageous. They are not born courageous and very, very few demonstrate this quality in life. Most of us are busy looking for security and safety and comfort. We avoid at all costs any situation where we must be courageous. Just look at the fact of standing up in front of a crowd and speaking as being more terrifying than death to most people. That tells me something about the level of courage most people have.

Courage is feeling the fear while taking action and not letting that fear overwhelm you to the point of inaction. With actors it starts right from the very beginning – admitting you’re an actor and taking action. It takes courage to admit and it takes even more courage to take action. Because that action will undoubtedly get some strange reactions from friends and family. Not everyone but some. Usually, though, the thought of what someone might say or how frightening it will be to stand up and speak and move with a character’s lines in front of others is far more scary than what happens in reality. If you have finally mustered up the courage to admit to yourself that you are an actor, do not let these thoughts sabotage your passion and what could be your calling in life. Stand up to them. Take that same courage you used to admit your calling and infuse it with enthusiasm and you will soon be standing up to most anything.

Following the career path of an actor develops courage. Some actors start with more courage than others either through their inherent personalities or the conditioning they have had in their upbringing or environment. Regardless of your inherent courage level or ability to stand up to fears of performing that you might have, most likely you will be tested along the way.

Courage is needed in many instances. It takes courage to admit your an actor to yourself and to others. It takes courage to do something about it – take classes, go to auditions. It takes courage to perform on stage. It takes courage to perform in front of a camera. It takes courage to work alongside a superstar. It takes courage to watch your own work. And it takes courage to continue when it seems like your career isn’t working.

As an actor develops their courage level and ability to stand up to fear, they become better people in life and they learn to handle life with much more certainty and strength than the average person. Actors who truly make it do become a shining light for others. A star to set an example. Of course, anyone can become misguided and make some terrible mistakes, stars included. But there is no doubt in my mind that the works of art they are contributing to and the stories they are helping to tell do make for a better life for all of us. Where would this life be without good movies? Without the courage of the actor, there would be none.

©️2014 Neil Schell