Annie Lennox Quotes

I'm scared of the interviews...I'm scared of having to get up onstage again. I'm scared of the critique. I'm scared right now of doing this again. But that's why I have to do it, I think.

I was terrified of being on television - and also I overcompensated, I'm sure, because I know I did this in my personal life too at the time, when I was younger.

It feels like the more I'm out there in the public eye, the more criticism I get. You need to have confidence - that's what it takes to walk out there and sing a song in front of a huge group of people.

I used to be afraid of looking at the audience.

I was probably more scared of my high school exams than I was of the Oscars. At the time you think it's everything and if you don't do well, your life's over. Opportunities are gone. So the more you do it, the less the fear is present.

I am always scared before going on stage; this is the fear which makes me do well.

I've always been a bit of a self-doubter. I think a lot of actors are.

Yeah, I kinda still get nervous sometimes now.

I am not comfortable telling people I am trying stand-up because to me that implies confidence. I'm - well, I'm not.

I'm terrible at speaking extemporaneously about my work - I get completely tongue-tied and consumed with fear.

I've never given a speech without being terrified first.

I can't say I don't get nervous, but I really kind of enjoy performing now.

To begin with, I don't have any stage fright.

I'm a horrible public speaker.

I was just terrified in front of the camera. I couldn't even say my own name. I walked out of a handful of auditions. I mean, ran out in cold sweats. I was just so nervous and insecure.

I'm not a natural born performer.

What holds you back in comedy is fear.

I'm shy at public speaking, which is tough.

I was just so nervous every time I was onstage. It took me many, many years to get to the point where I realized, 'All right, if I'm going to keep doing this, I've gotta remember that it's supposed to be fun. I've gotta stop putting so much pressure on myself, because otherwise, it's not worth it.' And I still am too critical of myself.

I think with performing, initially I was terrified on stage, absolutely terrified. And I did it again and again and again, and I learned sort of how it works, and then I was able to do it.

I was not happy with myself as a human being when I was very young - I was afraid of people; I was afraid of talking, I didn't know how to express myself other than by being on stage.

People might not believe me if I say I get nervous, but I tend to practice constantly to show a balanced performance.

I've never been good at playing live in front of people.

Doing stand-up is not normal. People fear public speaking above all other things, and I am no different.

Almost every actor goes into almost every picture very frightened. He is positive he really can't do it. The bigger the star, the more frightened he is.