Sharon Van Etten Quotes

I used to stand in front of the mic and cry.

But I'm guessing every actor is insecure.

Sometimes I find myself in this super-raw place onstage where I'm like, 'Maybe that's not the best thing. Maybe I need to shut down a little.'

For years, I was often afraid to speak up when I didn't fully understand a script. I'd tie myself in knots.

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

When you first are in front of the camera as a young person, you'd be surprised at all the insecurities you can get.

And I was very shy as a kid; if you sang me 'Happy Birthday,' I would cry. Quite shy. So the idea of being an actor, much less a model, was just out of this world.

I have a really difficult time watching myself on film. I literally cower in my seat and cover my face.

I just can't stand the sound of my voice sometimes, or how my face looks. There are always a few times at every premiere when I just have to cover my eyes when I'm up there.

I'm very wary with impressions - I don't think I'm very good at impressions, I hate doing them.

I'm not sure I'd hire myself in anything. I certainly couldn't be an actor. That would be terrible. For everyone.

I still see myself on TV and think, 'Oh my God, I'm on a television, and there are millions of people watching,' and I get really nervous and embarrassed and insecure.

I don't like seeing myself on screen. Whenever I see or hear myself, I think, 'What is that eejet doing now?' I'm in the wrong business. I don't like the limelight.

We're so insecure, comedians. 'Did you laugh? Do you think I was funny?'

I hate those people that get up and they're amazing. I think you just have to be kind of wasted to go and do it.

I'd been shy since childhood, constantly full of self-doubt. And as an actor, I'd been so scared of failing that I made my career - and myself - a big joke.

In general, I'm pretty shy and nervous about a lot of things. For me to get on stage for the first time took so many times at an open mic before I finally got on stage and did it.

There are several times when I walked into a room and just felt like such a sham. That's the problem with auditioning.

I tend to take negative comments to heart.

I never step upon a stage without asking myself whether I will succeed in finishing the opera. The fact is that a conscientious singer is never sure of himself or of anything. He is ever in the hands of Destiny.

To see yourself on the big screen, you're big, you hate your voice, your vocabulary. You say the same words, you speak bad.

I have many moments of self doubt. Everybody does.

It probably says something really clinically terrible about my character that I need to get up on a stage and go 'Ra ra ra' in front of people.

I was never that good on stage with live improv. I was much better on film or writing something and then thinking about it. I was too in my head when I was on stage.

I think a lot of singers are shy people. I suppose singing on stage is not like talking; you are not as exposed.