Laurence Olivier Quotes

For many years, I didn't even like the idea of doing a one-person play. Public speaking got me past that. I've always been good at public speaking, but I never really enjoyed it. Then I started to really enjoy it, and that's made all the difference.

I always think the second worst thing in the world is to go on stage at night, and the first worst thing in the world is sitting at home at night. For me, it's scarier to not be doing it than doing it.

When you are new to the business, you think if you give a really bad performance, that's one they will print. You will be judged. You just have to be brave.

I know when I am on stage and I'm kind of on the right track - hopefully most of the time. But a lot of time I'm not.

I got on stage for the first time when I was seven. From seven until I was about nine it was probably more to do with just being on stage and having the attention.

I didn't grow up jumping in front of the class and performing, but I definitely had a hunger to be creative.

I've always been pretty reserved, but after taking drama classes in middle school to get more comfortable performing in front of people, I thought I should try out for television.

'Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa' has helped me shed my inhibitions. Dancing in front of an audience was not easy for me. But I managed it and got progressively comfortable with the audience as the weeks progressed.

Every time I step onto the stage, it's not only proving to the audience that I'm capable but to myself.

I finally felt that I came into my own when I went on the stage.

I've been able to perform in front of thousands of people on stage in a character that's nothing like me. I'm very shy.

Performing was terrifying.

I always felt like my future was at stake every time I stepped on stage and that was kind of hair-raising. At some point I just went, don't be frightened, you can't do anything wrong, it's your show.

It was probably years before I was confident enough in stand-up that I was able to talk about the things I wanted to talk about, the way I wanted to talk about them.

It took me a long time to be alright with smiling onstage.

I'm very shy, and I shy away from people. But the moment I hit the stage, it's a different feeling I get nerve from somewhere; maybe it's because it's something I love to do.

I was terribly shy and never said anything in class. Then I started getting into school plays. When you've got words to say, you've got a sort of armour.

Every three days on average, I am alone on stage, facing the public.

I've realized that I can do performances.

I was terrified of being on stage, and I had to work very hard at a craft to get past that.

I enjoyed doing Lipstick, but it scared me. I was very nervous. I couldn't wait for it to be over. It was very real, and I was just a kid.

Although I don't gamble in life - I've never played poker - I do gamble on stage. I gamble with myself: 'Can I do this?'

I can never remember being afraid of an audience. If the audience could do better, they'd be up here on stage and I'd be out there watching them.

As soon as I step on that stage, nothing matters. I don't think of it as work. It's just so much fun.

It's interesting to watch myself with an audience; I'm trying hard to learn from it.