Billie Whitelaw Quotes

I get so nervous on stage I can't help but talk. I try. I try telling my brain: stop sending words to the mouth. But I get nervous and turn into my grandma. Behind the eyes it's pure fear. I find it difficult to believe I'm going to be able to deliver.

I've never told anyone this. But I suffer from terrible stage fright. True. You can't tell though, can you? Unbelievable, the panic. I nearly die of fear before I go on stage. Something wicked. I can't eat a thing the day before a gig. It'd make me vomit.

When I was younger and did a stand-up gig, it would take me two weeks to recover. Sometimes I'd get so panicked that I would stutter.

I definitely get stage fright.

I still get very scared when I step in front of a live audience.

I was so terrified before an audience that I would break out in these ugly red hives, and my lips would quiver at the sight of a word or a song.

I have stage fright really badly.

It's a horrible feeling to go in front of an audience when you don't feel right.

I get nervous even guesting on other people's shows.

There's no hope of me becoming completely relaxed on stage. If I did, I'd sit down and doze off.

I get stage fright and gremlins in my head saying: 'You're going to forget your lines'.

You have that moment just before you go on - I've had it in every play - where you just kind of want to run away. There's a whole audience, and they are waiting outside, and you're like, 'Why am I doing this again? Why? Why?'

I did the 'Tonight Show' once, and I choked up. I get intimidated.

That's a curious paradox that I don't think a lot of people out there know; that you get really scared before you go on. You come out in a nervous rash, and it's not like you actually love getting up there and showing off.

Actually, I failed drama in high school because of nerves. I wasn't able to memorize the words. I had complete stage fright.

I've never suffered stage fright. That fascinates people.

Live TV would terrify anybody.

I have big, big stage fright.

Sometimes I get butterflies before I get up on stage.

I'm too scared to perform onstage. I'm not very good with big crowds.

I hated the whole idea of being an actress. I used to throw up before every performance and cry afterward.

I get so nervous, I get belly pains before I go on stage.

I just have this fear that I'll get on stage and there'll be that brief moment of adrenalin and I'll forget my line.

But even so, I still get nervous before I go onstage.

Once, and only once, I walked on stage and my mind went utterly blank! I had no idea why I was there! My fellow actors had to rescue me. I was very young and new to the business, so I'm glad it didn't give me stage fright for the rest of my life!