Doubts
If you've seen the play "Doubt," you know that even nuns question their path. A healthy dose of self-doubt isn't always a bad thing. Ask your parents and friends if they have doubts about their professional abilities, and I'm sure the honest ones will say, "yes." It seems silly now, but until recently, I thought that I was the only one who questioned my abilities. But teachers, consultants, lawyers, writers, doctors, you name it, they all have doubts at various points in their careers.
Even brilliant actors doubt their talent. Michelle Pfeiffer recently said that when she reports to set for a new project, she is still terrified that someone will "find out" that she has no idea what she's doing.
Doubts keep us diligent. Without doubt, I probably wouldn't keep studying my craft and striving for better work. Fear of failure is a great motivator and it keeps our actor egos in check.
Most of the time, I doubt my talents. Sometimes I even wallow in it. The thought of watching myself on screen for more than five minutes makes me squirm in my chair with embarrassment. But doubt and passion is a powerful combination. It's the mark of a determined actor.
(Photo by Maarten Deboer)
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