Julia Roberts, Tom Cruise, and Johnny Depp are all successful movie stars. But remarkably, they have all described themselves as shy. Movie stars have to perform in front of many people, so it seems strange for famous actors to be shy. But, "The fact is, " says Roger Moore, "most actors are shy people. " Could there be a connection between acting and being shy?
Shy people frequently like to pretend to be someone else. This, of course, is the same thing actors do at their work. Acting coach John Harmon says, "The best actors are usually shy children. They play alone and pretend to be kings, queens, and their favorite animals. Over time, they learn to act in this way. " Shy people and actors may feel more comfortable in an imaginary world. As Nicole Kidman once said, "As a teenager, I was like, I hate who I am. I hate how I feel. 'Theater was a place where I could go and just be somebody else. " Kidman feels much better about herself and her acting ability now. But she still finds herself feeling shy. "I don't like walking into a crowded restaurant by myself, " she explains. And as strange as it seems, Kidman is not alone.
Many actors worry more about everyday conversation than performing. "I find it hard to talk to people, " says Daniel Radcliffe. Like many shy people, Radcliffe sometimes worries about what to say during a conversation. When acting, of course, this is not a problem. "Actors like acting because they know what to say; the words are already written for them, " says Harmon. "They feel in control and more comfortable. "
For many actors, acting is a way to overcome shyness. "I started acting when I was in college because I was shy and thought it would be a good way to break out of that, " says actor Catherine Bell. Like Bell, some actors get over their shyness after many years of acting. But for most actors, the shyness never completely goes away. "I'm still a little shy, " says Julia Roberts, "But now I'm not scared of a thing!"