I recently heard someone say that certain things hurt her. That she feels sad, stressed, and shaken when someone treats her unfairly—when someone is rude, angry, or dismissive. The response she received was simple: “Just don’t take it personally.” As if it were that easy.As if emotional impact were a choice. This kind of advice is common, especially in demanding environments—workplaces, creative industries, and even acting training. We are often told that strength means dist

As actors, we talk a lot about expression—voice, text, emotion, and intention. But one of the most important skills in acting is often underestimated: Listening. I often hear actors say things like: “My scene partner was unclear.”“I didn’t know what they wanted from me.”“The scene felt flat.” And sometimes, that’s true. But very often, the real question is: How well were we listening? Listening creates clarity In real life, people don’t always know exactly what they want to s

There are different intentions behind correcting someone — and they don’t feel the same. I’ve been on both sides of it.Corrected in ways that made me shrink.And guided in ways that opened something inside me. Sometimes we correct because we feel uncomfortable.Because a mistake triggers our insecurity, our need to feel right, our desire to regain control. In those moments, correction becomes less about the other person and more about soothing something in ourselves. Even if t

What a blessing it is to have a goal. When I act — especially when I improvise — I work with one simple technique: following my goal.I can’t, and don’t, prepare text in advance. I grab the goal, and I follow it, no matter what it takes. That pursuit might come through manipulation, laughter, shouting, tears — anything.The means are endless. In acting, there are two essential paths to greatness:to truly listen and to fully react — while never letting go of your goal.You and t

"Why do you act?" is a question I have received on numerous occasions. And there is no single straightforward answer to this question. It...