In the days before the Academy Awards, Hollywood began to vibrate with excitement. People scurried like busy bees getting ready for what has always been referred to in this city as, ‘The Big Night.’ It’s not just a palpable time for those nominated or invited to the events and parties, but also for actors who are aspiring or retiring from the business. They plant themselves on a comfy couch in front of the TV and wait for the glamour to unfold. So many rewards come attached to the award, leaving us wondering: Who will be this year’s lucky honorees?
The delightful ingredient that makes the Academy Awards so thrilling, besides seeing the million dollar mini treasures dangling from Angelina’s earlobes on the red carpet—is the uncertainty of who will receive the Award and who won’t. We are thrill seekers by nature, and the mystery of the Academy Awards doesn’t disappoint, keeping us on the edge of our seats from the time the show starts till the end credits roll.
A good drama always contains some suspense. It’s not surprising that the longest running play in theatrical history is a mystery, Agatha Christie’s, ‘The Mouse Trap,’ which ran for 60 years. So, how can it be that the very element we are tickled by when watching theater or the Academy Awards is unbearable to tolerate when it happens to us on a personal level?
Uncertainty is an enormous part of an actor’s world. There are the auditions, callbacks, putting your heart and soul into a role not knowing whether the reviews will be harsh or kind, and trying to be in the right place at the right time so you can be seen by the right people. Uncertainty is an inherent part of being an actor, so rather than waiting for it to go away, you can learn to take control and navigate through the discomfort of it.
How can you take control of your life and better handle the fear of the unknown?
