Brad Pitt and Other Acting Greats Discuss Their Fears of Public Speaking

Brad Pitt has won 53 awards over his 30+ year career. His accolades include two Oscars, two BAFTAs, two SAG awards, two Golden Globes and an Emmy.

Having won so many, the A-list actor has given plenty of acceptance speeches in front of thousands in attendance and millions watching at home.

After accepting his Oscar for Best Supporting Actor at the 92nd Academy Awards for his performance as the professional stunt double Cliff Booth in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Pitt made a striking admission backstage in the press room.

A reporter asked the star about a rumor suggesting he’d hired a speechwriter for that awards season. “Historically, I’ve always been really tentative about speeches,” Pitt responded. “They make me nervous.”

That being said, Pitt had a solution. “So this round I figured we’re going to put some real work into it—try to get comfortable, and this is a result of that,” he said. “No, I definitely write. I have some funny friends; I have some very, very funny friends that help me with some laughs, but, no, it’s got to come from the heart.”

Pitt also revealed that the 2020 awards season had been especially memorable because “for me, it was about getting cozy in front of a mass of people. I know this sounds antithetical given the profession I’ve chosen, but it’s not necessarily my thing.”

Brad Pitt is not the only movie star with Glossophobia, the fear of public speaking. Like millions of others, plenty of actors become anxious —if not terrified— when faced with large crowds despite pursuing a career in the spotlight.

Here are three actors who’ve also expressed their trepidation with public speaking.

Harrison Ford

When the American Film Institute was honoring Harrison Ford with a Life Achievement Award in 2000, he struggled with his acceptance speech before the vast audience. The Los Angeles Times reported that he admitted, “The greatest fear in my life is public speaking.” The Star Wars actor went on to say giving speeches is “a mixed bag of terror and anxiety.”

Katherine Heigl

Katherine Heigl revealed during a tribute to Shirley MacLaine at the American Film Institute how nervous she feels speaking in front of a crowd. But her deep admiration for her role-model MacLaine inspired Heigl to step up in front of the mic. “I’m kind of petrified of speaking in public,” she admitted. “I know it seems ridiculous. But when they first asked me [to speak] my first thought was fear, and my second thought was, ‘But it’s Shirley MacLaine!’”

Julia Roberts

In the film Larry Crowne, Pretty Woman actress Julia Roberts plays a college professor of public speaking.

However, when it was time to shoot the teaching scenes, Roberts confessed she felt petrified. “All these faces looking up at me, thinking, ‘What is she going to teach us?’ I needed to find my composure. It was very hard—it was terrible, in fact,” she said. The scenes reminded her of her personal struggles with stuttering as a child.

Glossophobia shouldn’t stop anyone, let alone actors, from achieving their career goals. Fortunately, practice, preparation, relaxation techniques and being genuine can help when facing a crowd.

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Your Chances of Becoming a Star

According to SAG-AFTRA, the unemployment rate for its members is about 85%. However, the 15% employed includes minor roles and even extra work. Indeed, many “working actors” collect unemployment a good chunk of their year.  Pursuing a career in the arts and cinema is a tenuous prospect at best. Film is a tremendously competitive medium. It’s been said the chances of becoming a Hollywood superstar are about the same as winning the lottery or being struck by lightning on the 17th of November while birthing a baby calf. All right, I just made that last part up, but suffice it to say, it’s a tough profession.

So, after this inspiring news, should you throw in the towel and save yourself a lifetime of grief? Well, this is where the rubber meets the road, isn’t it? When you’re faced with the above-mentioned odds, you have to ask yourself, “Do you feel lucky, Punk?” No, no, that’s not what you have to ask yourself–sorry, film saturates my brain. You have to ask yourself if you really love to act. Because if you don’t love it, it will be near impossible to get through all the work, the rejection, the heartache, the headache, the nausea, the bleeding, the tears, and the constant uncertainty.

When Brad Pitt dropped out of school, moved to North Hollywood, was living in an apartment with eight other guys, sleeping in a sleeping bag, taking acting classes and auditioning, he didn’t know Thelma and Louise was just up the road. Richard Armitage almost gave up his dream of being an actor because he couldn’t seem to get anywhere in Hollywood. “There was a time when I thought, and my agent thought, it wasn’t going to happen for me. We both sat down and I actually said I don’t know if I can stay in this state. The interesting roles have only come since I got into my 30s. But I didn’t know that was going to happen.” 

Let’s face it, this is your life, and time is precious. You want to spend your time doing what makes you happy; what gives you a sense of fulfillment; what revs your engine! If acting ain’t it, I say find your true passion. And if it is, I say forget the 85% and go for it. Someone’s got to beat the odds–why not you? So do what you need to do. Each person’s to-do list is different. Take classes, hit the gym every day, network, live your own interesting life to fuel your characters. The world needs good actors. Think of how drab life would be without movies that touch your heart and rock your world. You want to be a part of that? Do you feel lucky? Well, do ya. Punk?! All right, all right, I’ll stop. Hey, sincerely, break a leg.

Want to get your acting career started? Sign up or login to Casting Frontier and start auditioning today!

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