Center Stage

The Actors Desire For Attention

     Actors need to feel good about wanting attention. I want to talk about a primary reason, that I believe, drives people into the business of being on stage. It is the desire for attention. The basic need to be important enough to take center stage exists in all of us - actor or no actor. Some people need it in various ways; from parents, spouses, bosses, friends, etc. but an actors need go way beyond this. They want to be the center of attention with everybody all the time and at any time. It may not be the major part of why someone chooses acting as a career but certainly significant enough to be addressed and put in to prospective if you are to be a 'secure' actor.

      Once while watching the T.V program, ‘Inside the Actors Studio,' Dustin Hoffman, told a story about an experience he had with, Sir Lawrence Olivier. While the two of them were dining together one night,  Hoffman had asked Olivier why he thought actors choose their profession.

    Dustin Hoffman demonstrated Olivier’s response to the audience. He stood up and walked over to James Lipton, the interviewer, leaned forward, and got very close to his face. He then repeated what to Lipton what Olivier had said.  “Look at me, look at me, and look at me.” Hoffman turned and sat down. He looked over at Lipton and said, "This is why actors want to be actors.” James Lipton and the entire audience burst into laughter in recognition of this truth. Olivier was certainly right on.  

     How good do you feel about wanting attention?  Is it a healthy desire within you?  However it manifests itself, as I’ve stated before, I believe it’s a need in all of us but whether we can handle it or not is another matter. The difference is that actors, for their career need to WANT attention. They need to be on the stage or in front of cameras. The acceptance of wanting and needing attention is imperative.   The most important aspect of making this desire work for you is to feel worthy of attention, then and only then, you will magnetize it to you in a positive way.  You must answer the questions of, “How good do I feel about wanting attention?”  Is it a healthy desire within me and if not, how do I change it so that is becomes a healthy part of my instrument?  A great way to begin is to 'accep't that wanting to be center stage and having the attention is a positive and not a negative. 
(For more in depth discussion go to, 'My Little Black Book of Acting,' and read the complete chapter, The Desire For Attention, or sign up for one of my classes)!!!!! joymorrisact@comcast.net