Lea Michele has revealed that she still gets stage fright in the form of butterflies in her stomach before she goes on stage.
The actress, singer, and songwriter, 39, has been performing to audiences for 30 years (her first role was in “Les Misérables” in 1995), but revealed she still experiences anxiety prior to stepping out in front of the watching general public.
In an exclusive chat with People, the star admitted getting the jitters and explained what she does to overcome them whenever she heads out on stage.
Lea Michele Still Gets Stage Fright ‘All the Time’
GettyLea Michele is currently starring in the Broadway revival of “Chess,” and told People she feels the same way before every show.
Michele said “Oh, I still deal with stage fright all the time. It is something I’ve battled my entire life, no matter what project.”
Despite her nerves, Michele is currently receiving glowing reviews for playing Florence Vassy in the ever-popular show. In her conversation with People, she also explained that she’s managed to channel her nerves into something positive.
She said, “I try to reframe those feelings, because I can be really quick to categorize everything I’m feeling as anxiety, and that’s not always the case. So now I take a beat. If I really tune into how I’m feeling and give myself the space and the grace to actually examine those emotions, I can realize, ‘Well, maybe it’s not anxiety? Maybe it’s not all fear? Maybe there’s room for the fact it could actually be excitement in there for what I’m about to do?’ And I’ll transfer my energy into that as much as I can.”
However, when it is anxiety, Michele has a way of spinning that into a positive, too.
The actress explains, “If I’m nervous, it just means that what I’m doing matters. I’ll tell myself, ‘It’s worth it. It matters. There are high stakes to what you’re doing. It’s a challenge.’ And that’s not necessarily a bad thing, you know?”
Michele Also Calls Her Mother Before Every Performance
GettyLea Michele also revealed that she always calls her mother before she goes out to perform.
She said, “The last thing I do before I go on stage is call my mother [Edith Sarfati]. I have two kids at home. When I’m there, that’s my main focus. Then, the moment I get into the house, it’s all about focusing on getting ready for the show, doing my warm-up, looking over my lines, getting my wig on, etc. But when that five minute mark hits, I need to get out of my head, so I pick up the phone and call my mother.”
After explaining that the two “just catch up and talk about our days,” and that “it’s very normal, very easy conversation,” Michele elaborated on specifically how the call helps her.
She explains, “My mom always calms me down. Our conversations, they ground me and remind me that I’m still that girl who started doing this when I was eight years old. Any nerves I may feel disappear, because all I can feel is love and gratitude.”
Despite being a seasoned professional, Michele also admits that she still worries about making mistakes during performances, saying, “I definitely think about flubbing a line more than I’d like to admit. But you survive. You move forward. When you do eight shows a week for a year, something is bound to happen at some point.”
Michele Recalled Previous Mishaps on Stage
GettyShe then laughed recalling occasions things went a little wrong during her stint as Fanny Brice in “Funny Girl,” saying, “Sometimes a prop would fly into the audience or part of my wig would fall off. You kind of have to look at the audience like, ‘Clearly this isn’t supposed to be happening right now.’ And the best part is, the audience loves it. So that helps you relax.”
Regarding her current role in “Chess,” Michele is loving it. She said, “This show is pushing me in new ways. This is the hardest character in a lot of ways that I’ve ever played. She stretches me, she scares me a little and yet, she reminds me why I love being on stage. I feel really lucky to play her, and to be a part of this revival with this amazing cast. There’s nowhere I’d rather be.”
“Chess” is currently playing at the Imperial Theatre at 249 West 45th Street, New York. It features music by ABBA’s Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus with lyrics by Tim Rice. You can purchase tickets for the show here.
