Playing Scared

Stage fright is one of the human psyche's deepest fears. Over half of British adults name public speaking as their greatest anxiety. Laurence Olivier learned to adapt to it, as have actors Salma Hayek and Hugh Grant. Musicians such as Paul McCartney and Adele have battled it and learned to cope. Playing Scared is Sara Solovitch's journey into the myriad causes of stage fright and the ways we can overcome it. Using her own experience as inspiration, Sara has written a thoughtful and insightful cultural history of performance anxiety and a tribute to pursuing personal growth at any age.