Olivia Colman had hypnotherapy to cure her crippling stage fright.
Olivia Colman
The 'Crown' actress admitted that as her fame increased, she became more and more "petrified" of performing in front of other people and developed a "massive fear" of starring in theatre, so decided to seek help to curb her nerves.
Speaking to National Theatre co-director Rufus Norris for the 'Life In Stages' YouTube series, Olivia - who last performed on stage in 'Mosquitoes' in 2017 - said: "I worry that as I get older and slightly more recognisable, the fear … that all these people will watch when you f*** it up and say: ‘We went to see that person we have seen on the telly – not that good on stage’. I think I’ve built it up. I did love it. I need to get over that.”
Asked how her fear manifested itself, she said she used to think: "I f****** hate this job, I f****** hate myself and I’m going to vomit or wee’, and suddenly you are on stage.
“It’s an awful feeling.”
Olivia explained she decided to try hypnotherapy "to try and come up with some tools to stop being quite so petrified”.
The 'Father' star admitted she also gets "terrible giggles" because of her nerves and once "wet [herself] laughing while on stage opposite her former 'Peep Show' co-star David Mitchell.
She said: "That is also a fear in the back of my head, that I could laugh so much, I will pee myself on stage.
“But I did do it once, on a raked [tilted] stage. My bladder emptied and it just went towards the audience in the front row.”
The 47-year-old star - who has three children with husband Ed Sinclair - admitted she's uncomfortable with being famous.
She said: "I’m not good with people knowing me and me not knowing them. It is not equal. It is an unfortunate downside to the job I love.
“I don’t really understand how people don’t register that you are a normal person."
Tagged in Olivia Colman David Mitchell