Eight years ago, I returned to my childhood love of theatre … and discovered that, after spending more than a decade being a good student and a good employee, I’d learned to sit still and be quiet — lousy training for an actor.

As it turns out, the more I have embraced, developed, and expanded my authenticity, the better I have become as an actor. And yes, that includes my introversion. Many of the best actors I’ve known have been introverts — I suspect it’s because connecting to a character deeply and fully requires the kind of “inner work” that comes more easily to introverts.

How does authenticity fit into acting? Well, the more comfortable I am with myself — the dark sides and the light sides, the good and bad, positive and negative, shadow and strengths — the more comfortable I am drawing upon various aspects of myself to play a character. Also, my own authenticity — my sense of who I really am — gives me a “home base” to return to. I can play any character — because I know that when I walk off stage, I will return to being the “real me” … regardless of what kind of person the character I am playing may be.

I have said several times in recent months: “Becoming a better person has made me a better actor; becoming a better actor has made me a better person.”

I think everyone has introversion and extraversion. The difference I think is where we get our energy from: whether we restore by being by ourselves or with others. Both introverts and extraverts can enjoy times of introversion and extraversion in my experience.

Many thanks for your comment.

Thankyou too for a glimpse into the culture of the armed services, I’ve never known much about this world and you have given me a peek inside it, thanks.

Thanks very much for letting me know how my post was important to you, I very much appreciate it.

I’m currently serving as an officer in the Navy and it’s most unfortunate when the general assumption is that quietness equates to a lack of leadership. I’ve always received the “you’re just quiet” remarks during review time from my superiors, and I’ve seen that pity bestowed on me by my very extrovert peers because I am a quiet, peaceful person at heart–and always unwilling to take on a boastful sort of personality that seems to be “required” if I want to get promoted to the next rank.

But I’ll tell you this: ask any one of my guys or girls in my charge, and I’m confident they would say that they prefer my leadership and capabilities over those certain extroverts. Why? Because being quiet doesn’t have anything to do with leadership unless you’re a leader who is too scared to speak up and out against the wrongs. And I’ll also say that some of those extroverts were always too busy loudly and obnoxiously promoting themselves, when it took the introvert to have quiet, peaceful meetings with our sailors to get to the root of their problems and take care of them as any good leader would do–quiet or not.

Thank you again for the article, and the next time one of my superiors or officer peers gives me that look, or makes that certain remark about my weird/anti-social/too quiet/shy nature, I’m going to confidently and proudly tell them there’s nothing wrong with me or the way I happen to be an introvert. And they can use the opinion of my sailors to vouch for that!

My two closest friends were very, very loud, I’m still friends with them to this day. I don’t think they get what being an introvert, or a quieter person is all about. And would make jokes. I used to get really irritated and try to say “I’m not quiet etc etc”. Now, I’m starting to think I should embrace who I am more.

I do get animated about some things, I have lots of interests. The last 2 years weren’t great personally as I was caring for someone, but now I really like my own company. I have a fair few friends, but only a few of those I’m very close to. But that makes me happy.

I still can’t stand big parties where I don’t know people… I’m not sure if that’s part of being an introvert or social anxiety… I used to drink too much red wine to get through them but now I want to do different things e.g swimming, classes. Before I thought I had to work through it and make myself go (and I will go if necessary or people I like there) but I no longer feel this massive urge to have to attend. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not, but I feel okay with that.

Thank you for this post.