Local Celebrity

As an actor, one of things we all love is attention, right?  Well, not necessarily.  I love to perform and be creative and put my all into what I do.  The one thing I've never been comfortable with though, is the attention that sometimes comes along with it.  Maybe I'm just weird. 

Earlier this year, I booked a nice little role in a biographical film that's shooting locally.  The past few weeks, shooting has been taking place for the promotional trailer. Coincidentally, the film's star and I live in the same small suburb.  We had never met prior to being cast in this project. 

Because we live in a small town, word spreads fast among neighbors.  It got through the grapevine to the local newspaper and I was asked to be interviewed about the project.  Immediately I felt uncomfortable with the attention but agreed to do the interview anyway. It ran in the paper the next week and that's when the fun began. 

Neighbors asked for autographs, parents at my kids' schools and sports made a point to ask about it, an announcement was made at a meeting I attended, people came up to me at a neighborhood event to comment.  For a person who has tried to blend in and fit in my entire life, it just felt like a little too much. 

Part of the reason is that I simply don't feel like I deserve it.  I've never been one to give myself credit  and nothing I do ever feels like it's good enough.  Yeah, I know that's a perfectionist's personality flaw and something I need to get past.  Maybe I sound ungrateful.  There are probably many people out there that would love to have this problem. 

The fact is, if this is something that I want to pursue, I have to find a way to get comfortable with it.  I have to start believing in myself a little more and find a way to get ok with the attention that comes along with it. 

Maybe that's the next lesson to be learned in this part of my journey.  If you have any advice to share, please let me know in the comments!  

Me as the character in 60's attire.