Oscar-winning actress Olivia Colman revealed she underwent hypnotherapy in a bid to tackle her stage fright.
The 47-year-old actress said her increased fame has made the problem worse, due to the "disappointment" fans may feel if she does not meet their expectations.
Speaking to Rufus Norris, co-director of the National Theatre for its Life in Stages YouTube series, Colman said she has "developed a massive fear" of being on stage. She last performed in 2017 in Mosquitoes at the National Theatre.
Colman, who is up for Best Supporting Actress at this weekend's Oscars for her role in The Father, said she went for hypnotherapy to help her stop being "petrified".
She 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 by Norris how the fear manifests itself, she said before going on stage she would 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."
Colman said she also gets the giggles and told of a time when, starring opposite David Mitchell, "I wet myself from laughing".
She said: "On a raked stage, my entire bladder emptied and it just went towards the audience in the front row."
Colman also recalled her Oscar win in 2019 for The Favourite, describing it as a "pretty big pinch me moment".
She said she wished she could remember more of the biggest night of her career, when she was won best actress for her role in The Favourite.
She described it as "such a head f***" and revealed the statuette – "the little gold man" – is "sitting in a cupboard" because she feels embarrassed.
However, she joked when no-one is looking she sneaks a glimpse at the award.
