--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Onstage was where I felt the most…" description: "\"Onstage was where I felt the most confident and in control and free, and as I've gotten older, it's gotten more and more daunting. And I think that's a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e47/ari-graynor-3380_confident_onstage-was-where-i-felt-the-most-confid_375853.jpg" --- # Onstage was where I felt the most confident and in control… ![“Onstage was where I felt the most confident and in control and free, and as I've gotten older, it's gotten more and more daunting. And I think that's also part of my desire to keep confronting that and pushing through to find that childlike or youthful ignorance against fear and keep at it.” quote by Ari Graynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e47/ari-graynor-3380_confident_onstage-was-where-i-felt-the-most-confid_375853.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e47/ari-graynor-3380_confident_onstage-was-where-i-felt-the-most-confid_375853.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e47/ari-graynor-3380_confident_onstage-was-where-i-felt-the-most-confid_375853.jpg) > “Onstage was where I felt the most confident and in control and free, and as I've gotten older, it's gotten more and more daunting. And I think that's also part of my desire to keep confronting that and pushing through to find that childlike or youthful ignorance against fear and keep at it.” [Ari Graynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Stage performance gave confidence, but aging makes it daunting; confronting fear restores youthful daring. **In simple terms:** Stage gave confidence, aging brings fear; confronting fear restores youthful daring. Key Takeaway Embrace fear to reclaim youthful boldness. Themes confidence fear growth performance aging Mood reflective determined Type inspirational personal When to use this quote - public speaking - career transitions - personal development - creative projects Key Concepts psychology self‑efficacy risk‑taking Questions to Reflect On - How can you channel stage confidence into daily life? - What rituals keep youthful curiosity alive? A Different Perspective Fear can paralyze despite experience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Confident](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confident/) [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) ## Related quotes > [It's good to be playing one and a half hour again. In the States we played like an hour and when you got onstage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-king/it-s-good-to-be-playing-one-and-a-half-hour-again-in-the-states-we/) [Kerry King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-king/) > [If I'm not prepared, I don't feel confident. It's something that you can have control of. You deserve what it is you're going after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laila-ali/if-i-m-not-prepared-i-don-t-feel-confident-it-s-something-that-you/) [Laila Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laila-ali/) > [I'm massively inspired by 'True Blue'-era Madonna, but she is absolutely confident and in control of the situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shura/i-m-massively-inspired-by-true-blue-era-madonna-but-she-is-absolutely/) Shura > [For women to comment on other women is making it a lot harder for us all to feel confident. And it's hard enough to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-bridge/for-women-to-comment-on-other-women-is-making-it-a-lot-harder-for-us/) [Frankie Bridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-bridge/) > [I have never felt more confident in myself, more clear on who I am as a woman. But I am constantly thinking about my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/i-have-never-felt-more-confident-in-myself-more-clear-on-who-i-am-as/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [I had been doing theater since I was a kid, so the stage really felt like home to me. It felt like the place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-graynor/i-had-been-doing-theater-since-i-was-a-kid-so-the-stage-really-felt/) [Ari Graynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/) > [“As long as she persisted in her belief that bafflement justified her actions, she felt confident no one would contradict her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomm-quackenbush/as-long-as-she-persisted-in-her-belief-that-bafflement-justified-her/) [Thomm Quackenbush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomm-quackenbush/) > [Honestly, I never needed a mask to go onstage. It was me who was there, and it was always what I felt, based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-martin/honestly-i-never-needed-a-mask-to-go-onstage-it-was-me-who-was-there/) [Ricky Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-martin/) > [I've felt emotions onstage that I never felt before; it has strengthened me as a person and as an artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-martin/i-ve-felt-emotions-onstage-that-i-never-felt-before-it-has/) [Ricky Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-martin/) > [The first time I was onstage, I felt like the audience was breathing with me. I don't know if I was good or not;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ato-essandoh/the-first-time-i-was-onstage-i-felt-like-the-audience-was-breathing/) [Ato Essandoh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ato-essandoh/) > [I first started acting in primary school, just doing little plays. And from the moment I began, something just went 'click' inside me. Suddenly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-hawkins/i-first-started-acting-in-primary-school-just-doing-little-plays-and/) [Sally Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-hawkins/) > [And when I got sick I felt confident that if it was the last thing I ever recorded before I left this earth, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mcmahon/and-when-i-got-sick-i-felt-confident-that-if-it-was-the-last-thing-i/) [Andrew McMahon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mcmahon/) > [That was one of those moments where I felt so confident. I played three matches in the same day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriela-sabatini/that-was-one-of-those-moments-where-i-felt-so-confident-i-played/) [Gabriela Sabatini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriela-sabatini/) > [With my first three albums I did everything on my own. It was what I was used to and where I felt comfortable. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-macdonald/with-my-first-three-albums-i-did-everything-on-my-own-it-was-what-i/) [Amy Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-macdonald/) > [I never felt bright enough. I never felt confident. I felt that kid coming out of the council estate, like I was never good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-hayes/i-never-felt-bright-enough-i-never-felt-confident-i-felt-that-kid/) [Emma Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-hayes/) ## More by Ari Graynor > [Acting was the place where I could be free and feel confident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-graynor/acting-was-the-place-where-i-could-be-free-and-feel-confident/) [Ari Graynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/) > [When you're an actor, people talk a lot about how, at some point, you really have to take control of your career and what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-graynor/when-you-re-an-actor-people-talk-a-lot-about-how-at-some-point-you/) [Ari Graynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/) > [Life is hard enough, so when you can get any joy out of it, whether it's something you do on a day-to-day basis, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-graynor/life-is-hard-enough-so-when-you-can-get-any-joy-out-of-it-whether-it/) [Ari Graynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/) > [Not one person has ever sent me a drink because I was Caroline in 'Nick and Norah.' People reference it; people say really nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-graynor/not-one-person-has-ever-sent-me-a-drink-because-i-was-caroline-in/) [Ari Graynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/) > [There's pressure to come up with something genius every time. I feel like I keep letting myself down with my Twitter posts. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-graynor/there-s-pressure-to-come-up-with-something-genius-every-time-i-feel/) [Ari Graynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/) > [I think casting a show is an art form in and of itself. We're all so different - the cast is made up partly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-graynor/i-think-casting-a-show-is-an-art-form-in-and-of-itself-we-re-all-so/) [Ari Graynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/) > [Henry Winkler is the most lovable man. He is like everybody's favorite grandfather.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-graynor/henry-winkler-is-the-most-lovable-man-he-is-like-everybody-s-favorite/) [Ari Graynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/) > [At 21, my career took a comedic turn when I was cast in a new Broadway play called 'Brooklyn Boy,' by Donald Margulies, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-graynor/at-21-my-career-took-a-comedic-turn-when-i-was-cast-in-a-new-broadway/) [Ari Graynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/) > [While I appreciate horror movies, I'd love the opportunity to do something transformative, especially because people see me as contemporary. There's a lot to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-graynor/while-i-appreciate-horror-movies-i-d-love-the-opportunity-to-do/) [Ari Graynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/) > [The worst thing you can have as an actor is too big an ego. It just kills creativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-graynor/the-worst-thing-you-can-have-as-an-actor-is-too-big-an-ego-it-just/) [Ari Graynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/) > [When you look at all of the male characters on television and in film, it's not like every one of them are the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-graynor/when-you-look-at-all-of-the-male-characters-on-television-and-in-film/) [Ari Graynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/) > [I prefer situational or character-based humor to gross-out gags and comedic set pieces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-graynor/i-prefer-situational-or-character-based-humor-to-gross-out-gags-and/) [Ari Graynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/) > [Twitter's a lot of work! That's the first thing I would say. There's so much pressure to be funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-graynor/twitter-s-a-lot-of-work-that-s-the-first-thing-i-would-say-there-s-so/) [Ari Graynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/) > [As I've grown as a person and gotten to know myself more - the question of how someone becomes who they become has gotten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-graynor/as-i-ve-grown-as-a-person-and-gotten-to-know-myself-more-the-question/) [Ari Graynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/) > [I had been doing theater since I was a kid, so the stage really felt like home to me. It felt like the place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-graynor/i-had-been-doing-theater-since-i-was-a-kid-so-the-stage-really-felt/) [Ari Graynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/) [Explore all 132 Ari Graynor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/) ## More Confident quotes > [I was just confident my work was good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bunny-yeager/i-was-just-confident-my-work-was-good/) [Bunny Yeager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bunny-yeager/) > [I am confident when I take the penalty otherwise I would pass for somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/i-am-confident-when-i-take-the-penalty-otherwise-i-would-pass-for/) [Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/) > [I've always been very hard on myself, and I never want to get to a point where I'm like, 'Alright, I'm kicking butt,' but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-sauerbrunn/i-ve-always-been-very-hard-on-myself-and-i-never-want-to-get-to-a/) [Becky Sauerbrunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-sauerbrunn/) > [There comes a time in the UFC when you've had enough fights, you have enough experience that you're confident in your abilities and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-hooker/there-comes-a-time-in-the-ufc-when-you-ve-had-enough-fights-you-have/) [Dan Hooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-hooker/) > [Why shouldn't I be confident? I'm well educated, I can deliver a line, and I have more than three expressions. That's good right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonakshi-sinha/why-shouldn-t-i-be-confident-i-m-well-educated-i-can-deliver-a-line/) [Sonakshi Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonakshi-sinha/) > [“Once you get into your thirties, you stop giving a fuck what people think about your opinions. You're more confident.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-b-powell/once-you-get-into-your-thirties-you-stop-giving-a-fuck-what-people/) [Aaron B. Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-b-powell/) > [I was very confident on the stage, and I stood out in a red gown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-johnson/i-was-very-confident-on-the-stage-and-i-stood-out-in-a-red-gown/) [Nicole Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-johnson/) > [I have the utmost confidence in General Mattis, General Flynn, General Kelly, Dan Coates. I couldn't have picked a better team. And so I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-have-the-utmost-confidence-in-general-mattis-general-flynn-general/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [“You will get your father's wealth one day but not his legacy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/you-will-get-your-father-s-wealth-one-day-but-not-his-legacy/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [I love Christopher Bailey and Burberry, Mulberry for bags, and Hudson for jeans. I like a little bit of designer with a bit of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cara-delevingne/i-love-christopher-bailey-and-burberry-mulberry-for-bags-and-hudson/) [Cara Delevingne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cara-delevingne/) > [I was a very confident little kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/i-was-a-very-confident-little-kid/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [Every single pore - not on the men, but on the women - is scrutinized, so I am really grateful that I feel very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/every-single-pore-not-on-the-men-but-on-the-women-is-scrutinized-so-i/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [I was always confident that if someone took the chance to play me week in and week out that I would fulfil my potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cahill/i-was-always-confident-that-if-someone-took-the-chance-to-play-me/) [Gary Cahill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cahill/) > [Be confident in your self, because if you're not who will?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-mulder/be-confident-in-your-self-because-if-you-re-not-who-will/) [Joseph Mulder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-mulder/) > [Just be confident. Confidence is the most attractive part of a person. Because if they're not confident enough to show you who they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-jackson/just-be-confident-confidence-is-the-most-attractive-part-of-a-person/) [Curtis Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-jackson/) [Browse all 1,860 Confident quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confident/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Onstage was where I felt the most confident and in control and free, and as I've gotten older, it's gotten more and more daunting. 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