Acting Quote by Hugh Laurie
“I feel when acting, I am sometimes overly self-conscious; I think, 'Going, no, don't, put your eyebrow back where it was and, you know, turn to the left.' You know, I'm sort of very consciously adopting this character. But with music, I don't know. I found it was a question of just closing my eyes and just sort of letting things come out.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Graham Norton Show, 2015
The speaker describes how overthinking hinders performance, but closing eyes and trusting intuition eases expression, especially in music.
In simple terms: Overthinking blocks creativity; trusting instinct helps.
Trust your instincts, let go of self‑consciousness.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- stage acting
- musical improvisation
- public speaking
- teaching
- creative writing
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you practice letting go in high‑pressure moments?
- What routines help you enter a flow state?
Too much self‑monitoring can cause anxiety and reduce authenticity.