Acting : From Cringe to Confident by Anne Alexander-Sieder

Whenever I found myself in a high-stakes meeting—be it an audition or a crucial session with an agent, manager, producer, director, or really anyone who held the keys to my acting career—I'd experience a sinking feeling. I knew they were going to start the meeting off with a big smile and the seemingly innocuous question, "Tell me about yourself.” My heart would start to race and my mind would go blank. I'd be caught between not knowing what to say and trying to figure out what they wanted to hear. I would usually ramble off stats from my resume (that they were holding in their hands).

One time, after fighting particularly nasty traffic, I used that precious time to complain. It could see their eyes going from eager curiosity to the dull stare of someone who was bored and maybe even a little disappointed.

In that moment, I felt like I had blown my chance. This setback would cast a shadow over my confidence, affecting the entire duration of my audition or our meeting. Even on self tapes, when nobody else was on the other side of my camera, I would hear myself droning on about something and imagine the light going out of the casting director’s eyes. I knew that if I could just let my true, authentic self shine through, we could connect on equal ground instead of me feeling like they had the upper hand.

The struggle to convey my essence became a roadblock in my acting journey. It was clear that I had the talent, passion, and potential to excel when I was portraying a character. After all, it was usually my acting that got me into the room in the first place, but I needed to unlock the power of authentic self-expression when it came to just being me.

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I actually live in Germany where this nightmare question of “Tell me about yourself” has turned into a piece of marketing material that is almost as important as your showreel. It’s called, “the About Me” video. If that’s not bad enough, the trend is spreading quickly through Europe and I'm sure it won't be long before it spreads around the rest of the globe.

I get it. The powers that be want to see how you authentically act and react on screen. They want to see your true essence. They also want to make sure you’re not a psycho, and bonus if you can come across as fun to have on set.

I watched quite a lot of these “About Me” videos from my colleagues and honestly, most of them bored me to tears. It was much easier for me to objectively see where they were going wrong when I wasn’t emotionally connected to the outcome. On the other hand, I wasn’t sure what to do to fix the problem either.

That's when I began to obsessively watch other actor’s “About Me” videos to try and determine where my interest would lag and where it would peak. I also began to interview casting directors (because they’re the ones who watch most of these) to ask them what they thought made for a good “About Me” video. Lastly, I turned to my screenwriter’s group.

You see, I’d been a storyteller for years. I’ve written numerous screenplays and know how to structure them to create maximum impact but for some reason, I never applied this ability to my own “Tell Me About Yourself” answers.

My screenwriter’s group also had invaluable insights. It was through talking to all of these people and watching hundreds of videos that I began to unravel the art of storytelling and the importance of sharing one's authentic narrative. It wasn't about rehearsing lines; it was about tapping into the core of who I was and conveying it genuinely.

One mentor, Sarah, in particular, helped me understand that high-stakes interactions demanded a "Stage-Ready Version" of my story—one that could captivate at any moment, no matter the setting or the audience. She also made me realize that I needed more than one story because different situations demand different introductions. For example, I have a really funny little story that I tell about what my very first word in German was. It always makes people laugh in surprise when they hear it. (It was Fahrvergnügen (the joy of driving) in case you’re interested). I can tell this as a quick one-liner to break the ice in an elevator or as a three-minute story to entertain at a dinner party. But I definitely wouldn’t want to use that story if I was being called into a room to audition for something dramatic. I have other stories for that.

As I refined my ability to authentically express myself, auditions and meetings transformed. I started to connect with industry professionals on a personal level, which helped to level the playing field. And the best way I've found to put me on equal footing with everyone else in the room is for them to view me as a person they can relate to; not just an actor. I mean, c’mon - actors are already the lowest on the totem pole, so we’ve got to find a way to get up to eye level with other people in the industry.

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Now that I’ve shared my story I’d love to hear yours. When we share our cringe-worthy moments, it's a reminder that beneath the polished surface of social media and #actorslife, we're all just human. In an industry that often demands perfection, it's these authentic, imperfect moments that connect us and make us relatable to one another. And they make us stronger when we realize we're not the only ones who struggle with these challenges!

So, what's the most challenging part of answering the "tell me about yourself" question for you? Have you ever frozen up or blown a networking opportunity?