Hidden struggles: professional Norwegian actors’ experiences with performance anxiety and its consequences in their daily work

IntroductionAlthough performance anxiety is a well-known phenomenon among performing artists, little research has focused on professional actors. In this qualitative study, informed by a phenomenological hermeneutic and narrative approach, we explored how Norwegian professional actors describe and make sense of experiences commonly referred to as performance anxiety and how these experiences shape their professional practice.MethodsWe conducted 14 in-depth interviews with professional actors using an interpretive, narrative-informed thematic approach.ResultsTwo themes were developed: ‘Big shoes to fill, Precarious professional legitimacy and escalating internalised standards’ and ‘Small sparks can cause big fires, Trigger events that destabilise perceived competence and precipitate spirals of anxiety’.DiscussionThe findings suggest that performance-related anxiety is not merely an individual response to specific performance situations, but is shaped through ongoing processes of self-evaluation, professional identity, and contextual pressures within the acting profession. Experiences of anxiety were closely tied to internalised standards of performance, sensitivity to evaluative situations, and limited opportunities for openly addressing mental health struggles. A lack of openness between actors and their colleagues, especially directors and theatre managers, may further contribute to distress, illness, and early retirement among actors. This study offers an interpretive, context-sensitive understanding of performance related anxiety as socially embedded, highlighting the need to address both individual and contextual factors in supporting actors’ mental health.