I have a confession to make: I'm not an actor. In fact, the only time I've been on stage (except for a stint as Tiny Tim in 2nd grade) was when our theater company needed a cop to carry off a decapitated head. My one line was: "Chillcor - cheap, safe, forever." I have to tell you, I got really nervous every night before my big scene.

So I could relate to Melly, a sophomore in high school, when she wrote me last week about her fight with shyness. "I just love the thought of acting," she said, "but I've avoided drama club and choir" because of nerves. Luckily, this is a common complaint and it is surmountable.

Reid Kalisher noted that "many stars are shy but they find ways to get around it and so can you." He noted that the number one antidote to shyness is preparation. He also challenged her to start acting immediately: "Don't think about it, or discuss it, just go do it. Jump into the deep end and start swimming."

Francine Wolf admitted that she "spent [her] high school years feeling the same way." She suggested IMPROV classes. "Ask your drama teacher if they know of any, either a private acting school that has classes for teens or a local improv group. I teach improv to kids knowing that there is no wrong way to do anything in a group of peers can boost your confidence and break open that shell of shyness."

I marvel every day at the confidence and courage of our actors when they go onstage and open themselves up to a harsh world of audience and critics. But even more marvelous is talking to them afterward and learning that they, too, struggle with nerves. In fact, many of them are often scared out of their wits -- but they've found a way to turn that energy into great performances.

Perhaps no other topic is as important as this one, because this fear can kill an acting career before it even begins. Once you tackle this, everything else is manageable. That's why we dedicated several chapters in Becoming a Successful Actor to tips on building confidence and getting over stage fright.

There's a chapter on calming the "audition jitters" (page 16), and EIGHT simple tips for increasing your confidence as an actor (page 105). I've also included THREE TRICKS for relaxing and ONE FOOD recommended to calm your nerves before a performance (page 107). To find out more, click here:

http://www.actortips.com/becoming-successful-actor