QUESTION:
You mentioned that actors are the most miserable people because they are forced to portray something they are not. I didn't quite understand this, as I have often read memoirs where actors describe performing as pure bliss—feeling that the stage is where they truly live, and even loving their co-stars in character while being enemies in real life.
ANSWER by lee:
I am not sure where you encountered that claim in my writing. Describing any group as "the unhappiest people" seems like a very strange categorization to me.
Isn't every person a unique individual?
Of course, every profession comes with its own specific "pain points," but these challenges are never universal.
Actors often struggle with the pressure to maintain an image of being in high demand and having "star power." This becomes particularly acute when they know they are being passed over for major projects. While the public may believe an actor is at the height of their fame, the artist themselves sees the dwindling offers for lead roles, and this discrepancy creates significant psychological pressure.
However, these are merely the nuances of the craft rather than a definitive sentence for those in the industry.
One could also argue that the more someone craves the spotlight, the more painful the opposite extreme—the indifference of the crowd—becomes. This applies to all public-facing careers, from musicians and TV personalities to politicians.
Ultimately, a person’s own internal frequency is what dictates their external reality in every situation. Neither a specific profession nor any "general circumstance" carries ultimate weight.
Each individual is entirely responsible for shaping their own day-to-day experience.
