Transforming Fear into Strength on Hollywood Sets

Confidence isn't just a state of mind—it's a tool you can sharpen and wield to transform your career. I'm Natalie Driscoll, here to share my journey from self-doubt to self-assurance in the rollercoaster realm of Hollywood. Listen in as I recount the pivotal moments that shaped my career, like landing a job I was underprepared for, all because authenticity and honesty were my guiding lights. Discover how embracing your vulnerabilities can open doors, making you someone people want to work with again and again.

Ever felt like backing out just because self-doubt crept in? I totally relate. Take a trip with me back to the set of "American Horror Story," where my nerves almost got the better of me. Through sheer determination and meticulous preparation, I mastered the art of period hairstyling and even found inspiration in unexpected places. By speaking my aspirations into existence and staying adaptable, I not only impressed the team but also silenced my inner critic. This story stands testament to the power of preparation and the magic of perseverance.

But how do you build the confidence to face such high-pressure situations? Tune in as I unveil practical strategies that have bolstered my resolve in the entertainment industry. From visualization techniques and positive affirmations to keeping a daily wins journal, I share tools you can use to boost your confidence. Remember, confidence isn't about chasing perfection—it's about showing up, prepared and ready to trust your abilities. Embrace your imperfections and let your unique talents shine, because it's your individual magic that truly sets you apart in Hollywood.

Transcript

Speaker 1 0:06

welcome back to hollywood unscripted, with natalie driscoll. I'm natalie, your host and mentor, here to help you boldly step into the thrilling, unpredictable and sometimes intimidating world of hollywood. Today, we're diving into one of the most powerful tools you can bring to a Hollywood set. And no, it's not your curling iron or makeup brush. It's confidence. But here's the thing Confidence isn't just about walking in with your head held high, dressing the part or smiling through nerves. It's about preparation, resilience and showing others that you're someone they can count on. Whether you're facing a tough set day, collaborating with demanding personalities or simply trying to make a name for yourself, confidence is what helps you shine. And the best news, confidence is a skill anyone can build. I'm still working on it with certain aspects of my life, so we're always building that confidence. So, whether you're about to step into your very first Hollywood set or you're looking to elevate your presence in hair and makeup trailers, today we're breaking down how to cultivate confidence that makes you someone people want to work with again and again, and there are specific tricks and I shouldn't even say tricks, but they're traits that people are looking for, and I've seen both ends of the spectrum and I will share that with you. All right, let's talk about what true confidence looks like on set because, spoiler alert it's not about faking it till you make it or acting like a know-it-all, especially not acting like a know-it-all In Hollywood. Confidence means staying cool when you're under pressure, speaking up when something isn't right and making sure the team knows they can count on you. Reliability often trumps perfection. Can you handle last-minute changes and high-pressure situations? That's where confidence truly shines. I'll give you a quick personal story to illustrate this.

Speaker 1 2:22

Okay, I got referred for a job and was being interviewed. I was so excited because I knew the project would be so much fun and I knew it had the potential to be so big and it was an opportunity for me to learn so much. During the interview, the department had said like we were like three quarters the way through, and then he just dropped a bomb and was like this is going to be a wig heavy show. Do you have experience with working with custom laced wigs? And I was like, oh my gosh, my heart just sank. I'd only done one wig on camera and I knew I couldn't fake my way through it.

Speaker 1 3:03

So I stayed true to my values and was honest. I told them the truth, I didn't have a lot of experience, but I was quick learner and I really wanted the opportunity and I wasn't lying, I am a quick learner. So I knew that if he just showed me, I would be able to pick it up. I just knew it because I had already worked with them before. So I was like OK, I know that I did a great job on my first one, even though I was and I'll tell you that story later but not on this episode, another one. But I knew that I'd already gone through that and if I could make the actress who was very particular happy and that she was really, really thrilled about it, then I knew that I could make this work.

Speaker 1 3:55

So I explained my strengths. I told him I was great at managing a trailer, I can handle a team under pressure, and then I excel at period hair. And it was a period show and I promised I'd pick up the wigs quickly. I just needed to be shown At that time. Before he answered, I was just so nervous I thought I was going to lose that opportunity. But lo and behold, he said OK, I really like you and I want to try this. Okay, I really like you and I want to try this. So I share that.

Speaker 1 4:28

Because by staying calm and being vulnerable and focusing on my strengths, I built trust. And because I told him the truth and you know, I got the job, that show became a major turning point in my career and in my life. A major turning point in my career and in my life, and the lesson here was authenticity and calmness built trust. People hire those they trust to handle challenges with grace, not perfection, okay. So confidence does not magically show up and I'm sure everyone knows this. It's built before you even step onto the set. You have to build and understand. If you walk on set not knowing what is going to even go on, what happens, what your duties might be, you are going to be insecure, you're going to lack that confidence. So preparation is your secret weapon for silencing that self-doubt. The more prepared you are, the more invincible you'll feel when things inevitably get chaotic, or the more invincible you'll feel walking into that trailer, knowing that you're prepared and you know that you can do any tasks that they give you. That's why, again going back to episode one, education is everything. Be educated and trained in what it takes to be in this business, even if it's not for me. Wherever you get your education, I would love for you to come get it with me, but just get it.

Speaker 1 6:14

Let me share another quick story. Early in my career, I had just joined the union and I got called for a job on American Horror Story, season one. At the time no one knew it would become a massive hit. It was just some show, you know, it was just a new show that was up and coming first season. No one, no one knew. I mean, look at American Horror Story right now. If you know it, you know it like it's been going on for years. It's huge.

Speaker 1 6:45

And I got called. I knew the person that texted me but didn't know anyone else. I was told I would be doing 1920s and 1960s hairstyles. At first I said yes to the job and then I panicked. I was like, oh my gosh. You know the doubt started creeping in. What if I can't do it? Or what if I mess up? I almost backed out. I kept questioning myself Do I text her and tell her no, I can't do this because I don't want to ruin my reputation. But I didn't. I realized. Instead of backing out, I just needed to focus on what I could control, and that was the preparation, preparation. I knew I knew how to do period hairstyling, I could figure it out. So I practiced those period hairstyles relentlessly like my life depended on it. I grabbed books and at the time I don't think YouTube was a thing. I mean it's. It's hard to learn period hairstyling on YouTube. Anyways, a lot of people teach you the wrong thing. It's not authentic, you know. And so I got books and I started like they were old books and I started learning sets and pin curls and how could I modernize this to make it work with our modernization and I knew I was would have to be on a time crunch. So I just started preparing and studying and I practiced until those styles felt like second nature to me when I walked onto that set.

Speaker 1 8:14

Magical things happen. First, let me kind of go back a few weeks before this phone call for the job. I went to a department heading class through our union and there were two department heads speaking, which is really crazy, and I'll tell you another story about that. There was a hair department head and a makeup department head. The hair department head I wound up working with several years later, which we'll share that story on another one, but the makeup department head. I remember thinking to myself while she was talking I want to work with this woman, I am going to, I want to learn from her and I just, I just liked her so much. And when I walked into the trailer onto American Horror Story, I remember walking in super nervous, you know, still feeling great. I mean I felt prepared, but I was still nervous, I didn't know anyone. And I looked down at the end of the trailer and that makeup department head was standing right there. I was like, oh my gosh, this is so magical. I, literally just two weeks ago, said I wanted to work with this woman. So again, speaking it, believing it you know, we're speaking it into existence, okay. So I walked in there, saw that department head. Then I met the hair department head. He was wonderful.

Speaker 1 9:46

When I had to do my girl it was 1920s for the first one, no one was in the trailer, they were all on set. So it took away some of the nerves. I was able to just be myself, be in my own zone, like as if I was at my house, you know, just hanging out in my room practicing the hairstyle. I wasn't going to tell this story yet, but I'm going to tell you. I set the girl's hair and she didn't tell me she had just gotten it bleached. She had been chocolate brown. No, she had been blonde, bleach, bleach, blonde, gone, chocolate brown, decided weeks later that she wanted to go back to blonde. She didn't tell me this. I had no idea, you know. I just thought she had bleached out hair. It was fresh. It happened like the day before and she didn't tell me until after what I'm about to tell you.

Speaker 1 10:38

So I set her hair in a pin curl set, but it was with hot tools and I Let it set, I let her go to makeup. She comes back, I take it out, I brush it. It completely falls out Like no curl. It was straight, like what the crap? And I had set it on. You know, it's like the size of my pinky. So half an inch well, maybe better than my pinky, but I think it was a half inch or yeah. And I was like, oh my gosh, there's not even a wave in this. And so I'm sitting there freaking out and she's like, oh yeah, I forgot to tell you I just bleached out my hair. Do you think that has anything to do with it? I was like, oh my gosh, yes. And told me the story. So I said it again and I went smaller. Wardrobe needed her, so she went to wardrobe. That set sat there for like an hour. She comes back, I brush it, it falls out again and I'm like, why is this happening to me? I was in salt prune pants. I said it again and I went even smaller on that curling iron. I think at that point it was like the size of my pinky and let it cool and thank God I was literally praying while I was setting it and it stuck.

Speaker 1 12:01

I did the. It was a 1920s finger wave. It was a 1920s finger wave. It kind of had it wasn't true authentic 1920s because her hair just wouldn't hold that tight curl, but it still was really beautiful. It kind of had a modern flair to it, which a lot of times production loves that more than the authentic. But the department head was so happy when I got to set he was blown away. Then I had to do the 1960s. He loved the 1960s and then he realized okay, she gets it, she understands period hair styling and he kept me on Cut to. He asked me to be his assistant department head the very next season. So I got bumped up in my position, way bumped up. I went from like being a sixth or a seventh to assistant department head, which I was blown away. But not only that. He put me on the Emmy ballot and we won an Emmy ballot and we won an Emmy. So I won my first Emmy by day, praying on a show that I almost backed out of.

Speaker 1 13:15

And so I tell you this not to boast. I tell you this because I want you to realize that sometimes if you let this self-doubt creep in, it's going to sabotage you. If I wouldn't back out of that job, the trajectory of my entire career would have changed. I've had a beautiful career. I've had six, seven Emmy nominations. I've had four wins, all because of taking this job on American Horror Story. I worked with that department head for years and we have kept in touch this whole time. And then that makeup department head introduced me to my next department head and that's got me started on American Crime Stories and I've been in the Ryan Murphy world for 12 plus years. So if I had not taken that job there's no telling I'm sure there would have been another beautiful career path. But it was magic, it all aligned and I'm so thankful every day that I did not get in my own way.

Speaker 1 14:20

Anyways, I just want you to remember that the preparation doesn't just help your confidence, that the preparation doesn't just help your confidence. It opens those doors to opportunities that you didn't even know were there and possible, all right. Even with preparation, self-doubt will creep in. It's human nature. The difference between seasoned pros and rookies is how they handle that inner voice of doubt. And I say that even though I wasn't a seasoned pro yet. But when you become a professional, you have to step into not allowing the doubt to run you over, because if you do not learn how to control it, you will not be able to make moves, you won't be able to make those quick decision-making moments on set and this industry will eat you up. So you can't live in that self-doubt. Okay.

Speaker 1 15:20

One of my favorite tricks is what I call the why check. On days when doubt creeps in, I remind myself why I chose this career. For me, it's about being part of something bigger, helping tell stories that inspire, entertain and move people. Knowing my why grounds me and helps me push through the tough moments. And you know when the pandemic happened. I remember after the fact, once everything settled and started getting back to normal. I thought to myself. It was one of those moments where I was like, oh my gosh, what I do in my career really does make a big, huge impact. All of the people like can you imagine if we didn't? I mean, I know that they used to not have television and entertainment for centuries, but with the way that society is right now, that's what kept a lot of people sane. It was the entertainment. So in those moments I was very like, I felt really proud. I was like, oh wow, you, it's what kept me going too. I watched so many television shows and films and everything and I I got to a point where I was like I'm running out of content here, even though there's thousands of things out there. Have that after like a 17-year career. A reminder of like this is for some people, a lot of people, this is their, you know, balance. This is what helps them get through the night, or the evening or that's their wind down is being entertained and kind of escaping in these stories. So that's my why.

Speaker 1 17:06

Another tool I love is visualization. Before stepping onto set, I take a few moments to imagine myself thriving and a horror story. That's what I did. Before I walked in there, I was breathing. I was like you can do this, I can do this, you're prepared, we got this, we got this, we got this. You know, I kept picturing the hairstyle, even at nighttime, before I was going to bed, I kept tracing out how I was going to do the hairstyle and, yeah, I knew that I could handle any challenge gracefully, which I did on American Horror Story with that girl, even though I was sweating all down my back while I was doing that. Second and third set, praying and praying, and thankfully they were behind. They were like hours behind. So it all, my angels were watching over me and it all lined up.

Speaker 1 17:58

Okay, and here's the big one. Refrain your nerves. Instead of thinking what if I fail, retrain your brain to ask what if I absolutely crush this? Okay, say that right now. What if I fail? What if I fail? What if I fail? Oh my gosh, what if I fail? You start getting into this like downwards spiral vortex. But if you say what if I crush this? What if this is like so good and I wind up winning an award? Yes, that subtle shift, you can feel it. It shifts your mindset and it can do wonders for your confidence.

Speaker 1 18:42

So practice coming up with maybe like your go-to negative comments or doubts and switch it out with a positive and then that way, even if you have to write it down and you look at it and see it when you're having those moments, read it out loud because you're telling your subconscious what to believe. So if you're telling and you're saying those negative things, you're just going to feel more and more down about yourself. You're not pumping yourself up. That's why motivational speakers are so amazing is because they pump you up. You got to pump yourself up. Okay, you are your biggest cheerleader. Now you might be thinking okay, natalie, this all sounds great, but how do I actually do it? Don't worry, I've got some practical tools for you to build confidence, starting today.

Speaker 1 19:36

Step one the power pose. Not only are you going to speak to yourself more positively, but there's a thing called the power pose. You step aside before walking on a set, say those wonderful things, strike a power pose, whether it's hands on hip, chin up and breathe or hands pushed out, and you're just like yes, research says this reduces stress and boosts confidence instantly. That's that subconscious. You're telling that subconscious what it needs to think and feel and do it, doesn't know the difference. Okay. Step two simulate set pressure. Practice under conditions that mimic a set. So when you're preparing and you're doing all your hair or makeup run-throughs, okay, tying yourself or recreate high stress scenarios to get comfortable performing under pressure. This is important because time is of the essence and people do not want to work.

Speaker 1 20:36

That was one thing that my department had on American Horror Story. I was so slow like a turtle I had the nickname Turtle from two different groups of friends and he's like you have got like he would force me to be like okay, go do that men's haircut, you have 30 minutes. And I thought it was so mean, like I was like what. And I would tell him like I can't do that. And he's like you have to do it. And let me tell you that guy's buzz like I was not happy with it. It was not great. I needed at least 45 minutes, but it didn't help me speed up and made me realize I have to get faster. So the more I practice, the faster I got. Okay.

Speaker 1 21:19

Step three daily wins journal. Every evening, especially on bad days, jot down one small win. Maybe you mastered a tricky braid or introduced yourself to someone new or stood up for yourself or learned special effects, makeup, whatever it is. Celebrate those wins, no matter how small. Or maybe you worked with one of your favorite actors. I know a lot of people get excited about them. So just write it down, that way you can come back to it and it helps remind you of all of the great things that have happened, especially if things aren't going so great. And don't forget I've spent countless nights practicing styles for the next day on set or sketching solutions to problems that arose earlier.

Embracing Imperfection in Hollywood

Speaker 1 22:12

Consistent effort over time builds unstoppable confidence, and I still do this to this day on every job, no matter if I'm day playing or if I'm running the show, or if I'm a second, third, fourth, fifth background runner, whatever it is. There's moments where I am just practicing or I'm going through my head how I'm going to engineer the hairstyle. So it needs to be an ongoing thing to keep you from getting into a box, all right. So here's the deal Real, rock solid confidence isn't about being perfect. It's about showing up, staying prepared and trusting that you can handle what comes your way. Whether it's staying honest in interviews, preparing your skills ahead of time or reframing your mindset when doubt arises. Confidence is a skill you grow over time. Every step, every challenge is strengthening your foundation. Remember you were drawn to this industry for a reason. Trust in that reason and know that Hollywood will value your passion, creativity and grit.

Speaker 1 23:27

Thank you so much for tuning in to Hollywood Unscripted, with Natalie Driscoll. If this episode resonated, please subscribe, share with a friend in the industry and leave a review. It will mean the world to me. Until next time, remember this you don't have to be perfect. Let go of that perfection. You just need to show up prepared and believe in your unique magic. You've got what it takes to shine.