While the immortal William Shakespeare may have written, “The eyes are the window to your soul,” I beg to differ. For while we can hide within even the most direct of glances, the voice doesn’t lie. This is something that I have been thinking about in recent conversations with my friend Vickie, who is dipping into the realm of author’s reading their work (her book is coming out on June 1, so more of that anon).
Where does your voice live in your body? Is it something that you give much thought to? As a former theatre actress, I most certainly have in my day, for it is the most expressive tool in our art. And yet, my voice has changed enormously since moving to France. It took me a few years to realize it, actually. I would only drop back into that deep alto on visits home to the States. The rest of the time my pitch was nearly an octave higher as I questioningly tested words and verb tenses. Gone was that reassuring flow. And it stayed that way for many years as I learned and struggled and stumbled with a very difficult language. And today? Well, I suppose that my voice has settled with time and the confidence that comes with age into somewhere in-between. It seems like there is a lot of the in-between in my life these days and that too I have to assume, to be more sure (for when are we ever 100% certain of anything) and listen keenly to another voice, my inner one.
All the better to see you with, my dear.
As for artistic voices? To live a creative life is fascinating and challenging with many colors that blend seamlessly into one another. It takes enormous courage to put yourself out there over and over again, sometimes only to be repeatedly dealt the brutal blow of rejection. But such a life is not chosen, it chooses you. This is why I have such enormous respect for those who endure. I was incredibly inspired by an article on Flavorwire featuring “10 creative women over 80 you should know.” I thought that you might be too.
These women are not bogged down by the cult of personality and none of them are afraid of their vision, their voice. The windows to their souls are dazzlingly clear.
Love this post, Heather! As an actor myself I know exactly what you mean. I remember when I first started performing on stage I had this quiet, timid little voice but I tell you what, I worked so hard on it with vocal coaches and the like to find my booming voice I now have that can carry across a huge outdoor audience! It's much deeper now too & has given me so much more confidence.
I truly believe you are correct, you don't choose the life of an actor, it chooses you 🙂
Clare x
And what an amazing, unique voice you have. I will buy anything that you publish!!! Keep going!!!!
David, I forgot to respond to this but two things: your friend was there before my time but he did sit in on a few of Earle Gister's classes during my first year as an observer. And I have stopped ordering things from Amazon as we are having a true crisis with our mail delivery. But I have put her works on my wish list for after the move…