Brunette Ambition

by Lea Michele

  Because I’ve crossed all my Ts and dotted all my Is, on the day of the actual audition I keep things calm and light. I get up, get ready, and go. And I try to keep things calm and light in the room, too, so that if something does go wrong, it’s easier to laugh it off and move forward. I’ve had auditions where I’ve completely forgotten my lines—it happens to everyone. The best thing to do is to make something out of it and make them laugh: They’ll certainly remember you! And if you don’t get the role, don’t despair. There will always be opportunities, and there will always be more auditions.

  Q HOW DO YOU HANDLE DIFFICULT COWORKERS?

  A We’ve all been there, where we’ve had to work with someone who might not be the easiest to deal with on a day-to-day basis. My trigger is feeling like I’m prepared and others aren’t—that’s very, very frustrating, particularly because it affects not only the cast but the entire crew, too, who are there to do their jobs well and go home. It’s also frustrating when people are unprofessional or bring their personal life, or drama, to set. Over the years, I’ve learned that the best thing to do is to literally block it from my mind and to resist the urge to obsess over the injustice of it all or fixate on their missteps. Ultimately, you can’t control other people.

  At times, I’ve felt that situations have become unworkable, and since I tend to be honest and direct, I’ve found that addressing the problem with my coworker face-to-face works best. If there’s a situation that’s causing tension, I’m known for giving a big hug to break the ice—usually, by offering that it’s been a long week and that maybe we can start fresh, it’s possible to clear the air. When you’re onstage, or filming, with someone, it’s very personal, and it goes much better when you have a good relationship. When a good relationship just isn’t possible, I do my best to be civil so that I can move forward without friction or distraction.

  Q HOW DO YOU KEEP A WORK/LIFE BALANCE?

  A I learned at a young age that when my personal life is good, then my work is at its best. So even though I theoretically work all the time, and that work would seem to be my priority, the opposite is actually true. I prize my alone time and cherish my family and friends. Without a full and good personal life, I’d be terrible at my job: It all makes me a bigger and better actor. I keep potential chaos in check by being pretty old-school: I keep a physical calendar. I write everything down in my day planner so that I can be sure that my days are balanced, that I’m doing things that genuinely make me happy, and that I’m not just socializing to keep myself busy. I also try to make sure that I put my phone down when I’m with the people I love, in order to be fully present and focused on the time that I have with them.

  Q WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU COULDN’T ACT?

  A For a while, I really wanted to practice law; I was on the debate team and it was such a fun experience, so I figured making my case in front of a jury would be just as fun. But the reality is that I was born a singer, and singing is what I do best.

  Q WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOUR FAMILY DIDN’T SUPPORT YOU, BUT YOU KNEW ACTING WAS WHAT YOU WANTED YOU TO DO?

  A It’s hard for me to conceive of what it would be like if my family didn’t support my choice to be in show business, but I do know a lot of people whose families really want them to pick careers with more stability. Working as an actor can be very unpredictable, and I think it’s understandable that a lot of parents just want their kids to be able to pay their rent every month. What makes it even more confusing is that a lack of a steady income says nothing about someone’s talent: I know some of the most talented people in the world who have trouble getting acting jobs. It can be very hard to reconcile those two facts, since I think we’d all like to believe that if you’ve got the talent, you’ll get paid to do it. Unfortunately, it’s not always that simple. I totally get why a parent would want their child to land a weekly paycheck, but if acting is going to make you happier than a reliable income, acting is what you must do!

  Q WHAT’S THE BEST AND WORST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER GOTTEN?

  A BEST: Work hard at what you love, and love what you do. If it makes you happy, go for it 100 percent. And, as Audra told me, if you’ve been given a gift, it’s your responsibility to honor it and use it well.

  WORST: To change my appearance. That might have ended my career since not looking like the other girls is what sets me apart!

  THE SPOTLIGHT

  These are the tools that have been most helpful in my career. Though I’ve never had a more traditional day job, my friends who aren’t in show business think they apply in the real world, too.

  1. PROFESSIONALISM: While getting a great role is a dream come true, at the end of the day, it’s a job, and it requires hard work. I take professionalism very seriously: I’m always on time, I try my best while I’m there, and I stay until we’re done without complaining.

  2. FOCUS, DETERMINATION, AND DRIVE: Like with any career path where big opportunities and promotions are at stake, there are a lot of ups and downs in show business: You have to be able to take your lumps and still keep your eye on the prize. Whether you get an amazing part or fail to get a callback, whether you get nominated for an award or passed over, you have to stay focused.

  3. AMIABILITY: Just like anyone on an interdependent team at the office, when you’re an actor, you work very closely with other people; it’s crucial that you find ways to relate to them. Long days are much more fun when the atmosphere is friendly. In short, it’s basic office politics: Be genuinely kind to everyone, and they’ll look out for you. Plus, you never know where people are going to end up: The young assistant will very likely be a powerful producer someday; the intern might eventually become your agent; that receptionist might be interviewing you someday. I always treat everyone with respect, in the same way that I would want to be treated.

  4. DEDICATION TO THE CRAFT: I don’t know any great actor who ever feels like they’re as good as they could be. A willingness and interest to learn and grow is crucial: After all, every new role requires you to harness something different. Likewise, my friends who work in the real world are constantly looking to develop their skills. Besides doing the job they currently have, they always grab the initiative to take on any additional work that might teach them something new.

  5. CULTIVATE STRONG CONNECTIONS: This is important both on and off the screen and stage. Just as you need to be able to convey story and emotion to the audience, you need to be able to connect with casting directors and producers backstage. Ultimately, it’s all about being memorable: While the job you’re interviewing for or the role you’re trying to land might not be right, there’s always the chance that the casting director or recruiter will recommend you for something else.

  6. TOUGHNESS: The more people pay attention to you, the more they’ll have to say—and some of the things they’ll say won’t be nice. You have to learn how to focus on what’s important and quiet the doubt inside.

  7. ENERGY: When you’re acting, you’re essentially “on” all the time. This requires a huge amount of energy. Taking proper care of yourself definitely helps in this regard!

  When you’re acting, you’re essentially “on” all the time. This requires a huge amount of energy. Taking proper care of yourself definitely helps in this regard!

  8. OPEN-MINDEDNESS AND FLEXIBILITY: Unless you’re an acting/directing/producing single-man show, you need to be able to take direction and orders from others. Sometimes they know best (see number 4).

  9. SUPPORT: This is a tough but wonderful business that would likely feel completely overwhelming without the support of family and friends. Don’t forget about them while you’re pursuing your dreams!

  10. PASSION: Hopefully, your career will be your career for a long time. If you don’t love it, it’s probably not worth pursuing, and it probably won’t be sustainable.

  CH 3

  SELF-CARE 101

  “You think beautiful girls are going to stay in style forever? I should say not! Any minute now they’re going to be out! Fin
ished! Then it’ll be my turn!”

  —FANNY BRICE, FUNNY GIRL

  My job requires a huge amount of energy—much like any career that involves being “on.” As you can imagine, playing a character like Rachel Berry is no joke. In order to show up to work refreshed and rested so that I can act my heart out, it’s imperative that I capitalize on my downtime and do things for myself that feel energizing and indulgent. Like most actresses, I spend a lot of time in the hair and makeup chair getting prepped for on-camera work, but while getting primped by the pros seems like a wonderful luxury, it’s not the same as a great at-home spa session. Maybe it’s because I spend so much time at the hands of others, but I’ll take self-pampering over a trip to a fancy spa any day.

  I think this is in part because when I whip up a face masque in the kitchen or put something restorative on my hair before I sit down to watch TV, I’m literally taking care of myself—and psychically, that’s how I prepare myself to tackle long days on set and in the studio. Sure, I’m not as qualified as a professional aesthetician, but I would still argue that we can take better care of ourselves than anyone else. Plus, it’s a lot less expensive than booking a massage at a spa. I really prize this time both for my sanity and also for my health.

  Beyond this ritual’s therapeutic effects, I just cannot neglect my skin. I’ve been on Accutane twice. In fact, you know those kids who become nearly suicidal about their acne? I’ve walked that fine line. It was impossible at times to look beyond my pimple-ridden skin or to imagine a time when I wouldn’t have to spackle my face just to leave my bedroom. Hilariously, I thought I had picked up a great concealing trick from Sex and the City, when Carrie uses a black eyeliner to turn a zit into a beauty mark. Brilliant, except my skin was so bad I needed about sixteen beauty marks. I went out with my girlfriends with black dots all over my face thinking I had the world fooled. They took one look at me and asked, “What … did you do to your face?”

  It took years—and a truly excellent dermatologist—to get my skin to a point where it has calmed down. Knowing how it’s capable of behaving, and having gone through what I’ve gone through, I now give my skin the best care possible. I use good products, I keep regular appointments with my dermatologist, and since I spend a majority of my days in heavy stage makeup (and a seemingly equal number of nights on the road), whenever I can, I give my skin a vacation. Plus, it’s nice to remember what I actually look like, which can be difficult when I spend so much of each day looking at myself through an inch of foundation.

  Back when I didn’t have any money, buying products to test-drive at home was really hard on my wallet—these days, I can thankfully afford the skin care I really need, but I still like to add some home-brewed, all-natural concoctions to the mix. Whenever I opt to stay in, I catch up with my mom or my friends on the phone while lathering on pimple cream and applying all sorts of restorative gunk to my hair. That’s what alone time is for!

  And I don’t need an entire evening alone to pamper myself, either—I have all sorts of bedtime rituals that really help me sleep better. At times, we have seventeen-hour days on the set of Glee, and when I finally get home, I only want to crash (sleep is the ultimate luxury, after all), but if I take the extra thirty seconds to put a hair masque on before I go to bed or rub some eucalyptus oil on my scalp, when I wake up to go to work a few short hours later, I feel refreshed. The more I’m being hammered on the work front, the more essential it is to show myself some love. It really is about the little things: A quick face or hair masque or exfoliation before I hit the sheets helps me reset—and quickly erases, or even just wraps up, a hard day. I urge you—whether you’re still in school cramming for finals or spending your days in an office—to find every opportunity to pamper yourself (there’s nothing to stop you from putting on a masque while you finish your work, or take care of chores around the house, or, you know, catch up on a few episodes of Scandal). It doesn’t cost a lot of money to truly indulge and create a luxurious experience in your own home.

  * * *

  DRINK MORE WATER!

  I know you’ve heard this a hundred times (water and sunscreen always top lists of beauty must-dos), but I still insist on claiming this as one of the most important weapons in my beauty tool kit. Being a singer, it’s essential that I guzzle water, but the other benefit is that it’s so good for my skin, too. Between juice, soda, coffee … it’s so easy to forget to actually drink old-fashioned water, and whenever I feel especially tired or have a headache, I realize that it’s because I’ve been drinking everything but water for the past twenty-four hours. When I’m on set at Glee, I’ll bring four huge bottles, and I vow that I won’t leave set that night until I’ve finished all of them. I guzzle water down the same way a frat boy might funnel a six-pack of beer. To make it more interesting, I add fresh mint leaves, cucumbers, lemon, or fresh fruit like strawberries or raspberries.

  BATH AND SHOWER ESSENTIALS

  Taking the time to take a bath is one of my biggest indulgences—but they really do make me feel and look so much better. I like to concoct different combinations of oils and salts based on what I need, whether it’s to soften my skin, relax after a stressful day, or ease aching muscles. When I don’t have time for a full-on bath, I’ll use essential oils in the shower just to make it a little special. These ingredients are the basis for my bath-time ritual. I soak for at least fifteen minutes. I like to download meditation tracks from iTunes and listen to them while I’m in the tub; they enhance the whole experience and make it even more relaxing.

  RELAXATION AND ACHING MUSCLES: One heaping cup of Epsom salt + a few drops of lavender oil (to your liking)

  SKIN SOFTENING: One scoop of mustard bath (Try Dr. Singha’s Natural Therapeutics Mustard Bath. It’s a mixture of ground mustard seeds and herbs.) + a few drops of tea tree oil (it’s also really good for your scalp if you want to massage a few drops in)

  STRAIGHT-UP DETOX AND PH BALANCE: Half a 1-pound box of baking soda (I’ve built up to an entire box, but use a smaller amount to start!)

  MY BIG-TIME NO-NOS

  These are the things I will never—under any circumstances—do. Some of these are basic common sense, while others have been drilled into me by the pros I work with routinely.

  1. SLEEP WITH MY MAKEUP ON OR SKIP WASHING MY FACE BEFORE BED. As tired as I sometimes am at the end of the day, I never, ever skip this step. When you leave your makeup on, you’re essentially tucking it into your pores and inviting a pimple over for a slumber party.

  2. USE DIRTY BRUSHES OR OLD MAKEUP. I toss my makeup every three months and wash my brushes even more frequently. I use a spray intended specifically for washing them, but you can also clean brushes with a very gentle shampoo (just make sure to rinse them well). In order to waste as little as possible, I keep my makeup bag nice and streamlined.

  3. USE OTHER PEOPLE’S PRODUCTS. Even if you’re convinced your friends don’t have any communicable diseases, we all have our own unique set of germs, which aren’t great to share (particularly if you have acne-prone skin like me).

  4. SHORT MYSELF ON SLEEP. I really need eight hours.

  5. FLY WITH MAKEUP ON. If I’m having a bad skin day or know that I’ll be encountering the paparazzi at the airport, I’ll put on makeup and then remove it all as soon as I board the plane. I always carry wipes with me. I use this time in the sky to pamper my skin and really let it breathe (see opposite for my crazy rituals).

  6. NOT DRINK ENOUGH WATER (ESPECIALLY WHEN FLYING). As mentioned, I make a conscientious effort to get as much down my throat as possible throughout the day.

  7. SLEEP ON DIRTY PILLOWCASES. I change my sheets every week. During the summer, I’ll swap them out even more frequently.

  8. PUT MAKEUP ON AFTER FACIALS. I book a facial when I can tell my skin really needs to be cleaned out—and during that process, they open up all of your pores. It’s really important to let your skin breathe and heal for as long as possible.

  9. TOUCH MY FACE WITH DIRTY HANDS! In fa
ct, I try not to touch my face at all—and I definitely never pick at it!

  10. SKIP SUNSCREEN. My friend Jonathan Groff never really thought to protect his skin from the sun—after all, he’s not an avid tanner and didn’t think he was at risk. But crazily enough, he went to the doctor and was diagnosed with skin cancer. What’s scarier is that his doctor told him that if it had gone unchecked, he could have been dead within a few months. The cancer was removed and he’s okay now, but he made me promise to have my moles checked. Even though I’m naturally dark and not inclined to burn, thanks to Jonathan I always, always wear sunscreen: I slather SPF 50 on my face and SPF 20 on my body, and go in for mole checks religiously. Even if you don’t live in sunny L.A., protect your skin from the sun!

  TRAVELING TIPS

  I always keep a travel kit prepped and packed. That way, if I know I’m not going to be sleeping in my own bed that night, I have everything I need on hand. As mentioned, I never, ever use other people’s products or products supplied by hotels—it doesn’t matter if they’re the nicest products around. Coming from a place of having bad skin, I know that I must stick with what works best and avoid stressing my skin out by changing my routine. Some people are blessed to be able to use anything they want—or to skip washing their face entirely—but I am just not that lucky! If I have sample sizes of all my go-tos with me wherever I go, then I never have to stress out about something possibly making me break out. Whole Foods has a great aisle of organic, travel-size beauty products; Kiehl’s is a great resource, too. These are the products that are always with me—with the exception, perhaps, of your razor and hair bands, keeping consistent to your brand of choice is really important: